Happy summer solstice, Roca Nation. It is the longest day of the year, and today's key stories may make it feel even longer. We wish every day could be cancer progress and Amazon rescue stories, but sometimes – like with the solstice – the alignment of planets doesn't cooperate. Get some sun today and try to stay away from any seatless, remote-controlled submersibles. Even if you think you'll find Jack down there...

In today's edition:

• YouTube takes down RFK interview

• Pilot nearly gets an FUI

• Bunga Bunga Berlusconi

 🔑 Key Stories

Tate Brothers Indicted

Romanian authorities charged Andrew Tate, his brother, and 2 others with multiple crimes related to an alleged human trafficking ring they ran since 2021

• Tate – a British-American social media personality – lives in Romania

• Romanian police arrested Tate, his brother, and 2 Romanians last December. They were jailed for months but then moved to house arrest this March

• On Tuesday, Romanian authorities indicted all 4. The indictment alleges that they ran a scheme that lured women and forced them to participate in adult films. Tate is reportedly also facing charges for rape

Dig Deeper

• Representatives for the Tate brothers said they are eager to defend themselves in court, where they are set to appear today. The actual trial will not start immediately and will likely last for years

RFK Podcast Removed

YouTube took down an interview of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) on the Jordan Peterson Podcast

• RFK – JFK’s nephew – is a Democrat challenging President Biden in 2024. A prominent environmental lawyer, he is also an outspoken critic of vaccines

• RFK spoke extensively about his stance on vaccines during new podcast interviews with Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan. On Monday, YouTube took the former down, claiming it spread misinformation

• Spotify is now facing calls to take down the Rogan episode. Rogan has challenged a top vaccine researcher to debate RFK, but that researcher declined

Dig Deeper

• After YouTube took the interview down, RFK reposted it on Twitter, where he asked, "What do you think ... Should social media platforms censor presidential candidates?"

• Although RFK is a Democrat, he has called his party the "party of war," and said it has been overtaken by corporate interests

Hunter to Plead Guilty

Hunter Biden – President Joe Biden’s son – plans to plead guilty to 2 counts of failing to pay federal taxes

• A federal probe was launched into his business ties in 2018. That has since narrowed to focus on his tax record and alleged illegal gun ownership

• On Tuesday, a prosecutor said Hunter agreed to plead guilty to 2 federal tax charges related to not paying taxes on $1.5M in income between 2017-18

• Hunter, an admitted drug addict, also agreed to never own a gun again, go on probation, and stay drug-free for 2 years, to avoid trial over charges that he illegally owned a firearm

Dig Deeper

• Since January, a House committee has investigated the Biden family and Hunter’s alleged illegal ties to foreign businessess. An official on that committee said the investigation will continue despite these developments

New Epstein Revelations

A JPMorgan report found that Jeffrey Epstein brokered meetings between JPMorgan executive Jes Staley and foreign government officials

• JPMorgan managed Epstein’s fortune from the 1990s until 2013. During that time, he worked closely with Jes Staley, a JPMorgan executive. Newly released documents show that Epstein facilitated meetings between Staley and foreign officials

• Among those officials are Dubai’s sultan and several UK officials, including a former business minister and chancellor. Messages indicate some of those officials stayed at Epstein’s NYC and Paris mansions

• The UK officials denied having links to Epstein

Dig Deeper

• Staley left JPMorgan to become the CEO of Barclay's, one of the world's largest banks. He resigned over an investigation into his ties with Epstein and has since faced multiple lawsuits

🍿 Popcorn

ICYMI

• Messi mania: Tickets to Messi’s debut on Inter Miami have soared past $1,000. Premium seats for his July 21 match are $10,000 apiece

• O flubber, where art thou? Actor John Goodman has lost more than 200 pounds thanks to a years-long effort involving a Mediterranean diet and new exercise routine

• "Yo dad, check Twitter": NBA star Chris Paul said he learned he was traded from a text from his son. The 38-year-old Paul was on a plane at the time

Wildcard

• Et tu, tourist? The alleged site of Julius Caesar's death will now be open to tourists in Rome. Until now it was below street level and walled off

• Illegal monkey business: BBC journalists claim to have uncovered a global network of monkey torture that involves hundreds of participants from Indonesia to the US

• Would that be... an FUI? A 61-year-old Delta Airlines pilot was arrested in Scotland after he showed up drunk for a New York City-bound flight

👇 What do you think?

Today's Question:

How do you define free speech? Are there any exceptions?

Reply to this email with your answers!

See yesterday's results below the Wrap! 

🌯 Roca Wrap

"Iknow how to make people love me.”

So said Silvio Berlusconi.

Berlusconi was born in a middle-class neighborhood in Milan, Italy, in 1936. He excelled in school and went on to university to study law. A showman from a young age, he earned money as a student by singing on cruise ships.

In the 1960s, Italy was in the midst of a prolonged economic boom, much of which was happening in Milan. Berlusconi realized the city would need more housing as its population grew. He conceived of a housing project and convinced a small bank executive to finance the construction.

Berlusconi parlayed that real estate project into others, one of which required a massive amount of capital. When Berlusconi’s pitch to his target investor failed, he concocted a scheme to get in front of him again.

He seduced the investor’s secretary, then learned the investor’s travel schedule and booked a train seat across from him. Berlusconi and the investor were drunk by the time the train reached the station, and the investor had agreed to finance the project. By the 1960s, Berlusconi controlled a construction empire.

With the money, he moved into media.

Italy had 3 TV networks in the 1970s, all of which were state-controlled and known for being boring. Berlusconi launched 3 networks that became wildly popular by featuring scantily clad women, game shows, and American soap operas.

By the 1980s, Berlusconi was one of Italy’s richest men with holdings in real estate, media, and advertising. He bought his hometown soccer team – A.C. Milan – and invested millions to sign star players. A.C. Milan won a series of major trophies, lifting Berlusconi to new levels of popularity.

In 1992, Italian authorities made sweeping arrests in what became known as the “Clean Hands” corruption scandal. A third of Italian parliamentarians went subject to corruption investigations. With Italy’s political class discredited, Berlusconi leveraged his empire to move into politics.

Berlusconi was at that point Italy’s richest man. Within weeks he had formed a party – Forza Italia – that promised lower taxes, less government, and a better economy. In 1994, at age 57, he became prime minister.

Berlusconi’s first stint as prime minister only lasted 1 year, but it was the beginning of a long career. He’d be elected prime minister 3 times and lead the country for a total of 9 years.

Millions loved him for his charisma, humor, and charm. Critics accused him of leveraging a media monopoly to seize and hold power.

He was also accused of being corrupt: While facing allegations, his government passed laws that gave him immunity and made it more difficult for him to be convicted. Even so, he was convicted of tax fraud in 2012 and was banned from holding office until 2018.

Berlusconi’s second wife left him after accusing him of having an affair with a 17-year-old. He then faced trial over allegations that he paid for sex with an underaged Moroccan pole dancer. He was found guilty but later acquitted upon appeal.

Berlusconi was said to hold massive parties packed with naked, beautiful women. The media dubbed those “bunga bunga” parties, which in 2010 became a household term. Berlusconi said the parties were just “elegant dinners.”

The allegations didn’t defeat him, but the economy did.

The Great Recession and ensuing European debt crisis laid bare the bad state of Italy’s economy. Berlusconi resigned in 2011, and his influence continued to decline in the following decade.

Berlusconi died on June 12, age 86. He never lost an election, and politicians around the world took lessons from his life.

If you have thoughts, let us know at [email protected]!

 🌊 Roca Clubhouse

Yesterday's Poll:

Would you rather have a huge imagination or a photographic memory?

Huge imagination: 25%
Photographic memory: 75%

Yesterday's Question:

What is one thing you would never pay the cheaper option for?

Many Roca Riders: “Toilet paper!”

Connor from Massachusetts: “Tires! I mean come on, they are the only part of your car that touches the ground. I can't believe that people drive on near balding tires to save a buck or two before getting new or even used tires. I can't understate the importance of having a good set of tires on your car. If you have been thinking about buying new tires, do it!”

John from Michigan: "I will never pay for a cheaper Ketchup. Heinz is the only Ketchup I will eat.."

Jennifer from Ontario: “I’d never buy the cheaper option of Diet Coke.”

Bruce: “Never look for a bargain dentist!”

🧠 Final Thoughts

On a day featuring lots of controversial news and personalities, we are glad you trust Roca for the facts. Let us know which stories you would like us to dive deeper into, and we will do that.

—Max and Max