Do they do this for Wii baseball, too?
$139,176… that’s how much Juan Soto will make every single day for the next 15 years after the New York Mets signed him to the richest contract in US sports history. $750M over 15 years! Does Juan Soto even know what hard work feels like? Has he ever had to write an email newsletter and think of puns for intros? What a slacker…
On that note, two new videos: 1) How Gen Z lost faith in science (thank you for your answers); 2) Inside Ohio’s “Meth Hoods.” We hope you enjoy.
🗞 Assad regime falls
✝️ Notre Dame Cathedral officially back
🎥 How Gen Z lost faith in "science"
–Max and Max
KEY STORY
UAPs Over Jersey
Pentagon officials held a classified briefing with the House Oversight Committee to discuss unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) sightings over New Jersey
New Jerseyans have reported UAPs – including spinning orbs, hovering objects, and drone-storm- like arrays – nearly every day the past several weeks
The FAA subsequently added new NJ airspace restrictions and the FBI opened an investigation
While officials have not specified what the objects may be, some analysts believe them to be drones. NJ’s Police Chief said the UAPs “appear nefarious in nature”
Dig Deeper
The sightings come weeks after Congress’ public hearing aimed at increasing transparency around UAPs
“To date, the Department has discovered no verifiable evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity or technology,” the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary said following the hearing
KEY STORY
Notre Dame: So Back
World leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump convened in Paris for the ceremonial reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral
In April 2019, a fire broke out in Notre Dame Cathedral, an 860-year-old Catholic church in Paris and one of the most iconic landmarks in the world
Since then, over 300k donors from around the world have contributed €900M ($950M) to its restoration. On Sunday, it celebrated its first Mass in over 5 years
Also in attendance were First Lady Jill Biden, the UK’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Dig Deeper
On Saturday, Trump, Zelensky, and Macron held a private meeting. It was Zelensky's first meeting with Trump since the US presidential election and since Trump claimed that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours
“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way,” Zelensky wrote on X after the meeting, adding that “President Trump is, as always, resolute”
Macron called Trump's presence there a “great honor.” On the day of the Cathedral's fire, Trump posted, “So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!”
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KEY STORY
Assad Regime Falls
Syria’s Assad regime collapsed, ending 54 years of Assad family rule and 13 years of anti-Assad rebellion while sending ripples through the Middle East
The rebels – led by HTS, an Islamist group – sought to establish rule in Syrian cities, while American forces bombed IS-related groups in the country
Israeli troops occupied posts abandoned by the Syrian Army near the border, allegedly “to ensure no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of Israel”
Assad landed in Moscow, where he’s taking refuge, while foreign powers – including Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Gulf States – all sought to protect their Syrian interests
Dig Deeper
The leading rebel group is an Islamist organization known as HTS. The group split off from a Syrian branch of al-Qaeda and is designated by the US as a terrorist organization. However, its leader – Abu Mohammed al-Golani – has sought to rebrand HTS as a relatively moderate group, promising to protect Syria’s minorities and create a functioning state
Yet while HTS is the group best-positioned rebel group to gain power, Syria contains numerous rebel and terror groups who may now vie for control
Meanwhile, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that “Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting [Assad] any longer…Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.” He said earlier in the weekend that the US should not interfere in Syria: “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED”
President Biden, meanwhile, said that Washington had already conducted airstrikes on terror groups within the country, would “engage with all Syrian groups,” and described the regime’s collapse as “the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future”
KEY STORY
South Korea Prez Survives
South Korea’s President Yoon survived an impeachment vote
Last week, Yoon declared martial law, throwing the country into crisis. Parliament voted to overrule the declaration, then moved to impeach Yoon
The vote was scheduled for Saturday. Ahead of it, the leader of Yoon’s party called for Yoon’s removal, suggesting Yoon was doomed. Instead, though, Yoon addressed the nation and apologized, then his party walked out of parliament, ensuring there weren’t enough people present for the vote to take place
Dig Deeper
The outcome means South Korea's politics remain in a state of crisis and uncertainty
Yoon promised that if allowed to say in power, he would not declare martial law again and would abide by all democratic norms. Still, mass protests are ongoing, he's now facing a criminal investigation, and he'll likely be subject to further impeachment attempts
RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office
⚕️ The search continued for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. NYPD now believe he left New York on a bus shortly after the shooting took place
🇺🇸 Donald Trump said that he would let US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell complete his term, which ends in May 2026
💰 Trump appointed David Sachs to serve as his AI and crypto czar, a newly-created position. Sachs – co-host of the “All In” podcast and one of the world’s most prominent venture capitalists – was one of Trump’s biggest Silicon Valley backers
🇺🇦 Trump met Ukraine’s President Zelensky for the first time since the election. Zelensky said after the meeting that Trump was “as always, resolute,” while saying that the US should seek a “just peace…through strength”
🇷🇺 The government of Romania – an EU and NATO member – canceled the results of its election, alleging that Russian interference was responsible for the success of a victorious right-wing candidate
COMMUNITY
🧠 Today’s question: Sorry to do a negative one but… what was the biggest media lie of 2024?
POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour
🇺🇸 Shooter Lookalike Contest: A UnitedHealthcare assassin lookalike contest was held in Manhattan. The winner said he just dressed as he usually does
🧑🤝🧑 Centuries of Love: A 102-year-old bride and 100-year-old groom set a record as the oldest married couple after finding love at their Philadelphia senior living community
🍫 Sweet Disaster: A tractor trailer carrying up to 40,000 pounds of chocolate caught fire on Interstate 580 near San Francisco, causing a massive chocolate spill and hours-long traffic delays
🏈 Pass the Matzo: BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff, the first Jewish QB in the program’s history (and nicknamed "BYJew"), signed a sponsorship deal with kosher food company Manischewitz
🥄 High Times in Barbicurum: Archaeologists discovered 200+ small spoon-like objects at Roman-era sites across Europe, suggesting "barbarian" warriors may have used stimulants during battle against the Roman Empire
ROCA WRAP
Hostage Hope
Syria
The US president says an American journalist held hostage in this country for 12 years is still alive.
The collapse of Syria’s government opens up a world of possibilities, for better and for worse. One possibility is that Austin Tice may finally be found and released.
Tice, a freelance journalist and former US Marine, disappeared near Damascus on August 14, 2012, while covering Syria’s civil war. His last known appearance was in a video posted weeks after his capture, showing him blindfolded and in apparent distress. While no group claimed responsibility, US officials believe the Assad government had been holding him.
On Sunday, President Biden announced that the US believes Tice, now 43, is still alive and that is rescue is an American priority. Biden expressed optimism about the US’ ability to do so, however, he said Tice’s exact location must still be determined and that US officials "have no direct evidence" yet of his condition.
Tice's sister recently stated they believe Tice remains in Syria and is "healthy and well," citing verification from "independent, trusted sources."
The family's optimism comes as the US navigates a complex new reality in Syria, with Biden maintaining 900 troops and promising to engage with the country while President-elect Trump signals his opposition to military intervention.
With luck, the Assad regime’s collapse may mean Austin Tice’s freedom.
ROCA VIDEO
How Gen Z Lost Faith in Science
Trust in "science" has plummeted in the US — especially among young people. Since the media is incapable of objective analysis and so often gaslights the subjects it covers — in this case, young people — we thought we'd take our own stab at analyzing why. We've interviewed hundreds of young people across the country this year and science is a topic that often comes up in these conversations. So why have young people lost faith in "science"? Time for the latest We The 66 investigation.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts
Good thing the UAPs didn’t fly over New Jersey during the filming of the second half of Goodfellas. Can just imagine a paranoid Ray Liotta looking up at the UFOs through the windshield. Joe Pesci would’ve tried to shoot them.
Hope you have a great week.
–Max and Max
P.S. The Cathedral isn’t the only Notre Dame that’s back. Go Irish! Huge CFP ahead.
