Expensegate

Good morning, my favorite people!

Today's stories might prove that truth is stranger than fiction. You'll find plenty to unpack, from corporate oops moments to skyrocketing coffee prices. Grab your coffee (while you still can), and let's dive in together to make sense of it.

Here's everything you need to know today:

Here's a twist even your holiday shopping list didn't expect. The iconic department store Macy's just revealed a scandal worthy of a thriller. In nearly three years, one employee managed to "hide" $154 million in delivery expenses. Yes, you read that right—one person, $154 million. Imagine the creativity (and audacity) required.

In preparing their quarterly earnings, the retailer discovered erroneous accounting entries. How did this happen? Auditors and executives wonder how this has gone unnoticed since 2021. (Quick tip for Macy's: maybe next time, a holiday bonus might be cheaper than three years of forensic accounting fees.)

CEO Tony Spring assures us that Macy's "culture of ethical conduct" remains intact and that holiday shopping will go as usual. However, investors aren't feeling festive, with shares down 3%. One thing's clear: the company's damaged numbers cannot be hidden.

Case Closed

When you think the legal drama is over, Donald Trump flips the script again. A federal judge dismissed his election interference case and Mar-a-Lago documents case. Why? It's not because he's off the hook but because he now has temporary constitutional immunity.

Special counsel Jack Smith—the one Trump promised to fire—is reluctantly pulling the plug, calling it a legal necessity. For now, it's a full legal pause for the former (and future?) commander-in-chief.

Meanwhile, co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira remain in courtroom drama, reminding us of Trump's unpredictable legal orbit.

The Bottom Line: Trump's return will rewrite the political playbook and throw his legal saga into uncharted waters.

Brew Trouble

Wake up and smell the crisis: Coffee prices just hit their highest levels since 1997, and your wallet might soon feel the pinch. Why? Lousy weather, dwindling Brazilian crops, and global supply chain problems. Arabica beans—the VIPs of your specialty brews—are now trading at over $3 per pound, a 64% spike this year alone.

Even Starbucks, which buys 3% of world coffee, has slashed its hedging strategy, exposing it to wild price swings. Some analysts worry this might be the coffee kick our budgets didn't need. Let's savor that next cup more slowly—who knows how much it'll cost tomorrow?

How Old Are You?

Your body ages more like a chaotic relay race than one unified team. Stanford scientists discovered that organs age at wildly different rates. You might have a great brain while your heart begs for a break, or vice versa.

Why does it matter? Your organs' age is more than just cocktail-party trivia. Knowing your “ageotype” can help you avoid issues like dementia and heart failure by tweaking your lifestyle.

A "young" brain might keep you sharp enough to outwit your grandkids in Wordle despite an "old" heart. You can turn back the clock on specific organs by eating fish or getting your steps in. A little more cardio or omega-3s, anyone?

The next time someone asks you your age, say, “Which organ?” After this week's chaos, I'm pretty sure my brain just hit retirement age.

Self-Checkout

In the age of oversharing, one TikTok influencer learned the hard way that not all content is worth sharing. Marlena Velez was arrested for shoplifting after documenting her unwitting crime in a motherhood video.

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Velez used fake barcodes at self-checkout to steal over $500 worth of goods from Target. The kicker? The TikTok video shows her in the same clothes, picking out the items reported stolen. The case was sealed when police matched her video to surveillance footage.

A cautionary tale reminds us all: the internet never forgets.

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2024 winners.

🧮 Core Count: 4

The number of English words ending in 'dous' (dangerous, horrendous, stupendous, and tremendous)

🗓️ Flashback:

1778 - James Cook is the first European to visit Maui (now Hawaii)

1789 - 1st National Thanksgiving in America.

1791 - George Washington's Philadelphia home hosts the first US cabinet meeting. Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph attended.

1865 - "Alice in Wonderland" was published by Lewis Carroll in the U.S.

1922 - Howard Carter opens Tutankhamun's virtually intact tomb.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran