🕺Could The TikTok Sale Saga Be All For Not?

Letter From The Editor
I’m feeling especially snarky today. Perhaps it’s just because it’s been a long week and it’s finally Friday. Or maybe it’s because the temperature has oscillated between 10F and 66F over the span of a week and I’m just really tired of Winter! Or maybe it’s because the news has been insane with the most mind-blowing headlines recently, and I’m not even talking about politics. Whatever the reason, I’m letting my sarcastic flag fly today, and I’m not even sorry. Enjoy! (that wasn’t sarcasm, I promise).

In today’s newsletter we discuss could the TikTok sale saga be all for not, Wonder acquires TasteMade, the stockmarket has now lost over $5 trillion dollars in value in 2025, Relativity Space hires former Google CEO Eric Schmidt as their new CEO, Abu Dhabi’s MGX is investing $2 billion dollars in Binance, and the NY Giants re-sign Tommy DeVito as their only quarterback.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

🕺Could The TikTok Sale Saga Be All For Not?

Could the TikTok sale saga be all for not?

There’s news that a “compromise” (my word, not theirs) could be reached between TikTok and the U.S. government that could see Oracle managing the platform’s data in its own U.S.-based datacenters.

I think a more accurate word for this would honestly be “copout” by the current administration.

What happened to the “Ban TikTok” rhetoric from January?

Are we supposed to just believe U.S. citizen’s data will be safe from the Chinese government if Oracle, owned by one of the world’s wealthiest men, says they’ll do their best to watch over the data of a Chinese-owned company?

Oracle has been storing TikTok’s data in the U.S. since 2022, and they do seem very cozy with TikTok’s management. Oracle would also maintain access to TikTok’s codebase, and have the ability to inspect the code to ensure there is no interference or access granted to the Chinese government.

It also doesn’t hurt that Larry Ellison, the fourth-wealthiest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $216.9 billion dollars, is cozy with President Trump and was a major contributor to the president’s campaign. His company Oracle is also one of the recent recipients, alongside OpenAI and Softbank, of a $500 billion dollar investment by the U.S. into the development of AI datacenters, in a project called Stargate.

On April 20, 2024 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill called Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which we’ll just call PAFACA so I don’t have to keep typing that. The bill called for China’s tech giant ByteDance to either sell TikTok, or the social media video app will be banned/blocked in the U.S..

So then how is TikTok going to be allowed to remain Chinese owned if Oracle is only maintaining their U.S.-based data?

Good question.

I wish there was a way we could ask the current administration, or the Senate, or even the House of Representatives this very question.

I mean, they passed a law to ban TikTok and force a sale of the company in order for TikTok to continue to operate in the U.S., right? It’s not like they could just ignore a law and change their minds as the political winds have changed.

Could they?

🏦 Business

“The stock market is not the economy, and the economy is not the stock market.” according to Kai Ryssdal, the host of Marketplace.

But man-oh-man that doesn’t make me feel any better after the stockmarket has now lost over $5 trillion dollars in value in just the last three weeks due to President Donald Trump’s one-man trade war against the world.

If there’s one thing the markets hate most it’s uncertainty.

When 25% on Canada and Mexico, or 50% tariffs on metals, or even the rumored 200% tariffs on Champagne and wine from Europe.

The S&P 500 has declined more than 10% from their highs earlier this year, along with the NASDAQ down 10.4% in the in 2025, with the stockmarket now entering into correction territory.

If only we could stop imposing tariffs on our U.S. allies, and instead enter rational negotiations, then businesses could make plans they wouldn’t have to abruptly change every time there’s a new Whitehouse press conference.

🚀 Space

Relativity Space has a new CEO, with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt replacing outgoing co-founder and CEO Tim Ellis. This significant leadership change marks a pivotal moment for the ambitious launch startup. Eric Schmidt brings considerable expertise and financial backing to a company striving to revolutionize rocket manufacturing.

Founded in 2016, Relativity Space has focused on 3D-printed rockets, initially with a test launch of their Terran 1 rocket that sadly did not reach orbit. The company has since shifted its primary focus to a larger reusable rocket named Terran R, that is planning to launch in 2026.

Eric Schmidt also announced he’s “made a made a significant investment and had taken a controlling stake in the company”, according to an interview in the New York Times.

🍱 Food

Wonder, the company founded by the e-commerce visionary Marc Lore who also founded Jet.com and sold it to Walmart for $3.3 billion dollars, has acquired Tastemade for $90 million dollars. The acquisition of TasteMade by Wonder is a way for Wonder to supercharge their advertising capabilities and create a unique, integrated consumer experience.

Wonder’s goal is to revolutionize at-home dining by delivering meals from a variety of celebrity chef-created restaurants, and is looking beyond simply providing delicious food. The acquisition of Tastemade signals a clear intent to build a robust advertising platform that leverages Tastemade’s vast audience and content creation expertise.

Tastemade has cultivated a massive cult following that I’m proud to call myself a part of, by engaging food, travel, and home content, particularly among younger and (*cough*) middle-aged, digitally savvy audiences. These demographics align perfectly with Wonder’s target market. By integrating Tastemade’s content and audience, Wonder aims to enhance the customer experience by seamlessly integrating Tastemade’s recipe and cooking video content with Wonder’s meal ordering platform, creating a frictionless, immersive experience blending entertainment and commerce. 

The plan is to create targeted advertising opportunities by leveraging Tastemade’s data and insights into consumer preferences for highly targeted advertising, offering sponsored content, product placements, and personalized promotions. They want to build a powerful content engine, utilizing Tastemade’s expertise in creating compelling video content for Wonder’s advertising and marketing materials, and producing engaging content for Wonder’s partner restaurants. The aim is to expand beyond food, leveraging Tastemade’s travel and home lifestyle content to broaden Wonder’s offerings and advertising reach, exploring opportunities beyond the culinary realm.

The acquisition is more than just about adding a media company to Wonder’s portfolio. It’s about building a comprehensive advertising ecosystem. Wonder plans to leverage data-driven targeting by utilizing Tastemade’s audience data to deliver personalized advertising experiences. They will integrate content and commerce, blurring the lines between content consumption and product purchasing. They will also create brand partnerships, offering brands unique opportunities to reach engaged audiences through sponsored content and product integrations, and they will employ cross-platform marketing, utilizing Tastemade’s presence on social media, streaming platforms, and its website to drive traffic to Wonder.

By acquiring Tastemade, Marc Lore is demonstrating his ambition to create a holistic consumer platform that seamlessly integrates food, entertainment, and commerce. This strategic move positions Wonder to become a major player in the evolving landscape of digital advertising and at-home dining. The acquisition is not just about selling meals, it’s about creating an entire lifestyle experience. The combination of Wonder’s meal delivery service and Tastemade’s media prowess could very well be a recipe for success.

🪙 Crypto

The cryptocurrency world has witnessed a landmark event with Abu Dhabi’s MGX investing $2 billion dollars in Binance. This substantial investment signifies a major shift in institutional perception of digital assets. MGX, an Abu Dhabi state-owned technology investment firm, is making its initial foray into the blockchain sector, highlighting the growing convergence of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital finance. This deal, notable for its execution in stablecoins, represents the largest institutional investment ever recorded in a cryptocurrency company, solidifying Binance’s position as a dominant player in the global market. Furthermore, it reinforces the United Arab Emirates’ role as a burgeoning hub for cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.

MGX’s substantial investment in Binance is more than just a financial transaction; it’s a powerful indicator of the evolving landscape of digital finance. It highlights the growing confidence of institutional investors in the cryptocurrency sector, and solidifies the UAE’s position as a key player in the global blockchain and digital asset ecosystem.⁶ This strategic move signals a future where traditional finance and the innovative realm of digital assets are increasingly intertwined.

🏈 Sports

Ah, the New York Giants. A team perpetually teetering on the precipice of “maybe this year?” only to tumble spectacularly into the abyss of mediocrity. Last year they really upped their game of making bad decisions, but not coughing up the money to retain Saquon Barkley, and let him enter free agency and sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, only to watch him bring his team to the Superbowl and win!

Want to know the New York Giant’s latest masterstroke? They have re-signing the legendary, or more like infamous Tommy DeVito. Yes, folks, the man who brought back the man who has given us so many Italian memes and jokes about him still living at home with his parents, and how his mom still makes him chicken cutlets.

Let’s be clear: as of right now Tommy DeVito is the ONLY quarterback on the Giants’ 53-man roster. One. Single. Solitary. It’s like a post-apocalyptic quarterback wasteland of the NFL, and Tommy DeVito is the sole survivor, clutching a faded playbook and a half-eaten chicken parm hero.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Tommy DeVito provided some… entertainment. There was the brief, glorious, meme-fueled surge of “Tommy Cutlets” mania. The whole Italian-American family thing? That’s peak New York! But let’s not confuse a fleeting cultural moment with actual NFL-caliber quarterback play. Remember those sacks? The interceptions? The general sense of, “Well, at least he’s trying?” Yeah, those were all part of the Tommy DeVito experience.

The Giants, bless their hearts, seem to be operating under the delusion that re-signing Tommy DeVito will somehow solves their quarterback problem. It’s a bit like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound and expecting it to heal a broken leg. Sure, it’s something, but it’s not exactly a long-term solution.

They’re still in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. You know, the kind that can consistently complete passes, avoid sacks, and lead the team to… dare we say it… victories? 

The New York Giants’ front office, in their infinite wisdom, seem to be playing a high-stakes game of “Let’s See How Long We Can Delay Addressing the Obvious.” Maybe they’re hoping a quarterback will magically materialize from thin air. Or perhaps they’re holding out for a particularly talented pizza delivery guy to step up.

In the meantime, we’re left with Tommy DeVito, the last quarterback standing. And while he might be a delightful human being with a penchant for pasta, he’s not the answer to the New York Giants’ prayers. He’s a fun distraction, a fleeting novelty, a reminder that sometimes, the NFL is just as absurd as we think it is.

So, Giants fans, buckle up. It’s going to be another wild season of disappointment. And if you’re looking for a franchise quarterback, you might want to start looking beyond the current 53-man roster. Maybe check the local community college? Or, you know, just pray.

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irl Media NEWSLETTER is written, edited, and published by Chris Thompson.