Hello Capitalists,

Here’s everything you need to be following today:

• Trump’s trip to Alaska had a trade surprise from Putin

• Comcast’s break up means an icon will disappear

• Blue states have to pay their own way and Taylor Swift is the answer

• The Bitcoin price rollercoaster has a wild weekend

Today’s markets:

• DOW: 44947.85 - (🔁0.00%) 🔁

• S&P: 6447.19 - (⬇️0.04%) 🔴

• NASDAQ: 21602.62 - (⬇️0.09%) 🔴

• CBOE VIX Volatility Index: $15.17 (⬆️0.53%) ⚠️⬆️

Trump’s tough line in Alaska has Putin pitching HIM a deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin pitched trade and tech collaboration with the U.S. at a high-stakes Alaska summit with President Trump on Friday, offering vague hopes for Ukraine peace amid ongoing war.

• Economic Strain Shapes Talks: Russia's economy, battered by sanctions and war costs, faces a widening deficit, pushing Putin to seek U.S. trade partnerships in technology, space, and Arctic exploration.

• Ukraine Peace Remains Elusive: Despite a "productive" three-hour meeting, no concrete ceasefire plans emerged, with Putin blaming NATO and Western involvement for the 2022 Ukraine invasion.

• Trump’s Tariff Strategy Looms: Trump’s recent 50% tariff on Indian imports, targeting Russia’s oil trade partners, signals potential for harsher sanctions if peace talks falter.

• Arctic Cooperation Proposed: Putin emphasized Arctic collaboration as a new frontier for U.S.-Russia relations, aiming to shift focus from competition to mutual economic benefits.

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Learn More

MSNBC to change its name amid parent company buyout

MSNBC will rebrand as MS Now, shedding its iconic peacock logo, as Versant, its new parent company, separates from Comcast’s NBCUniversal, signaling a bold shift in the cable news landscape.

• Aggressive Hiring Underway: MSNBC is hiring about 100 journalists from outlets like CNN and Bloomberg to establish an independent Washington, D.C., newsroom, distinct from NBC News.

• New Logo Rollout: Versant’s brands, including CNBC and USA Sports, will drop the iconic peacock logo first debuted in 1956 , with new designs launching before the year-end spinoff.

• Strategic Name Change: The rename to MS Now aims to accelerate MSNBC’s distinction from NBC News, maintaining its focus on political coverage despite the rebrand.

• Marketing Campaign Planned: MSNBC will launch a national marketing push to promote its new MS Now identity, a significant effort to engage audiences post-rebrand.

Blue states ramp up their “Taylor Swift Tax” to pay for their spending

Blue states, facing budget shortfalls after Trump’s federal tax cuts, are hiking taxes on wealthy residents, with Rhode Island’s “Taylor Swift tax” targeting million-dollar vacation homes to offset reduced federal funding.

• Rhode Island’s Unique Levy: Rhode Island’s new tax on vacation homes valued over $1 million, dubbed the “Taylor Swift tax,” adds $2.50 per $500 of assessed value above $1 million.

• Montana’s Property Tax Shift: Montana raises property taxes to 1.9% on non-primary residences to fund tax breaks for 230,000 homeowners and boost real estate market inventory.

• Maryland’s Income Tax Hike: Maryland increases income tax rates for residents earning over $500,000 to address budget deficits, aiming to balance state finances amid federal funding cuts.

• Washington’s Capital Gains Increase: Washington raises its capital gains tax from 7% to 9%, targeting stocks and bonds to offset deficits, while its constitution bans income taxes.

Markets brace for Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech and possible rate cuts

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s final Jackson Hole speech, set for August 22, 2025, in Wyoming, could signal a pivotal September rate cut as markets brace for economic policy shifts.

• Inflation Data Fuels Optimism: July’s consumer price index rose 2.7%, below forecasts, boosting expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut to ease borrowing costs.

• Labor Market Concerns Grow: A weak jobs report showing slowed growth prompts fears of rising unemployment, pressuring the Fed to act swiftly.

• Trump’s Influence Looms Large: President Trump’s push for lower rates and tariff policies may complicate the Fed’s inflation and employment balancing act.

• Market Volatility Expected: Investors anticipate a quarter-point cut, with Wall Street’s fear gauge at yearly lows, signaling confidence but uncertainty.

Writing tool Grammarly unveils its new AI powered interface to its 40m users

Grammarly unveiled a sleek, AI-powered interface overhaul Monday, integrating Coda’s document-based design to boost productivity for students and professionals with tools like an AI grader and citation finder.

• AI Tools Enhance Writing: Grammarly’s new AI features include a grader for instructor-guided feedback, a citation finder for sourcing public materials, and a paraphraser to adjust text tone.

• Block-First Interface Debuts: The revamped interface adopts a block-based approach, allowing users to insert tables, lists, and rich text blocks for enhanced document organization.

• AI Assistant Boosts Productivity: A sidebar AI assistant summarizes text, answers questions, and offers writing suggestions, streamlining workflows for Grammarly’s 40 million daily users.

The Bitcoin rollercoaster ride takes a dive

Bitcoin plummeted to $115,000 after hitting a record high, rocked by macroeconomic fears and a liquidation wave, as Trump's new tariffs sparked volatility in the crypto market Monday.

• Tariffs Trigger Market Shocks: President Trump's proposed tariffs on the EU intensified crypto market volatility, contributing to significant sell-offs in crypto-linked stocks.

• Bitcoin Shows Relative Strength: Despite the downturn, bitcoin outperformed other crypto assets, with its price stabilizing around $115,000 after a sharp drop from its peak.

• Liquidation Wave Hits Hard: Over $900 million in crypto liquidations occurred, reflecting heightened investor panic and broader market uncertainty driven by macroeconomic concerns and profit taking by investors.