Defense Tech Funding: The Trump administration is reportedly in talks to fund U.S. drone firms, including Unusual Machines and Neros, with possible debt-and-equity structures that could give the government ownership stakes. Fed Watch: Fed Governor Lisa Cook said rates should stay steady for now, but she’s ready to hike if inflation doesn’t ease amid tariffs, the Iran war, and AI-driven demand. Prediction Markets Pushback: The White House has begun reviewing the CFTC’s proposed rules for prediction markets, as states and the CFTC clash over who can regulate event contracts. Banking & Consumer Finance: JD Power finds retail banks are expanding financial advice, but most customers don’t consistently engage with it long-term. Bank Tech Partnerships: Citizens Bank selected Alkami’s MANTL to streamline account opening across digital and retail channels. Iran Shipping Tension: Trump said no country will control the Strait of Hormuz, while a leaked Iranian draft deal was rejected by the White House as fabricated—oil fell on deal optimism. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data shows diesel prices remain volatile, with some Maryland stations hitting $4.99. Corporate/Markets: abrdn’s infrastructure fund won shareholder approval to become perpetual and adjust advisory fees. Retail/Branding: Cinnabon rolled out Seattle’s Best Coffee nationwide to boost beverage sales and franchise value. Crypto Markets: Orca launched permissioned pools for regulated tokenized real-world assets, starting with a gold-linked security.