Trump vs. Musk, Free-Range Kids, and the Patel Motel Power Move

THE WEEKLY STEEP

What’s a mango’s go-to pickup line?
“You looking for something aam-azing?” 😉

WHAT’S BREWING

• NEWS

• MONEY MOVES

• RAISING ROOTS: Free-Range Kids

• LIVING WELL: Clean Indo-Chinese Recipes

• COSMIC CHAI

• EDITOR'S PICK: The Patel Motel Story

• UPCOMING WEEK (June 6 - 13)

Global

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine-Russia Update (June 5): Russia advanced near Sumy and Donetsk as Ukraine struck deep into Russian territory, including the Kerch Bridge. Russia responded with major missile attacks; peace talks remain stalled. Read more

• 🇰🇷 South Korea Elects New President: Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is officially in office after a snap election. Read more

• 🇵🇱 Conservative Surprise in Poland: Karol Nawrocki’s win strengthens the right and may block reforms from PM Tusk’s pro-EU government. Read more

• 🇳🇱 Dutch Government Collapses: PM Dick Schoof resigned after the far-right Party for Freedom quit the coalition over asylum policy. Read more

• 🇨🇦 Wildfires in Canada: Alberta blazes continue to spread, with smoke prompting air quality warnings across parts of the U.S. Read more

U.S.

• Trump vs. Musk: Musk slammed Trump’s spending bill, Trump threatened Tesla and SpaceX, Musk clapped back with impeachment posts and Epstein jabs. The fallout? Billions lost, GOP drama ignited, and the internet on fire. Read more

• Trump and Xi Speak (June 5): The leaders agreed to restart trade talks and exchanged visit invites but rare earth curbs and tech restrictions continue to strain the fragile truce. Read more

• Rare Earth Relief But Not for Tesla: China green lit exports to the Big 3 automakers, but Tesla’s still waiting, spotlighting ongoing trade tensions and tech supply risks. Read more

• New Travel Ban Signed: Impacts 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia. Takes effect Monday. Read more

• Trump Suspends Harvard from Visa Program: Blocks new foreign students and threatens visa revocations for current international students. Read more

South Asia

• RBI Cuts Rates by 50bps: slashed the repo rate to 5.5%, its steepest cut in years to boost growth amid easing inflation. The cut means lower EMIs, more lending, and a stock market rally, but with a shift to “neutral,” the rate-cut cycle may be done for now. Read more

• Modi Flags Off Rail Link to Kashmir: India’s new 272 km rail line to Kashmir cuts Katra-Srinagar travel to 3 hours via the world’s tallest rail bridge, boosting access and tourism. Read more

• India Plans Major Air Exercise Near Pakistan Border: A NOTAM has been issued for large-scale IAF drills in Rajasthan on June 7-8. Read more

MONEY MOVES

U.S. May Jobs Report: +139K jobs in May as unemployment held at 4.2%, but jobless claims rose and workforce shrank, fueling Fed rate cut speculation. Read more

ECB Cuts Rates: by 25bps to 2%, citing cooling inflation and growth concerns, hinting this could be the last cut for a while. Read more

A Dollar Isn’t What It Used to Be: $1 in 1913 bought 30 Hershey bars. Today? One McDonald’s coffee. Inflation did its thing. Read more

$TSLA ( ▼ 0.45% ) jumped Friday, rebounding from a Musk-Trump feud fueled plunge as tensions eased and markets rallied on strong jobs data.

$LULU ( ▼ 1.76% ) down on lower profit guidance and a weak Q2 outlook sent shares plunging.

$CRCL ( ▲ 7.78% ) launched at $31, opened at $69, and raised $1.1B, marking the biggest crypto IPO since Coinbase.

$BF.B ( ▼ 1.97% ) drops on a Q4 miss, falling sales, and a weak outlook sent shares tumbling.

$DOCU ( ▲ 2.23% ) down after weak billings guidance, despite beating Q1 earnings estimates.

$PTON ( ▲ 4.8% ) launched ‘Repowered,’ its official secondhand marketplace. Sellers get 70% of the sale price; the rest goes to Peloton and partner Archive.

Please note: this section includes real-time market data via Stockwits. Not financial advice. Consult a professional before investing.

PLAY BY PLAY

IPL: After 18 years of heartbreak and meme therapy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted the IPL trophy, edging Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a final that had everything, drama, big hits, and Kohli looking like a man on a mission. Player Shoutouts:

• Virat Kohli anchored RCB all season and top-scored in the final (43 off 35)

• B Sai Sudharsan snagged the Orange Cap with a blazing 759 runs

• Prasidh Krishna earned the Purple Cap with 25 wickets

• Nicholas Pooran went full fireworks mode with a league-high 40 sixes

PBKS came close thanks to Shashank Singh’s unbeaten 61*, but RCB’s bowlers, Hazlewood, Bhuvi, Dayal, closed the door in style. Next up: India kicks off their 2025-27 World Test Championship run with a five-Test clash in England starting June 20. From sixes to swing, time to switch formats, not focus.

Soccer: PSG finally got their hands on the Champions League trophy and didn’t just win, they obliterated Inter 5-0 in Munich. A new-gen masterclass from Hakimi, Doué, Kvaratskhelia & crew sealed the biggest final win ever. Next up: UEFA Super Cup vs. Spurs on Aug 13. Udine better be ready, les Parisiens are cooking.

Tennis/ French Open Finals: Alcaraz advances after Musetti’s mid-match exit, but the spotlight’s on Djokovic vs. Sinner tonight, GOAT legacy vs. World No. 1. Sabalenka-Gauff showdown lands Saturday, locked 5-5, with Grand Slam payback on the line.

Golf: Scottie defended his Memorial crown with Tiger-level swagger. Next: RBC Canadian Open (June 5-8), Rory returns to shake things up before the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Bonus drama? Rookie debuts from PGA U grads. Summer golf just got spicy.

F1: McLaren ruled Spain with a Piastri-led 1-2, while Verstappen’s tangle with Russell earned him a penalty and put him one point away from a race ban. Drama’s brewing faster than masala chai. Next stop: Montreal, June 13-15.

NBA Finals: Pacers rallied from 15 down as Haliburton drilled a game-winner with 0.3 left, stealing Game 1 from MVP Shai and the Thunder. Game 2 tips off Sunday, June 8.

RAISING ROOTS: Raising Explorers, Not Just Scrollers

Research shows a little freedom goes a long way. Kids build decision-making skills, confidence, and emotional smarts when trusted with small tasks and unstructured play. Less hovering = less anxiety. Free-range parenting isn’t about letting go, it’s about trusting kids to grow. Read more

LIVING WELL: Clean Indo-Chinese Recipes

We grew up on Chilli Paneer and Hakka Noodles, now they’re back, lighter and smarter. Same bold flavor, no food coma. These recipes bring the heat and the health. Let’s Wok

COSMIC CHAI: Weekly Horoscope (June 6 - 13)

Jupiter enters Cancer this week, and suddenly, the vibe shifts from proving to nourishing. Venus settles into Taurus, asking us to slow down and enjoy what we’ve built or rebuild what’s worth keeping. Mercury in Gemini keeps ideas pinging, while the Sagittarius full moon on June 11 brings a moment of bold clarity. This week isn’t loud, but it’s meaningful. Think expansion that feels like exhale. Read full horoscope here

• 🌱 Earth Signs: Soft power meets steady progress

• 💧 Water Signs: Soft hearts, strong instincts, and a cosmic green light

• 🔥 Fire Signs: Lit - but with direction

• 💨 Air Signs: Bright, buzzy, and riding the wave of your own brilliance

Cosmic Dates to Know

• June 6: Venus in Taurus = ease, sweetness, and values that feel like home

• June 9: Jupiter enters Cancer = a year-long wave of growth and grace

• June 11: Full moon in Sagittarius = time to release old limits and aim higher

EDITOR'S PICK: The Patel Motel Story

How did one Gujarati surname come to own over 70% of America’s motels? The Patel Motel Story, a 13-minute doc premiering at Tribeca on June 9, traces how South Asian immigrants turned rundown roadside inns into a hospitality empire. No MBAs. Just hustle, community, and keys passed down like heirlooms. Read more

UPCOMING WEEK (June 6 - 13)

• June 6: National Doughnut Day: a sweet reason to indulge

• June 7: National Trails Day: celebrate the outdoors and hit a local trail

• June 7: Bakri Eid (Eid al-Adha)

• June 8: Tony Awards at Radio City; Broadway’s biggest night, live on CBS

• June 9-13: Apple WWDC

• June 11: Guru Kabir Jayanti

• June 12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day

• June 12-15: London Fashion Week

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