Elon's Exit Interview

Good morning. We’re monitoring the latest from yesterday’s attack in Boulder, Colorado. Here’s what we know right now:

• On Sunday afternoon, eight people were injured and burned after a man used a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device to attack demonstrators who were advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. In a joint presser with local police, a special agent from the Denver FBI field office said the man yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack. 

• The demonstrators were part of a group, Run for Their Lives, that has held regular events, like walks, since the October 7th, 2023 attacks. One witness told The Wall Street Journal that flames engulfed the crowd and said several members of her group — including a Holocaust survivor — were hurt. A leader of the group told The New York Times the attack was “a blatant act of antisemitism.”

• A suspect, a 45-year-old male, has been identified and is in custody. He faces multiple felony charges. The FBI is investigating the situation as an act of terrorism. Michael Dougherty, Boulder County’s DA, said decisions on charges would be made in the coming days to “hold the attacker fully accountable.”

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) wrote in a statement it "is unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder, on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot no less.”

This story is developing, and we’ll continue to bring you updates. Now, let’s get to the rest of the news.

— The Editors

What's Happening

Politics

Elon's Exit Interview

What's going on: Elon Musk famously wielded a literal chainsaw and swore he’d slash government spending. Now, he’s on his way out, and analysts say he’s also cut his legacy at the knees. His farewell in the Oval Office on Friday formally brought his role at DOGE to an end (though President Donald Trump hinted that Musk still might pop in from time to time). To mark the occasion, Musk wore a “Dogefather” shirt, sported a mysterious black eye (which he offered an explanation for), and called himself a “friend and adviser to the president.” Musk had already said he was stepping back, but within 24 hours of CBS airing a clip of him criticizing the president’s spending bill, he made it official. And he didn’t go quietly — also on Friday, The New York Times dropped a report on his “intense” alleged drug use during the campaign, which Musk has denied.

What it means: While Musk’s stint as a special government employee outlasted Anthony Scaramucci’s brief White House tenure in 2017, he didn’t come close to hitting the mark on his self-prescribed goals. Federal workers say DOGE’s cuts wreaked havoc on the government’s ability to operate, while Congress seems poised to undo the very work Musk hung his (DOGE) hat on. Musk claims he saved the US $175 billion — though his original and revised goals were $2 and $1 trillion. Meanwhile, the GOP-led House just passed a bill that could add $3.8 trillion to the debt — which Musk slammed on his way out. His next move? Refocusing on his businesses. In recent months, Tesla’s profits have dropped off a cliff, SpaceX had another failed mission, and everyone from investors to Dave Portnoy has taken aim at Musk’s distracted leadership. So, that chainsaw is in storage — for now.

Related: Trump Taps Another Tech Giant To Help Merge Federal Data On Americans (NYT Gift Link)

Health

Cancer Study Says It's Time to Treat Exercise Like a Drug

What's going on: A groundbreaking new study just confirmed what researchers have long suspected: exercise doesn’t just help with colon cancer prevention and recovery — it improves survival. Researchers found that people who followed exercise programs after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for Stage 3 or high-risk Stage 2 colon cancer could cut down their chances of the cancer coming back, or death by 28% — making movement as effective as, or better than, many medications. The details: The study found that 80% of patients who worked with a physical activity consultant on a tailored exercise program remained disease-free after five years, compared to 74% of the control group without that support. The secret sauce? Having a trainer in your corner, keeping you accountable and motivated — whether that meant 45 minutes of walking or something more fun, like biking or kayaking.

What it means: Doctors hope this changes how cancer care gets prescribed. Think: formal exercise guidance integrated into recovery plans, with physical therapy and training programs covered by insurance. Researchers say it’s a cost-effective add-on to standard treatments — with ripple-effect benefits that extend beyond colon cancer. Early data suggests similar potential for breast and prostate cancers, though more studies are underway. Bottom line: doctors want the global cancer community to treat movement like medicine.

Related: New Blood Tests May Alert Patients When Breast Cancer Treatment Stops Working (NBC News)

Money

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do — But Even Harder to Afford

What's going on: If the rule of thumb is a three-month salary for an engagement ring, then you might need to save for a few years for a divorce these days. Business Insider reports divorces are costing millennials upwards of six figures. For many, it’s so expensive that they can’t afford to stay in the cities they once called home, often leaning on family for financial or emotional support. Others are choosing to stay legally married (while living their best single lives) rather than pay for divorce lawyers. The numbers say it all: Pew found that 77% of partnered adults were doing at least OK financially compared to 64% of people without partners in 2023.

What it means: As one family attorney put it, “When people get a divorce, they're cutting their net worth in half.” That blow hits especially hard for women, since courts don’t always take the gender pay gap and unpaid care work into account when dividing assets or awarding spousal support and childcare. Many Boomers who divorced often had more financial stability but millennials face a different reality — especially since they tend to marry later, when there’s more to lose. One expert warned of “the coming divorce decline.” You know what they say, “til debt do us part”...

Related: A Recession Might Be the Nail In America's Romance Coffin (The Atlantic)

Settle This

Protein is getting the star treatment. But most women are only getting 9% of the recommended daily amount of this other key nutrient. What is it?

Extra Credit

Watch

Billionaires, deepfakes, and an a alpha-bros-only poker weekend — what could go wrong? In HBO's Mountainhead, Succession creator Jesse Armstrong swaps NYC boardrooms for an isolated Utah mountaintop mega-mansion — where a crew of tech titans (Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, Ramy Youssef) gather for a few days of rest, relaxation, and riding snowmobiles. But before anyone can unpack their Rimowas, violent conflict erupts across the globe, fueled by deepfakes and misinformation flooding Traam, the popular social media platform from a company run by Ven (Smith). So the guys do what any self-respecting tech billionaires would: doomscroll and figure out how to profit from the chaos.

Game Time

Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.