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Today we're covering the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history, the WNBA’s three new teams, and how to capture attention (and keep it).

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The Justice Department announced Monday the largest healthcare fraud takedown in U.S. history, charging 324 defendants in schemes involving over $14.6 billion in fraudulent claims. Officials said the operation resulted in criminal charges against 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals across 50 federal districts.

The government seized $245 million in assets including cash, luxury vehicles, and cryptocurrency. The centerpiece investigation, dubbed "Operation Gold Rush," uncovered an alleged $10.6 billion fraud scheme involving more than 1 million Americans whose personal information was compromised. Conspirators purchased over 30 small healthcare supply companies already enrolled with Medicare, then submitted fraudulent claims for urinary catheters and other supplies that were not necessary.

The Department announced creation of a Health Care Fraud Data Fusion Center to leverage artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to identify emerging fraud schemes. Federal officials prevented more than 99 percent of Medicare payments from reaching alleged perpetrators but said criminals still collected about $1 billion from supplemental insurers. The enforcement action represents a shift from "pay and chase" to "stop and caught" fraud prevention (see graph).

Elon Musk renewed calls Monday for a new political party, sharply criticizing President Trump's reconciliation package as the Senate moves toward a final vote. The tech billionaire blasted the "insane spending" bill on his X platform, saying it proves America has become a "one-party country." Musk previously floated "The America Party" concept.

Musk's relationship with Trump deteriorated after serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before stepping away last month. He argues Trump's tax and spending package undermines DOGE's cost-cutting efforts. The Senate version would increase the deficit by $3.3 trillion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office (Live vote updates here).

Senate Republicans faced a marathon vote-a-rama Monday as the White House stressed a Friday deadline for passage. Musk specifically called out House Freedom Caucus members, questioning how they could support what he termed a "debt slavery bill." The legislation represents a record five trillion dollar debt ceiling increase. Why are there only two parties?

The WNBA announced Monday it's adding three new teams for a record 18 franchises, with Cleveland beginning play in 2028, Detroit joining in 2029, and Philadelphia tipping off in 2030. The league currently has 15 existing squads, including this year's Golden State Valkyries and two previously announced expansion teams starting next season in Toronto and Portland.

Officials selected the trio based on market viability, committed ownership groups, potential for fan and corporate support, arena facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport. The expansion follows the league's best-ever season, which set records for viewership, attendance, and merchandise sales. The WNBA was energized by phenom Caitlin Clark and a new crop of stars including Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers.

The league previously peaked at 16 teams in 2002, including franchises in Detroit and Cleveland. Detroit's former team, the Shock, won three WNBA titles before moving to Tulsa in 2008. The expansion comes as the league faces labor tensions, with the players' union opting out of the current collective bargaining agreement to secure higher salaries (More).

Jesse Itzler's framework: Hook with story, map the journey, then deliver—controlling energy before sharing content (see the post).

Jesse Itzler built multiple companies worth hundreds of millions but bombed early presentations despite having perfect data. Audiences checked phones and mentally checked out during his pitches. Most speakers dive straight into slides and lose the room in 30 seconds.

The breakthrough: Open with unrelated personal stories, then bridge to your topic using his "Hook-Map-Deliver" system (watch his “Dream Bigger” talk).

Itzler starts presentations talking about touring 27 Finnish saunas, then transitions to business strategy. This breaks conventional "get to the point" wisdom. The framework proves emotional connection beats information dumping every time.

Why this matters: Presenters fail because they prioritize facts over feelings. After bombing a key investor meeting, Itzler realized his mistake. "Facts are forgettable. Stories stick," he discovered. His approach now closes 73% more deals. Story-first speakers maintain audience attention 2x longer than traditional slide-first presenters (watch his Ted talk: The Happiness Meter).

Simple nightly planning transforms daily execution. Writing down 5 goals, 4 morning steps, and 5 needle-moving tasks each night creates a compound effect that turns ambitious intentions into inevitable outcomes. The method works because it bridges the gap between long-term vision and daily action—your 3-12 month goals stay visible while tomorrow's priorities become crystal clear. Instead of waking up reactive, you wake up with direction. Instead of hoping for progress, you engineer it through consistent small moves that accumulate over months. Your future self will thank you. Short video.

> Amazon prices for China-made goods rise 2.6% through June, outpacing US inflation as tariffs bite (More).

> Google buys fusion energy from Bill Gates-backed Commonwealth Fusion Systems startup (More).

> People's Union USA targets Home Depot with month-long July boycott amid corporate DEI pushback (More). | Home Depot buys GMS for $4.3B (More).

> Barclays downgrades ad agency stocks citing low growth during AI transition as technology threatens traditional billing (More).

> North Korean scammer posed as employee, stole $1M cryptocurrency from Atlanta firm (More).

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