The Daily Valet. - 7/2/21, Friday

✔️ Company Business

July 02, 2021

Friday, July 2nd Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Seinfeld fans, do we have a surprise for you below.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

↦ We will be off all next week, taking an extended summer break.
↦ But the newsletter will return to regularly schedule programming on Monday, July 12th.

Today’s Big Story

Trump’s Company Charged

The indictments against the organization and a longtime executive ramp up the legal pressure on the former president

Prosecutors charged former President Donald Trump’s business with a 15-year “scheme to defraud” the government and charged its chief financial officer with grand larceny and tax fraud in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday.

Longtime Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg and other executives allegedly received off-the-books perks like housing expenses and luxury car leases. The company also dodged some taxes it would have owed, the indictment said.

Weisselberg is accused of evading nearly a million dollars in federal, state and local taxes combined. And while private school tuition for two of his family members was paid with personal checks signed by Trump, the former president has not been charged himself.

However, Trump’s personal legal exposure remains open-ended. The district attorney has said that “the work continues,” and the former president will remain the focus of the investigation as prosecutors exert pressure on Weisselberg to cooperate.

You might be wondering, how can a corporation be charged with a crime? According to the Wall Street Journal, courts have permitted criminal prosecutions of business organizations since the mid-19th century.

The indictment may make it harder for the company to strike new deals, get bank loans and bring in new money to the sprawling and indebted business. Even if Weisselberg stands by his boss and refuses to take a deal and cooperate, a trial would likely reveal even more internal information about the Trump Organization’s finances and how it operates—something Trump has fought in court for years to shield from the public.

↦ Dig Deeper: Intelligencer explains why the possibility that there will be serious charges brought against Donald Trump himself appears increasingly unlikely.

Streaming Overload

Content is king ... if you can find it

How many streaming services do you currently subscribe to? I bet it's more than you think. I just counted and I think I have all the major ones, even though I'm not currently watching at least three of them.

And as streaming services proliferate, it's becoming more of a challenge to track down shows and movies—especially when the platforms can change up their offerings every month.

According to the Associated Press, certain favorites have become nomadic, bouncing from streamer to streamer. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, for instance, bounced around four different services between March 2020 and March 2021—Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock.

If you're not looking to get rid of any of your streamers but would like to pay a little less (after all, those monthly charges add up), CNET has some strategic credit card tricks to help you save money.

↦ Ranked: Paste ranked the platforms on price, library (depth and quality of content) and user experience.

Sprinter’s Olympic Future In Doubt

American track star Sha’Carri Richardson tests positive for cannabis

American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, a medal favorite in the 100-meter dash at the upcoming Olympics, failed a drug test and likely won't be able to run at the Tokyo Games, reports ESPN.

Richardson bested her competitors in the 100-meter final at the recent Olympic trials—finishing with a time of 10.86 seconds. As Sports Illustrated noted at the time, she was the “United States’ best hope at a gold medal in the women’s 100m.”

A positive test during the trials would mean all of Richardson's results from the meet would be wiped out, voiding her victory in the 100m final. The World Anti-Doping Agency considers cannabis a “substance of abuse.” All cannabis-based products except for CBD, are on WADA's 2021 Prohibited List and banned “in-competition.”

If athletes can prove that their use was unrelated to sports performance then a suspension of three months rather than the usual four years is imposed. And if she cooperates, the suspension could be reduced to a month—which could leave her eligible to race at the Olympics.

The Surprise Album of the Summer

What’s the deal with the ‘Seinfeld’ soundtrack finally coming out?

It's a lesson for the kids. Never give up on your dreams. More than 23 years after Seinfeld left the airwaves, a soundtrack album featuring its immortal theme (and 40 more minutes of classic music from the show) has finally dropped.

According to Variety, WaterTower Music officially releases the 33-track album today on all digital platforms. It's the first time that any of the music for Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer has been available outside of its original television context.

The Verge expects that we'll all be hearing the bouncy slap bass-driven theme song blaring out of cars, apartments and cafes this Fourth of July weekend.

↦ FYI: The composer said the signature bass-groove almost didn't make it into the show because NBC executives said it was “weird, distracting and annoying.”

In Other News

↦ Boy Scouts of America Reaches $850M Agreement With Victims

↦ The World’s Number of Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals Increased by Thousands in 2020

↦ Prince William and Harry Unveil New Princess Diana Statue

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Nikon’s new throwback camera

Protecting pups from fireworks

Patchy sunscreen

A Holiday Weekend Assignment

Spike a watermelon for ultimate refreshment

Is there a fruit that's more tied to summer than watermelon? Is there a season better suited to day drinking than summer? The answer, to both, would be no.

Which is why spiked watermelon is so perfect this time of year. Refreshing. Relaxing. So kick back and chow down on a simple treat, laced with a reminder not to take things too seriously.

Our Summer Survival Guide has your simple three-step instructions.

↦ Reminder: A spiked watermelon is an illegal open container of alcohol within most States.

What We’re Wearing: Backyard BBQ

Men's backyard barbecue outfit inspiration

The national pastime that is backyard grilling truly exemplifies July Fourth weekend—and you're cordially invited to participate in full. Dust off the grill, text a few invites and potluck requests, because this weekend, it's time for an outdoor evening to remember. What better way to inaugurate a new period of post-pandemic living? Less than perfect, however, is the typical grill master outfit. Browse our cookout kit for the best BBQ look of the season.

↦ Get It: Your backyard barbecue kit

Partner

These Aren’t Your Average Supplements

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↦ Get It: From $75 at ASYSTEM