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1.	SpaceX’s Starlink Suffers Global Outage By Theo Wayt Source: The Information

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service experienced a global outage on Thursday afternoon, according to the company and reports from users and the world.

Starlink’s X account said the service is “currently in a network outage and we are actively implementing a solution.” The company did not say when service would be resolved. The Starlink website was also down on Thursday afternoon.

The outage comes one day after U.S. cellular service T-Mobile expanded its partnership with Starlink, which allows people to access the internet through Starlink in areas where regular cell service isn’t available. On Wednesday, T-Mobile said it had made the service available to T-Mobile customers across the U.S., as well as to customers of other cellular services, for $10 per month.

2.	OpenAI’s Data Center Developer Seeks $1 Billion, Projects Rapid Growth By Anissa Gardizy Source: The Information

Crusoe, the startup behind the first data center for OpenAI’s $500 billion Stargate project, is seeking around $1 billion in new equity, The Information reported Wednesday.

The firm is both a real estate developer that builds data centers for other companies and a cloud provider that rents out AI chips from its facilities.

Crusoe projected its cloud revenue would rise to $18 billion in 2030 from $1 billion in 2026. It generated $100 million from that business in 2024. The company was valued at $2.8 billion in a round led by Founders Fund last year. The firm is developing the OpenAI data center in Abilene, Texas and is also developing facilities in Amarillo, Texas, and Cheyenne, Wyo.

3.	Microsoft CEO: Recent Layoffs Are Part of ‘Enigma of Success’ By Aaron Holmes Source: The Information

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed recent layoffs of roughly 9,000 employees in an email to staff on Thursday, saying the cuts were necessary even though the company is “thriving.”

“This is the enigma of success in an industry that has no franchise value,” Nadella said, implying that the company doesn’t have a permanent competitive advantage despite its enterprise app dominance. “It’s also a new opportunity for us to shape, lead through, and have greater impact than ever before.”

Nadella also urged staff to continue to lean into developing and selling AI products, arguing that “getting both the product and platform right for the AI wave is our North Star.” Other Microsoft executives have made similar overtures to staff in the wake of the recent layoffs, urging them to embrace AI tools to become more productive while selling those same AI tools to enterprise customers.

Nadella also said the job cuts are happening as Microsoft is spending more on data centers and chips “than ever before” and said the company’s overall headcount “remains relatively unchanged.” Microsoft had 228,000 employees last July, the last time it disclosed its headcount, but has cut more than 15,000 employees this year.

4.	Benchmark General Partner Victor Lazarte to Start His Own Fund By Natasha Mascarenhas Source: The Information

Benchmark general partner Victor Lazarte is leaving the blue-chip venture firm and is in the process of starting his own fund to back early-stage AI startups, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. He has already received capital commitments for the new fund and has an anchor investor, according to one of those people.

Lazarte joined Benchmark two years ago after running and co-founding gaming company Benchmark-backed Wildlife Studios, which was last valued at $3 billion. At Benchmark, he led some of the firm’s AI investments, including video generation upstart HeyGen and AI-powered hiring startup Mercor. Lazarte’s departure and plans to start a new fund have not been previously reported. The size of his new fund couldn’t be learned.

It’s the latest personnel change for Benchmark, known for having a small team of general partners that share profits equally. Earlier this year, GP Sarah Tavel stepped into a venture partner role, which is more limited in scope. Last year, general partner Miles Grimshaw left the firm and rejoined Thrive Capital as a general partner.

It is unclear if Lazarte will keep his board seats, which include Mercor, which he first backed at a $250 million valuation. Earlier this year, Mercor raised at a $2 billion valuation. Mercor CEO Brendan Foody said in an interview that he expects to still work with Lazarte routinely regardless of how the departure shakes out. “I say this about almost no one – he has felt like a co-founder to us,” said Foody.

5.	Ellisons Move a Step Closer to Controlling Paramount After FCC Approves Deal By Martin Peers Source: The Information

The Federal Communications Commission approved David Ellison’s purchase, through his company Skydance, of Paramount Global, moving the $8 billion deal a step closer to completion.

Ellison had to navigate political hurdles to get the approval of the FCC, including by commiting in writing to “ensure that the new company’s programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints from across the political and ideological spectrum,” according to FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Skydance also committed not to establish any diversity-equity-inclusion programs at the new company.

Skydance’s purchase is backed financially by Ellison father Larry. The deal was struck about a year ago after a long and complicated process. Paramount Global owns the Paramount movie studio, the CBS network, the Paramount Plus streaming services and some cable channels and TV stations.

6.	The NFL in Talks to Take 10% Stake in ESPN By Sahil Patel Source: CNBC

The NFL and ESPN are nearing a deal for the league to take a 10% stake in the Disney-owned sports media company, according to a report from CNBC. The terms could include ESPN taking ownership of NFL Network and NFL RedZone, two cable channels owned by the league.

ESPN and the NFL have been talking to each other for about two years about a new deal where the NFL could take an equity stake in the company, while also supplying content to ESPN, which is about to launch a much-anticipated new streaming service later this year. The NFL Network airs some live games, replays and studio programming throughout the year. Meanwhile, NFL RedZone is a popular channel on Sundays during the regular season as it airs a studio show that jumps from game to game to show highlights.

A deal would also strengthen ESPN’s ties to the most popular sports league in the U.S., particularly as the NFL considers opting out of its current media rights deals in 2029 and opening a new bidding war between TV media heavyweights like Disney and tech giants such as Amazon, YouTube and Netflix.