You either die an ad-free hero or live long enough to see yourself become like Instagram: Meta is bringing paid advertising and subscriptions to the world’s most popular messaging platform, the tech giant announced yesterday, reversing WhatsApp’s longtime stance against ads.

You may not notice a difference…if you only use the app to text your international aunts and uncles. Messages will remain ad-free, Meta said. Sponsored content will only appear in Updates, a social tab launched two years ago. Within that section:

• WhatsApp will start interspersing ads when you’re tapping through Statuses, which is its version of Stories.
• Creators, brands, and the 200 million businesses using WhatsApp can start monetizing the app’s broadcast channels with subscriptions for their premium content. They’ll also be able to pay WhatsApp to appear higher in the in-app search results.

Users who link their Facebook or Instagram accounts to WhatsApp will get ads that are personalized beyond just their location, language, and channel-following data.

Founder’s remorse? Before Meta (then Facebook) bought WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014, the platform’s mantra was “No ads! No games! No gimmicks!” Co-founders Brian Acton and Jan Koum reportedly despised digital advertising so much that they both left Meta by 2018—before their stock vested—over the company’s alleged insistence that they bring ads to WhatsApp. Meta’s WhatsApp head denied reports of its ad plans as recently as 2023.

Why monetize WhatsApp now?

Meta has an expensive habit to support: artificial intelligence. Mark Zuckerberg’s company recently invested $14.3 billion in the startup Scale AI, and it’s planning to shell out as much as $50 billion more on AI this year, mostly supported by Meta’s advertising revenue.

WhatsApp is an untapped attention gold mine. WhatsApp has 3 billion global monthly users (only 100 million of whom are in the US), and half of them visit the Updates tab every day, per Meta. On top of an expected influx of ad dollars, Meta also plans to take a 10% cut of WhatsApp channels’ subscription fees.—ML

Iran reportedly wants to restart US nuclear talks as Israeli strikes continue. On Sunday, Iran canceled scheduled nuclear talks with the US, but yesterday, news outlets reported that it was signaling a willingness to resume them and asking allies to urge President Trump to press Israel for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to trade missile strikes, with one Israeli attack hitting Iran’s state broadcaster while it was live on air. As Israeli attacks on Iran intensified, Trump posted on social media that Tehran should be immediately evacuated. Trump left the G7 Summit a day earlier than planned in order to address the situation.

Minnesota shooting suspect planned to target two more lawmakers, prosecutors say. Prosecutors revealed more details about actions they believe were taken by Vance Boelter, the man accused of killing one Minnesota lawmaker along with her husband and injuring another politician and his wife, as they brought federal charges of murder and stalking (he’s already facing state charges). They allege Boelter visited the homes of two more state legislators the night of the shooting with plans to target them as well, but one was on vacation, and he fled after police arrived at the home of the other. Boelter, who was found by police Sunday after a manhunt, is being held without bail until a court appearance next week.

Amazon and Roku team up to get ads in front of more eyeballs. The two companies have joined forces for a digital ad sales partnership they say will give advertisers access to more than 80% of US households with connected TVs by allowing them to reach viewers of Amazon Prime, the Roku Channel, and others. They say it’s a good deal for advertisers because in early trials, ads placed this way reached 40% more unique viewers while decreasing the frequency with which ads were shown to the same viewer by 30%, tripling the value advertisers get for their cash, per Deadline.—AR

Dig a trench around the airport lounges and reinforce the kitchens of pricey restaurants— American Express and JPMorgan Chase are renewing their credit card wars.

Yesterday, AmEx announced that its Platinum credit cards will be getting a refresh in the fall. Last week, Chase launched the first salvo by teasing an update to its Sapphire Reserve card, set to arrive this summer (with specifics rumored to be revealed as soon as today), which includes a new business version. So far, the longtime rivals have been light on details on how their updates will affect those obsessed with travel and dining rewards, but here’s the speculation:

• Higher annual fees: It’s currently $695 a year for Platinum and $550 a year for Sapphire Reserve; experts expect fees to go up, with rumors flying that Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee may rise to $795.
• More stuff: AmEx is adding three airport lounges in Tokyo, Newark, and Salt Lake City. Both luxury cards are likely to beef up perks on travel and dining—AmEx acquired restaurant reservation company Tock last year, which will add 7,000 new dining options.

For AmEx, it’s about Gen Z: CFO Christophe Le Caillec views a generation that embraces subscriptions market for the Platinum card. “We acquire them once, and we get 20 more years of lifetime to deal with them,” another AmEx executive told Yahoo Finance, citing AmEx’s 98% retention rate.—DL

Trump Mobile isn’t a nickname for the presidential limo, but a new cellphone company affiliated with President Trump. The Trump Organization—a family business managed by the president’s children—announced yesterday that it is launching a phone service called T1 Mobile.

• It’ll offer a no-contract plan that includes unlimited wireless calling, text, and data, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance, telehealth options, and US-based customer service for $47.45/month, referencing Trump’s status as the 47th and 45th president.
• The company will also sell the T1 Phone, a “gold” Android smartphone for $499, which it claims will be designed and produced in the US by third-party partners.

Trump Mobile will connect customers to 5G service from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, replicating the business model of Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile and SmartLess Mobile, which was recently started by the hosts of the SmartLess podcast. These companies resell excess network capacity of major carriers, while doing their own plan marketing and customer service.

Trump’s mobile foray is controversial: Critics are concerned about potential conflicts of interest, given that the president oversees the regulator for mobile operators and that he recently made smartphone tariff threats directed at Apple.

It’s just a piece of Trump Inc. Trump made over $600 million last year licensing his name for products, including Bibles and watches, as well as from various real estate and crypto ventures.—SK

The “Mona Lisa” may be famous for her enigmatic smile, but both staff and visitors to the Louvre were in full-on frowny face mode yesterday after what the Associated Press described as a “spontaneous strike” kept the famed Paris museum from opening on time and left thousands of people waiting in line outside. To protest crowds that are too big and staffing levels that are too small, ticket takers and security guards refused to work following a routine staff meeting, per AP. How many tourists is too many?

• Last year, 8.7 million people shuffled through, even though the museum was designed to accommodate less than half that many. And every day ~20,000 people jostle for position in the Salle des États where the “Mona Lisa” hangs.
• Even with a cap of 30,000 visitors per day, staff say the museum is stretched too thin.

The French government is aware of the problem and has a plan for major renovations, but the fed-up workers who left travelers outside yesterday claim it doesn’t go far enough. And France is far from the only European destination struggling with overtourism: Last weekend, locals in Barcelona and Mallorca sprayed visitors with water guns, and anti-tourism protestors gathered in Venice and Lisbon.—AR