Big money is betting the self-driving future belongs to a small club
- 2026 saw nearly $19B in VC for autonomous vehicles — the most in over a decade — and Alphabet's Waymo alone raised $16B.
- Most of that cash went to a tiny handful of companies (eg, Waymo, Wayve $1.5B, Waabi $750M) instead of being spread across dozens of startups.
- Analysts say the concentration signals industry maturation and consolidation, with future investment likely shifting to fleet ops, maintenance, and aggregator platforms.
Automotive
Business and Finance
European leaders see Trump's troop drawdown from Germany as new proof they must go it alone
- Trump’s surprise decision to sharply cut U.S. troop presence in Germany has rattled NATO and prompted calls that Europe must shoulder more of its own security.
- The pullback is tied to rising tensions over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, with several European countries refusing U.S. use of bases/airspace and leaders saying Europe should strengthen its NATO role.
- Friction extends to trade: Trump is planning steep auto tariffs on the EU (a big hit for Germany) while the EU ramps up new trade deals with partners like Australia and India.
Politics
Business and Finance
Setback for Cristiano Ronaldo as Al-Nassr Loses Key Saudi League Match
- Al-Nassr were stunned 3-1 by Al-Qadsiah, a shock defeat that ended their 20-match winning run — Ronaldo even rattled the crossbar but couldn't turn it around.
- Joao Félix scored (his 23rd of the season), but repeated defensive errors allowed Al-Qadsiah to seize control and finish the job.
- The title race is suddenly tense: Al-Nassr still lead by five but Al-Hilal have a game in hand, with a potential decider between the giants on May 12; Al-Nassr must regroup before facing Al Shabab on May 7.
Top 100 Players In The 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ranked
- The 2026 World Cup runs June 11–July 19 across the U.S., Mexico and Canada (final at MetLife), with huge TV coverage on FOX — plenty to talk about for summer plans and watch parties.
- FOX Sports kicked off a Top 100 player countdown (Nos. 100–76) this week, sparking debate over rankings — notably Christian Pulisic’s form, whether Son Heung‑min is underrated, and if Raúl Jiménez is overrated.
- The list mixes proven stars (Phil Foden, Kim Min‑jae, Lisandro Martínez) with rising talents (Bradley Barcola, Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız), fueling the classic veterans vs. new‑generation small talk.
4 Takeaways From Chase Elliott's Victory At Texas
- Chase Elliott is off to a hot start — two wins in the first 11 races and a dominant Texas victory that’s given Hendrick Motorsports momentum.
- A string of wrecks and bizarre pit‑road incidents (involving Briscoe, Logano, Bell and Ty Gibbs) knocked several contenders out and created late-race drama.
- Next up is Watkins Glen — a rare spring road‑course weekend where Trackhouse drivers and road‑course aces (Zilisch, SVG, Chastain and AJ Allmendinger in the truck) will be ones to watch.
Smalltalk