A key line item in Meta’s plan to invest $65 billion in AI this year is 2,250 acres of flat farmland in northeast Louisiana.
There, the tech giant has begun work on a $10 billion data center in Richland Parish, the grandest of Meta’s 20 data centers worldwide. The center will need 2.23 gigawatts of 24/7 electricity, enough to power more than 2 million homes.
That seems like a lot, but even if AI efficiency significantly improves, the energy-hogging technology will still need those server farms and some, thanks to a dynamic known as Jevons Paradox, which predicts that increased efficiency causes increased demand.
FIRST UP
A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump Administration violated his order calling for a stop on spending freezes for a broad range of federal funds—the latest in a slew of legal actions against the president and cost-cutting czar Elon Musk. The judge ordered the Trump Administration to “immediately restore frozen funding” that Congress approved.
A top Justice Department official asked federal prosecutors to drop their case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, multiple outlets reported Monday. Adams faces charges based on allegations that he received illegal donations from the Turkish government for his 2021 mayoral campaign. But in recent weeks, Adams has gotten publicly closer to President Donald Trump, meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago and attending the inauguration last month.
This is a published version of the Forbes Daily newsletter, you can sign-up to get Forbes Daily in your inbox here.
BUSINESS + FINANCE
JPMorgan bought fintech startup Frank in 2021, but just a year later claimed its founder Charlie Javice invented millions of customers to close the deal. Now, the Forbes 30 Under 30 alum will stand trial in a New York federal court, and prosecutors have said the case will serve as a cautionary tale for early-stage CEOs and aspiring tech founders everywhere.
As Tesla CEO Elon Musk grows further embedded in the White House, his electric vehicle company’s public perception is weighing on shares, according to polling by investment research firm Stifel. “The negative downturn in consumers’ perception of Elon Musk … potentially results in a headwind to sales,” a Stifel analyst wrote as the firm lowered its price target for the stock.
Gold hit another record high Monday, extending a yearslong rally as President Donald Trump’s tariffs upend global trade policy and investors search for a safe haven. Gold is up 44% over the last year, by far the best-performer across a basket of 12 leading global asset classes over the period, according to the BlackRock Investment Institute.
TECH + INNOVATION
Abu Dhabi-based startup AppliedAI has raised one of the region’s largest early-stage venture funding rounds. Founder and CEO Arya Bolurfrushan’s pitch is that his AI, and human reviewers, can process complex medical billing records or insurance claims faster and more accurately than traditional outsourcing companies.
Elon Musk and other investors made a $97.4 billion unsolicited bid to buy the nonprofit group that controls OpenAI, escalating a longstanding feud between Musk and OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman. Altman quickly rejected the offer, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and mocked Musk on X.
MONEY + POLITICS
Democrats and student loan borrowers have raised concerns about reports suggesting billionaire Elon Musk and his DOGE associates may have access to sensitive student loan information at the Department of Education. Students at University of California schools filed a federal lawsuit against the Education Department arguing DOGE’s access to that data violates federal laws that maintain strict privacy regulations around sensitive financial aid information. But despite some posts circulating on TikTok, borrowers are unlikely to receive any financial relief if Musk’s access is ruled unlawful.
Last week, Musk attacked a Wall Street Journal reporter on X after she revealed that a 25-year-old DOGE staffer had a history of racist and pro-eugenics online posts. But he confused the journalist with another from Politico, illustrating again how misinformation has run rampant on X under his ownership.
SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Fox drew 126 million viewers for its broadcast of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday across platforms, according to multiple outlets, marking the most-watched matchup in Super Bowl history. The record-breaking viewership included audiences who tuned into Fox’s free streaming platform Tubi, which generated 13.6 million viewers.
WORLD
Hamas said it will delay the next planned release of Israeli hostages and accused Israel of not following the terms of its ceasefire agreement, a move that could potentially disrupt the ceasefire that paused the 15-month war in Gaza. Since the ceasefire went into effect on January 19, both Hamas and Israel have accused the other of violating its terms.
After President Donald Trump signed an order placing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all countries on Monday, the president of the European Commission issued a statement expressing regret at the decision. Ursula von der Leyen said the tariffs were “bad for business, worse for consumers,” and warned that the “unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered—they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures.”
TRAVEL + LIFESTYLE
Two storms this week are expected to dump snow across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and major airlines are allowing some travelers to rebook their flights without a fee. Winter Storm Harlow will bring heavy snow over the Central Plains and Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, followed by Winter Storm Iliana, which will develop Tuesday night in the Plains before spreading eastward.
TRENDS + EXPLAINERS
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday announced Fort Liberty in North Carolina will be renamed once again to Fort Bragg—the base’s previous name, which was changed in 2023 as a part of a Pentagon effort to rescind special honors given to officials linked to the Confederacy. However, Hegseth said the new name does not honor the Confederate general Braxton Bragg, but that it pays tribute to Private First Class Roland L. Bragg, a World War II veteran who was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for “exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge.”
DAILY COVER STORY
Silicon Valley’s ‘Gundo’ Bros Are Building A Y Combinator For Military Tech
TOPLINE A new generation of startups in El Segundo, California, which has become the center of Silicon Valley’s defense tech movement, are leaning into a MAGA-fied, pro-Christian, mostly male-led vision of Silicon Valley.
El Segundo’s founders, or self-identified ‘Gundo bros,’ are commanding the attention of some of the biggest venture capital outfits around. Lux Capital, Andreessen Horowitz and Point72 Ventures are among those who have backed more than half a dozen founders from Discipulus Ventures’ first cohort alone. They’re pouring money into seed-stage companies Durin, which is developing autonomous drilling equipment for the mining industry; Rune Technologies, which is building software for military units to manage supply chains; and Vanguard Defense, which is building a data product for electronic warfare.
Now, Discipulus has launched its own fund to back the second cohort of entrepreneurs that it plans to host for a weeklong event in coming months, raising $6 million from investors. It’s a small fund, but one with big Y Combinator-style ambitions that align with the Trump Administration’s priorities.
For Augustus Doricko, one of several very online Gundo bros, this second Discipulus cohort is further evidence of a shift away from an era of investment in consumer apps and B2B solutions toward a new one that favors America’s national security interests and military prowess.
WHY IT MATTERS It’s a so-called “vibe shift” that has inspired a MAGA-fied, pro-Christian vision of Silicon Valley tightly aligned with Elon Musk and the Trump Administration’s goals. The billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, for example, has backed a venture firm called New Founding, which is building a Christian real estate enclave, and hopes to be part of an effort to “forge new models and institutions that can shape the direction of Western civilization.”
MORE The Tech Bros Powering Silicon Valley’s Military Fever Dream With Energy Drinks, God And Nicotine
FACTS + COMMENTS
Early data from the IRS shows this tax season is off to a sluggish start, though the average tax refund is up. There’s been confusion among taxpayers amid recent changes at the IRS, including a hiring freeze:
13,177,000: The number of individual income tax returns the IRS has received in 2025, a 14% drop from early 2024
34.8%: The decline in web visits to IRS.gov from last year
$1,928: The average refund per taxpayer as of January 31, an increase of 38% compared to this time last year
STRATEGY + SUCCESS
Women’s fatigue is often underestimated due to gender bias, but unrecognized fatigue can lead to burnout, decreased productivity and long-term health issues. It’s critical that managers lead by example and prioritize incorporating short, regular breaks, and normalize taking mental health days. When companies prioritize rest, they can cultivate a culture that supports employee well-being and promotes productivity.
VIDEO
QUIZ
Many celebrities and athletes at this year’s Super Bowl sported expensive watches. Football legend and broadcaster Tom Brady wore a $740,000 watch from which brand?
A. Jacob & Co.
B. Patek Philippe
C. Rolex
D. Cartier
Check your answer.
Thanks for reading! This edition of Forbes Daily was edited by Sarah Whitmire and Chris Dobstaff.