Another summer week is allegedly about to “blossom.” Most of America knows it’s summer because the sun is out, the kids are loose, and the weather is warm — except on the days when storms and tornadoes redecorate entire zip codes. Kids know it’s summer because school is out and parents are Googling “how early is too early for bedtime.”
Out here in Montana, though, we don’t rely on such obvious indicators. We consult the calendar like medieval astrologers. A day above 60 degrees is considered a spiritual event. And when the roads clog with rental SUVs and the Yellowstone line stretches to Idaho, that’s when we know: ah yes, summer has arrived to ruin the peace.
But the real sign of summer? The workweek shrinks. Holidays multiply. Fridays become optional. The unofficial American summer week is four and a half days long — and if you’re working Fridays, I don’t know what to tell you except: seek help. This week is officially a short one, with Friday being a national holiday, so congratulations to everyone who planned to be unproductive anyway.
Despite being short, the week is stuffed. First up: the G7 Summit. This year’s gathering — hosted by France — is in Évian, right on the Swiss border, where the water is fancy and the hotel bills are fancier. And no, the G7 is not the Gulfstream 7 jet owners’ club, though the confusion is understandable.
For the record, the G7 is Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the U.S. Russia used to be in the group until Putin behaved like… well, Putin. President Trump will attend, and the other six leaders are surely thrilled to collaborate on global issues with him while pretending everything is fine. Expect discussions on the wars in Iran and Ukraine, defense, security, AI, and immigration. Then photos, lunch, and everyone jets home declaring “progress.”
Speaking of immigration, Switzerland just held — and rejected — a referendum to cap the population at 10 million. They’re currently at 9.1 million, so this was basically a vote on whether to panic early or panic later.
Also on deck this week: the Fed’s FOMC meeting. They’ll discuss whatever they discuss before announcing interest rates and the state of the economy — two things they traditionally have only a passing acquaintance with. It’s also the first meeting chaired by Kevin Warsh, the newly confirmed Fed Chair. The famously divided Fed will test him immediately. Herding cats would be easier; at least cats pretend to cooperate when snacks are involved.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is the center of the soccer universe as the World Cup rolls on. Sure, Canada and Mexico get a couple games, but let’s be honest: the main event is here. So if you’ve been dying to watch Sweden battle Tunisia in a thrilling 1–0 marathon, this is your moment.
Oh — and congratulations to the New York Knicks for finally ending their decades-long drought and winning the NBA Championship. They now officially qualify as a Professional Basketball Team. Sorry, San Antonio. Nobody cares, and half the country couldn’t find you on a map even with GPS.
No new SpaceX drama this week. That was last week’s entertainment. To all the new shareholders: good luck on Mars. Remember, the journey is half the fun — especially when the destination is hypothetical.
Enjoy the short summer week.
Content provided by Bill Taylor with the assistance of co-pilot
