TNB Tech Minute: Trump Media Plans to Sell Real Time Access to President’s Social Posts

Summary

WSJ Tech News Briefing: TNB Tech Minute

Episode: Trump Media Plans to Sell Real Time Access to President’s Social Posts
Date: July 16, 2026
Host: Imani Moise for The Wall Street Journal

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Overview

In this fast-paced Tech Minute, Imani Moise highlights key developments in the tech and business world, focusing on Trump Media’s plan to monetize real-time access to the President's Truth Social posts, major layoffs and retail divestitures at Verizon, and Eli Lilly’s $2.8 billion acquisition of psychedelic therapy firm Atay Bekley.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Media’s Real-Time Social Feed

(00:31–01:20)

• Launch Announcement:
  Trump Media plans to introduce a new feed providing institutional customers—including high frequency algorithmic trading firms—real-time access to posts from the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts.
• Business & Policy Intersection:
  The move is described as "the latest example of the first family mixing its business interests and White House affairs."
• Ownership Details:
  • President Trump controls approximately 41% of Trump Media's shares via a revocable trust.
  • President Trump’s account is the platform’s largest, with 12.9 million followers.
  • Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump also boast large audiences.
• Transparency Gaps:
  • No pricing or latency advantage details have been disclosed.
  • Both Trump Media and White House representatives did not respond to comment requests.

Notable Quote:
“It's the latest example of the first family mixing its business interests and White House affairs.”
— Imani Moise, (00:49)

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2. Verizon’s Retail Restructuring & Layoffs

(01:24–01:54)

• Layoff Announcement:
  Verizon to cut about 3,000 jobs and divest around 300 retail stores to franchise owners.
• Strategic Shift:
  The company plans to retain a minimum of 1,000 corporate-owned stores over the next three years as part of its long-term strategy.
• Layoff Details:
  • Most job cuts result from the store divestiture.
  • About 500 layoffs affect corporate employees directly.
• Historical Context:
  • Last fall, Verizon divested 200 stores and executed its largest layoffs ever, reducing the workforce by over 13,000.

Notable Quote:
“Verizon has determined that it needs a minimum of 1000 corporate owned stores for the next three years as part of its long term strategy.”
— Imani Moise, (01:37)

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3. Eli Lilly’s $2.8 Billion Bet on Psychedelics

(02:02–02:37)

• Acquisition Details:
  Eli Lilly will acquire Atay Bekley, a psychedelic medicine developer, for $2.8 billion.
• Market Context:
  Atay Bekley’s shares surged following an executive order by President Trump to accelerate research and patient access to psychedelic medicines for mental illness.
• Lead Therapeutic Program:
  Atay’s key product, BPL003, is a synthetic psychedelic compound intended for treatment-resistant depression.
• Timeline:
  Eli Lilly expects the acquisition to close in the third quarter.

Notable Quote:
“Atay Bekley shares got a lift in April when President Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research and patient access to psychedelic medicines for treatment of mental illnesses.”
— Imani Moise, (02:13)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump Media Feed Announcement – 00:31
• Details on Trump Media Ownership and Platform Reach – 00:54
• Verizon Layoffs and Store Divestiture – 01:24
• Historical Layoffs at Verizon – 01:52
• Eli Lilly’s Psychedelic Medicine Acquisition – 02:02
• President Trump's Executive Order Impacting Psychedelics – 02:10
• Wrap-up – 02:38

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Summary of Notable Quotes

• “It's the latest example of the first family mixing its business interests and White House affairs.” — Imani Moise, (00:49)
• “Verizon has determined that it needs a minimum of 1000 corporate owned stores for the next three years as part of its long term strategy.” — Imani Moise, (01:37)
• “Atay Bekley shares got a lift in April when President Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research and patient access to psychedelic medicines for treatment of mental illnesses.” — Imani Moise, (02:13)

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For those following the intersection of technology, business, and policy, this Tech Minute offers concise updates on significant industry shifts and signals potential new trends, especially in the trading, telecom, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up, required compatibility and availability various 18

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

here's your afternoon TNB Tech Minute for Thursday, July 16th.

[Imani Moise]

I'm Imani Moise for the Wall Street Journal. Trump Media says it plans to launch

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

a feed that gives real time access to posts from the highest ranking accounts on its Truth Social platform. The feed would be available to institutional customers, including high frequency algorithmic trading firms, starting next month. It's the latest example of the first family mixing its business interests and White House affairs.

[Imani Moise]

According to FactSet, President Trump owns about

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

41% of Trump Media's shares through his revocable trust. His account has the biggest following with 12.9 million users, and his sons, Donald Trump Jr. And Eric Trump, also have large audiences on the platform.

[Imani Moise]

The company didn't provide details on how much the service would cost or how

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

much more quickly customers would receive Trump's post than the rest of the world.

[Imani Moise]

Representatives for Trump Media and the White

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

House didn't immediately respond to requests for comments.

[Imani Moise]

Verizon is cutting roughly 3,000 workers. The company says it plans to divest itself of nearly 300 of its retail

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

stores to franchise owners, according to an

[Imani Moise]

internal memo reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. Verizon has determined that it needs a

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

minimum of 1000 corporate owned stores for

[Imani Moise]

the next three years as part of

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

its long term strategy.

[Imani Moise]

Most of the layoffs would come from

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

the retail store divestiture, but the total

[Imani Moise]

also includes about 500 Verizon corporate employees,

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

according to people familiar with the matter.

[Imani Moise]

Last fall, the company divested itself of

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

about 200 retail stores in conjunction with its largest ever round of layoffs, which reduced its workforce by more than 13,000.

[Imani Moise]

And Eli Lilly has struck a deal to buy the psychedelic firm Atay Bekley

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

for an initial $2.8 billion, continuing the

[Imani Moise]

drug maker's recent buying spree. Atay Bekley shares got a lift in April when President Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research and patient access to psychedelic medicines for treatment of mental illnesses. The company's pipeline of therapeutics for mental

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

health conditions includes its lead program, BPL003,

[Imani Moise]

a synthetic form of psychedelic compound which Eli Lilly says is aimed at providing

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

relief from treatment resistant depression.

[Imani Moise]

Eli Lilly said it expects to complete

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

the acquisition in the third quarter.

[Imani Moise]

And that's it for your TNB Tech minutes.

[TNB Tech Minute Host]

We'll have another quick tech update in the morning.

[Telus Demos]

Hey, this is Telus Demos and I'm Miriam Gottfried. We're reporters at the Wall Street Journal and The hosts of WSJ's take on the Week. It's a weekly show that gives listeners a leg up in markets and investing

[Miriam Gottfried]

from the Fed's moves to market bubbles. We dive into the biggest deals, key players and business news ahead. If you're looking for more news and tools that you can use to help navigate the markets, consider becoming a subscriber to the Wall street journal.

[Telus Demos]

Visit subscribe WSJ.com takeontheweek to subscribe now.