And Apple’s New CEO Is...

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Happy Tuesday, Future Party. Here’s one way to grab headlines: Drake hid the release date for his new album, Iceman, inside a massive structure made entirely of ice. That’s right — Toronto residents will have to wait for it to melt to reveal the date within. Talk about literally testing people’s patience.

After 15 years, Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple’s CEO and has named hardware chief John Ternus as his successor.

The Big Picture: Cook signaled last year that he was ready to pass the torch in 2026… and analysts quickly singled out Ternus as the heir apparent. While the legacy of the legendary Steve Jobs always loomed over Cook, he carved his own path, earning a reputation as a cool-headed operator and a savant of optimization. Now, it’s Ternus who has big shoes to fill.

Behind The Curtain: A succession at Apple is essentially Silicon Valley’s version of a royal coronation.

Final Day: Ternus — Apple’s head of hardware engineering since 2021 — has been instrumental in the development of the iPad and Macs over the past 25 years. He’ll now face tough questions about Apple’s ability to create a new mainstream product and its lack of success in AI. He appears set to tackle both at once, leading the charge on AI-powered wearables (new AirPods, smart glasses, and a camera-equipped pendant) and smart-home products (a display with facial recognition, a tabletop robot, and a security camera).

Time will tell if any of these become Apple’s next iPhone.

The Future: Considering Ternus’ hardware bona fides, expect his first new product launch to serve as a reset for the company under his vision.

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Heineken shook up Coachella with a device called “The Clinker” that rewarded human connection… and yes, it was attached to beer cans.

Why It Hits: As COVID fades into the rearview, people are thirsty for IRL community — re-engaging with, gasp, strangers. Heineken’s device sits at the intersection of these trends. And by rolling it out at the most important music festival in the US, the brand gave it a headlining launch.

Between The Cans: Heineken turned a simple cheers into a tech-powered icebreaker, according to THR.

Last Sip: Heineken has been Coachella’s official beer sponsor for a whopping 23 years, making it the music destination’s longest-running brand partner, period. That means the Dutch brewer has been present through the event’s many transformations… some of which have allegedly dampened the festival’s original spirit.

But at the end of the day, Coachella is still about people — friends and strangers alike — coming together to listen to great music for a weekend. Products that serve that mission will always be a hit.

Next Round: Don’t be surprised if Heineken further commercializes the device, making it a go-to party favor for weddings, birthdays, and conferences.

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39.6% of you voted Often in yesterday’s poll: How regularly do you tune into NPR?

“Daily. News and in-depth stories covering a wide array of subjects, with left-leaning (or left-sitting) personalities surrounding otherwise centered reports.”

“My morning wake-up for news and weather — without having to scroll. I just lie there for 10 minutes with my coffee, plus another five when the BBC headlines come on, and I get a concise summary I’d otherwise have to piece together from multiple online sources.”

“NPR has been our go-to source for trusted, vital, and nuanced information for so many years that it’s become part of the family.”

“Only when on the road. My local NPR station is so politically skewed, it hurts to listen to them.”

“Does not offer a balanced view of current news.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join Poll Of The Day, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

🎥 Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground will become an independent production company after its deal with Netflix concludes later this year.

🕺 Channing Tatum’s Free Association Live has raised $45 million from Alignment Growth and East West Bank to take Magic Mike Live global.

🧅 Satire publisher The Onion has struck a deal to take over Alex Jones’ maligned InfoWars and turn it into a parody of itself under the creative direction of Tim Heidecker.

🤖 The National Security Agency is already using Anthropic’s Mythos model… despite the company being blacklisted by the Pentagon.

🚀 Blue Origin’s new New Glenn rocket successfully returned to Earth but failed to deploy an AST SpaceMobile satellite in orbit. You win some, you lose some.

👀 Sam Altman’s World is rolling out a “concert kit” to verify humans attempting to buy live-event tickets.

📦 California has sued Amazon for alleged price-fixing, accusing it of forcing top brands to raise prices on competing retailers like Walmart and Target.

⚽ FIFA is going to war with New Jersey over the state’s plan to charge $150 roundtrip train tickets to MetLife Stadium for the World Cup.

👟 Every athletic footwear brand is battling to make the first 4-ounce running shoe.