Morning roundup: Ritholtz reads, Illinois tornadoes and global

The latest Friday morning briefing blends a curated list of long‑form articles with breaking news across the United States and the world. Among the highlights are two tornadoes confirmed in Illinois, President Trump’s claim of an imminent Iran deal, and SpaceX’s Wall Street debut, all featured alongside the “10 Friday AM Reads” recommendations from the Ritholtz Wealth Management blog [1].

Key takeaways

• Two tornadoes touched down in Illinois, including one near Dwight and another southwest of Streator [2].
• President Donald Trump says a deal with Iran could be finalized this weekend, though Iranian officials note negotiations are ongoing [3].
• El Niño has formed in the Pacific, with forecasters warning it could surpass the 1997 event and drive 2027 temperatures to record highs [3].
• SpaceX is set to sell 555.6 million shares at $135 each in its initial public offering [3].
• The “10 Friday AM Reads” list features pieces on Amazon’s research project, e‑scooter sustainability, and Apple’s podcast strategy [1].

Curated reads for the commuter

The Ritholtz “Friday AM Reads” column offers a mix of business, technology and culture stories for the early‑morning commuter. Highlights include Bloomberg Businessweek’s profile of Amazon’s ambitious research initiative, a Worth article on fraud prevention using Frank Abagnale’s tactics, and a Wall Street Journal investigation into modern workplace surveillance [1]. Other selections examine the environmental impact of e‑scooters, the historical accuracy of popular narratives, and MIT Technology Review’s exploration of how new ideas emerge [1]. The list rounds out with a Bloomberg piece on China’s lunar ambitions, an Apple podcast funding plan, and an Esquire ranking of James Bond villains [1].

Breaking news across the Midwest and beyond

Illinois weather officials confirmed two tornadoes on Thursday evening, with damage reported near Streator, Dwight and possibly Merrillville, Indiana [2]. The storms arrived amid a broader tornado warning for the Chicago metro area, prompting concerns about power outages and structural damage. Meanwhile, President Trump publicly asserted that a diplomatic agreement with Iran could be reached over the weekend, citing confidence that Iran’s supreme leader is prepared to sign [3]. Iranian officials, however, indicated that talks remain in progress and no final deal has been signed [3].

In climate news, meteorologists announced the formation of a new El Niño, warning that it may rival the 1997 event that caused extensive heatwaves, floods and wildfires [3]. Scientists project that the lingering effects could make 2027 the hottest year on record [3]. On the corporate front, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is poised for a Wall Street debut, offering 555.6 million shares at $135 each, a move that investors are watching closely [3].