Good morning! The weekend edition is 836 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Hamas & Israel exchange more hostages

• Pete Carrol’s new coaching gig

• And a high school points record

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Today’s Big Story

OnlyFans Complaint

A senior compliance expert filed a complaint with US government agencies alleging that Mastercard and Visa failed to stop their payment networks from processing transactions involving child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking on OnlyFans.

• The complaint argues that by continuing to process payments, the card companies willfully ignored their legal obligations to prevent money laundering.

• The whistleblower and anti-trafficking experts, including federal agents, claim they alerted Visa and Mastercard to illegal content on OnlyFans in 2021 and 2022. The complaint also drew heavily on a 2022 study that found a "high volume" of accounts with indicators of child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking.

• Mastercard and Visa denied knowledge of the specific complaint and disputed the allegations. They stated they have strict compliance requirements and would terminate financial institutions or merchants not following their rules. OnlyFans also maintains a "zero-tolerance policy" against child abuse and trafficking content.

• The companies have previously taken action against other adult content sites like Pornhub when faced with similar allegations.

• OnlyFans is a rapidly growing creator platform with over 300 million users and 4 million content creators. The site relies heavily on payment cards and takes a 20% cut of creators' earnings. In September, the platform reported $6.6 billion in gross payments to creators.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• US existing home sales plummeted to their lowest level since 1995 in 2024, with 4 million homes sold. Despite challenging market conditions, December sales rebounded, increasing 9.3% year-over-year, driven by job gains and increased inventory. However, Fannie Mae predicts weakening sales in the first half of 2025. (More)

• Hamas announced it will release four female soldiers—Karina Ariev, Danielle Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag—today. The militant group's spokesperson, Abu Obeida, confirmed the women are alive and will be transferred to Israeli custody in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners, including 120 serving life sentences and 80 with long-term sentences. (More)

• In eastern DR Congo, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels killed North Kivu Governor Peter Cirimwami during a frontline visit. According to UN reports, more than 400,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as the M23 advances toward the city of Goma. More than 200 civilians have been killed in areas captured by M23. (More)

• Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev due to a leg injury, causing spectators to boo as he left the court. Djokovic tore a muscle in his previous match and stopped play after losing the first set, ending his bid for an 11th Australian Open title. Jannik Sinner will now face Zverev in the final on Sunday after defeating Ben Shelton in the other semifinal. (More)

• The Trump Administration claimed to have arrested 538 "illegal immigrant criminals" and deported hundreds more via military aircraft to Guatemala. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the group included a suspected terrorist, gang members, and individuals convicted of sex crimes against minors. (More)

• Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, despite opposition from three Republican senators and all Democrats. This marks only the second time in history a vice president has broken a Senate tie for a Cabinet nomination. (More)

• Pete Carroll has agreed to a three-year deal, with a team option for a fourth year, to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Carroll, 73, is one of the few coaches to have won both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. He will be the Raiders' fifth head coach since their move to Las Vegas in 2020. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• Sacramento County is building the Watt Service Center and Safe Stay, a 13-acre mixed-use site designed to support the homeless. The facility will include 225 Safe Stay cabin beds, space for 50 vehicles in a Safe Parking area, and 75 emergency/weather respite beds. (More)

• Seconds Market, a Los Angeles-based secondhand clothing group, has connected 20,000 donors nationwide with Californians in need after the LA wildfires. It also plans to open a free “store” for locals to select needed items. (More)

• A UK woman overcame a rare brain condition called Chiari malformation, which caused balance and vision issues. Diagnosed in 2023, she had surgery and completed the 268-mile Spine Race across the UK in 132 hours just 18 months later. (More)

• Surgeons in Leeds performed a groundbreaking keyhole surgery to remove a previously inoperable brain tumor from a woman by accessing it through her eye socket. The innovation offers new hope for patients with tumors in difficult-to-reach locations. (More)

Extra Credit

💰️ Indian governor offers $1M to anyone who can decipher ancient writing system

🏀 California high school hooper scores 102 points in 22 minutes.

🤖 Watch: This Chinese robot is terrifyingly agile.

💵 Warren Buffet’s best financial advice for the middle class.