Crypto ATM scam, massive solar project, shopping on ChatGPT: Catch up on the day’s stories

By Daniel Wine, CNN

👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Walmart wants to use artificial intelligence to leapfrog rival Amazon in online shopping. The world’s largest retailer is teaming up with OpenAI to let customers browse and make purchases directly through ChatGPT.

Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day.

5 things

1️⃣ Crypto fraud

Americans are losing millions of dollars to scammers at crypto ATMs, which turn cash into cryptocurrency. Companies often fail to refund money to victims and aggressively fight police to claw back what was seized from the machines. Here’s how it works.

2️⃣ ‘We’re not going back’

North Carolina is the furniture capital of the US, but it has seen a lot of jobs move overseas in recent years. Some industry executives worry the help that’s on the way from the federal government will do more harm than good.

3️⃣ Snuffed out

The nation’s largest solar project, known as Esmeralda 7, was set to generate enough energy to power 2 million homes. The Trump administration quietly canceled it, sparking confusion and concern among Republicans and Democrats.

4️⃣ Tech skills

Scouting America, the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts, offers hundreds of merit badges — from fishing to fingerprinting. Now kids will have a chance to earn two new ones based on modern technology.

5️⃣ Hello darkness

Just like humans, animals rely on light cues to guide their daily rhythms. During last year’s total solar eclipse, some birds mistook the sudden darkness for dawn — and burst into song.

Watch this

🥙 Cheap eats: Tony Shalhoub travels the world trying to find delicious food for less than $10. He discovered a crunchy seafood treat in Marseille, France.

Top headlines

• Trump’s budget office prepared to ‘ride out’ shutdown
• Supreme Court rebuffs Alex Jones’ effort to overturn $1.4 billion Sandy Hook judgment
• 6 killed after US strikes another boat off coast of Venezuela

Check this out

👜 Fashion icon: In an era when celebrities rarely appear in public without a stylist’s touch, Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton stood out for her playful, self-directed charm. Her signature look — featuring chunky heels and whimsical accessories — was as distinctive as it was authentic.

Quiz time

🇫🇷 Who was reappointed as prime minister of France just days after resigning?
A. Emmanuel Macron
B. Boris Vallaud
C. François Bayrou
D. Sébastien Lecornu
⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.

Thanks for reading

✅ Most popular in yesterday’s newsletter: The planet has entered a ‘new reality’ as it hits its first climate tipping point, landmark report finds

🧠 Quiz answer: D. Lecornu just unveiled his draft budget and delivered a high-stakes policy speech after returning to office.

👋 We’ll see you tomorrow.

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Today’s edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN’s Kimberly Richardson and Sarah Hutter.