“I Failed Everyone I Cared About”

FTX's disgraced founder speaks. March 29, 2024 Good morning! In today’s Wake-Up Call, I’m sharing [the absurdly affordable cleanser I swear by]( and [pickleball shoes that’ll prevent injury](. But first, we’ve got more on the sentencing rocking the finance world and [the upsetting crime happening on the streets of NYC](. Let’s get started.   In the News [Sam Bankman-Fried leaving a courthouse]( Getty Images Boom and Bust After being convicted of stealing billions from customers and defrauding lenders and investors via his investment firm, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been sentenced. Here’s the latest, plus insight from author Michael Lewis, who captured the 32-year-old’s downfall in his latest book. The sentence: The crypto founder was sentenced to 25 years and ordered to pay $11 billion in financial penalties. “There is a risk that this man will be in a position to do something very bad in the future,” Judge Lewis Kaplan said. “And it’s not a trivial risk.” SBF speaks: “I’m sorry about what happened at every stage,” Bankman-Fried said at the hearing. “At the end of the day, I failed everyone I cared about.” Lewis’ take: “I’m of two minds. Given the judge’s frame — that SBF stole $10 billion in a premeditated crime — the sentence felt lenient. But given my own sense of what happened — he borrowed and risked his customers’ money without asking, and it now looks like they are all going to be repaid 130% or so of their losses — it feels crazily harsh,” Lewis tells us. Lewis spent months following SBF during his rise and spectacular fall. //link.katiecouric.com/click/34859923.705665/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1VSnBEZ0V3T0ExTQ/64ad542fa06bf6ade80ad77fDffc18c19[Watch my interview with him about this fascinating case.]( [WATCH HERE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUJpDgEwOA1M   More Stories [Barack Obama and Bill Clinton cheer on Joe Biden]( Getty Images Politics: Presidents Obama and Clinton joined President Biden for a sold-out fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall last night, raising $26 million — a record for a single event. Donald Trump is selling a "patriotic" edition of the Bible, raising concerns among Christians that he's taking advantage of people's faith. And a judge has ruled that top Georgia Republican Brian Pritchard — who spread the lie that the 2020 election was stolen — voted illegally nine times. World news: President Biden says Arab countries are prepared to “fully recognize Israel” in a future deal. As devastation reigns in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says the IDF is “preparing to enter Rafah," where more than a million people are sheltering. President Putin says that Western countries that host F-16 fighter jets supplied to Ukraine would be “legitimate targets” for attack. And Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has now [spent a year in a Russian prison]( �€” without being convicted of a crime. U.S. news: Home Depot is buying the massive building projects supplier SRS Distribution for $18.3 billion, its biggest acquisition ever. A Texas mother who faced five years in prison for voting illegally in the 2016 election has had her conviction reversed. And the No. 4 seeded Crimson Tide of Alabama beat the No. 1 seeded North Carolina Tar Heels in the Sweet 16 of men’s March Madness.   A Closer Look [Blurry picture of people walking across a street in NYC]( Getty Images Women in New York City are taking to social media to discuss a disturbing trend: A number of them report they've been hit in the head by a stranger while walking down the street in broad daylight. We've got [a deeper dive into these awful incidents]( and the larger questions about public safety they bring to the forefront. [READ MORE](   Now Open [Staff members at Café Joyeux in NYC]( Café Joyeux Headed to NYC sometime soon? We hope you'll find time for a stop at [Café Joyeux](, an inclusive and supportive French restaurant that just opened its first-ever American location in the Big Apple. Café Joyeux proudly hires team members with intellectual and developmental disabilities and empowers them with vocational training — and 100% of the profits go back into the company to support recruiting and instruction. Friendly faces, tasty treats, and a worthwhile mission? Sounds like a winning recipe to us!   Extra Credit Hot tip: I found [a cleanser that does it all](: It removes impurities, takes off makeup, and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. The best part? It's only $10 — this is not too good to be true. Lace up: Your warm-up is a crucial part of your pickleball game, and so is your footwear. Before you hit the court, check out [our list of the best sneakers]( to support you through every step. Precious stones: Lab diamonds have been growing in popularity lately, so we're explaining [the benefits of these gems]( and highlighting some of our favorite finds.   Dig In Looking for an afternoon snack you can feel good about? [This recipe for cocoa berry chia pudding]( is not only delicious — it's also packed with flavanols, natural bioactive compounds that are clinically proven to promote a strong heart. [CHECK IT OUT]( [Sponsord by Cocoavia](   In Step It might not shock you to learn that many women's shoes are actually just smaller versions of men's. On is aiming to change that with [new sneakers tailored to the female physiology](, for a truly perfect fit. Finally. [Orange On sneakers on puirple and coral gradient background]( [SHOP HERE](   Final Words [Richard Serra](Katiecouric.com) Getty Images Famed American sculptor Richard Serra died this week. Known as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century, Serra became famous for his larger-than-life steel structures, which “had a mystical effect,” wrote Roberta Smith in a New York Times obituary. Serra worked and produced for nearly six decades, and his sculptures still stand tall in sites all over the world.   Thank you for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.cominfo@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] [For the best experience, read in browser.]( Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2023 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.