BLAME GAME: Broadcom pay, McDonald’s burger, Geo Group “coup”, Iran war

DAMION

1. Broadcom CEO Pay Soars to $205.3 Million After AI-Fueled Rally. WHO DO YOU BLAME?

   1. The workers: “The median of the annual total compensation of all our employees is $378,281. Therefore, the Ratio calculated in accordance with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K is 543 to 1.”

   2. Board chair Henry Samueli: completely non-independent.

      1. Owns $27B of Broadcom stock

      2. Director Since: 2016. Chairman of the Board since 2018. 

      3. served as Chief Technical Officer (2016-2018)

      4. co-founded Broadcom Corporation in 1991 and held several executive leadership positions at Broadcom Corporation until its acquisition by Broadcom Inc.

   3. Compensation Committee chair Harry L. You

      1. 337,162,605 against votes at 2025 AGM

         1. The other 8 directors combined: 252,626,537

      2. Annoyingly preoccupied:

         1. Current Roles

            1. Chairman: Rain Enhancement Technologies Holdco, Inc.

            2. Executive Chairman: Berto Acquisition Corp. (2025 – Present)

            3. Interim CEO: dMY Squared Technology Group, Inc. (2025 – Present)

            4. CFO: dMY Squared Technology Group, Inc. (2022 – Present)

            5. Chairman: dMY Squared Technology Group, Inc.

         2. Past Roles (Operating Companies)

            1. Vice Chairman: GTY Technology (2019 – 2022)

            2. Director: IonQ, Inc. (2021 – 2025)

            3. Director: Coupang, Inc. (2021 – 2023)

            4. Director: Genius Sports Limited (2021 – 2022)

            5. Director: Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (2019 – 2022)

            6. Director: Korn/Ferry International (2005 – 2016)

         3. Past Roles (SPACs)

            1. Co-CEO: dMY Squared Technology Group, Inc. (2022 – 2023)

            2. Director: Coliseum Acquisition Corp. (2023 – 2024)

            3. Director: dMY Technology Group, Inc. VI (2021 – 2023)

            4. Director: dMY Technology Group, Inc. II (2020 – 2021)

            5. Director: dMY Technology Group, Inc. IV (2020 – 2021)

   4. CEO Hock E. Tan

2. McDonald’s CEO awkwardly samples his company’s new burger in viral video

   1. The disgusting food at McDonald’s

      1. Hyper-Salinity: Contains up to 75% of daily sodium in one meal, causing immediate "salt bloat" and dehydration.

      2. Low Moisture: High salt and thin patties "mummify" the meat, preventing natural decay and creating a "plastic" texture.

      3. Dough Conditioners: Buns use enzymes and monoglycerides to stay unnaturally soft and shelf-stable for weeks.

      4. Insulin Spikes: Added sugars (dextrose/HFCS) in the buns trigger rapid blood sugar crashes and lethargy.

      5. Industrial Additives: Use of sodium citrate (for plastic-like cheese melt) and antifoaming agents (in frying oils).

      6. Flash-Freezing: Destroys meat cell structures, resulting in a gray, rubbery texture rather than a juicy sear.

   2. The McDonald’s attack on society

      1. The "Bliss Point": Engineered ratios of salt/sugar/fat that override the brain's "full" signal, feeling predatory rather than nourishing.

      2. The Uncanny Valley: Extreme consistency makes the food feel "fake" or "soulless" compared to artisanal, imperfect meals.

      3. Industrial Stigma: Global face of factory farming, mass land use, and high methane emissions.

      4. Disposable Culture: The lack of dining ritual (eating fast in a car/bag) leads to a psychological "guilt" or "grossness" post-consumption.

      5. Commodity Perception: Ultra-low pricing subconsciously signals "low quality" or "trash" ingredients to the brain.

   3. The controversial stain of CEO Chris Kempczinski

      1. "Failed Parents" Texts (2021): Leaked texts to Chicago’s Mayor blaming the parents of Jaslyn Adams (7) and Adam Toledo (13) for their shooting deaths, stating they "failed those kids."

      2. The "Numbers Don't Matter" Remark: Reportedly told Black executives "numbers don't matter" when confronted with the decline of Black leadership from 42 to 7 executives.

      3. $10B Byron Allen Settlement (2025): Settled a massive racial stereotyping lawsuit regarding the company's refusal to contract with Black-owned media.

      4. VP "Purge" Allegations: Lawsuits from high-ranking female executives alleging a "war against the African American community" via demotions and ad-spend cuts.

      5. Peaster Retaliation Case: Allegations that Kempczinski "shunned" his Head of Security for challenging his "racist" texts during a company town hall.

      6. The "Franchisee Gap": Confirmed a $400,000 annual cash-flow deficit between Black-owned and White-owned franchises.

      7. Enforcement Loophole: Revealed that "Global Brand Standards" are largely unenforceable suggestions for the 95% of restaurants owned by franchisees.

      8. DEI Backsliding: Criticized for quietly removing DEI goals from executive bonus structures shortly after the audit concluded.

      9. "Tough Love" Comments (2026): Blasted for "corporate gaslighting" after telling workers "nobody cares about your career as much as you do."

      10. "Broke Customer" Blame: Attributed declining sales to "low-income/broke" consumers while simultaneously defending aggressive menu price hikes.

      11. Predatory Pricing Tactics: Leaked internal documents showed teams targeting "budget-constrained" families with high-margin "add-on" items.

      12. Extreme Pay Inequality: Scrutiny over an $18–$20M compensation package, creating a 1,200:1 pay ratio compared to median workers.

      13. Franchisee Revolts: Intense friction over $70M in new tech fees and the 2025 cut of $100M in subsidies for worker tuition and Happy Meals.

      14. Cultural Legacy: Ongoing criticism for failing to dismantle the "boys' club" atmosphere inherited from predecessor Steve Easterbrook.

   4. Lead Independent Director Miles D. White

      1. Director since 2009.

3. What was really behind Jack Dorsey laying off nearly half of Block’s staff? CEO cited AI advances in cutting 4,000 workers, but a weak crypto market and declining stock price may also be at play. WHO DO YOU BLAME?

   1. Co-founder and CEO and Chair Jack Dorsey: 46% influence/41% voting power

      1. It is also the Board’s duty to oversee senior management in the competent and ethical operation of the Company … ensure that the Company is committed to business excellence, ethical and honest conduct, and the highest levels of integrity.”

      2. Gender Diversity: The benchmark we reference for gender diversity is 50% representation for women.

         1. Board is 30% with 5% influence

         2. Leadership is 27%

   2. Co-founder and director James McKelvey: 35% influence/10% voting power

   3. The Classified board structure

   4. The Class B shares worth 10 votes (co-founders control 99.6% of these shares, Dorsey with 80%)

      1. Would have lost management vote on 2025 Equity Incentive Plan

      2. 769,264,245:171,645,010… 171,343,335:171,645,010

   5. Jay-Z

4. GEO Group leadership transition

   1. On February 6, 2026, J. David Donahue, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, provided notice to The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO” or the “Company”) of his retirement effective February 28, 2026 (the “Separation Date”).

      1. (i) $104,167 per month commencing on March 1, 2026 and continuing through February 28, 2028 in accordance with the terms of the Consultant Agreement

      2. (ii) health insurance premiums for himself and any covered dependents for up to twenty-four (24) months

      3. (iii) the outstanding unvested stock options and restricted stock previously granted to Mr. Donahue will continue to vest

   2. On February 9, 2026, George C. Zoley, GEO’s founder and Executive Chairman, was appointed Chief Executive Officer effective March 1, 2026

      1. $1.2M/200%/300%

      2. Days after Trump’s 2024 reelection—which private prison companies funded to the tune of over $1 million—Zoley hailed the “unprecedented opportunity” of the incoming administration’s mass deportation campaign.

      3. “The GEO Group was built for this unique moment in our company’s [and] country’s history, and the opportunity that it will bring,” he beamed.

      4. George C. Zoley founded GEO in 1984; was appointed Executive Chairman on July 1, 2021; served as CEO from the time the Company went public in 1994 through June 2021; served as Chairman since May 2002; served as Vice Chair from January 1997 to May 2002. Prior to 1994, he served as President and Director from the Company’s incorporation in 1988

   3. Feb 2026: completed a US$92.45 million share buyback

   4. WHO DO YOU BLAME?

      1. The GEO Group Emperor: George C. Zoley 84% influence!

         1. founded GEO in 1984; Chair (2002-2021); Executive Chair (2021-present); CEO (1994-2021); Vice Chair (1997-2002). Prior to 1994, Director (1988-)

         2. 3% stock owner

         3. The Trump bromance:

            1. Days after Trump’s 2024 reelection—which private prison companies funded to the tune of over $1 million—Zoley hailed the “unprecedented opportunity” of the incoming administration’s mass deportation campaign: “The GEO Group was built for this unique moment in our company’s [and] country’s history, and the opportunity that it will bring,” he beamed.

            2. Pam Bondi: The current Attorney General was a former lobbyist for The GEO Group

            3. A GEO Group subsidiary, GEO Acquisition II Inc., donated $1 million to a pro-Trump Super PAC. Additionally, the company contributed $500,000 to the 2025 inaugural committee—double what it gave for the 2017 inauguration

         4. The economic opportunism of private prisons with ICE contracts

            1. 2/13/26: Private prison company GEO Group on Thursday reported a company record of $254 million in profit last year—a roughly 700% increase over 2024—driven by asset sales and contracts with the Trump administration to build several new US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities across the US.

      2. The top 4 sleepy institutional investors (34%)

         1. Blackrock 13.8% 

         2. Vanguard 9.5% 

         3. Wolf Hill Capital Management 5.5% 

         4. FMR 5.0%

      3. The CEO clown car after June 2021 meant to keep Zoley powerful

         1. Jose Gordo (1/1/21-12/31/23); was also director

         2. Brian Evans (1/1/24-12/31/24); was not director

         3. J. David Donahue CEO (1/1/25-2/28/26); was not director

      4. The intentionally incompetent Compensation Committee in charge of succession planning

         1. 2025 proxy: Jack Brewer (Chairman), Thomas C. Bartzokis, Scott Kernan, Terry Mayotte

            1. Brewer is former NFL player

            2. Bartzokis is cardiologist

            3. Kernan is Agency Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

            4. Mayotte has stepped down

         2. 2024 proxy: Terry Mayotte (Chairman), Thomas C. Bartzokis, Scott Kernan, Andrew Shapiro

         3. 2023 proxy: Terry Mayotte (Chairman), Anne N. Foreman, Andrew Shapiro

         4. 2022 proxy: Richard H. Glanton (Chairman), Anne N. Foreman, Terry Mayotte

         5. 2021 proxy: Richard H. Glanton (Chairman), Jose Gordo, Duane Helkowski, Guido Van Hauwermeiren

      5. GEO Group’s weird lack of transparency: maybe the only public website or investors website i’ve ever seen that does not list management or board members

         1. https://www.geogroup.com/about-us/management_team/

            1. Page not found :(

5. Sam Altman Is Realizing He Made a Gigantic Mistake

   1. "Opportunistic and sloppy."

   2. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is continuing his apology tour, conceding OpenAI "shouldn't have rushed" its Department of Defense deal.

   3. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman went into full damage control mode over the weekend. A day before the United States attacked Iran, the embattled CEO announced that the company had signed a new agreement with the Pentagon over how its AI models could be used — and the blowback is clearly impacting the company’s bottom line, because Altman is sounding deeply defensive.

   4. Many users saw the military terms move as an attempt to swoop in and yank a multibillion-dollar government contract from the clutches of its rival, Anthropic. Last week, Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei refused to give in to the Department of Defense’s demands, drawing a line in the sand and insisting that its AI models may not be used for autonomous killing machines or mass surveillance of Americans, a decision lauded by many users of its chatbot Claude.

   5. WHO DO YOU BLAME?

      1. Sam Altman

6. WAR WITH IRAN

   1. A “business”-”man” (baby) running the country used to transaction approach to everything, including trading young girls with Epstein, leads the US into war with Iran for speculative and imaginary reasons - WHO DO YOU BLAME??

      1. Founder fetish (President/CEO!)

      2. Sycophantic boards (Congress!)

      3. Investors (Voters!)

      4. China! (China!)