James Altucher:

Trump Takes Big Step To Make Flying Cars a Reality

Flying cars. Drone deliveries. Supersonic flights.

President Donald Trump aims to speed commercial development of new-age aviation tech by reducing regulations the administration says have hindered testing and production.

"This year, flying cars are not just for the Jetsons. They are also for the American people in the near term," Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told reporters.

Trump directed the Federal Aviation Administration in an executive order to expedite approval for routine commercial drone operations that retailers such as Amazon have said are crucial to expanding airborne deliveries.

Orders Trump signed June 6 also will allow manufacturers to begin testing flying cars and removed regulatory barriers his administration says are preventing supersonic overland passenger flights from being introduced in the United States.

The changes also will allow drones to be used in emergency response, including responding to wildfires, and long-distance cargo and medical delivery, the administration says.

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Chris Campbell:

Never Bet Against Elon? No.

Like any great rom-drama, a misunderstanding was inevitable between President Trump and Elon Musk. Especially when the bromance is between two men who both think they’re the main character. Now it's war–and the talk around SpaceX has completely changed.

Two weeks ago, industry experts would have described SpaceX as a “once-in-a-generation company that’s redefined what is possible in aerospace.” They would have called it “a foundational platform for U.S. and global space infrastructure.” That hasn’t changed.

This moment might look like a PR disaster. But from 30,000 feet? It’s classic mythology. The genius gets cast out. The empire tries to go on without him. The prodigal rocket man, at odds with the powers that be, ultimately proving again that the future still needs his fire.

Hyperbole aside, there’s a kernel of truth: SpaceX’s vision – reusable rockets, Mars colonization, global internet – is driving the frontier of space. In the end, “Never bet against Elon” is fanboy puff. But SpaceX is still a killer company.

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Ari Goldschmidt:

Walmart and Wing Expand Drone Delivery to Five More U.S. Cities

Wing, the on-demand drone delivery company owned by Alphabet, is spreading its commercial wings with help from Walmart.

The two companies announced last week that it plans to roll out drone delivery to more than 100 Walmart stores in five new cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa. Walmart is also adding Wing drone deliveries to its existing market in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The expansion signals Walmart’s growing confidence in drone delivery. Greg Cathey, who is senior vice president of Walmart’s U.S. Transformation and Innovation department, said drone delivery would remain a key part of its “commitment to redefining retail.”

“We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever before,” Cathey said.

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