Retail sales rose modestly in April, but higher gas prices are masking softer consumer demand. Sam Vadas and Marley Kayden highlight regulatory pressure around the Paramount Skydance (PSKY) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) deal, along with mixed signals from Boeing (BA) and Chinese names like Alibaba (BABA) and JD.com (JD). Applied Materials (AMAT) also sets the tone in semis with strong results.