Why the Business World Embraced Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Jury selection is expected to wrap up today in the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, allowing opening statements to begin next week. Devin Leonard, who’s written about the downfall of his business empire for Businessweek, talks today about why he was able to rise so far despite the signs of trouble around him. Plus: A new episode of the Elon, Inc.podcast, plus a story from India about its cyclone risk. If this email was forwarded to you, click here to sign up.

Sean Combs appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Monday for the start of his sex-trafficking trial. His hair and goatee had turned an avuncular gray during his months behind bars. He was wearing a tasteful navy blue sweater for the occasion and sounded uncharacteristically shy when he requested permission for a bathroom break. As numerous articles leading up to jury selection pointed out, he’d fallen a long way from his seemingly untouchable days as the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment.