Daily Bafflements

• The blockbuster series by the New York Times uncovering the faces behind layers and layers of shady shell companies buying up elite real estate in New York is a must-read. The first part of the series unpacks the owners of the condos at the Time Warner Center, from reality show contestants to hedge fund fraudsters, from televangelists to Saudi royals. “At the Time Warner Center, 37 percent of the condominiums are owned by foreigners. At least 16 foreigners who have owned in the building have been the subject of government inquiries, either personally or as heads of companies.”

• Stephanie Mencimer at Mother Jones tries to track down the plaintiffs that the Competitive Enterprise Institute picked to be the faces of its legal case against Obamacare, all of whom turn out to be odd choices, and some of whom seem to be…confused.

• Headline of the Day, via ArtNet: “College Studio Art Project Gone Wrong Shuts Down City.”

• Elon Musk’s SpaceX: still trying.