They’re saying that if everyone just did what they agreed to do: - Musk would give Twitter shareholders $44B in cash, - Twitter shareholders would give Musk ownership of the company.

Note that today, Twitter is worth $28B. So the agreed deal essentially gives the shareholders $16B in profit.

So a judge might tell Musk he can’t back out and has to buy Twitter for $44B like he said he would. Or it might let him just give the shareholders $16B and not get the company.

When has the second instance ever happened and what's the mechanism for that? Every shareholder gets a check?

Typically, if you want to distribute money to each and every shareholder you pay them dividend. Must would only need to wire money to Twitter corporate account first.

It's the internet. Just say it with enough conviction, and others will buy it. Continue to say it, and everyone will buy it.

Er, not just the internet now