Cards · Sunday, May 24, 2026 · 78 newsletters
Today's reads
Every newsletter in the inbox, distilled to 3-5 claims. The briefing for this day at /whatimreading/2026-05-24 is the editorial curation on top of this layer.
1100 Pennsylvania
Binance continues helping Iran evade sanctions despite U.S. restrictions.
- Iranian entities are still using Binance, a backer of Trump's crypto venture.
- Binance has served as a financial artery for Iran's IRGC.
- The Trump family deepened ties with Binance, rewarding its founder with a pardon.
- Lawmakers must establish ethics rules barring officials from profiting from digital assets.
Links: Public Citizen, Wall Street Journal
Age of Disruption
by Bruce Mehlman
Global progress is evident in health, safety, and technological innovation.
- U.S. homicides and drug overdose deaths are falling to historic lows.
- Life expectancy is high, though lower than comparable developed counties.
- The trend of beating dementia is notable, with lower risk at older ages.
- Health innovation is enabling a Cambrian Explosion of cures.
- Dads are spending significantly more time with their children than previous generations.
Links: lower than comparable developed counties, X, Derek Thompson, Cambrian Explosion, restoring normal hearing in children who were born deaf, Shingles vaccine appears to prevent dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and may even slow biological aging, the first patient to produce his own insulin after receiving genetically engineered cell transplants, without needing dr, substantially extend the lives of patients with pancreatic cancer, drinking water can be drawn directly from the sky
Artforum
Artforum offers a 50% discount on annual subscriptions.
- Established in 1962, Artforum covers contemporary art and culture.
- It provides analyses on film, music, architecture, and media.
- The special offer saves 50%, reducing the cost to $37.50.
- The discount includes one year of print and digital access.
Bloomberg
Final reminder to lock in full access to Bloomberg news and analysis.
- The limited-time subscription offer is ending soon.
- Subscribers gain access to global business news and expert analysis.
- Benefits include custom watchlists, 30+ newsletters, and 24/7 media.
- The discount is available for the first year of service.
Links: Get 60% off, View in browser, Contact Us, Advertise, Privacy Policy
Brick | farmers market girl
by Brick | farmers market girl
Fresh spring produce and gifted steaks fuel a 49-serving meal plan.
- The meal plan features bright, fresh dishes showcasing spring produce.
- The $177.50 haul provides 49 servings of meals and snacks.
- Key ingredients include fiddlehead ferns, morels, and squash blossoms.
- The plan incorporates gifted steaks alongside market proteins.
Cashless: Fintech, CBDC and AI at the speed of Asia
by Rich Turrin
Asia leads in AI banking, stablecoins, and tokenization adoption.
- Malaysia's Ryt Bank, the world's first AI-native bank, is setting a global benchmark.
- Asia owns 63% of global stablecoin volume, bypassing expensive cross-border transfers.
- Major US exchanges (DTCC, NYSE, Nasdaq) are adopting tokenization with a July launch.
- Moody's warns that 65% of global banks lack comprehensive AI governance.
Links: Read the full article, see how the West is copying Ryt →
ChinaTalk
Soviet dissidents offer lessons for the US in the 2020s.
- The dissident movement was primarily about intellectual circles, not mass protests.
- Most actions focused on Muscovite writers defending their friends.
- The dissidents were noted for being better writers than the KGB.
- The story offers guidance for how the US should approach the 2020s.
Links: F. Ichiro Gifford, whom Jordan has interviewed on ChinaTalk, biography of Leonid Brezhnev, ChinaTalk
Creator Economy
by Peter Yang
AI agents enable solo startup operation using OpenClaw and Devin.
- Ryan Carson runs his startup solo using AI agents like OpenClaw and Devin.
- Agents can manage inboxes, calendars, sales outreach, and feature development.
- These agents are configured using skills defined in markdown files, like cron jobs.
- The focus of modern startups is building the operational system, not just the product.
Links: Ryan, YouTube, 02:25, 13:46, 24:36, 37:11, Wispr Flow
Culture Study
AI-generated content is sloppy, invasive, and exhausting.
- AI pitches often attempt to optimize or replace therapy.
- The author finds these pitches sloppy, noting they include the prompt.
- AI-generated art feels glossy, digital, and lifeless.
- The trend of AI marketing is increasingly annoying and invasive.
Links: A.I. Keeps Wasting My Time
DrawTogether with WendyMac
Explore art through the structure of grids and graphs.
- The week's drawing assignment focuses on grids, inspired by Diego Rivera's work.
- Rivera used graph paper for mosaic proposals, showing that even murals require structure.
- Artists like Romare Bearden use grids to plan spacing and composition.
- The email encourages readers to visit museums and galleries to see art up close.
Links: Diego Rivera exhibit at SFMOMA, here’s a documentary on the great Mexican muralist, Romare Bearden, More info here
Every
by Kate Lee
AI expands human work, creating new frontiers for human competence.
- AI progress expands human work rather than ending it, according to "After Automation."
- Google I/O focused on agents and distribution, not just AI benchmarks.
- AGI is approaching, creating tension between tech ambition and worker job security.
- New grads need a specific "playbook" to navigate AI-vulnerable entry-level jobs.
Links: Context Window, “After Automation,”, Google I/O, Alex Duffy, Katie Parrott
Fintech Brainfood
by Simon Taylor
AI is fundamentally reinventing the future of e-commerce and finance.
- Google's Universal Cart is presented as a potential gamechanger for e-commerce.
- The White House issued an EO promoting Fintech innovation and regulation.
- Mercury secured $200m in Series D funding at a $5.2bn valuation.
- Several companies are building infrastructure for AI compute and wealth management.
Links: Google announces Universal Cart., White House Issues Executive Order for Fintech Innovation, Mercury raises $200m Series D at $5.2bn valuation, Compute Desk, Internet Backyard, Prime Intellect, Nevis Wealth
Fintech Business Weekly
Small bank CFSB faces enforcement action over BSA/AML compliance.
- CFSB, a small Queens bank, grew rapidly using fintech partnerships.
- Its assets grew from $140M in 2017 to nearly $900M in 2024.
- The bank was hit with a BSA/AML enforcement action.
- Growth was supported by partnerships with global fintechs like Wise and Payoneer.
Fintech Wrap Up
by Sam from Fintech Wrap Up
Visa is strategically shifting focus to high-margin Value-Added Services (VAS).
- Visa is monetizing transactions through VAS, decoupling software intelligence from physical rails.
- VAS is a high-margin engine, generating $10.9 billion in revenue in FY25.
- The structural contribution of VAS to net revenue rose to 24% by FY2024.
- The VaaS stack provides modular, API-driven access to the global payments network.
First Round Review
Great salespeople remain crucial differentiators in the age of AI.
- Elite sales organizations rely on human connection and judgment, not just tech.
- Great GTM systems raise the floor but must leave room for exceptional performance.
- Structured rollouts and in-person enablement are superior to pure self-service PLG.
- The fundamentals of great selling are the only real edge against AI adoption.
Links: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
FoT
by Reilly Brennan
Automotive industry sees rapid shifts in development cycles and EV adoption.
- Stellantis aims to cut vehicle development cycles to 24 months with 60 new products.
- Chinese EVs are highly popular, challenging established market norms.
- The Tesla Semi is generating positive early reviews as it enters volume production.
- Autonomous systems require human oversight, complicating the definition of 'autonomous.'
- Bingo launched a modular EV for African ridehailing, focusing on local operators.
Links: Stellantis reveals new turnaround plan, Chinese cars, Tesla Semi, robotaxis, Bingo shows off its modular EV
Frontier Fintech Newsletter
by Samora Kariuki
Mobile money faces structural limits, requiring a new financial model.
- Aggregate data suggests mobile money is hitting a structural ceiling.
- The traditional telco-led, agent-dependent model is reaching its limit.
- Comparing major operators' financials reveals different scaling paths.
- The next wave of African finance must look beyond current models.
Links: GSMA State of the Industry Report, Safaricom, MTN, Airtel
Gov Brief Today
DOJ deleted Jan. 6 records, calling the official charges 'partisan propaganda.'
- The Justice Department erased records of Jan. 6 charges over the weekend.
- DOJ stated the deleted record was 'partisan propaganda.'
- The department previously brought over a thousand cases against rioters.
- This action occurred while officers defended Congress on Jan. 6.
Links: The Hill
Hello Operator
by Paul
CMOs must focus on capturing existing demand, not just creating it.
- CMOs should track high-intent inbound leads and conversion processes.
- The primary job of a CMO is capturing existing demand from buyers.
- Measuring inbound leads is the easiest way to track marketing success.
- Great marketing leaders must make the lead creation process airtight.
Links: high-intent inbound leads, much, more than this, My Best Stuff on Capturing Demand
History Facts
Quiz predicts how daily choices shape your lifespan.
- Discover how your daily choices shape the life you are building.
- The quiz assesses what you eat, how you move, and how you think.
- Take the quiz to find areas where you can level up your life.
Links: Terms of Use, Privacy Policy
Sleeping caps had a surprisingly large job despite being a cliché.
- Sleeping caps frequently appear in early modern portraits and literature.
- These small garments actually served a surprisingly large function.
- The digest also covers topics like collar origins and button placement.
Links: More on Fashion, Why Do Shirts Have Collars?, Why Are Men’s and Women’s Buttons on Opposite Sides?, 5 of the Most Famous Dresses in History, The Surprising Origins of 6 Popular Fairy Tales, 6 Major Events That Happened 100 Years Ago
WWII service affected a large portion of the U.S. population.
- Twelve percent of the U.S. population served in World War II.
- By 1945, 16.1 million U.S. citizens served in the military.
- This represented 12% of the 132 million population at the time.
- Germany had the highest number of service members.
Links: Twelve percent of the U.S. population served in World War II., U.S. History, Continue Reading
International Intrigue
by John
The newsletter is launching a premium subscription for exclusive content.
- The publication is transitioning to a paid model, starting Monday.
- The team's background as former diplomats is a key differentiator.
- Insiders receive 'Intrigue's Take,' an ad-free experience, and Telegram access.
- Founding members can subscribe at a discounted rate of $79 a year.
Links: Jeremy Dicker, Helen Zhang
Latika Takes: The Podcast
Mark Esper discusses NATO setbacks and US expectations for allies.
- Esper discussed feeling offended by Europe's response to US/Israel actions.
- He noted that these events have set back NATO, especially amid Trump's criticism.
- The interview covered US expectations for allies regarding a potential Chinese grab on Taiwan.
- Esper also advised allies on how to approach dealings with the Trump Administration.
Lenny's Newsletter
by Dan Shipper
AI is changing work, making certain roles essential and others obsolete.
- The future of work will happen inside AI agents like Codex or Claude Code.
- SaaS is bullish; users bringing AI tokens improves margins.
- Forward deployed engineers and PMs are the most valuable roles.
- Automation is a lie, and CLIs are becoming obsolete.
Links: https://every.to, https://x.com/danshipper, https://www.linkedin.com/in/danshipper/
Lily & Fox Team
New summer nail designs, including stunning ombre, are now available.
- The latest releases are focused on getting ready for summer.
- The email features the stunning 'Golden Radiance' ombre design.
- Customers are encouraged to find their perfect summer manicure.
Links: Shop Summer nails!
Linas's Newsletter
by Linas
AI is reshaping finance, from IPOs to e-commerce operating systems.
- SpaceX's IPO structure suggests Starlink profits fund massive AI spending.
- OpenAI's new finance feature could challenge the entire fintech app economy.
- Google is positioning itself as the operating system for e-commerce.
- Investment strategies are shifting, with some betting against AI chips.
Links: The S-1 reveals a $7 billion Starlink profit machine subsidizing $30B in annual AI cash burn, ChatGPT’s new personal finance feature is OpenAI’s bid to kill the fintech app economy, Google Universal Cart and the Universal Commerce Protocol are Google’s bid to become the operating system of e-commerce, Leopold Aschenbrenner’s AI hedge fund Situational Awareness went from pure AI long to 62% short semiconductors in one quarter.
Lincoln Square
Discussing reforms needed to curb a lawless Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court has reversed landmark rights, including Roe and the Voting Rights Act.
- These decisions pose unprecedented threats to constitutional rights.
- The discussion covered ideas for court reform and expansion.
- Kate Riga and Edwin Eisendrath discussed these policies in detail.
Links: Kate Riga covers the Supreme Court for Talking Points Memo, It’s The Democracy, Stupid
Polis underestimates Colorado voters regarding election integrity.
- Governor Polis assumes voters are too fatigued to hold him accountable.
- The focus is on Tina Peters, former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder.
- Peters facilitated unauthorized access to voting equipment in 2021.
- This incident forced Mesa County to spend over $1.4 million in taxpayer funds.
Links: Governor Jared Polis, Tina Peters, “cyber symposium” hosted by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Mesa County had to spend over $1.4 million in taxpayer funds
Trump's China summit was a useless failure damaging American interests.
- The summit failed to negotiate trade or restrain China's territorial claims.
- Trump showed a lack of concern for democracy or freedom in China.
- He brought CEOs of companies in which he personally invested.
- His actions demonstrated a disregard for ethical standards.
Links: Edwin Eisendrath, Lincoln Square, WCPT820 AM/Heartland Signal.
Linear
Software value is shifting from UIs to underlying infrastructure and APIs.
- Agentic software means value moves from the UI to underlying components.
- The core thesis is that software will 'lose its head,' not necessarily die.
- Key value components include structured data, workflow logic, and permissions.
- Platforms must expose capabilities via APIs and commands for agent readiness.
- Salesforce's Headless 360 confirms the future is programmable, not UI-bound.
Links: structured data, workflow logic, APIs
MasterClass
MasterClass offers skills to kick off summer, including cocktails and cooking.
- A 50% Memorial Day discount promotion ends soon.
- Learn to make craft cocktails with world-class bartenders.
- Master cooking a juicy burger from scratch.
- Improve communication skills using the Conflict Playbook.
- Develop mindset shifts to transform career and personal life.
Links: Get MasterClass, 01 Craft Cocktails, 02 Best Burger Ever, 03 Tell Your Story, 05 New: Conflict Playbook, The Power of Mindset, The Conflict Playbook
Matt Stoller
by Matt Stoller
Congress appears poised to ban corporate ownership of single-family homes.
- Congress is likely to ban corporate ownership of single-family homes.
- The provision passed in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
- This legislation addresses Wall Street's dominance in the housing market.
- It aims to protect Main Street homebuyers from institutional investors.
Links: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, White House’s statement, Senate which in March passed, full account
Matthew Gattozzi
by Matthew Gattozzi
The brief is a contract, not a creative document.
- Vague briefs cause creative decisions to drift downstream.
- The problem is upstream, not fixable during the edit.
- A clear brief must define the single angle and the specific goal.
- If team members interpret the brief differently, the angle is unclear.
McKinsey & Company
Africa's $200 billion opportunity requires critical fiscal reforms.
- Africa faces a $200 billion fiscal gap, necessitating course correction.
- Four strategic levers can help generate over $200 billion over the next decade.
- Reforms are key to building resilient public finance systems and market-ready economies.
- Insights cover tech gender parity, Egypt's hard currency, and banking growth.
Links: 4 archetypes, 3 key actions, 11 key growth sectors, 6 themes, McKinsey Themes
MIT Technology Review
Anduril and Meta are pursuing smart glasses for military applications.
- Anduril and Meta entered the US Army's augmented-reality contest a year ago.
- Colossal Biosciences is developing a fully artificial chicken egg.
- Boston Metal is focusing on critical metals like niobium and tantalum.
- The review also covers Google's tech updates and AI insights.
Links: Inside Anduril and Meta’s quest to make smart glasses for warfare, Colossal Biosciences is growing chickens in a 3D-printed artificial eggshell, Green steel startup Boston Metal is doubling down on critical metals, subscribe to unlock AI analysis and insights
Morning Consult
Travel intent remains strong despite economic anxieties in 2026.
- Economic factors like gas prices and low sentiment create anxiety.
- Travel intent and spending data are surprisingly positive for the industry.
- Consumers plan to spend more across nearly every travel category.
- Spending on hotels and airfare has shown consistent increases.
- The consumer is cost-conscious but maintaining travel as a priority.
Links: View In Browser, DOWNLOAD, Update Your Email Preferences
Nate from Nate’s Substack
by Nate from Nate’s Substack
AI vendor contracts must account for physical capacity shortages.
- AI is an industrial business, requiring physical infrastructure like chips and power.
- Hyperscalers face massive spending but still struggle with capacity constraints.
- Vendor agreements must shift from software to supply contracts, demanding allocation terms.
- The strategic question is who can operate the factory producing intelligence at scale.
- Companies should forecast using tokens instead of outdated seat metrics.
Links: Mary Meeker built a 340-slide deck around it
Nautilus
Scientists are using brain waves to reconstruct images from thoughts.
- Physics students trained models to reconstruct visual images from brain wave recordings.
- The technology successfully identified objects, such as pizzas and pandas.
- Researchers hypothesize this method can reconstruct entire scenes from dreams or comas.
- This development makes mysterious human consciousness surprisingly accessible.
Links: Using brain waves to translate thoughts into pictures, determine, Hear what the students say about making their dream machine a reality →
next play
by ben at next play
Being genuinely helpful in the startup ecosystem is surprisingly easy.
- The phrase "how can I be helpful" is often performative, not genuine.
- Meaningful assistance requires minimal time and energy but yields high impact.
- Helping others often creates positive reciprocal effects, building connections.
- Simple actions, such as truly listening, are the most effective ways to assist.
Links: Next Play
Nonlinear News
by Hannah Zhang
Business school doesn't teach you how to build a creator brand.
- The official reason for attending business school is often career pivoting.
- The real reason is often trying to fix multiple life issues, which is rarely solved.
- Successful creators use the MBA to build on existing platforms, not just find a job.
- The most valuable connections form after the structured environment of school ends.
Links: Hannah Zhang, Alexis Barber, Simi Shah, South Asian Trailblazers, Subscribe
Oana Labes
by Oana Labes
A custom financial dashboard is delivered on your real numbers in 48 hours.
- The dashboard is a fully custom, secure strategic finance cockpit built on your data.
- It integrates performance, valuation, and capacity planning into one view.
- It includes a proprietary AI add-in for CFO-style scenario analysis.
- Users gain a 5-year forward scenario model tied to operational drivers.
On my Om
by Om Malik
AI, surveillance, and geopolitical shifts dominate current tech reading.
- AI is dominating tech discourse, prompting a need for diverse reading.
- Tech CEOs view Chinese firms as peers, ignoring US political rhetoric.
- Surveillance has migrated from dystopian fiction into daily life.
- Social media feeds are often manipulated by stealth marketing campaigns.
- The Old Guard is hoarding power, suggesting the future belongs to the young.
Links: The Banal Horror of Jimmy Fallon, Meet the Sad Wives of AI, Silicon Valley Keeps Misreading China’s Role in Tech, Leslie Baird on Surveillance in Society and Fiction, Andy Jassy Is Rewriting Amazon’s Playbook for the AI Age, The Feed Is Fake, The Old Guard
Padel Mecca
by Padel Mecca
Padel's growth is fueled by betting, tech, and global fashion trends.
- Betting interest is rising, citing Padel's fast pace for live betting opportunities.
- Premier Padel launched a personalized fan experience via a new app.
- Adidas released a World Cup-themed collection, boosting global appeal.
- The sport faces planning hurdles, as seen in a UK club controversy.
- Delfina Brea's journey to World No. 1 was recently profiled.
Links: The Coin Republic, FIP, Footy Headlines, BBC, Red Bull
Paul Kedrosky
by Paul Kedrosky
Memory costs dominate AI chip expenses due to supply bottlenecks.
- High memory costs stem from AI buildout speed and slow manufacturing scale.
- The bottleneck is High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), controlled by only three vendors.
- Long-term purchase agreements (LTAs) lock in peak prices, tightening the market.
- This creates a feedback loop that may lead to a catastrophic market crack.
Links: Chart of the Day: Memory Now Dominates AI Chip Costs, Epoch
Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
The US healthcare system needs major reform and a clear path forward.
- The US has poor health outcomes despite spending more per person than other nations.
- ACA improved coverage and cost, but these gains are currently being undone.
- The final piece outlines a path for Democrats if they achieve unified government control.
- It will discuss international comparisons and workable American reform systems.
Pigment
by Sammy from Pigment
Sharing your strengths with your team can improve your workflow.
- Sharing your assessment results, even briefly, changes team dynamics.
- Use a simple three-sentence format to communicate your style and strengths.
- This process gives your team useful information on how to work with you.
- It also encourages others to take the assessment, strengthening the group.
Links: How to Use Pigment at Work, Does Your Monday Morning Pass This Test?, 10 Questions As You Kick-off The New Year, How to Set Better Goals in 2026
Product Market Fit
by Guillermo Flor
AI agents like Openrun can automate running your entire business.
- Openrun is an operating system for managing AI agents and tasks.
- Users select agents and manage all tasks on a single board.
- The 'Jordan' agent automates content creation from any topic or URL.
- Agents learn and improve daily based on user activity and performance.
- Founding subscribers can get early access to the platform.
Links: Upgrade to PMF Pro, email me
PRWeek UK Weekly Bulletin
Major agency shake-ups and industry trends dominate the week's news.
- Omnicom is restructuring its international regional leadership.
- Freuds reports that demand for senior counsel is rising exponentially.
- Clients like John Lewis and Pinterest are refreshing their agency rosters.
- Edelman DXI rebranded, and the NFL UK hired fresh PR support.
- The week featured controversy regarding Gemma Collins and the DfE.
Links: Omnicom PR unveils international regional leadership structure, ‘Demand for senior counsel is rising exponentially’ – Freuds' Arlo Brady, Top 150 profile, Exclusive: Pinterest refreshes UK PR agency roster, John Lewis hires PR agency for summer campaign, Edelman DXI rebrands as Edelman Intelligence, Gemma Collins and Department for Education: good choice or comms 'disaster'?, NFL UK drafts in fresh PR agency support
Rick Wilson
by Rick Wilson
Thank you to supporters and announcement for next live video.
- The author thanked several people for tuning into the live video.
- Attendees included Ellie Leonard, Glenna Gill, and Mike Hammer.
- The author invites readers to join the next live video in the app.
- The full post can be viewed on the web at againstallenemies.net.
by Rick Wilson
James Verini discussed the situation in Ukraine during a live video.
- The author hosted a live video discussion with James Verini.
- The event was attended by several guests, including Vince Beese and Jeanne Elbe.
- Readers are encouraged to join the next live video in the app.
- The author reminds readers to subscribe for future content.
Links: James Verini, Rick Wilson, READ IN APP, Get the app, Subscribe
Route One Daily Brief
Premier League and global sports results wrap up the season.
- West Ham has been relegated from the Premier League.
- Barcelona Femeni won the Women’s Champions League final.
- The Premier League saw key results, including Man Utd's 3-0 win.
- The brief also covers League Two play-offs and MLS results.
Links: League Two promotion play-off final (May 25), [Table], [Match Highlights], [Results], The GTM bets that shouldn't have worked, and did
Scott's Newsletter
Tobi Pearce built a massive fitness app and sold it for $400 million.
- Tobi Pearce co-founded Sweat, a highly downloaded fitness app.
- He scaled the app globally using data and community, not traditional marketing.
- Pearce sold the company to iFIT Health & Fitness in 2021 for $400 million.
- He advises that much conventional business advice is generic and worthless.
Links: Tobi Pearce - Co-Founder of Sweat | The Founder Who Sold for $400M Says Most Business Advice Is Worthless
Scribd
by Steve Bryant
New YouTube series explores hidden frameworks behind everyday stories.
- The series traces claims back to original reports, manuals, and studies.
- The first video addresses AI likeness protection using 1950s legal precedent.
- Future topics include Hollywood blockbusters, crime statistics, and school phone bans.
- The goal is to help viewers build trustworthy and usable understanding.
Sent Items
by Matthew Hertz
Walmart's strong Q1 earnings and Shein's acquisition of Everlane.
- Walmart's Q1 earnings show consumers are still spending, driven by groceries.
- Shein acquired Everlane, continuing the trend of fast-fashion buying D2C brands.
- Scaling apparel brands with high ethical standards is difficult today.
- UniUni faces regulatory scrutiny as it nears public markets.
Links: WSJ
SHIFT
by SHIFT
Cholesterol experts recommend one specific food.
- The article discusses a single food beneficial for cholesterol.
- This food is presented as a key element of heart-healthy eating.
- It is claimed to help manage overall cholesterol levels.
SpyTalk News
Criticism targets Tulsi Gabbard's tenure at the ODNI.
- Shane Harris criticized Gabbard's time at the ODNI.
- Her actions were criticized, citing beach photos during war planning.
- She previously opposed the Iran war and faced scrutiny over conspiracy claims.
- John Ratcliffe benefited immediately from her departure.
- The article questions the future power of the ODNI.
Links: America Firster, criminal conspiracy case
Substack
Live video discussion 'All Who Refuse To Kneel' is now available.
- The live video features Andra Watkins and Sam Osterhout.
- The discussion is titled 'Unholy Ground.'
- The content is available to view on Substack.
Links: Watch the live video
Taking Flight
by Abby Falik
Truth-telling requires speaking up, even when it is wildly uncomfortable.
- Modern progress narratives often ignore intuition and embodiment.
- Challenging established scripts creates generative, rather than divisive, discomfort.
- Pema Chödrön models accepting nervousness without spinning a story.
- Learning requires acknowledging the 'cracks' in understanding.
Links: Pema Chödrön sees clearly, Bayo Akomolafe speaks from the cracks
Techmeme
Uber's bid for Delivery Hero and DeepSeek's major price cut dominate tech news.
- Uber approached a major shareholder with a high bid for Delivery Hero.
- DeepSeek is making its 75% API discount permanent for V4 Pro.
- The ECB will discuss risks posed by the latest AI models.
- Google is rolling out an AI-powered voice tool in Docs.
- Apple Watch needs shake-up amid Whoop, Oura, Google Fitbit.
Links: Uber weighs a higher bid after it approached a major Delivery Hero shareholder, DeepSeek says it will lower V4 Pro API prices by 75%, The ECB summons Eurozone banks to a meeting on Tuesday, Google Docs Live, an AI-powered voice tool for drafting documents, Apple Watch needs shake-up amid Whoop, Oura, Google Fitbit
Ted Rubin
by Ted Rubin
Jewish and Muslim communities must ally against hate, not against each other.
- Targeted violence requires Jewish and Muslim communities to be allies.
- Suspicion and division are often fueled by people fanning the flames.
- The biggest current concern is the rise of Christian Nationalism.
- History warns of danger when religion, nationalism, and power fuse.
- We must reduce hate, not feed outrage cycles.
Links: The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America, Thinking Back on Decisions and How They Impact Your Success, Ted Rubin Discusses Employee Advocacy, Social
The Average Joe
by The Average Joe
Nasdaq's new rules make it an unreliable store of value.
- Nasdaq is forcing index funds to buy overvalued mega IPOs.
- Companies like SpaceX and OpenAI show massive unprofitability.
- These valuations distort the Nasdaq-100 and related ETFs.
- The S&P 500 is safer because it requires four quarters of profitability.
Links: SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic, massive unprofitability
The Breakdown
Jito's market share and block-building stack grew significantly in Q1.
- BAM's stake share grew to 28.1%, and the validator count increased by 56%.
- Jito's block-building stack now runs on roughly 60% of network stake.
- Institutional adoption is strong, with VanEck's ETF entering SEC review.
- JitoSOL TVL reached $1.02B, maintaining its status as the largest LST.
- Buybacks were paused to redirect revenue toward BAM adoption incentives.
Links: Blockworks.com, Mine ORE, official mining client today
The Daily Skimm
by The Daily Skimm
Summer fashion tips and celebrity romance rumors dominate the news.
- Fashion trends include elevated shoes and specific accessories for summer.
- A cult-favorite fruit is trending, and new bathing suit styles are popular.
- Jacob Elordi and Kendall Jenner were recently spotted in Hawaii.
- Kylie Jenner reportedly played matchmaker for the pair.
- The group's interactions drew significant attention online.
Links: the season’s “It” shoe, a cult-favorite fruit I’d somehow never tried, the quietly chic trend I’m already seeing all over my feeds, due to a broken foot, this highly relatable thing on the beach, a source told People, Elordi and Kendall were “all over each other” at the Bieberchella afterparty
The Daily Upside
High costs and policy changes are disrupting summer travel plans.
- Rising fuel costs and airfares are forcing travelers to change or postpone trips.
- Almost two-thirds of Americans have altered vacation plans due to rising prices.
- Jet fuel price spikes have significantly increased domestic and international airfares.
- Policymakers are considering changes that could disrupt credit card rewards programs.
Links: Policymakers are weighing changes that could disrupt the economics behind credit card rewards, The Points Guy
The GIST
Roland-Garros maintains tradition, favoring finesse over modern tech.
- The French Open is steeped in tradition, blending heritage with elegance.
- It is the only Grand Slam played on clay, favoring strategy and finesse.
- The tournament refuses to adopt electronic line calling, relying on human judges.
- The intimate Stade Roland-Garros offers a distinct Parisian atmosphere.
Links: terra cotta, brands itself, Stade Roland-Garros, refuses to adopt electronic line calling, The GIST Plus
The Information
Academic accountability and AI governance see major developments.
- Former Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne returned as a co-founder.
- His comeback follows resignation amid research misconduct investigations.
- A jury rejected Elon Musk's claims about OpenAI's charitable trust.
- The ruling removes legal uncertainty for OpenAI's potential IPO.
Links: Read the full article, Read the full article
The Ink
Strout's novel explores loneliness and modern existential despair.
- Elizabeth Strout's novel, The Things We Never Say, tackles existential despair.
- The book examines profound loneliness amid community love and modern instability.
- The Ink Book Club will host an event featuring Courtney Maum.
- Maum's Alan Opts Out is a satire on late-stage capitalism.
Links: “As I look back at my work,” novelist Elizabeth Strout observed in a recent interview, The Things We Never Say, Alan Opts Out, Publishers Weekly called Maum’s satiric novel “a fierce and funny portrait of late-stage capitalism and its limited supp
The Neuron
Cursor hits $3B revenue, potentially acquired by SpaceX.
- Cursor reported $3B in annualized revenue, showing rapid growth.
- SpaceX secured an option to acquire Cursor for $60B.
- The company's growth rate is exceptionally fast, unlike major tech firms.
- Starbucks retired its AI inventory tool because it couldn't distinguish milk types.
Links: AI tool, reported $3B in annualized revenue, SpaceX is said to plan to buy startup Cursor 30 days after ipo
The Newsette
Understanding brain fog and the limits of chiropractic care.
- Chiropractic care shows best evidence for short-term back and neck pain relief.
- Be cautious of 'serious complications' from aggressive neck adjustments.
- Brain fog is a symptom, not a diagnosis, linked to poor sleep or burnout.
- Gut disruption and inflammation are emerging theories for cognitive decline.
- Brain fog can mask underlying issues like ADHD or thyroid problems.
Links: Chiropractic care, serious complications, chiropractic care isn’t a cure-all, Gut disruption, Long COVID brain fog, the brains of people
The Profile
by Polina Pompliano
The author announces the paperback launch of her book, Hidden Genius.
- The book examines what separates people who achieve extraordinary success.
- Success stems from hidden advantages like mindsets and habits.
- The paperback edition of Hidden Genius launches this August.
- Pre-ordering the book helps determine its attention and reach.
Links: the paperback edition of, Pre-Order Hidden Genius Here, Silicon Valley’s AI tycoon, The billion-dollar skincare line
The Signal
Google shifts to an 'agentic Gemini era' across its products.
- Sundar Pichai declared the 'agentic Gemini era' at I/O 2026.
- Gemini 3.5 Flash beats Pro on benchmarks, running faster and cheaper.
- Gemini Omni creates editable video with real-world physics understanding.
- AI Mode now defaults to Gemini 3.5 Flash and reads multiple inputs.
- The underlying world-model is the true prize for AI development.
Links: I/O 2026, Gemini 3.5 Flash, Gemini Omni, AI Mode, Google
The Storm Skiing Journal
Analyzing American ski lifts by length reveals complex data challenges.
- The author compiled a detailed inventory of active American ski lifts.
- This personal database allows sorting by type, age, and length across regions.
- Data was sourced from Lift Blog, New England Ski History, and skimap.org.
- The simple metric of lift length proves surprisingly complicated to measure.
Links: Encyclopedia Bro-Tannica, Lift Blog, New England Ski History, skimap.org
Today's Elevator
New videos feature Crying Tiger Steak and more.
- Watch the process of making Crying Tiger Steak.
- Explore diverse video content, including fishing and comedy.
- Guides are available on retirement income streams.
- Access premium content by upgrading to Elevator+.
Links: Video: Crying Tiger Steak | Spicy Thai Grilled Steak, Video: Inside This Fly Fishing Legend’s Coastal Sanctuary | JT Van Zandt, 7 Retirement Income Streams To Explore, Elevator+
Trade War
by Dexter Roberts
US-China trade talks show mixed progress despite major commitments.
- Beijing confirmed Boeing jet purchases, but significant differences remain.
- US touts $17B in non-soybean farm deals, but China withheld total size.
- No real progress was made on rare earths and critical minerals.
- US and China agreed on boards but issued contradictory tariff statements.
- Geopolitically, Putin received a warm welcome in Beijing.
Workweek Newsletter
by Daniel Murray
Dirty data actively breaks AI systems, making clean data essential.
- Dirty data causes AI hallucinations, mis-targeting, and wasted ad spend.
- Messy CRM data leads to poor lead scoring and broken sales routing.
- Clean data is vital for ad platforms, ensuring accurate conversion signals.
- The fix requires auditing data, defining standards, and deduplicating records.
- Fixing the source data prevents compounding tech debt and failures.
Links: Clean data is EVERYTHING for anything AI-adjacent to actually work.
Xinran | Design with AI
by Xinran | Design with AI
AI design success depends on strong thinking and scoping, not just tools.
- AI output quality is downstream of your ability to craft and think.
- Designers must focus on scoping and critique, which are hard to automate.
- Start by writing to think, identifying knowledge gaps before prompting AI.
- Use AI for early, rough HTML prototypes to explore ideas widely.
Zack I Tearsheet Weekly
by Zack I Tearsheet Weekly
AI agents are redesigning crypto payments and financial infrastructure.
- AI agents, not retail users, are driving the next wave of crypto payment demand.
- Circle and Coinbase are building new stacks for machine-native commerce.
- Stablecoins provide programmable, always-on settlement traditional rails cannot match.
- Accountability is a major challenge as agents act independently at volume.
- American Express is addressing risk with developer kits for AI agent errors.
Links: Stablecoins and wallets are being redesigned for systems where humans are no longer the primary users, Micro Case Study: How American Express is underwriting AI agent error to unlock trust in $trillion-scale agentic commerc, BNPL moves into the conversation layer of commerce