Cards · Monday, May 25, 2026 · 89 newsletters
Today's reads
Every newsletter in the inbox, distilled to 3-5 claims. The briefing for this day at /whatimreading/2026-05-25 is the editorial curation on top of this layer.
Agentic AI
by Ken Huang
Static authorization fails because AI agents are dynamic and unpredictable.
- Traditional RBAC and ABAC assume predictable, bounded behavior from users and services.
- AI agents break this model by planning, adapting, and chaining actions at runtime.
- Static roles cause privilege drift and governance gaps as agent behavior evolves.
- The solution requires shifting the control plane from identity to intent.
Links: Ken Huang, Agentic AI
AI Market Fit
by Guillermo Flor
Big Four firms are standardizing the playbook for enterprise AI agents.
- AI agents are no longer pilots; they are now repeatable, scaled business assets.
- The Big Four are deploying agents at massive scale, committing significant budgets.
- The strategy involves making internal deployment a core sales asset.
- The focus is shifting to workflow integration, proving that workflow beats automation.
Links: The consulting firm playbook, enterprise AI agents, workflow beats automation
Artforum
Limited-time offer: Get 50% off Artforum subscriptions.
- Artforum delivers critical analysis of contemporary art and culture.
- The current subscription offer is 50% off the regular rate.
- The deal includes one year of print and digital magazine access.
- This special offer is available only until today.
Links: View in Browser, Privacy Policy, Unsubscribe
Asian Century Stocks
by Michael Fritzell
Indonesia's state monopoly and market watchlist updates.
- Indonesia established a state monopoly for commodity exports.
- This state control may distort market signals and weaken production.
- The development should support international crude palm oil prices.
- Watchlist noted Jimoty's rally and Fukuda Denshi's low P/E.
- Brambles and Carlit declined despite corporate actions.
Links: state monopoly, Asian Century Stocks, Jimoty, Mercari, Fukuda Denshi, Brambles, Carlit
Atoms
International shipping for Atoms shoes is officially back.
- International shipping is now available after overcoming logistical challenges.
- Customers worldwide can finally purchase the recommended everyday shoe.
- The brand recently opened a new warehouse.
- Most sizes are currently fully stocked.
Links: SHOP MEN'S, SHOP WOMEN'S, fully stocked
Bloomberg
Final reminder: Unlock full Bloomberg access with a limited-time discount.
- The 60% off offer for a Bloomberg subscription is ending soon.
- Access includes global business news, expert analysis, and data tools.
- Subscribers receive 30+ exclusive newsletters and 24/7 coverage.
- The discount applies to the first year of service.
Links: Get 60% off, View in browser, Contact Us, Advertise, Privacy Policy
by Tiago Ramos Alfaro
US and Iran are inching toward a deal, boosting market optimism.
- The US and Iran are reportedly moving closer to a deal.
- Oil prices dropped after news of potential US-Iran talks.
- Global stocks approached a record high amid deal optimism.
- Skepticism remains, with officials cautioning against imminent agreements.
Links: Listen to the day’s top stories, WTI crude oil futures, closing in on a deal, approached a record high, key buyers
ByteByteGo
CockroachDB built vector indexing by treating it as ordinary table data.
- AI agent failure often stems from broken context, not the model itself.
- Vectors lack natural ordering, preventing the use of traditional B-tree indexes.
- Vector indexes find approximate neighbors, trading accuracy for massive performance gains.
- CockroachDB built C-SPANN, integrating the index as standard table data.
Links: Redis Iris, C-SPANN
Cautious Optimism
by Alex Wilhelm
Pope's AI views and US immigration policy are key topics.
- The Pope released an encyclical, 'MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS,' addressing AI.
- The US immigration policy is causing anger in the tech sector.
- Forcibly exiling tech workers is considered self-sabotage.
- The author celebrated ten years of sobriety.
Links: MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS, US Immigration policy, Peter Thiel’s largesse, More here if you want some notes on the chaos.
David Burkus
by David Burkus
Recognize and respond to 'quiet firing' before it's too late.
- Quiet firing is a slow erosion of responsibilities without formal termination.
- Signs include shrinking duties, being excluded from meetings, and sharp criticism.
- Ask your manager for clear metrics on success during a one-on-one.
- If staying, build internal allies; if leaving, invest in external networks.
- Being managed out usually signals a poor fit, not a lack of ability.
Democracy Docket
by Marc Elias
Defending democracy requires confronting historical struggles for freedom.
- Trump's attacks are the cost of defending democracy and the rule of law.
- The author's family fled persecution in Tsarist Russia for freedom.
- He compares this history to the current threat of autocracy and lawlessness.
- The struggle for democracy is a multi-generational fight for freedom.
by Democracy Docket
Last chance: $20 off annual membership ends tonight.
- The Memorial Day sale concludes tonight at midnight.
- The newsletter asks readers to consider investing in democracy.
- A $20 discount is available on the annual premium membership.
- Membership funds frontline reporting and legal analysis.
Links: View in browser, Democracy Docket is offering $20 off an annual premium membership. Use code JOIN20 at checkout., USE CODE JOIN20 BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Support independent journalism before the Memorial Day sale ends tonight.
- The Memorial Day sale for annual memberships closes at midnight tonight.
- Use code JOIN20 to receive $20 off your annual premium membership.
- Funding supports breaking news on redistricting and legal analysis.
- The newsroom maintains fierce independence, free from corporate owners.
Links: USE CODE JOIN20 BEFORE MIDNIGHT
DTC Newsletter
Brand collaborations boost Meta performance and customer reach.
- Collabs increase reach by exposing products to new audiences.
- Partnering with trusted figures transfers credibility and social proof.
- Collaborations generate fresh content that stands out in crowded feeds.
- Start with influencers to validate the model before large partnerships.
Links: Reach out, build your business on Walmart Marketplace
EMARKETER Webinars
Best social agencies now integrate AI, data, and measurable outcomes.
- Basic agency skills like strong creative teams are no longer enough.
- Top partners are building AI into their workflows.
- They must develop proprietary data infrastructure.
- They connect creator investment to measurable business outcomes.
Links: The New Rules for Picking a Social Agency: What AI, Data, and Smarter Tools Actually Change, SAVE YOUR SPOT
Feed Me
by Emily Sundberg
Readers compiled a massive list of favorite summer novels.
- The author compiled over 200 reader responses for a summer reading curriculum.
- Lonesome Dove was the decisive 'winner' among reader recommendations.
- Tender Is The Night is suggested for reading before a trip to the French Riviera.
- The Secret History was recalled with vivid memories of reading it.
Links: Tender Is The Night, The Secret History, Hannah Kingsley-Ma, Jake Bittle, Loved and Missed
field notes nyc
NYC events this week feature culture, art, and community celebrations.
- Memorial Day Concert and DanceAfrica Bazaar kick off the week's festivities.
- Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with trivia and art workshops.
- Attend a Debate/Dance Night! or a Cyanotype Workshop in Brooklyn.
- The week concludes with Shaolin Soccer and Outdoor Line Dancing.
Links: Memorial Day Concert, DanceAfrica Bazaar 2026, AAPI Heritage Month Trivia Night & Mixer, Cyanotype Workshop, Debate/Dance Night!, Shaolin Soccer: 25th Anniversary Screening, Outdoor Line Dancing, @robertaspizza
FinAi News
Clear Capital bets on AI for advanced property analysis.
- Clear Capital is focusing on AI tools for property analysis.
- AI is revolutionizing how real estate investments are evaluated.
- The firm is leveraging machine learning for deeper market insights.
Freight Perspectives
Nordic freight rates are widening due to uneven fuel shocks and pricing.
- Fuel price shocks are hitting Nordic transport disproportionately.
- Government relief varies widely, making Norway an outlier in the market.
- Inbound spot rates to the Nordics are surging, while outbound rates are modest.
- Carriers are selectively pricing, pushing volume to the premium spot market.
- The cost of shipping to the Nordics is rising much faster than shipping from them.
Gothamist
NYC prepares for World Cup worst-case scenarios and local issues.
- New York and New Jersey are preparing for World Cup worst-case scenarios.
- These scenarios include infectious disease, heat waves, and food poisoning.
- The newsletter also covers local headlines, including an ICE detention center protest.
- Health reporting details preparedness measures for major events.
Links: How New York and New Jersey are preparing for all the World Cup worst-case scenarios, “worst-case” scenarios, Read more from health reporter Caroline Lewis, Hunger strike continues at NJ ICE detention center as congressmembers visit
Gothamist Daily
New Yorkers quickly maxed out the World Cup ticket lottery.
- New Yorkers secured tickets to the World Cup in minutes.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced 1,000 tickets for $50.
- The high demand was evident on the first day of the lottery.
Links: New Yorkers max out World Cup ticket lottery within 3 minutes on first day
Gov Brief Today
Trump's AI mugshots and legal actions form a single campaign.
- Trump posted AI mugshots of opponents, calling them the "Shady Bunch."
- He charged Comey, defining "86" as a mob term for killing.
- The article suggests online mockery and court prosecutions are linked campaigns.
- The cartoon names targets, while indictments show who he can reach.
Links: Gov Brief Today
History Facts
Before photos, societies used creative methods to determine identity.
- Identifying people was surprisingly difficult before photography.
- Societies developed various creative methods for identification.
- These methods were necessary to establish who someone was.
Links: What Did People Use for IDs Before Photos?, Science & Industry
Theodore Roosevelt named the White House.
- The building was first known as the President's Palace in 1800.
- It was officially renamed the Executive Mansion in 1810.
- George Washington lived in several temporary residences before the White House.
- John Adams moved into the White House in 1800.
Links: Theodore Roosevelt named the White House., U.S. History
I Love Typography
Discover the best-selling and most popular font families.
- The Freight superfamily is a worldwide best-seller for editorial design.
- Proxima Nova and Proxima Sera are versatile, popular sans/serif families.
- Rollerscript offers an authentic, readable handwriting typeface.
- LiebeHeide is a best-selling, authentic color font family.
Links: Freight superfamily, Shop Freight, Proxima Nova, Proxima Sera, Shop Proxima Nova, Shop Proxima Sera, Shop Rollerscript, Shop LiebeHeide, Store
IDEO U
Final week to build skills and earn new certificates.
- The final week to enroll in the May cohort is open.
- A new certificate teaches AI-fluent research skills.
- Courses cover strategy, systems thinking, and storytelling.
- Bundling multiple courses offers a discount.
Links: NEW Human-Centered Research with AI, Insights for Innovation, Designing Strategy, Human-Centered Systems Thinking, Storytelling for Influence, GET THE CERTIFICATE
International Intrigue
The US-Iran deal remains highly disputed between Washington and Tehran.
- Trump announced a US-Iran framework, calling it 'largely negotiated.'
- Iran's regime countered, labeling the claims 'inconsistent with reality.'
- The deal reportedly involves Iran pausing enrichment and limiting nuclear pursuits.
- Iran's side suggests the accord focuses on ending regional conflicts.
- Consumer sentiment is at a record low, despite high stock prices.
Links: announcement, announced, Become an Intrigue Insider today
James Murray
by James Murray
Google's AI ad stack shifts focus from keywords to answers.
- Google unveiled new AI Mode ad formats and an 'Ask Advisor' agent.
- The media buyer role is shifting to the strategist writing clean, agent-comprehensible briefs.
- The ability to author the Asset Studio brief is now a position of real budgetary control.
- Identity remains critical for AI, highlighted by Publicis's LiveRamp acquisition.
Links: Google blog, May 20, Marketing Dive, May 20, Publicis press release, May 17, Digiday, May 18
Jeff from Monday Morning Meeting
by Jeff from Monday Morning Meeting
Remembering sacrifice while supporting founders building the future.
- The day is a memorial to Americans who did not return home.
- Backing founders solving big problems is a privilege.
- These problems include housing, energy, medicine, and space.
- This work is possible because others made great sacrifices.
Links: The Awesome Responsibility
JVL @ The Bulwark
by JVL @ The Bulwark
The Triad Video Mailbag covers Trump, parenting, and populism.
- The latest edition discusses Trump, parenting, Catholicism, and populism.
- Topics also include AI and education reform.
- The author values extended, community-driven political discourse.
- The content is based on questions from the Triad community.
Links: Triad Video Mailbag, Trump, populism, AI, education reform
Lenny's Newsletter
An engineer shows how Claude Cowork solves complex personal problems.
- The biggest barrier to AI adoption is psychological, not technical.
- Your email is a structured database; Claude can build 3D plans from receipts.
- Ask Claude to solve problems one abstraction layer up, then again.
- Live artifacts keep personal dashboards updated with real-time data.
- Use Opus when you need interpretation, not just specific instructions.
Links: How the engineer behind Claude Cowork actually uses Claude, Felix Rieseberg, Magic Patterns, Guru
Linas from Linas's Newsletter
by Linas
AI can drastically speed up complex financial modeling and reporting.
- AI tools can cut a 13-week cash forecast from hours to minutes.
- Good prompts are essential; bad prompts produce confident, wrong results.
- The guide offers prompts for DCF, LBO, and three-statement models.
- Automation is possible using dedicated playbooks for scheduled research.
Links: Opus 4.7’s literal instruction-following, Cowork Automation Playbook, /goal Guide for AI Agents
Lincoln Square
Gorka's counterterrorism strategy is flawed and makes the country less safe.
- Seb Gorka released the 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy.
- The report is criticized as poorly drafted and biased.
- It lists 'Violent Left-Wing Extremists' as a major threat.
- Experts argue the document actually diminishes national safety.
Tulsi Gabbard's political grift is uniquely cynical and transparent.
- The article critiques several politicians, noting their questionable careers and opportunism.
- Tulsi Gabbard's political shift is labeled as premeditated ideological abandonment.
- Her grift is deemed more cynical than the survivalism seen in figures like Marco Rubio.
- Her background, including working for her father’s anti-gay organization, highlights her history.
Links: she was working for her father’s anti-gay organization
Gorka's strategy lacks concrete solutions, making him a political loser.
- The White House Counterterrorism Strategy was produced by Sebastian Gorka.
- The document is criticized for offering no concrete solutions to named problems.
- It is described as a culture war document, not a true strategy.
- Trump's rhetoric in the document lacks definition and evidence.
Links: Counterterrorism Strategy
Stuart Stevens discusses why Ukraine's victory matters to America.
- Stuart Stevens is currently on a humanitarian aid mission in Ukraine.
- He stressed that Ukraine's fight is fundamentally for democracy.
- A Ukrainian victory is crucial for the future of America.
- The message was delivered as a poignant observance on Memorial Day.
The current administration is leading the US into a needless, catastrophic war.
- The administration is allegedly dragging the US into a conflict with Iran.
- These conflicts are driven by profit and political posturing, not national security.
- Service members are dying due to the regime's reckless decisions.
- The opposition must mobilize voters to deliver a decisive defeat.
- Lincoln Square is working to counter propaganda and inform the public.
Links: upgrade to a paid annual subscription today
Loop
Google's Gemini Omni model can create content from almost any input.
- Google launched Gemini Omni Flash, allowing creation from any input.
- Users can generate videos by uploading photos or humming a tune.
- The model is rolling out gradually, expanding features over time.
- Future plans include expanding video generation to image and audio.
Maritime Analytica
by Maritime Analytica
CMA CGM's Q1 results signal a shift from volume to control.
- Cargo movement and revenue are still holding up globally.
- The key warning is that profit is falling faster than volume.
- Future success will reward carriers controlling the entire supply chain.
- The next cycle will not simply reward moving more boxes.
Mark Manson
by Mark Manson
Readiness is a decision, not a feeling, so just start.
- The voice saying you're not ready is stopping your potential.
- Readiness is an active decision, not a feeling you wait for.
- Don't wait for the perfect moment to start your career.
- Small changes are key to achieving lasting breakthroughs.
Links: 80,000 Hours, markmanson.net, sign up to receive it each week here
MasterClass
Save 50% on MasterClass lessons before the Memorial Day sale ends.
- Lock in major Memorial Day savings on thousands of lessons.
- Skills are available across topics like business, wellness, and cooking.
- The limited-time offer allows users to pursue passions all summer.
- The world's best instructors are ready to teach you.
Links: Get MasterClass, The world’s best are ready to teach you, Support, Gifts, MasterClass at Work
McKinsey & Company
by Cindy Levy and Shubham Singhal
Anticipating geopolitical shifts can create durable new growth pathways.
- Geopolitics is redrawing trade flows and strategic priorities.
- CEOs must anticipate shifts and reallocate capital for new growth.
- The firm provides guidance on managing geopolitical value and risk.
- New research covers the geometry of global trade through 2026.
Links: Lead in the new trade era, Consider Managing geopolitical value at stake to seize opportunities while mitigating risk, Geopolitics and the geometry of global trade: 2026 update
Medium
A temporary code is provided for signing into your Medium account.
- A 6-digit code (588878) is provided for immediate sign-in.
- The code is single-use and will expire within 10 minutes.
- An alternative magic link is available, which remains valid for two hours.
- Users should ignore this email if they did not initiate the login request.
Links: Sign in to Medium, Email Settings, Careers, Help Center, Privacy Policy, Terms of service
Morning Consult
Sports leagues compete for attention share, not new audiences.
- Leagues compete for a finite, distracted attention budget.
- The NFL has built an unrivaled mental moat and structural advantage.
- NBA and MLB must target the large segment of lapsed NFL consumers.
- Success requires solving for occasion breadth and affordability.
Musings Of A Wandering Mind
by Zoe Scaman
A guided process helps users encode unique professional practices for AI.
- The Whetstone is a guided process to encode unique professional practices.
- It helps users surface and structure their tacit knowledge.
- The output includes 8-10 v1 skill files written in your voice.
- These files are designed to plug into major AI platforms like Claude or ChatGPT.
- The process requires time and is meant to deepen your own thinking.
Links: The Whetstone
Nate from Nate’s Substack
by Nate from Nate’s Substack
AI agents accelerate work, creating new operational bottlenecks for platform teams.
- Agents are now performing real operational tasks, creating both efficiency and risk.
- App team acceleration shifts unbudgeted operational burden to platform teams.
- The core challenge is managing work moving faster than existing controls.
- Mitigation requires implementing practical control layers, like eval discipline.
Nautilus
Neuroscience explores how memories can be erased and fabricated.
- Neuroscience reveals how memories are made, stored, and accessed.
- Researchers successfully used lasers to erase fear memories in mice.
- These experiments suggest memory manipulation could be real, like in fiction.
- The article explores the profound personal implications of this science.
Links: Nautilus, Learn what the neuroscientist thought next. And what he did about it →, What Makes a Memory Real?, Faulty Memory Is a Feature, Not a Bug, New Study Throws a Wrench in Our Understanding of Memory
Noahpinion
by Noahpinion
Trump's second term is causing systemic damage to U.S. institutions.
- The choice of party is clear, despite negative trends on the left.
- Trump is using policy, not just rhetoric, to damage U.S. institutions.
- A new rule threatens high-skilled immigration by ending Adjustment of Status.
- This policy shift could shut down the main legal immigration avenue.
Links: the very real failures, manage to convince themselves, announced a new rule
Nord Media
SMS costs are limiting your high-intent customer retention programs.
- High SMS costs force teams to cut back on valuable automation flows.
- Lower pricing allows brands to test aggressively and segment precisely.
- Omnisend now offers SMS starting at $0.007 per message.
- Operational lift makes switching platforms difficult, keeping brands on expensive systems.
Links: Omnisend Just Dropped SMS Pricing, Omnisend’s internal analysis of paid merchants in 2025 puts average ROI at $79 for every $1 spent., Omnisend’s
Oana Labes
by Oana Labes
EBITDA is a flawed metric for making M&A decisions.
- EBITDA is not cash flow, ignoring taxes, interest, and CapEx.
- Depreciation is a deferred bill, not a non-cash concept.
- Lenders and tax authorities require cash payments for interest and taxes.
- Working capital differences can drastically change a company's actual cash position.
- "Adjusted" EBITDA often inflates numbers by ignoring recurring expenses.
Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
Trump's ego-driven Iran war is failing, leaving America's reputation shattered.
- The Iran conflict is likely over, leaving hard-liners empowered and America's reputation damaged.
- Attempting to suppress missiles and drones is an unwinnable military endeavor.
- The US military has lost some of its edge after decades of unchallenged dominance.
- The failure is due to both Trump's actions and broader military overconfidence.
Links: treasonous, History Does You, Phillips O’Brien
Pirate Wires Daily
Stanford culture, surveillance, and political narratives are analyzed.
- Stanford's 'striver culture' is effective for success, despite the 'lame' party scene.
- Chris Larsen is building a massive surveillance network in San Francisco.
- This system thrives due to a culture of 'performative bullshit freedom.'
- Hunter Biden claims Joe Biden was ousted for not being part of the 'Epstein class.'
Product Growth Insights
by Aakash Gupta
OpenAI PMs shipped 100K lines of code without traditional IDEs.
- OpenAI is leading the way in how PMs can ship code.
- PMs shipped 100K lines of code using a novel system.
- Coding happened through PRDs, tests, docs, and harness rules.
- This process drastically cuts feature latency from months to days.
Links: PMs should ship code, OpenAI is debating the best ways for PMs to ship code, harness engineering, PRDs
Product Market Fit
by Guillermo Flor
Use the BCG framework to structure a compelling investor pitch deck.
- The pitch deck's structure is more critical than the raw content.
- BCG formalizes storytelling using two layers of rules.
- Storylining involves five steps, starting with the Pyramid Principle.
- Audience calibration determines if the pitch should be top-down or bottom-up.
- The executive summary must be a complete argument, not just a teaser.
Links: BCG Framework, Pyramid Principle, Audience calibration, Executive summary
Quarter Mile
by Carter and Jordan
Assessing your skills versus the best people you know.
- The authors wrote an essay prompting readers to assess their skills.
- They ask readers to compare their abilities to peers and colleagues.
- The writing contest, DEAR ALIENS, has closed its submission window.
- Winners will be announced soon for the contest.
Links: We wrote our answer, in the box on this page.
Route One Daily Brief
Spain omits Real Madrid players; Premier League prize money is substantial.
- Spain will not feature a Real Madrid player in the World Cup squad.
- Barcelona is the most represented club in the Spanish squad.
- Arsenal's Premier League title win is expected to earn the club almost £200m.
- Arsenal is projected to earn more broadcast revenue than last season's champions.
Links: Spain World Cup squad, prediction model, calculations, unofficial prize money for each Premier League side
She's A Beast
by Casey Johnston
The importance of stepping away from devices and embracing nothingness.
- The article questions our constant reliance on digital devices.
- It discusses the difficulty of being ordinary and the 'super walk.'
- The author recommends Jenny Odell's work on doing nothing.
- Scientific knowledge is ultimately rooted in first-personal experience.
Links: a defense of doing nothing, How to Do Nothing, Saving Time, a case for introspection/contemplation
SHIFT
John Cena details his post-retirement approach to health and fitness.
- Cena details his post-retirement approach to health and fitness.
- He shares insights from training for HYROX at 46.
- The article offers tips on preventing stiffness as you age.
- It also reminds readers to consider their financial future.
Links: John Cena Details His Post-Retirement Approach To Health And Fitness, What Training For HYROX At 46 Taught Me About My Physical Potential, How To Prevent Stiffness As You Age, Is Your Retirement Plan Built To Last?
Sidebar.io
The interface is no longer the product; output is the new source of truth.
- Mobile design requires a story, not just smaller elements.
- Thought leadership is cheap, but genuine thinking is rare.
- The output, like a dashboard, is becoming the source of truth.
- AI progress tends to create more work for humans, not less.
Links: Mobile, UX, Everyone’s a thought leader. Almost no one is thinking., The interface is no longer the product, Product Management, After automation, AI, Business
SpyTalk News
A friend's death in Vietnam shattered expectations of safety.
- The author's friend, Ed Sonnichsen, died in Vietnam in 1968.
- The news forced the group to confront the danger of intelligence work.
- The author was lucky to remain in a safe, rear echelon position.
- The experience contrasted sharply with their expectations of spy life.
Links: Over 58,000, someone who served with him
STACKED MARKETER
Community and video platforms are becoming the primary drivers of product discovery.
- Meta's Forum and TikTok Shop prove that community discussion drives sales.
- YouTube is now the top product discovery platform, especially for Gen Z.
- The average YouTube session is long, offering 14 minutes of active engagement.
- AI is changing search, requiring SEO tools that track prompt-level queries.
Links: Forum is Facebook’s new standalone app, surpassing Etsy, Wayfair, and eBay., 2.58B people use the platform every month, Semrush One
Steph The Founder
by Steph The Founder
Build a "second brain" and earn money by referring people to startups.
- Setting up a "second brain" is a valuable way to retain information.
- The system can be built using free tools like Obsidian and Claude.
- It can be used for tracking competitors or creating shared company knowledge.
- A new tool allows users to earn cash by referring people to top startups.
Links: second brain, Karpathy’s post, Bryan Johnson, Shortlist, Status AI
StretchLab Union Square NYC
Memorial Day offer helps you reset and improve movement.
- Assisted stretching improves mobility and reduces daily tension.
- Packages help increase range of motion and flexibility.
- Benefits include improved posture and reduced pain.
- The special Memorial Day offer is available through May 31.
Links: Buy a Stretch Package
Limited-time offer for assisted stretching sessions through Memorial Day.
- The special offer is available through May 31st.
- Sessions help increase range of motion and flexibility.
- Benefits include improved posture and reduced pain.
- Packages are available for 5, 10, 15, or 20 sessions.
Links: 5 Pack -25 Min Sessions, 5 Pack - 50 Min Sessions, 10 Pack - 25 Min Sessions, 10 Pack - 50 Min Sessions, 15 Pack - 25 Min Sessions, 15 Pack - 50 Min Sessions, 20 Pack - 25 Min Sessions, 20 Pack - 50 Min Sessions
Substack
Substack sent a temporary verification code for account access.
- The provided code is only valid for the next 10 minutes.
- Users should not share this code or forward the email.
- Substack employees will never request this verification code.
Techmeme
Pope urges AI regulation; Huawei targets 1.4nm chips by 2031.
- Pope Leo XIV issued an encyclical calling for AI regulation and caution.
- The Pope warned against AI's potential for 'new forms of slavery.'
- Huawei announced it aims for 1.4nm chips by 2031.
- This uses a new scaling law to bypass Moore's Law limits.
Links: New York Times, Pope Leo XIV presents Magnifica humanitas, Washington Post, Nikkei Asia, x.com/huawei/status/2058731731478532264
The Breakdown
AI and 24/7 markets are eliminating natural breaks in our work lives.
- Early LLMs were accused of being lazy, mimicking human downtime.
- Modern agentic AI is optimized for benchmarks, acting as a workaholic.
- AI increases work pace and extends hours, eliminating natural pauses.
- 24/7 crypto markets and tokenized stocks demand constant vigilance.
- This creates an always-on culture, blurring work and non-work boundaries.
Links: significantly shorter answers, been accused, HBR study, SEC is expected
The Bulwark
by Tim Miller
Kristol argues Trump's Iran policy is a defeat for the U.S.
- The U.S. has inadvertently made Iran a stronger power.
- The developing deal may grant sanctions relief, which is concerning.
- Trump is attempting to use the Abraham Accords for face-saving.
- The focus may shift next to Cuba, according to Kristol.
Links: Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' with Marine veteran, Michael Wood, Mark Hertling on how vets regard Memorial Day, Will Selber on remembering the Gold Star families, The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller
Candace Owens's influence is growing beyond MAGA Republicans.
- Biden's appearance with Owens highlighted her growing media star status.
- Her appeal is increasingly reaching voters outside of MAGA Republicans.
- Focus groups show voters considering her as a possible future president.
- Some voters view her as a stronger alternative to other candidates.
Links: focus groups
The Daily Skimm
by Martha Upton
Memorial Day offers fashion tips, recipes, and mood-boosting activities.
- Memorial Day sales are ongoing for clothing and cookware.
- Fashion trends include recreating celebrity looks and oversized jean shorts.
- Low-effort, no-bake recipes are perfect for summer desserts.
- The dopamine dressing trend applies to activities that boost mood.
Links: 50% off a one-piece swimsuit in a red-hot hue., green pleated maxi looks eerily similar to the one Taylor Swift wore to attend a wedding in New York last week., five-ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Pie in a vintage-inspired pie dish., Off Campus, based on Elle Kennedy’s viral romance series, is now streaming on Prime Video, use code SKIMM25 for 25% off
by Martha Upton
Memorial Day deals and lifestyle trends for a fun summer.
- Memorial Day sales are ongoing, offering discounts on items like gold hoops and cookware.
- Style tips include recreating celebrity looks and choosing appropriate wedding guest attire.
- The article suggests applying 'dopamine dressing' to daily life, not just fashion.
- Low-effort, no-bake recipes are perfect for easy summer desserts.
Links: these Memorial Day sales are still going strong, gold hoops, green pleated maxi, no-show nipple covers, no-bake recipes
The GTM Engineer
by The GTM Engineer
GTM trends cover job market shifts, email stats, and AI implementation advice.
- SDR and AE roles are stable, but Claude Code mentions in JDs are up 3x.
- Sunday emails perform well, and 74% of first replies happen within the first hour.
- Gmail inboxes show a 2x higher open rate compared to Outlook.
- AI implementation requires careful planning; do not replace all workflows with agents.
Links: Kyle Poyar analyzed 120K jobs at top B2B companies and shared his findings, including that SDR and AE roles are generall, Elena Verna on how many jobs are going to change by 2027 and how to prepare, Vaibhav Namburi shared stats from 16.6M email sends on SmartLead. The takeaways? Sunday is as good to send as Monday, 74, Patrick Spychalski on why replacing all your workflows with AI is a bad idea and how he recommends deciding where to use
The Institutional Risk Analyst
by R.C. Whalen
Inflation requires continuous currency devaluation to fund government debt.
- Tax avoidance requires continuous currency inflation to fund the Treasury.
- Real gasoline prices, adjusted for inflation, are currently quite low.
- Inflation could hit double digits due to the US-Israeli conflict.
- The federal debt remains the primary driver of inflation.
Links: The IRA, View in browser
The Lily & Fox Team
by The Lily & Fox Team
Sparkly nail designs are back for summer fun.
- The brand launched a sparkly collection of nail designs.
- These stunning manis are perfect for the summer season.
- A featured favorite design is the 'Rainbow Ombre' manicure.
Links: Shop sparkly nails now!
The Lobby
Bipartisan action dominated the week, focusing on security and infrastructure.
- The House cleared several bipartisan bills using fast-track procedures.
- The Senate achieved a procedural breakthrough on a long-stalled issue.
- Fed data security is now treated as a national security imperative.
- A sweeping bill proposes funding $400 billion for the Highway Trust Fund.
Links: Fed's Secrets Get the Spy Treatment, Infrastructure Bill's Highway Trust Fund, SBA Certification Tracking Gets a Makeover, Military Rejects Get a Job Corps Pipeline, Big Banks Hit the Brakes on Bailout Buyouts, Feds Finally Get a Broadband Battle Plan
The Neuron
AI advances challenge human labor while Spotify expands its audio ecosystem.
- An intern beat a humanoid robot, raising questions about human labor vs. machine efficiency.
- Spotify launched fan remix licensing and an audiobook tool, expanding its audio reach.
- The new Studio by Spotify Labs turns personal notes and emails into AI audio briefings.
- DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng declared AGI as the goal amid a $10B funding round.
Links: went up against a humanoid robot, Spotify and Universal Music Group, Studio by Spotify Labs, ElevenLabs-powered tool, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng
The Paypers
Worldline and Klarna partner for BNPL rollout; key fintech updates.
- Worldline and Klarna signed an agreement to integrate flexible payment options across Worldline's network.
- Finqware launched FinqData AIS API for structured, automation-ready banking data in Europe.
- OpenAI and Plaid partnered to enable ChatGPT for personalized financial advice.
- OCR Studio upgraded its anti-fraud system to detect deepfake documents used in KYC.
Links: Worldline and Klarna sign framework agreement for BNPL rollout, Finqware rolls out FinqData AIS API for multibank data aggregation, OpenAI and Plaid partner to offer personalised financial advice, OCR Studio upgrades anti-fraud system to detect deepfake documents
The Social Juice
by Jaskaran from The Social Juice
AI is disrupting search, social, and entertainment platforms.
- Meta begins 8,000 global job cuts in AI efficiency push.
- Google Search is transitioning to an AI-powered search experience.
- Spotify’s new Personal Podcast feature lets you prompt and create podcasts about anything.
- Meta launches standalone app for online forums.
Links: Meta begins 8,000 global job cuts in AI efficiency push., Zuckerberg’s Meta layoffs memo: ‘Success isn’t a given’ in the AI era., Google Search as you know it is over., Google Search is AI search., Spotify’s new Personal Podcast feature lets you prompt and create podcasts about anything.
TLDR
Starship launch, AI anxiety, and global fusion efforts dominate tech news.
- SpaceX launched an upgraded Starship rocket, which successfully separated but crashed.
- Sundar Pichai addresses AI anxiety, urging focus on the technology's potential benefits.
- China's Shenzhou-23 mission aims for a record-long stay in orbit.
- ITER, a $22 billion project, represents the world's major bet on fusion energy.
Links: SpaceX Launches 400-Foot-Tall Rocket That Will Help Define Its Future (3 minute read), Sundar Pichai Understands Why People Are Anxious About AI (23 minute read), China launches Shenzhou-23 mission with potential record one-year stay in orbit (2 minute read), Inside the World's Biggest Bet on Fusion Energy (3 minute read), Predicting AI job exposure (11 minute read)
Today's Elevator
by Today's Elevator
The occasional white lie can be useful in professional settings.
- The article explores the utility of white lies.
- It discusses when and why small deceptions are acceptable.
- Readers can learn to know the difference between truth and fiction.
Links: The Case for the Occasional White Lie at Work, Know the difference >
Tom's Marketing Ideas
A proven framework helps you write viral LinkedIn posts.
- The LinkedIn algorithm favors celebratory, high-emotion posts.
- A specific framework was developed to achieve viral reach without looking awkward.
- The playbook provides topics and examples that consistently generate high engagement.
- The guide promises to fundamentally change your entire LinkedIn strategy.
Trade War
by Dexter Roberts
Memorial Day sale offers a discount on China business news.
- A 40% discount is available for one year of coverage.
- The special offer is part of the 2026 Memorial Day flash sale.
- The promotion for China economics and business news expires on May 31st.
Trivium China
State Council issues guidelines to decouple public services from hukou.
- The State Council issued guidelines to decouple basic public services from hukou.
- Hukou previously restricted services like education and housing for migrants.
- The new guidelines use tentative language, promoting inclusion rather than mandating it.
- Funding support remains vague, suggesting reforms will proceed slowly.
Links: State Council calls for decoupling public services from hukou, new five-year plan targets urban residency for over-50-million-migrants
Uncrate
Curated lifestyle goods, from espresso machines to sneakers, are featured.
- The roundup showcases high-end design items, like the Ducati x Barista M3.
- Featured products include Westward whiskey and Alessi 9093 kettles.
- New arrivals include New Balance 2002R sneakers and Planteray rum.
- The supply section offers a selection of premium home and spirit goods.
Links: Ducati x Barista M3 1926 Espresso Machine, Westward Milestone Edition 3 W / $255, Alessi 9093 Kettle / $290, Planteray Sealander Rum / $49, New Balance 2002R Simple Grey / $145
Visual Capitalist
Global food exports are concentrated in surprisingly few countries.
- The top 30 countries dominate global agricultural trade.
- Fraud is getting faster, smarter, and harder to spot.
- New risks include AI, deepfakes, and biometric fraud.
- The data explores eight fraud trends for 2026.
Links: View the Ranking, Explore the Data, Mapped: Only One Country Can Feed Itself Fully
Vittles
by Emily Kenway
The history of pet food reveals more about us than the pets.
- Modern pet food trends emphasize 'ancestral' and wild-root ingredients.
- Our pet feeding choices reflect evolving human-animal relationships.
- The pet food market is booming, driven by premium, unprocessed alternatives.
- Our decisions about pet diet reveal more about us than the pets.
Why is this interesting?
by Alfred Tong
Luxury, status, and vanity drive modern culture and media consumption.
- The author writes about luxury goods, focusing on yearning and desire.
- Thackeray's work, like The Book of Snobs, tracks status and taste.
- Social media rewards vanity and flexing over thoughtful content.
- The media diet is a mix of serious journalism and online 'badlands'.
Links: The Book of Snobs, Vanity Fair, Monocle, Financial Times
Wooster Collective
Jeff Soto merges street art and still life to explore memory and time.
- Soto fuses graffiti aesthetics with traditional painting genres.
- His work uses everyday objects, like Polaroids and records, as time capsules.
- The themes explore memory, decay, and the tension between youth and impermanence.
- The exhibition 'Shadow' brings still life into collision with analog culture.
Links: KP Projects Gallery, Jeff Soto
Workweek Newsletter
by Hebba Youssef
HR must practice work-life balance, not just preach it.
- Employees frequently leave significant amounts of PTO unused.
- A 2025 survey found many workers took no vacation days.
- The author advises taking a radical day off doing nothing.
- It is vital to remember interests outside of your job title.
Links: AI building hour, HR Therapy in June