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A democratic socialist in Wisconsin tests how far left voters want to go in a battleground state
Democratic socialists have recently won elections in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver
Entertainment briefs | Humboldt Folklife Festival runs from July 18 to 25 in Blue Lake
July 24’s “Barn Dance” features Lyndsey Battle and Cidermill Stringband at Prasch Hall in Blue Lake, starting at 7 p.m. No experience is needed to attend. Purchase tickets at
Analysis | Democratic Party fissures are shaping Michigan’s crucial Senate primary
The race is the next, and perhaps biggest, battle between the Democrats’ warring factions.
Greek firefighters battle fire at business site, at least two injured
Greek firefighters on Thursday were battling a fire which broke out at a business premises some 15 km (9 miles) northwest of Athens, seriously wounding at least two people, the fire brigade said.
Argentina faces FBI investigation amid World Cup run
Led by international superstar Lionel Messi, the Argentinian soccer team has reached the quarterfinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as it looks to defend its 2022 World Cup title. However, in addition to the challenge on the field, it sounds like the team is going to have to contend with a legal battle. As…
Michigan GOP governor hopefuls square off tonight in televised debate
The three men hoping to be the Republican nominee for governor will square off tonight in their first televised debate together.
GOP leaders tried to quell McConnell health questions. It’s not working
As online speculation swirls over Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization and scant public updates from his staff, the Kentucky Republican’s top allies spoke up this week, insisting he remains alert. But those assurances have done little to quash demands for proof of life, including from the state’s governor. The episode has reignited a debate over lawmakers’ […]
Markey, Moulton meet in first Senate primary debate
The hourlong event marked the first head-to-head matchup between the pair after months of back-and-forth over when, where, and how many debates should take place in the state’s signature political race.
B1Bank acquires local financial consulting firm American Planning Corp.
B1Bank has acquired American Planning Corp., a Baton Rouge-based financial consulting firm.
Google Home app update makes automation easier, improves cameras, more
The latest batch of Google Home app updates are now rolling out, including new “Suggested Automations” to make it easier...
USMNT World Cup Flameout Fuels Youth Sports Debate
Critics say the system prices out talent and drives kids away.
Why lithium battery and radar pioneers won China’s top science award
Chen Liquan and Ben De recognised for advances in solid-state energy storage and military aviation defence.
Local construction firm bets on Mid City in buying former Brew-Bacher's site
Grand Construction is giving one of Government Street's long-vacant restaurant buildings a second life. The Baton Rouge-based commercial contractor purchased the former Brew-Bacher's property last … Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
For A Few Short Minutes Today, 99 Percent Of Humanity Will Be Bathed In Sunlight. If You Miss It, You Will Get Another Chance Tomorrow.
For a short few minutes, nearly all of humanity will experience sunlight together.
Colts training camp battles: Evaluating competitions at safety position
With training camp nearing, we will be taking a closer look at each of the Colts positional battles. Next up is the safety position.
Ryan O’Hearn has career night, set Pirates record
Historic night from the bat of O’Hearn helps Pirates win third straight.
Opinion: The Lexington Problem: Beating the Literacy Odds Without the Science of Reading
The science of reading has largely won the policy debate. Over the last decade, state after state has embraced evidence-based reading instruction. Legislatures have passed literacy laws, and teacher p...
In Maine, voters consider their options as they await Platner’s decision
With the embattled Democratic Senate nominee under pressure to leave the key race, other politicians are maneuvering to replace him on the ballot.
Why a bitter health care fight is at the center of a high-stakes House battle
Rep. Mike Lawler is bracing for a barrage of Democratic attacks over cuts to care and hospitals.
Scene calendar: Bats, comedy shows, live theater, music and more this week
A comprehensive list of Gainesville-area entertainment events.
Political survivor Le Pen makes her boldest gamble yet for France's presidency
In launching her fourth bid for the French presidency, just hours after judges cleared her to run, Marine Le Pen portrayed herself as a fighter who had defied the odds to overcome a months-long legal battle that threatened to end her political ambitions.
WATCH: Far-left Senate candidate ripped on transparency, money in politics during fiery debate
Haley Stevens unloads on Abdul El-Sayed for not releasing his tax returns: ‘What are you hiding?’
El-Sayed, Stevens trade pointed barbs in Democratic US Senate debate
With four weeks to go until the Aug. 4 primary, the two Democrats held a debate in Grand Rapids hosted by WOOD-TV8
El-Sayed and Stevens clash over AIPAC and other takeaways from the Michigan Senate debate
Rep. Haley Stevens pitched herself as a “workhorse” on Capitol Hill. Abdul El-Sayed said he represents “a threat to politics as usual.”
Dem civil war hits primary debate stage as El-Sayed and Stevens clash: 'What are you hiding?'
Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens clashed in a fiery Michigan Senate debate as the Democratic primary exposes a rift between progressives and moderates.
Rabid bat found in Marion County prompts county health warning
Marion County officials warn after a bat in the Marion area tested positive for rabies. Residents should avoid bats and other wildlife, keep kids and pets away, and ensure dogs and cats are up to date on rabies shots.
Explaining The Comcast and NBCUniversal Divorce
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July in America, celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Frankly, I am bummed the 250th wasn’t a bigger celebration, but that’s a different topic for a different Substack. While it was generally a quiet week on the entertainment/streaming/media business fronts, we still had some interesting news stories. Actually, that kinda undersells one of the stories, a huge, huge, huge divestment that could upend the entertainment landscape... So let’s get right to it. In today’s column, I’ll cover Comcast spinning off the rest of NBCUniversal, an entertainment company investing in an LLM company and an LLM-owner investing in a movie studio, the latest round of threats of digital tariffs, and more. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Most: Comcast/NBCU Breakup!!!! If I had to describe my reaction to Comcast spinning out NBCUniversal, it feels like a relationship ending, either breaking up or divorcing. Comcast’s decision to spin off the rest of NBCUniversal, after spinning off some of its cable assets into Versant last year, really does feel like a family breaking up under “irreconcilable differences”. Of my stereotypes of the entertainment moguls, my go-to for Comcast CEO Brian Roberts—heir to the Comcast fortune, but a man who’s been at the helm for 24 years now, and president for twelve years before that—is that he likes building empires. He cut his teeth acquiring cable rivals in the 1990s and tried to buy Disney repeatedly, then settled for NBCUniversal after a long court battle. (Contrast this with Rupert Murdoch, a man who also loved to buy, but would also sell when the price is right. Murdoch made Fox out of nothing, but then sold 20th Century Fox to Disney, arguably at the top of the market. So I understood why he sold.) But I don’t understand Roberts’ motivation to sell now. I have some explanations but no single, super-satisfying explanation. Strategically, it would just make more sense to have kept NBCUniversal in-house, especially for a one-time empire builder like Comcast. Yet one powerful force—arguably the decider in modern capitalism—likely overwhelmed all other considerations. At first, I thought I’d arrange my thoughts as a “Five Why” analysis, digging through each layer of the puzzle. But instead, I found myself asking, “But…why?” (And I only ended up with four sections.) So let’s look at Comcast from that angle. Then, at the end, I’ll give my biggest strategic recommendation for every company in Hollywood. It’s obvious, but sometimes, the obvious strategy is the most ignored. But…Why? The Stock Market, Conglomerations, and Sum of the Parts Analysis We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why Comcast could never get a “tech company” valuation The not-so-secret motivation for Comcast What Versant has to do with all of this The key strategic advice I think every entertainment exec should follow (though it’s really obvious) Some big AI investment news… Whether we’ll see digital tariffs… And more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Mac Jones addresses potential 49ers QB battle in 2026
Mac Jones is content with his role on the San Francisco 49ers despite how well he played in 2025.
BIW breaks ground on new parking garage
Bath traffic can be a nightmare during shipyard shift change. A new parking garage may help.
Opinion | How Socialism Emerged in American Politics
The debate has shifted from whether the government should redistribute wealth to how much redistribution is enough.
This Toilet Attachment Helps You Understand Your Gut Health, Hydration And More
Kohler Health's easy-to-install bathroom appliance provides key wellness metrics and personalized health insights.
After four hours playing The Blood of Dawnwalker, I've seen combat, romance, intrigue - it's got the makings of being 2026's breakout RPG
I've played four hours of the hugely promising The Blood of Dawnwalker now which, if you don't know yet, is the new vam…
Blood Of Dawnwalker Hands-On: A Witcher-Style RPG With A Twist
For Honor-style combat meets Witcher-style storytelling
Microdrama filming starts in Baton Rouge and producer Tommy Harper talks his new adventure
Action!
AI is already reshaping US politics at every level
Artificial intelligence is barging into the workplace and transforming the battlefield. Now, it’s coming to the ballot box, promising to rewrite the DNA of politics. Driven by a flood of Silicon Valley money, AI has emerged as one of the biggest financial forces in this year’s U.S. elections, fueled by hundreds of millions of dollars […]
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max might come with a massive battery
The iPhone 18 Pro, not so much.
Nothing’s first B-series phone is also skipping the US
The Phone 4B is an affordable, plastic phone with Nothing’s biggest battery yet.
iPhone Air 2 Could Get an 11% Battery Capacity Boost
Apple is reportedly working on a second-generation iPhone Air that's expected to launch in spring 2027, and one of Apple's main aims is to improve battery life. We now have the first rumor suggesting what kind of improvement could be coming. In a post on Weibo listing supply chain predictions, serial leaker Digital Chat Station said the iPhone Air 2 is expected to feature a 3,500mAh battery.
Cosplaying Free Speech: How Religion And Politics Determine Campus Taboos
(ANALYSIS) I feel like I got into a debate or a disagreement with someone about politics or religion on a near daily basis when I was between the ages of 13 and 25. I would fight with anyone about anything and I would often argue positions that I completely disagreed with because I just liked the in
New iPhone 18 Pro Max battery details leak, and Samsung should be very worried
Apple may finally be matching Android's battery playbook, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max tipped for its biggest battery yet.
Original Switch console lineup to be discontinued in Europe by mid-February 2027
To comply with replaceable battery legislation, Nintendo will begin rolling out revised Switch 2 models this summer
Commentary: Night shifts are deadly, not just inconvenient
During his 26 years as a night-shift nurse, Ed Collum watched colleagues nod off mid-conversation, battle chronic illnesses and, too often, die young from cancer, stroke or suicide. Collum puts
NM health department reports bat with rabies in Sandoval County
The New Mexico Department of Health reported the state's ninth case of rabies in 2026: a bat in Sandoval County.
Residents raise health, environmental concerns as crews battle Parkersburg warehouse fire
Neighbors nearby are voicing worries about the smoke in the air and possible runoff into the ground and local waterways.
FIFA's red card reversal: Fair play or political interference?
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended US striker Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year.The decision was announced after President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the red card.The suspended red card means Balogun can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium.But the decision has faced harsh criticism from fans and The Union of European Football Associations, which said the red card suspension "crossed a red line."What does the red card debacle tell us about political interference in elite soccer?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Kai McNamee.It was edited by William Troop and Tinbete Ermyas.Or interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.
Anthropic says Claude has carved out its own space to ponder
The AI lab offers fresh ammunition to the debate over what would count as machine consciousness.
Brewers Can't Let Cardinals Gain Ground
The Milwaukee Brewers must ignite their stagnant bats to stifle a surging St. Louis Cardinals offense and protect their narrow divisional lead during a series at Busch Stadium.
New Mexico health officials warn the public about bats as rabies concerns rise
New Mexico health officials warn the public about bats as rabies concerns rise
Resident Evil Requiem Officially Returns July 30 With New DLC
Resident Evil Requiem official new DLC arrives on July 30.
Fed's Waller says forward guidance 'more art than science'
Federal Reserve Board Gov. Christopher Waller says he is OK with dialing down the amount of communication issued by the central bank's monetary policy committee, but doesn't want the central bank to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
YouTuber Builds 25-Foot Rideable RC Battleship for $400, and It Shoots Fireworks
When most gearheads and DIYers get the itch to hit the water, they look into buying a used jet ski, a small john boat, or maybe a kayak. But YouTube creator Julius Perdana had a slightly different vision. He wanted…
Absent frontrunner Byron Donalds dominates Florida GOP governor debate he skipped
Former House Speaker Paul Renner, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and businessman James Fishback took the stage Thursday night, each trying to prove he is the strongest alternative to U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Trump-backed frontrunner.
Nintendo has detailed rollout plans for Switch 2 product revisions in Europe with replaceable batteries, and Switch 1 consoles are being discontinued
Nintendo has detailed the rollout plans for Switch 2 revisions with replaceable batteries in Europe and announced Switch 1 will stop production in 2027.
Here's How the iPhone 18 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 18 Pro
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September. The devices will have a lot in common, but the latest leak suggests that the Pro Max model will take an even bigger step forward in regards to battery life. According to new filings in a Chinese regulatory database, it appears that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a 5,567mAh battery in the U.S., while the iPhone 18 Pro will seemingly have a 4,288mAh battery.
Switch 2 Hardware Revision With Replaceable Battery Coming Later This Year In Europe
Battery capacity and weight also set to change
Nintendo officially announces revisions for Switch 2 and more in Europe in light of new battery regulations
Today, Nintendo officially announced plans for revisions of several of its products, led by Switch 2. Changes will begin to take place starting in the summer. Products will be updated only to support user-replaceable batteries. Outside of that, everything will be staying the same. Note that if you already have one of these products, there’s nothing that you need to...
iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Revealed by Regulatory Filings
New Chinese regulatory certification filings appear to confirm the battery capacities of Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. According to new filings in China's C3 database, spotted by the leaker known as "Digital Chat Station" on Weibo, the iPhone 18 Pro is seemingly rated for 4,056mAh in China and 4,288mAh in the U.S., up modestly from the iPhone 17 Pro's 3,988mAh and 4,252mAh.
Take a walk through Georgia Southern's City Campus, home to the Business Innovation Group
The Business Innovation Group is home to resources for locals, students, and small businesses to grow. With places like the FabLab and the Business Incubator, there is plenty for businesses to benefit from.
Supreme Court ruling may wipe out Democrats' cash advantage in Senate battlegrounds
The GOP and Democratic national committees, others can now spend unlimited funds from their big donors in coordination with political campaigns.
Trump to Meet With Zelensky as Russia-Ukraine Battlefield Remains ‘Frozen’ | WSJ Politics Newsletter for July 6
Also, Trump faces obstacles to put the new Air Force One in his museum, and an inside look at Europe’s rupture with the U.S.
Four people killed in an Israeli strike in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon
Four people were killed when an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state news agency.
Evidence in action: how science helps us make better decisions
Anita Chandran reviews Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works by Helen Pearson
There's a debate over who should teach workers AI
Companies are embracing hackathons, training sessions, and mentoring from 9-5. That doesn't mean you're off the hook on nights and weekends.
📝 2026 World Cup: overnight round-up
Every morning, OneFootball brings you a full recap of the overnight action at the World Cup.The must-see moment of the nightAfter a brutal nerve-shredding battle against Mexico, the Three Lions offici...
It’s the Summer of Sports and Politics
Sports has always been a battleground for political discourse. Lately it’s been driving policy, too.
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Opens New Aurora Casino As Valuation Debate Heats Up
Index moves and a new Illinois casino put PENN in focus PENN Entertainment (PENN) has just opened its US$360 million Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora in Illinois, while also moving from the Russell 1000 family into several Russell 2000 indices. See our latest analysis for PENN Entertainment. The recent opening of Hollywood Casino and Hotel Aurora and PENN Entertainment’s move into several Russell 2000 indices comes alongside a 50.17% 3 month share price return and a 19.13% 1 year total...
'Minions & Monsters' knocks out 'Toy Story 5' out in animated brawl at Fourth of July box office
It was an animated blood bath at the box office this weekend, and though 'Minions & Monsters' bested 'Toy Story 5,' its $36.4 million premiere marks a franchise low by a wide margin.
BREAKING: Crews battle blaze at Wausau business
By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review Fire on July 5, 2026 in Wausau. Photo courtesy of Teresa Volpe A significant fire broke out Sunday at an
Sunday Bantering
It must be fun to be a manager and a pitching coach. Ok, we have Shane Bieber back and ready to go. Three starts in, he has a 9.00 ERA. 7 walks and 9 strikeouts in 13 innings. Batters are hitting .351/.422/.737 against him. His fastball velocity is at the 15th percentile and average exit […]
Arkansas newspapers undergo reboot as ownership changes revitalize industry
For the past 20 years, Ashley Wimberley has seen a newspaper industry thrive, decline, transform yet struggle into the digital age, fight new legislative battles, and renew hopes for the...
WATCH: Trump delivers keynote address at ‘Salute to America 250’ event on the National Mall
Speaking in Washington after storms prompted a roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall, Trump honored veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam.
Crews battle overnight fire at Dauphin County business
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– Crews battled a fire overnight at a business in Dauphin County, according to Millersburg Fire Company. The fire company said that crews were dispatched to a workin…
Baton Rouge residents engage with art and science during Free First Sunday event
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Art and Science Museum invited residents to a day full of exploration, creativity and discovery during Free First Sunday.
Trump, in July 4 speech, says he ‘wasn’t treated that well’ despite American right to equal justice
President Trump on Saturday said in his Fourth of July speech on the National Mall that he “wasn’t treated that well” in a reference to his legal battles and felony conviction as …
I switched from Chrome to Edge and finally understood why my laptop battery died so fast
I blamed everything but my browser before this.
Deep in the heart of Texas: Astros 10, Rays 8
Is it me, or does it feel like the Rays almost never play well on holidays? Your gut feeling would be right, as Tampa Bay is now *checks notes* 10-18 on Independence Day. The Rays used some of their big pyrotechnics early, as the hottest bat in the sport, Junior Caminero, homered AGAIN in the […]
Inside a family business empire’s bitter legal battle with its former chief financial officer
The Davis Family, whose ownership of Cambria, Davisco Foods and Sun Country Airlines have made them business icons in Minnesota, are suing their longtime CFO. He’s countersuing. Tens of millions of dollars are at stake.
Yankees news: Fried takes next step with live batting practice
Fried to throw batting practice today; four Yankees named All-Stars; Domínguez has biggest shot yet; June Swoon hits as Boone takes some heat; Caballero answers questions on career.
Royals vs Phillies, July 4 game discussion
The Royals must battle for their independence from the MLB cellar against one of the best teams in baseball
Can we finally wear shorts to the office this summer?
The resistance to shorts in formal offices is powerful, but rising temperatures have renewed the debate about their place in offices.
iPhone 18 Pro Max To Deliver Runtimes Equal To Silicon-Carbon Android Flagships; Tipster Highlights Three Upgrades That Make This Possible
With its larger battery capacity and two additional upgrades, a tipster claims the iPhone 18 Pro Max can outlast silicon-carbon Android flagships
For America’s 250th, we’re reopening our public square: Letter from the Editor
the cleveland.com news site has reopened comments on politics stories for subscribers, aiming to foster civil, moderated debate.
What Does The Shield In The Battery Icon Mean On A Samsung Phone?
The new shield icon on Samsung phones indicates that the phone's software is protecting your battery from overcharging. This keeps your battery healthy longer.
Colorado Politics Calendar July 6-12
CoPo’s weekly political calendar helps you find political and public policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances, water meetings, book signings, county commission hearings, city council meetings and more. As a subscriber, […]
Representative Joyce Beatty Still Celebrating Victory in Kennedy Center Legal Battle
Representative Joyce Beatty, Democrat of Ohio, said her lawsuit challenging the president’s changes to the performing arts center was a fight for justice.
AI is already reshaping US politics at every level
Artificial intelligence is barging into the workplace and transforming the battlefield. Now, it’s coming to the ballot box, promising to rewrite the DNA of politics. Driven by a flood of
Basallo homers and Rogers battles, Orioles beat Reds 3-0
It was the team’s second shutout of the season
Combat Sports World Joins NBA Superstar LeBron James Sweepstakes
The combat sports world has joined in on the festivities as sports fans everywhere await Lebron James next move. In case you don’t know, the legendary NBA superstar is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers where he has played for the past eight seasons. This includes an NBA Championship back in 2020 […]
MSU's McCoy Biagioli makes history with second Michigan Amateur title
McCoy Biagioli, 20, of White Lake, beat Grand Blanc's Logan Price, 28, in the championship match Friday at Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center in Bath.
Pickleball tournament raises over $40,000 for community health center
Through three days of pickleball, Elevated Community Health’s 2nd annual Elevated Paddle Battle tournament raised over $40,000. The tournament, which ran from June 26-28 in Breckenridge’s Carter Park, featured 100 players from 12 states, all...
Long Reads for the Long Weekend
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Happy Fourth of July weekend! As has been a tradition of mine going back to the beginning of the EntStrategyGuy website, I’m sharing my favorite long reads of the last year, like I did in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. Let’s dive right in! Subscribe “Different Prices for the Same Ride: How Uber and Lyft Use AI to Get More Money Out of You“ by Derek Kravitz in Consumer Reports I don’t think surveillance pricing, like the kind described in this brilliant Consumer Reports article, is long for the world—it’s toxically unpopular—but we’ll see if either party takes on this issue. If I ran a political party focused on affordability, I would focus on a few pro-consumer and pro-market policies: Banning non-compete agreements. Ending surveillance pricing Eliminating junk fees (read more here...) Ensuring “right to repair” for consumer (and military!) products Capping excessive app store fees Stopping digital/algorithmic price-fixing tools. Preventing automatic subscription price increases. And more. If you want to fight inflation, there are a lot of great ways to do it quickly. Speaking of higher prices... “Secret Documents Show Pepsi and Walmart Colluded to Raise Food Prices Across the Economy“ by Matt Stoller in BIG Again, I think a political party should focus on lowering prices for consumers. And deals like this—Walmart making a deal/forcing Pepsi to offer the lowest prices at its stores and nowhere else—hypothetically lower prices at Walmart...but raise them everywhere else. “15 DUIs, still driving: California’s failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road“ by Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler in CalMatters CalMatters does terrific reporting in California, something the Golden State desperately needs more of, and this article is a great example of that. “PugLips: The next insanely popular thing you’ve never heard of…” by Simon Carless in Game Discover Co I thought that this parody article (and yes, it’s a parody, but I was definitely unsure at first) was hilarious and totally nailed how much tech/business journalism feels these days. Actually, three of my favorite articles this year were on hype in the video game industry, including Georg Zoller’s “The Video Game Industries Very Dark Night”—which I linked to recently and wrote a follow-up here—and Owen Mahoney’s “Derek Zoolander, Videogame Exec”. In particular, I like Mahoney’s focus on user experience as a guide to what trends will actually grab hold of customers. “The Matrix Lies“ by Evan Shapiro in Media War & Peace Evan Shapiro’s first person account of his experience with AI was hilarious. I think LLMs capabilities have significantly grown from last summer, and yet...my editor/researcher just had an abysmal experience using an LLM to do a quite basic task (which our LLM normally does each week) and the LLM made a mistake on every single data entry...along with seven different mistakes affecting twelve of the twenty or so entries, including mistakes that are explicitly spelled out in the prompt. That’s a brutal failure rate. Again, if you use AI/LLM for data collection, you need to take a lot of extra steps to verify and check the data. “Ghosts in the Balcony: A Cross-Country Trip to 58 Theaters Fighting to Survive“ by Matthew Frank in The Ankler I thought Matthew Frank’s pitch to head across America to visit theaters sounded insane aggressive at the time—at least it felt that way to someone a decade older than him; man, to be in your twenties again, am I right?—but I knew the result would be great. And it was, a terrific feature by a great young writer. Also, I loved Matthew’s recent article on who’s getting the precious few entry level jobs in Hollywood. (Hint: nepotism.) “Disney erased FiveThirtyEight“ and “Did Las Vegas get too greedy?” by Nate Silver in Silver Bulletin I love media history and analysis, and there’s no one better to get the history of FiveThirtyEight than from Nate Silver, who wrote about his personal experience in one of my favorite pieces from this year. I also loved Nate’s breakdown of what’s causing Vegas’ woes, but I’ll offer one criticism, summarized as “Might I suggest antitrust?” Many centrists/center-right/libertarian thinkers (Nate is self-described as the latter) often don’t consider consolidation or antitrust as factors in policy issues like housing, America’s military readiness, or, in this case, Las Vegas. Even if libertarians want to debunk antitrust/consolidation concerns, I’d love to read that debunking. In this case, Vegas is incredibly consolidated (though it also has been for a long time) and I’d have loved to read Nate at least contending with this factor, since he addresses almost every other potential factor for Vegas’ decline. “Why Microsoft’s Carbon Removal Pullback Is Such a Big Deal“ by Robinson Meyer in Heatmap News I’m a big supporter of carbon removal efforts, but this nascent industry faces a lot of headwinds, including this big move most recently. I think it’s clear that solar panels and batteries should be able to get the world to its carbon footprint goals, but effective carbon renewal remains necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. “AI is killing the cheap smartphone“ by David Oks LLMs and AI will impact the world in ways we’re not ready for, and already, third world countries are seeing the prices of cheap cellphones skyrocket due to the cost of chips skyrocketing. This article by David Oks is a terrific breakdown. “100 Days of Madness: Netflix, Paramount, Warner and the Future of Hollywood“ by Wade Major at Hollywood Heretic Wade Major dove deep into Hollywood/streaming’s financials in this must read piece. Not that I agree with everything in this article (read my take on Warner Bros./Paramount here) but the analysis is top notch. I think many people discount how quality thinking, regardless of the argument/conclusion, will make you a better thinker. “Erased by the UFC: Frank Shamrock, The MMA GOAT of the 20th Century“ by Nate Wilcox in The MMA Draw Newsletter Growing up playing the UFC fighting game on the Dreamcast, Frank Shamrock was my favorite MMA fighter, and this history/tribute to him was great. Other Fun Reads “The Hardest Part Of History To Tell Is How It Felt“ by Craig Fehrman at Defector “Unmasking the Sea Star Killer“ by Craig Welch at bioGraphic “What Could Save the Industry? Fin-Syn“ by Richard Rushfield in The Ankler Alex Rollins Berg in Underexposed on movie bumpers, pillow shots, Disney trash cinema, cult films, and Casablanca. David H. Montgomery in YouGov’s The Surveyor on punctuation marks, condiments, dinosaurs, and comic strips and kids media. “How Medium finally pivoted its way to profitability“ and “Why the best journalists on YouTube are all former Vox employees“ by Simon Owens in Simon Owens’s Media Newsletter “It’s Not Just You, Netflix Shows Have Gotten Slightly Shorter: Here’s What the Data Says“ by Kasey Moore at What’s on Netflix “Numlock Awards: How Diane Warren became the biggest loser in Oscar history“ by Nathaniel Rakich and “Numlock Awards: The Oscar Bait era is over. The Oscar Chum era is here.” by Walt Hickey & Michael Domanico at Numlock Awards
The United States at 250: Who gets to tell a nation's story?
As the US marks 250 years of independence, debates over how the nation's history should be told have become part of the anniversary itself. President Donald Trump says America should tell a more patriotic story.
Florida politics recap: Byron Donalds strengthens grip on GOP governor's race as rivals battle in court
It was a week of escalation in Florida politics: a governor's race lawsuit, new restrictions aimed at undocumented students, and a fresh legal fight over Gov. Ron DeSantis' push to label CAIR and other groups as terrorist organizations.
Mexico vs England predicted line-ups: Sky Sports writers pick their XIs with Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon and John Stones among players debated
Meet Melissa Rutland, the Republican running to flip HD 60 with a pledge that 'solutions aren't partisan'
The battle to replace Democrat Lindsay Cross is likely to be one of the toughest this cycle.