Musk’s SpaceX Goals Shift Ahead of Its I.P.O. - The New York Times
As SpaceX prepares to go public, Mr. Musk has proposed moonshots that differ from the company’s original aim of reaching Mars.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s Epic Fight Heads to Court; Sun sues Trump Family's World Liberty Financial for Fraud
Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s Epic Fight Heads to Court - The New York Times
A jury trial that is set to start on Monday could shift the course of the A.I. race, with Mr. Musk seeking billions of dollars in damages from Mr. Altman’s OpenAI.
This is not the only tech lawsuit to hit the newspaper:
Justin Sun, one of the largest backers of World Liberty Financial, sued the Trump family’s crypto start-up, accusing it of a fraudulent scheme to pressure him into buying digital coins.
Proposed Lifetime Smoking Ban to Become Law in Britain
Proposed Lifetime Smoking Ban to Become Law in Britain - The New York Times
The proposal, which was approved by Parliament on Tuesday, will ban the supply or sale of tobacco products to anyone born in 2009 or after, permanently.
Asian jumping worms found in California, officials issue warning
Asian jumping worms found in California, officials issue warning (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)
They reproduce without mating and there is no way to kill them!
"The jumping worms’ hyper-activity degrades the soil structure, can harm plant roots and accelerate soil drying. This creates a ‘nutrient-poor paradox’ where nutrients are present but unavailable to plants. This can further exacerbate drought conditions, which the state is already in,” the Colorado Department of Agriculture said in a press release.
$106 Billion Loan Reflects E.U.’s View That Peace in Ukraine Is Far Away
$106 Billion Loan Reflects E.U.’s View That Peace in Ukraine Is Far Away - The New York Times (Thanks to Matte for this one)
Unlike previous European assistance packages, this one is heavily weighted toward military spending, meant to put Ukraine on solid footing for a long fight.
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| A funeral for victims of a Russian strike in Ternopil, Ukraine, in November.Mauricio Lima for The New York Times |
Senate Adopts GOP Budget, Laying the Groundwork to Fund ICE and Reopen DHS
Senate Adopts GOP Budget, Laying the Groundwork to Fund ICE and Reopen DHS - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
Republicans pushed through a budget plan with a $70 billion increase for immigration enforcement after an overnight session in which they beat back Democratic proposals aimed at lowering costs.
Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s Low-Profile Leader?
A Wish List for John Ternus, the Man Replacing Tim Cook as Apple’s CEO - The New York Times
John Ternus, an Apple veteran who runs hardware engineering, will take over an extraordinarily profitable company in need of new ideas.
Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s Low-Profile Leader? - The New York Times
John Ternus, a low-profile but influential executive at Apple, is to replace the company’s longtime chief executive, Tim Cook.
MacBook Neo Review: A Surprisingly Great Budget MacBook | Reviews by Wirecutter
Anthropic’s New Mythos A.I. Model Sets Off Global Alarms
Anthropic’s New Mythos A.I. Model Sets Off Global Alarms - The New York Times
Mythos has triggered emergency responses from central banks and intelligence agencies globally, as Anthropic decides who has access to the powerful model.
Unauthorized group has gained access to Anthropic’s exclusive cyber tool Mythos, report claims
Why Anthropic’s Mythos has energised China’s cybersecurity industry | South China Morning Post
Putin's new foothold? Will Bulgaria’s New Leader Cast His Lot With Europe or Russia?
Will Bulgaria’s New Leader Cast His Lot With Europe or Russia? - The New York Times
With a record of pro-Russia statements, Rumen Radev handily won elections this week. Now Bulgarians and his E.U. partners wait to see which way he will turn.
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| Rumen Radev campaigning in Sofia, Bulgaria, last week.Spasiyana Sergieva/Reuters |
Some Labubu Dolls Contain Cotton Banned By Forced Labor Law, Testing Shows
Some Labubu Dolls Contain Cotton Banned By Forced Labor Law, Testing Shows - The New York Times
A test verified by The New York Times found that clothes for some of the viral dolls contained cotton from the Xinjiang region of China, which is banned in the United States.
The Generals Who Are Now Running Iran; Navy Secretary John Phelan Is Leaving the Pentagon and the Trump Administration
The Generals Who Are Now Running Iran - The New York Times
The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ushered in a new form of collective leadership in the country, with more power for the Revolutionary Guards.
Navy Secretary John Phelan Is Leaving the Pentagon and the Trump Administration - The New York Times
John Phelan is leaving the Pentagon after months of tension with Pete Hegseth and other Pentagon leaders. The tumult comes as the Navy has been engaged in war with Iran.
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“Mojtaba is managing the country as though he is the director of the board,” said Abdolreza Davari, a politician who served as senior adviser to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he was president and knows Mr. Khamenei.
“He relies heavily on the advice and guidance of the board members, and they collectively make all the decisions,” Mr. Davari said in a phone interview from Tehran. “The generals are the board members.”
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, Resigns From Congress
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, Resigns From Congress - The New York Times
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick stands accused of stealing $5 million in federal funds. She said she would step down minutes before an ethics panel was to vote on whether to recommend expelling her.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
SpaceX Strikes Deal With Cursor for $60 Billion
SpaceX Strikes Deal With Cursor for $60 Billion - The New York Times
The potential acquisition comes as Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite maker, which has been emphasizing artificial intelligence, is preparing to go public.
Investors Fret Over Tesla’s $25 Billion A.I. Bet - The New York Times
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| Michael Truell, the chief executive of Cursor, founded the start-up with three others in 2022.Big Event Media/Getty Images |
Rep. David Scott, Longtime Georgia Lawmaker, Dies at 80
Rep. David Scott, Longtime Georgia Lawmaker, Dies at 80 - The New York Times
The former Georgia state lawmaker was an advocate for issues that affected Black communities. He drew attention for his refusal to exit politics amid health problems.
Russia Is Building Tomorrow’s War Machine
Opinion | Putin’s Army of Drones - The New York Times (Thanks to Melanie for this one)
Russia is reshaping the future of warfare in real time, building artificial intelligence-enabled command and control and, it appears, deploying fully autonomous weapons without the ethical constraints that govern Western militaries.
The stakes extend beyond the war in Ukraine, as the United States has learned firsthand during the war with Iran. Iranian Shahed drones being fielded by Tehran with Russian support have struck American equipment and installations in the Middle East. The advances Moscow is making in autonomous warfare will make such drone attacks even more devastating. Understanding Russia’s approach to the future of warfare is urgent for the United States.
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| A Russian kamikaze drone in Kyiv, Ukraine, last week.Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters |
As Fuel Protests Sweep Ireland, the Left Points to Imperialism as the Culprit
As Fuel Protests Sweep Ireland, the Left Points to Imperialism as the Culprit | Truthout (Thanks to Chris for this one)
Activists in Ireland are refusing the co-optation of fuel protests by the far right and demanding government action.
FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for article that alleged excessive drinking
FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for article that alleged excessive drinking | PBS News (Thanks to Sara for this one)
Related: Another Kash Patel defamation lawsuit was just dismissed
A lawsuit FBI Director Kash Patel filed alleging that former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi defamed him has been dismissed.
In the suit, Patel said Figliuzzi defamed him during an MS Now appearance last May by saying Patel had “been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor” of the FBI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The bureau said it is not pursuing a case, but the scrutiny is an example of the Trump administration weighing whether to criminalize routine news gathering.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Monday, April 20, 2026
Sunday, April 19, 2026
The Books You Should’ve Read at Every Age
The Books You Should’ve Read at Every Age
What books, movies, music, or art would you put on the list?
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as US maintains its blockade...Spoiler: They close it!
US military seizes Iran-flagged ship trying to pass strait of Hormuz blockade | Strait of Hormuz | The Guardian (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
The Touska, the Iranian-Flagged Ship Seized by U.S. Forces, Was Under Sanctions - The New York Times
Marines are searching thousands of containers aboard the Touska, an Iranian cargo ship that the Navy disabled and seized on Sunday.
California Woman Is Arrested at LAX and Accused of Selling Weapons for Iran - The New York Times
Prosecutors said that Shamim Mafi, a legal permanent resident of the United States, helped facilitate millions of dollars in arms transfers from Iran.
Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but threatens to close it again as US maintains its blockade | AP News (Thanks to Sonia for this one)
Trump Says U.S. Officials Will Travel to Pakistan for Talks
Vice President JD Vance will again lead the U.S. delegation for talks mediated by Pakistan, a White House official said. There was no immediate comment from Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed. (Note: JD Vance will not be going to the talks due to security concerns voiced by the Secret Service)
For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent - The New York Times
Iran’s government could emerge from the conflict with a blueprint to keep adversaries at bay, regardless of any restrictions on its nuclear program.
Earth Day spotlight on water and wildlife
Earth Day spotlight on water and wildlife | Reuters (Thanks to Chris for this one)
A report last year estimated that over 2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water, and more than 3.4 billion live without adequate sanitation.
Global demand for freshwater is expected to outstrip supply by up to 40% by the end of the decade, the World Bank estimates, with water-related shocks already costing some countries several percentage points of annual economic growth.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Friday, April 17, 2026
Pennsylvania May Soon Designate a New ‘Migratory Bird’
Pennsylvania May Soon Designate a New ‘Migratory Bird’
What do you think? Is it okay to have two state birds? Our game bird is the Ruff Grouse
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| The Scarlet Tanager. |
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| The Ruffed Grouse. |
Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline restored to full capacity
Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline restored to full capacity (Thanks to Finn for this one)
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| A dehydrator vessel pipe at the Khurais Processing Department in the Khurais oil field in Khurais, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, June 28, 2021. Maya Siddiqui/Bloomberg via Getty Images |
Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce
Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce (Thanks to Matte for this one)
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia Israeli forces are battling in Lebanon, avoided mention of the 10-day cease-fire but appeared to be adhering to it. A truce could remove an obstacle in U.S.-Iran peace talks.
She Made Sure Her Baby Was Born an American. Then Federal Agents Separated Them.
She Made Sure Her Baby Was Born an American. Then Federal Agents Separated Them. (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
Diana Acosta Verde, who came into the United States illegally when she was six months pregnant, had to leave her baby at a hospital while she returned to a detention center.
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| Diana Acosta Verde and her baby, Gael, at a farm in Honduras owned by her partner’s family earlier this month.Credit...Daniele Volpe for The New York Times |
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines
Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines
Other small private colleges like Hampshire have closed in recent years as financial pressures and competition for students increase. Over 300 colleges have closed since 2008 in the U.S.
More than a quarter of private colleges are at risk of closing, a new projection shows
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| Hampshire College’s campus in Amherst, Mass.Credit...David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe, via Getty Images |
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| LillyAnne Keely holds a newborn lamb in the barn at Sterling College, which focuses on agriculture and related disciplines. Oliver Parini for The Hechinger Report |
Shakespeare’s long-lost London home is finally found! Congratulations Professor Lucy Munro!
Shakespeare’s long-lost London home is finally found
In the past 100 years, the spot has been an architecture firm, carpet wholesaler, and more.
Shakespeare’s ‘missing’ London house mapped with new discovery
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| Shakespeare likely spent the majority of his later life in Stratford-upon-Avon. Credit: Deposit Photos |
| Professor Lucy Munro, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature at King's College London. |
Ceasefire in Lebanon goes into effect as Trump voices confidence in Iran deal
Ceasefire in Lebanon goes into effect as Trump voices confidence in Iran deal (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
A pause in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed paramilitary group in Lebanon, could help pave the way for a peace deal with Tehran. It was unclear if the agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese government was being honored. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, acknowledged the temporary truce but did not say if it would abide by it.
Despite Cease-Fire, Iran’s Hackers Haven’t Logged Off
Tehran’s digital warriors have continued to seek ways to gain an advantage in the conflict in a new phase of cyberspace operations.
Iran Is Teaching Us Something About the American War Machine
Military superiority doesn't translate to victory in an age of cheap weaponry and asymmetric warfare.
White House Declines to Offer Congress an Estimate of Iran War Cost
Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said the fluctuating nature of the U.S.-Israeli war made it difficult to pinpoint expenses.
Pentagon Seeks Help From Ford and G.M.
Concerned about the slow pace and high cost of weapons production, Pentagon officials have begun talks with General Motors and Ford Motor about producing certain parts.
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| Celebratory gunfire illuminated the night sky over Lebanon early Friday after a cease-fire was to have taken effect between Israel and Lebanon.Hassan Ammar/Associated Press |
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| Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said he would not give an estimate of the cost of the conflict because he did not want to be inaccurate.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
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| The Pentagon has met with Ford Motor and General Motors to gauge whether the auto industry may be able to help the military acquire vehicles, munitions and other hardware.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Meet Baggs, the Puppy That Could Save Your Life
Meet Baggs, the Puppy That Could Save Your Life
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| Baggs “likes people, but she also really likes cruising around and sniffing,” said her owner, Rob Brennan, a Jackson Hole ski patroller. |
From Maven to Mythos: A week in AI breakthroughs...or breakdowns
A.I. Has a Message Problem of Its Own Making
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to “de-escalate” the rhetoric around A.I. But if you tell people that your product will upend their way of life, take their jobs, and possibly threaten humanity, they might believe you.
How Project Maven Put A.I. Into the Kill Chain
A new book charts the creation of a secretive system that automates warfare for the military. The progression from target identification to target destruction is four clicks.
Misanthropic: on Mythos, bad human behaviors and systems vulnerabilities (JPMorgan Chase)
Our evaluation of Claude Mythos Preview’s cyber capabilities
We conducted cyber evaluations of Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview and found continued improvement in capture-the-flag (CTF) challenges and significant improvement on multi-step cyber-attack simulations.
It’s the End of the Internet as We Know It
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
A deep dive into the horror novelist’s archives reveals pedantry, penny-pinching, and a total redraft of Carrie
Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States
Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States
In a verdict that could have far-reaching consequences in the music industry, the live colossus that includes Ticketmaster was found to have violated antitrust laws.
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