Sunday, July 12, 2026

US Politics Shake-Up

Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican from South Carolina and key ally of Donald Trump, has died at 71 after a brief illness, creating a significant vacancy in the Senate. CNBC The Guardian

President Trump justified his reported $2 billion financial gain during his second term by inaccurately attributing it to a hot stock market and claiming he was the only president to donate his salary. New York Times

US allies expressed apprehension after President Trump abruptly changed his stance at the NATO summit in Ankara, with commentators struggling to explain his volatile performance. The Guardian

A federal judge awarded Hunter Biden $1.7 million in punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit against former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, who had falsely claimed Biden sought a bribe from Iran. The Hill The Guardian

President Trump threatened to "decimate" Iran if it attempts to assassinate him, stating 1,000 missiles are "locked and loaded," as the Treasury Department sanctioned an alleged Iranian financier. CNBC

AI & Tech Ethics

AI companies are pushing to weaken Australia’s copyright laws, sparking outrage from artists and dividing the Labor government ahead of a landmark speech on AI by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Guardian

Big Tech's carbon emissions, largely driven by data centers, now account for a third of France's total, with Microsoft reporting a 25% jump in emissions due to its AI expansions. The Guardian

Hundreds of protesters marched on OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind offices in San Francisco, demanding a halt to the "AI race" and raising concerns about the technology's societal impact. San Francisco Chronicle

OpenAI is expanding its focus into households by hiring a product manager dedicated to building AI experiences for families, caregivers, and older adults. TechCrunch

Despite volatility in AI-related chip stocks, executives report "almost unlimited" demand for AI, even as enterprises shift towards "valuemaxxing" to optimize spending. CNBC

Business & Markets

Koei Tecmo's Pokémon Pokopia has surpassed 4 million sales, becoming a "stealth hit" that sent Nintendo shares soaring, despite the developer having no "real expectations" for its launch. Nintendo Everything

Wall Street analysts are bullish on SpaceX, with some projections suggesting a $2,000 investment could yield significant returns, though others maintain a rare "sell" rating. Yahoo Finance

A cryptocurrency regulation bill, the Clarity Act, faces a critical "make-or-break" moment in Congress, with senators needing to resolve policy disputes before the August recess, which experts see as the last window for passage. The Hill

Quick Shots

• ⚽ England will face Argentina in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals, as Norway and Switzerland express frustration following their quarter-final exits. The Guardian
• 👽 The White House has appointed Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his claims about aliens, to head a new UAP Science Advisory Council aimed at resolving the nature of unidentified anomalous phenomena. The Verge
• 💰 New York's Attorney General alleges Cash App exposed vulnerable users to "rampant fraud," leading to a $45 million multi-state settlement with Block, the app's parent company. Gothamist
• 🎶 FL Studio CEO Constantin Koehncke is engaging with Reddit users for feedback on the pioneering digital audio workstation, which now incorporates AI-powered features like stem separation. The Verge
• 🇯🇵 Russia has established a military intelligence unit in a Tokyo high-rise, actively acquiring high-tech equipment from Japan to support its war efforts. New York Times