Today

Today's art news spans from political tussles over cultural landmarks to AI's encroachment on creative IP, with a few delightful surprises in between. The through-line is the tension between preservation and transformation, whether it's a Dutch painting revealing hidden layers or a comic book imagining rebellion against automation.

• · The Last Driver #1 Preview: Manual Transmission Meets Manual Rebellion
• · Why is the Kennedy Center board trying to add Trump's name—again?
• · MTG Hobbit Secret Lair Bonus Sheet: Diabolic Intent gets the perfect LOTR art

Today's science news is mostly about the economics and politics of big systems: carbon capture, climate policy, and the global scramble for critical minerals. The technical problems are solved or solvable; the question is who pays and who benefits.

• · Carbon Capture's Biggest Problem Isn't Capturing Carbon
• · If West Antarctica’s ice sheet collapsed, the U.S. East Coast would gain more than the coast nearest the ice — because the ice sheet’s gravity pulls the ocean toward it
• · The Former Ninth Planet - Why Isn't Pluto Considered a Planet Anymore?

Today's personal feed is heavy on identity and representation, with two pieces digging into the messy intersections of disability, fatness, and Hollywood. Meanwhile, a spiritual essay and an AI cautionary tale round out the day, offering different angles on self-awareness and societal pressure.

• · How My Disability Justice Practice Had to Align with Fat Liberation for Representation
• · Are E-Bikes Banned in NYC? The Current Regulations Across States and Which E-Bikes are Safe
• · The "Real" is Emerging ~ Higher Gnosis By Chellea Wilder

The big education story today is the Arizona Supreme Court weighing whether voters get a say on the state's universal voucher program. It's a legal knife's edge that could reshape school choice policy. Meanwhile, a couple of academic freedom fights are brewing in Malaysia and Australia.

• · Voucher-reform measure hangs by a thread as Supreme Court weighs signatures
• · My friends all hate AI; I just joined an AI startup – fast.ai
• · The Former Ninth Planet - Why Isn't Pluto Considered a Planet Anymore?

The big story today is the Trump administration's quiet dismantling of anti-corruption rules, capped by FinCEN scrapping the shell company rule. That's a direct invitation to money launderers, and it's the kind of thing that changes the risk calculus for every financial institution. Meanwhile, the AI wealth effect is warping housing markets, and crypto keeps dancing to equities' tune.

• · A Green Light for Crooks
• · Ban Trump Family Crypto Ventures and Pass Real Crypto Regulation Now
• · ‘A million dollars over asking’: AI wealth is fueling housing market frenzy in San Francisco

Today's gaming news is a mixed bag, but the standout is S-GAME's deep dive into Phantom Blade Zero, which gave us our best look yet at the Wuxia action RPG. Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 and Modern Warfare 4 are gearing up for big updates, and a few smaller titles are making waves with mods and patches.

• · Matt Damon's 10/10 Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Essential Viewing After Becoming Streaming Smash Hit
• · Fields of Mistria Time Mods Let You Freeze or Speed Up Your Day
• · PSA: Play 10 Minigames For Free In Pictonico's Limited Time Event

Today's design feed runs from cheeky billboards to architectural psychology, with a foldable iPhone leak and a carbon-fiber Aston Martin thrown in. The through-line is how design plays with perception: making you look twice, feel small, or rethink materials.

• · These suggestive billboard posters are making people do a double take
• · Apple's iPhone Ultra design keeps getting weirder
• · Why Some Buildings Make You Feel Small (And Some Make You Feel Safe)

Today's health news is a mixed bag: gun deaths drop overall but suicides climb to a record, while new diet research offers nuanced guidance on meat and plant-based eating. A few pieces also spotlight overlooked health issues, from autism drowning risks to fertility drug concerns.

• · How My Disability Justice Practice Had to Align with Fat Liberation for Representation
• · CDC Data Shows Shooting Deaths Dropped, but Gun Suicides Hit a Record High
• · Biogents Mosquitaire review: the Mercedes of nontoxic mosquito eradication is worth the price

The AI music wars are heating up. Warner Music's CEO is embracing Suno while UMG and Sony press on with lawsuits, and Alibaba's new model can generate entire songs from a prompt. The industry is splitting over how to handle generative AI.

• · 5 Best Sci-Fi Series Theme Songs Of All Time, Ranked
• · BBC Radio 6 Music - 6 Music Artist Collection, Phoebe Bridgers, Vol. 3: A selection of records that inspire Phoebe to write
• · Robert Kyncl justifies Suno deal, as UMG and Sony press on with lawsuit: ‘In my opinion, you embrace it.’

Today's politics is consumed by the fallout from the USS Lincoln's extended deployment, with Trump's combative defense drawing bipartisan ire and overshadowing other news. Meanwhile, disability policy and trade tensions simmer beneath the surface, offering a glimpse of the administration's broader priorities.

• · Mind the gap: reading between the lines on the DSS Bill changes — CCS Disability Action
• · People With Disabilities Say Medicaid’s Limits On Income Stifle Career Advancement
• · ‘Despicable' or unfortunate? Lawmakers' fury amid USS Lincoln crisis

Today's big number is Anthropic's $65 billion annualized revenue run rate, up from $9 billion at the end of last year. The AI boom is reshaping everything from San Francisco real estate to music licensing, and the pressure is showing on OpenAI as ChatGPT uninstalls spike.

• · The benchmarkpocalypse
• · Robert Kyncl justifies Suno deal, as UMG and Sony press on with lawsuit: ‘In my opinion, you embrace it.’
• · Seedless Blackberries and Cherries That Grow on Bushes Vie to Be the Future of Food

Today's business news is dominated by AI's outsized economic footprint, from Anthropic's staggering revenue growth to the housing market frenzy it's fueling in San Francisco. Meanwhile, traditional industries like autos and defense show how AI-era dynamics are reshaping even non-tech sectors.

• · Robert Kyncl justifies Suno deal, as UMG and Sony press on with lawsuit: ‘In my opinion, you embrace it.’
• · With Trump’s latest tariff threat looming, Canada’s auto industry must determine how much more it can absorb
• · Anthropic’s annualized revenue surges to $65B

While D23 fallout continues, today's entertainment news is a mixed bag: Pixar's first horror film is teased, Phantom Blade Zero gets a deep dive, and a few notable interviews and reviews stand out. The thread is about pushing boundaries, whether in animation, gaming, or celebrity discourse.

• · Pixar’s First Horror Film
• · 5 Best Sci-Fi Series Theme Songs Of All Time, Ranked
• · The Last Driver #1 Preview: Manual Transmission Meets Manual Rebellion

Today's coverage spans two distinct threads: the West's water crisis deepening as Lake Powell hits a record low, and a series of pieces on disability policy and representation. The disability stories share a common frustration: systemic barriers persist despite incremental reforms.

• · Mind the gap: reading between the lines on the DSS Bill changes — CCS Disability Action
• · People With Disabilities Say Medicaid’s Limits On Income Stifle Career Advancement
• · ‘Despicable' or unfortunate? Lawmakers' fury amid USS Lincoln crisis