ABCNEWS - Trump signals economic pressure in Iran conflict as talks stall: ANALYSIS
The Trump administration is touting its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and previewing new sanctions still to be announced.
AXIOS (Jim VandeHei) - Behind the Curtain: The new existential threat to AI
Forget energy. Forget chips. Forget China. The most clear and present danger to AI and any AI-related economic boom is rapidly rising public opposition to U.S. data centers. Why it matters: Republicans and AI CEOs are in full panic mode watching politicians and the public turn on the physical engines of AI growth. In private, they tell us they can't find a compelling message to shift opinion fast enough. Their nightmare — a political and economic daisy chain that cripples the AI revolution — is already taking shape: - Voters revolt against data centers over electricity bills, water use, giant warehouse-like developments and fears about AI eliminating jobs. - Democrats race to capitalize, competing to impose tougher restrictions or…
AXIOS (Madison Mills) - OpenAI blinks first in AI safety standoff
OpenAI said Tuesday it is pausing some model work over safety concerns, days after rival Anthropic doubled down on insisting that its own safety measures were solid enough that it didn't need to slow down. Why it matters: The two leading AI labs are publicly diverging on how to manage safety risks, potentially putting them on different model-release timelines as both prepare for expected IPOs. State of play: OpenAI has introduced new safety practices after finding that its upcoming model, Astra, posed potentially critical cybersecurity risks. - "We always said we would take action if we felt that model capabilities were outstripping the pace of safety and alignment," CEO Sam Altman wrote on X , signaling that the Astra model was showing…
AXIOS (Rebecca Falconer) - Why the U.S. grid's extreme heat problem is changing
Solar energy and batteries are making it easier for utilities to meet surging electricity demand during extreme heat , but prolonged high temperatures are exposing other vulnerabilities in the grid. Why it matters: Electricity demand rises as air conditioners work harder in extreme heat, while high temperatures can make parts of the system less efficient and put additional stress on equipment. The big picture: Climate change is extending periods of extreme heat just as electrification and data centers add new loads, leaving parts of the grid working harder for longer. Between the lines: Michael Webber, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, tells Axios that grid operators face a "triple whammy" under…
WASHINGTONPOST (Teo Armus, Matthew Choi, Praveena Somasundaram) - 8 takeaways and surprises from Florida, Wyoming and Alaska primaries
Embattled Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida) lost his re-election bid, another Trump gubernatorial pick fell, and another democratic socialist won a Democratic primary.
NPR (Kadin Mills) - 15 states have laws that allow corporal punishment in schools. Here's where, and why
There is broad consensus among psychologists that corporal punishment can be harmful to children, but the U.S. has no federal laws banning it in public schools.
NPR (Joe Hernandez) - Why more than 400,000 kids are on waitlists for federal childcare assistance
The Child Care and Development Fund, the U.S. government's main source of funding to help low-income families pay for childcare, serves over 1.6 million children in a typical month.
NPR (Scott Neuman) - Elbridge who? How the name of a forgotten founder lives on in the word 'gerrymander'
Elbridge Gerry was an important early figure in the American Revolution, but his decision to approve a "gerrymandered" state legislative map inadvertently won him lasting infamy.
NPR (Malaka Gharib) - Feeling restless? Level up your life by starting a side quest
Feeling restless in life? Level up your main quest with an activity that has no other purpose than to add whimsy to your life. Play experts share tips on how to find the perfect side quest.
NYTIMES (Christine Emba) - Friendship Is the New Luxury Good
The four-year degree isn’t just an economic signal; it’s become a lifestyle determinant.