A San Diego man, Michael Hart, has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in the first-ever prosecution for smuggling hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) into the U.S. These […]
JD Vance Shrugs at Hate
Politico recently published a cache of internal Telegram messages shared over several months by leaders within the Young Republican National Federation and affiliated state organizations. The exchanges contained repeated racist, antisemitic, and homophobic slurs, alongside praise of Adolf Hitler and casual references to sexual assault and gas chambers. The speakers were not anonymous internet agitators. They included a sitting state senator, federal agency staff, legislative aides, and party organizers in their late twenties and thirties. The initial reaction from many Republican officials was direct. The Young Republican National Federation stated that the messages were unbecoming of any Republican and called…
Shutdown Blame at the Airport
Airports across the United States have declined to broadcast a video distributed by the Department of Homeland Security in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats in Congress for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The video was intended to play at TSA security checkpoints nationwide, where travelers wait in mandatory screening lines with little ability to look away. In the recording, Noem claims that Democrats refuse to fund the government and that TSA employees are working without pay as a result. She assures passengers that delays will be minimized and expresses hope that Democrats will "recognize the importance of…
AI Videos and the Future of Deception
Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase with the rise of tools like Meta’s "Vibes" and OpenAI’s Sora 2, which allow anyone to instantly generate short, highly realistic videos. Meta describes Vibes as a TikTok-style feed of fully AI-generated clips. OpenAI’s Sora 2 goes a step further, allowing users to insert "cameos" of themselves or others (with permission) into AI-generated scenes. The feature is currently invitation-only, but OpenAI says wider access is coming. At first glance, Sora seems like a fun novelty. Type a prompt such as "a man rides a horse which is on another horse" or "figure skater…
JD Vance Shrugs at Hate
Politico recently published a cache of internal Telegram messages shared over several months by leaders within the Young Republican National Federation and affiliated state organizations.…
Shutdown Blame at the Airport
Airports across the United States have declined to broadcast a video distributed by the Department of Homeland Security in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem…
AI Videos and the Future of Deception
Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase with the rise of tools like Meta’s "Vibes" and OpenAI’s Sora 2, which allow anyone to instantly generate…
Is Age Verification Online Possible?
The debate over age verification laws escalated this summer when two major decentralized social networks took opposing but telling approaches. Bluesky announced it was pulling…
The Universe’s End May Come Sooner
New research into dark energy is raising big questions about the future of the universe. Dark energy is the mysterious force that’s pushing galaxies apart…
Moon Strike Could Trigger Meteors
This is a follow-up to our earlier post about asteroid 2024 YR4, a near-Earth object that drew international attention for its initially uncertain trajectory. While…
Broken Dreams at Publishers Clearing House
Publishers Clearing House began in the 1950s as a direct mail business focused on magazine subscriptions. Over the decades it became a household name, largely…
Is Google Killing Android Sideloading?
Sideloading is the process of installing apps on a smartphone from outside the official app store. On Android, this has long been a feature that…
Gov’t Shutdown: Blame Border & Bathrooms, Cut Healthcare
For all the rhetoric surrounding the current government shutdown, one talking point has risen above the rest. Republicans insist that Democrats forced the shutdown in…
Harvard Controversy at Center of Tylenol Debate
In a press conference that stretched for more than an hour, President Trump once again positioned himself against mainstream science, this time taking aim at…
Ozempic and the Global Drug Pricing Debate
As Novo Nordisk continues to dominate the pharmaceutical industry with its diabetes and obesity drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, the company faces mounting scrutiny over its […]
Human Trafficking Isn’t Just a Celebrity Crime
The recent arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs on federal sex-trafficking charges has shocked the public and the entertainment world. As one of hip-hop’s most influential […]
Is Facebook Marketplace Anti-Competitive?
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is once again under scrutiny as the European Union closes in on a potential fine for its alleged anti-competitive […]
Trump Gunman Was Reported to Homeland Security
In a recent news interview, a nurse from West Palm Beach, Florida, recounted her unsettling experience with Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to […]
Media Literacy Needed After Haitian Abuse Claims
The recent wave of bomb threats and violent incidents in Springfield, Ohio, has shone a glaring light on a growing issue in the United States: […]
SEO: The Voodoo of the Digital World
In the ever-changing landscape of online visibility, SEO (search engine optimization) can often feel like a strange mix of art, science, and—let’s face it—voodoo. For […]
Should You Skip the iPhone 16?
Every year, Apple enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the latest iPhone release, weighing the new features against the cost of upgrading. This year, with the introduction of […]
Gen Z TikTok Money Hack is a Crime
In recent months, social media platforms have become the go-to space for personal finance advice, especially for Gen Z. While some of this advice has […]
How to Take Action Against Worsening Disasters
As disasters grow more frequent and severe due to the impacts of climate change, the American Red Cross is urging everyone to take important steps […]