Nick Sammons

reuters.comJust over half of candidates in key US Senate races say they will accept results, others hedgeJust over half of major party candidates in the most competitive US Senate races told Reuters they will accept election results regardless of the outcome, while some signaled a degree of uncertainty l...

Speaks to the sorry state of affairs in US politics. A couple decades ago, if you'd even hinted you might not accept the results of an election, you would have immediately been ostracized. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

washingtonpost.comU.S. probe of Rep. Ilhan Omar focuses on birth date, citizenship papers, people familiar sayThe Department of Homeland Security declined to move forward with an investigation years ago based on similar allegations, said one person, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss informatio...

Even IF we assume that the basis of the allegation (i.e. that Omar's dad lied about her age to bring her in as a minor) is true, this action is still completely outrageous and unwarranted. 1/3 www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

The fact is that a huge number of approved citizenship applications contain inaccuracies (e.g. someone being 18 years old instead of 17). They rarely get reexamined post-approval even shortly after citizenship is granted. They basically never get reexamined decades after-the-fact. 2/3

It's hard or impossible to come up with any plausible explination for her application getting reexamined here other than her being the target of special prosecution. That special prosecution can only be a result or her opposition to the president's agenda. 3/3

npr.org5 men arrested over suspected attack at a U.S.-run air force base are British nationalsAuthorities have arrested five British nationals over a suspected attack at a U.S.-operated air force base in England. The men, all in their 20s from London, were detained Sunday.

$5 says these guys don't have Iranian or Russian connections and are just peacenik rubes. www.npr.org/2026/09/28/g...

nbcnews.comNew Jersey’s governor calls on her lieutenant governor to resign over ethics reportGov. Mikie Sherrill said Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell’s “ethical lapses persisted despite multiple warnings and trainings.”

Good ol'New Jersey! Clean politics at its finest. www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

npr.orgThe colleges where borrowers aren't repaying their student loansMillions of federal student loan borrowers are in default or well on their way. New federal data shows that tens of thousands of them attended the same problematic schools.

16 Sept

I'm a fan of capitalism, but when even the Trump U people are dumping on for-profit education, perhaps it's time to admit that pivate sector education is no good. www.npr.org/2026/09/16/n...

theguardian.comEuropean Union invites Canada to become first ever ‘associate member’Commission president says EU must ‘urgently reimagine our partnerships’ as she makes unprecedented offer

16 Sept

Would definitely be awkward if Canada joined EU after UK dropped out. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...

agents.mediaTop executive from companies linked to Russian security services attended Trump son’s wedding • «Агентство»Русский язык The wedding of Donald Trump Jr. was partly financed by Umar Kremlev, the head of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and a friend of the chief of the Russian president’s security s...

14 Sept

Bad look. Let's hope they were wedding crashers.

Jesse Eisinger@jeisinger.bsky.social

Another Don Jr. wedding guest was a Russian linked to the country's security services, according to a Russian investigative journalism outfit: www.agents.media/top-executiv...

bbc.comAnthropic boss Dario Amodei calls for AI development to slow downThe call comes amid growing concerns that AI models may become able to inflict serious damage worldwide.

14 Sept

This is all a marketing stunt to try to make you believe AI has some kind of potential it probably doesn't. Consider the decade's worth of warnings that we got about the risks of cyberwarfare and the need for cyber defense. How many of those warnings materialized? www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.comBen Delo: Who is the Reform UK donor and crypto billionaire?Delo has given £36m to Reform UK - setting the record for the largest donation made to a UK political party.

14 Sept

Fintech and the far-right seem like odd bed fellows. www.bbc.com/news/article...

youtu.beDolly Parton - I Will Always Love You (Live)YouTube video by ShoutFactoryVEVO

25 Aug

We'll always love you Dolly. RIP youtu.be/pW2TgGy5gjY?...

npr.orgAuthor Max Boot says Trump's approach to Iran is 'guaranteed to fail'NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with author Max Boot about President Trump's recent foreign policy setbacks. Boot writes that Trump's "zigzagging" approach to Iran is "guaranteed to fail."

11 Aug

"We'll apply economic pain till their economy collapses" is what we said we'd do to Russia almost 5 years ago. Didn't work in Russia, won't work in Iran. www.npr.org/2026/08/11/n...

nytimes.comThis A.I. Just Created Viruses Not Found in NatureScientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.

7 Aug

Alongside spud cells, I think these advances make 2026 the year of Artificial Life. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/s...

7 Aug

Beyond the scientific, these things have real implications for our understanding of life, universe, and everything. Until now, creating life seemed like the domain of gods.

foxbusiness.comFed Chair Kevin Warsh says central bank has 'no tolerance' for elevated inflationFed Chair Kevin Warsh told lawmakers the central bank won't tolerate persistently elevated inflation and will take the steps needed to preserve price stability.

29 July

They've "tolerated" it for the past 2-3 years. Did they just stop tolerating it? www.foxbusiness.com/economy/fed-...

washingtonpost.comPolice vetted dubious allegation only after Buttigieg was separated from childrenThe Michigan attorney general’s office is investigating how the accusation that prompted the ex-Cabinet secretary's separation from his 4-year-old twins was handled.

28 July

Someone's head should really roll for this one. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

nytimes.comMom, Dad, I Want to Be a WelderGen Z is increasingly turning to trade schools in hopes of future-proofing their careers against A.I. But getting their parents and peers on board can be a challenge.

24 July

The US needs to take a more pragmatic approach to education. We need a certain number of electricians, plumbers, accountants, truck drivers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, scientists, and sanitation workers. Folks should be motivated to get the education society needs. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/s...

science.orgExclusive: Death of girl in Chinese gene-editing trial was never made publicParents want accountability after study went disastrously wrong, Science and Retraction Watch investigation reveals

24 July

The US has had fatalities during experimental gene medicine trials. I guess the difference is that it wasn't covered up in the US. Experimental medicine carries risks and rewards. We should all appreciate the brave patients who put themselves on the front line. www.science.org/content/arti...

24 July

It's sorta a pity the whole novelty candidate idea hasn't made its way to the US.

Count Binface@countbinface.bsky.social

Under a Binface government, anyone who doesn’t accept human-made climate change as fact will be sent back to school, from Year 1 right the way to A Levels, to see if anything goes in the second time round. #VoteBinface

wsj.comExclusive | Trump Approves Landmark Nuclear Deal With Saudi Arabia in Big Win for KingdomThe deal could mean large profits for American companies but also is likely to raise concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

22 July

Nukes for everyone but Iran deal. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

houstonpublicmedia.orgPsychedelic treatments are on the verge of FDA approval. Why Texas is pushing for them | Houston Public MediaTexas is helping shape the future of psychedelic therapies. Here's how they work and what access could look like.

14 July

Toad licking now a cure for a depression. www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/new...

14 July

Finally Mexicans will know the taste of authentic Mexican cuisine.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com

The Mexican food chain, which said it would offer the same menu in Mexico as in the US, is betting that its offering will stand out in the country that inspired its cuisine. ft.trib.al/XT9DuvU

washingtonian.comInside the Food Truck Mafia Wreaking Havoc Around the National MallTurf wars. Food and fire hazards. $15 ice-cream cones. How an organized network of unlicensed food trucks took over America's Front Lawn.

14 July

Nice piece by washingtonian.com & jessicasidman.bsky.social. Illegal food trucks may seen like a simple nuisance issue, but the fact that this happens right on the national mall has important symbolic meaning for rule-of-law in the United States. washingtonian.com/2026/06/29/d...

ktla.comSouthern California company wants to bring daylight to dark parts of EarthA Southern California company just received approval to test a space mirror that would reflect sunlight to dark parts of planet Earth. The Federal Communications Commission issued a license …

13 July

The ruskies tried this in 92. See Znamya-2. ktla.com/news/souther...

theguardian.comWoman suspected of Monaco bombing found shot dead near KyivAnastasiia Berezovska was being sought by police over attack that seriously injured a Ukraine-born businessman

7 July

The web of corruption here is so tangled, it's impossible to know who's on which side. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

theguardian.comMysterious debris found on Queensland beaches could be ‘space balls’ – and may contain toxic rocket fuelAustralian Space Agency working to confirm origin of objects as space archaeologist says they may be connected to a rocket launch

7 July

Space balls...... lol www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

theguardian.comCape Verde threaten shock for the ages before Argentina break hearts in World Cup classicWhat a game, what a series of moments, what a display of spirit and skill from Cape Verde, a tiny island nation with a far-flung diaspora team, who took Argentina right to the brink of one of the great sporting shocks in Miami. How to tell the story of this game? Imagine being pounded around the head for 120 minutes, first slowly, then much more quickly, with moments of brilliance, narrative shifts, epic subplots and violent tonal contrasts, from the Messi-Vozinha double header, to the elite cinematic brilliance of Cape Verde’s second equalising goal deep into extra time. Well, it was a bit like that. Continue reading...

4 July

Cape Verde may not be taking the cup home, but they will be taking our hearts.

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Cape Verde threaten shock for the ages before Argentina break hearts in World Cup classic

nytimes.comScientists Made a Cell With Most of the Hallmarks of Life. Here’s What to Know.

2 July

Pretty remarkable development. The genesis of life is no longer solely in the realm of the immortals. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/s...

mocoshow.comK-Wave Opens First Maryland Location to Massive Crowds - The MoCo ShowK-Wave opened its first Maryland location on Saturday at 5534 Randolph Road in Rockville’s Montrose Shopping Center, drawing big crowds and long lines that stretched through parts of the shopping […]

29 June

I thought we were turning Japanese..... turns out we're turning Korean. mocoshow.com/2026/06/27/k...

nbcnews.comSupreme Court rules Trump cannot fire Fed member Lisa Cook; grants him more power over other independent agenciesThe justices allowed Cook to keep her job while green-lighting the president’s firing of another Democratic appointee to an independent body, FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter.

29 June

SCOTUS gives bankers one rule, everyone else a different rule. www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

cnn.comLive updates: At least 164 people dead after twin quakes in Venezuela, acting president says | CNNAt least 164 people have been killed and 971 injured after Venezuela’s most powerful earthquake in more than a century, according to the country’s acting president. Follow for live updates

25 June

A little humanitarian effort might be a great way for the US to make up the whole "stealing your leader" thing. www.cnn.com/2026/06/24/w...

mocoshow.comLines Down the Block for Trader Joe's Viral Tote Bags - The MoCo ShowLines stretched down the block Wednesday, June 17, as shoppers flocked to Trader Joe’s stores for the latest release of the grocery chain’s highly sought-after Mini Canvas Tote Bags. The […]

17 June

I'm a Trader J's fan, but this kind of brand enthusiasm is straight-up weird. mocoshow.com/2026/06/17/l...

theguardian.comHandler with ties to Russia appears to have directed arson attacks on Starmer-linked propertyRoman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc appear to have operated under instruction of online handler ‘El Money’

15 June

Sorta crazy. So supposing this was a "Russian plot", what the heck were they hoping to achieving by burning the PM's car? Surely the only thing that's going to do is annoy people. Is it just trolling? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

barrons.comTiny Curacao Tackle Germany At World Cup As Iran Arrive In USThe smallest nation by population in the tournament comes face-to-face with the four-time winners on Sunday when tiny Curacao play Germany in a true World Cup fairytale.

14 June

Feels slightly unfair that Curacao gets Germany as its first opponent. www.barrons.com/news/tiny-cu...

theatlantic.comHow Britain Became as Poor as MississippiA case study in self-sabotage

11 June

Brexit? www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

bbc.com'Please send help': Indian crew's distress call after ship hit by US missileThe crew of a sanctioned oil tanker were rescued off Oman after it was struck by a missile fired from a US fighter jet.

9 June

Seems like we should have been able to safely board and comandeer. Shooting should only be acceptable as a last resort. www.bbc.com/news/article...

finance.yahoo.comFidelity slashed its SpaceX minimum to $2,000 for retail investors — but the fine print can ban you from IPOs for lifeSelling in the first 15 calendar days makes you a 'flipper,' and further strikes escalate to a permanent ban tied to your SSN.

8 June

All the "special rules" surrounding the SpaceX IPO make it feel disturbingly like a pump-and-dump scheme orchestrated by the entire financial industry. finance.yahoo.com/markets/stoc...

bbc.comPeru election too close to call with prospect of weeks of uncertaintyThe race between right-wing Keiko Fujimori and left-wing Roberto Sánchez has been dominated by concerns over crime and political instability.

8 June

Keiko Fujimori is the daughter of a Peru's most famous kleptocrat. Amazing Peru is considering going back to that. This is really reminiscent of the Phillipines going back to Marcos. How do these people get rehabilitated? Why aren't voters in these countries learning? www.bbc.com/news/article...

nytimes.comWhat Maine Voters Are Saying About Platner on the Eve of the Primary

8 June

Dude's definitely become a lightining rod pretty early on. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/u...

reuters.comLawyers, others plead not guilty to massive US insider trading schemeFifteen people, including a lawyer who worked at ‌several major law firms, pleaded not guilty on Monday to U.S. charges that they participated in a decade-long scheme in which attorneys fed an insider...

5 June

After all the Kalshi/Polymarket insider schemes, it's sorta nice to know that someone is still doing old-timey insider trading. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

politico.comBecerra and Bass surge in California as anti-establishment fever breaksKaren Bass advanced to a November runoff, while Xavier Becerra was in position to make the runoff in the governor’s race in early returns.

3 June

Wasn't really following the California gubernatorial race, but a tip-of-the-cap to Californians on the Becerra decisions. Seems like a direct repudiation of the anti-immigrant/anti-science trends going on at the federal level at the moment. www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

axios.comGraham Platner tests Democrats' tolerance for scandalThe race will come down to whether enough Democrats and independents are willing to hold their noses.

So basically the dude was sending some racy text messages while married, and once, while a marine, got a tattoo that looked vaguely like an SS symbol. Seems like weak tea. Though I wouldn't be surprised if it's enough for Collins to win on. www.axios.com/2026/06/01/g...

nature.comScience sleuths uncover more than 100 suspicious images in Thermo Fisher antibody catalogueScientists have long worried about the reliability of commercial antibodies, and the latest findings have sparked fresh concerns.

This seems sorta outrageous, but at the same time, I think I'd only classify this as "slightly naughty" biotech marketing shenanigans. Sometimes Westerns don't come out look aesthetically pleasing and there's a motviation to "spruce them up" a little. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

npr.orgPhoto Of Iran's Missile Launch Was ManipulatedIt's been proven that a photo showing Iran's launch of four missiles is fake. A defense analyst says he believes only three missiles launched and the fourth malfunctioned. The photo was circulated by ...

Reminds me a bit of this story. Amazing that folks think they'll get away with photoshop copy/pasting like this. www.npr.org/2008/07/11/9...

economist.comIndex providers should not bend the rules for Elon MuskThey will only expose ordinary investors to unnecessary risks

This is a little outrageous. The rules seem to be getting changed for a single IPO. I guess we could short SpaceX....... www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

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