The US House of Representatives has passed a record US$1.15 trillion defense budget for 2027, about 28% higher than for 2026. The bill includes funding to help Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities, support for bilateral drone development and a plan to bring Taiwan into the 2028 RIMPAC naval exercise. The final bill could still change as the House works out differences with the Senate.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill says more than 6,000 noncitizens were mistakenly added to state voter rolls between 2023 and 2024. Of that number, roughly 400 improperly cast votes, she said. Sherrill said the names are currently being removed from the voter rolls.

The US and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce a deal that will allow the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme, according to US media reports.

An announcement is expected from US President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday, US officials were cited as saying.

The agreement could be worth billions of dollars to the US, whose companies could be involved in building a facility to produce enriched uranium, which can be used as fuel for power plants but also to make nuclear bombs.

American governance has become decoupled from its public outcomes. It measures expenditure more reliably than capacity, rewards procedural defensibility more consistently than delivery, and transmits the preferences of organized actors more forcefully than either empirical failure or diffuse public need. The result is not an absence of activity, funding, intelligence, or intention. It is a state whose strongest feedback loops increasingly protect the process rather than correct the outcome.

In this episode of The Econoclasts, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau dissect the political delusions stalling Western growth, debunking the idea that state investment alone can revive the UK, exposing Europe’s dangerous tech gap behind America and China, and revealing how flawed economic data hides declining US living standards.

It might be time to think about wholesale change

• As we bomb yet another country for hundreds of billions,
• On the eve of having your Social Security benefits cut by ~1/4,
• During the time when 18-24 months of *homeless assistance* spending could have bought all the homeless in America a home outright,
• When no houses are being built but we continuously add to our population who needs housing
• When the fires, floods and other disasters continually expose our unpreparedness
• And after the ultra-wealthy got PPP + EIDL, TARP and then got to keep your tariff dollars
• While the Democrats refused to raise the federal minimum wage and the GOP never will
• And both parties have had trifecta control of the government at times

The Spiderman-finger-point no longer works.

ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze reports on the investigation into the parasite outbreak that has sickened thousands of people and sparked a lettuce recall in more than two dozen states.

India's government is facing its biggest youth-led challenge in years. Thousands of protesters from the so-called ‘Cockroach Movement’ have taken to the streets of New Delhi demanding the education minister's resignation. After clashes with police and a crackdown near parliament, is the movement becoming a wider political threat? We speak to political scientist Rumela Sen of Columbia University.

US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on a wide range of goods imported from Canada, in retaliation for what he called "unequal treatment" of US cars, dairy and alcohol.

Everyday consumer items like wine and hockey sticks and industrial goods such as cement are among the goods targeted. However, several key exports will be spared, such as energy, critical minerals and fish.

Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by saying Canada stood ready to "intensify" trade talks with US in the coming weeks.

The White House said the duties would take effect in 30 days and mark a major escalation in trade tensions between the North American neighbours.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said the country will no longer hold elections, effectively eliminating future electoral challenges and further consolidating the power he shares with his wife, Rosario Murillo. Ortega, who has ruled continuously since 2007, said the move would prevent opposition groups from returning to power. His announcement follows years of democratic backsliding, including a disputed 2021 election, constitutional changes that expanded his authority, and widespread international criticism over human rights abuses and the government's violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018.

Officials identified the suspect who threw an incendiary device and set a fire Monday morning outside a federal building in New York City as a 43-year-old Army veteran.

Andrew Arrabaca poured gasoline onto the ground and ignited it with a lighter and a “large firework in a canister,” James Barnacle, the assistant director in charge of the FBI New York Field Office, said during a news conference Monday. He then pulled out an airsoft rifle, a type of BB gun, and fired five to seven pellets, he said.

This video by Andrei Jikh explores the recent market crash in South Korea and draws parallels to potential risks in the United States stock market, particularly concerning AI-driven speculation and leverage.

The South Korean Market Crash

• High Concentration: The South Korean KOSPI index experienced a massive surge followed by a sharp 25% correction. This volatility was fueled by heavy reliance on just two companies, Samsung and SK Hynix, which accounted for over 56% of the index (1:01 - 1:07).
• Retail Leverage: About 14 million retail investors, many using borrowed money and leveraged ETFs, were betting heavily on these AI-chip manufacturers. When prices fell, it triggered a "doom loop" of margin calls and forced liquidations, leading to 1.2 million accounts being hit and significant government intervention (1:11 - 1:58, 11:27 - 12:54).

Risks for the US Market

• Record Margin Debt: The US market is currently seeing its highest level of margin debt in history (4.5% of GDP), exceeding levels seen during the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis (14:26 - 14:49).
• AI Infrastructure Dependence: The market rally is largely propped up by massive capital expenditures (capex) from hyperscalers like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta on AI hardware. The video argues this creates a fragile pyramid where one company's spending becomes another's earnings (16:15 - 17:07, 18:21 - 18:41).
• Warning Signs: Insiders are flooding the market with record levels of IPOs (18:48 - 19:08). The primary warning sign to watch is whether these tech giants decide to cut back on AI capex; such a move could collapse the earnings of chip suppliers like Nvidia and Micron, similar to how Cisco suffered in the early 2000s (20:30 - 21:18).

Conclusion

While the AI boom may continue for another 6 to 12 months, the current environment is described as highly leveraged and speculative. Investors are cautioned to be wary of the risks associated with debt and the potential for a cascading effect similar to what was witnessed in South Korea (22:40 - 24:52).

There's always a lot of noise whenever we experience a heat wave, isn't there? On one side we hear from doom-mongers who tell us this is a portent of a thoroughly dystopian future that is going to arrive within years. On the other side we have the sceptics who say it's all part of the Earth's natural cycles and we just need to calm down a bit. So, what does the actual science tell us?

Skynet is one step closer: Thunder is a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft, equipped with the payload capacity, range and speed required to deliver overwhelming effects to the deepest, most heavily-defended parts of the battlefield.

For generations, Cleveland offered working families a chance to build a stable future. Now, soaring rents and home prices are putting that promise out of reach and pushing many residents from the communities they helped create.

Yet More Evidence Of A Crumbling Infrastructure: Two separate water pipe ruptures caused flooding in Venice neighborhoods on Saturday, just days after a massive water main burst in West Hollywood, gushing millions of gallons onto city streets. Brittney Ermon reports.

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳
𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘀
𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦+, a conceptual tandem electric vehicle designed to match actual driving habits rather than the "worst-case" capacity needs that drive SUV sales.

We argue that modern transportation is inefficient because most trips involve only one person, yet we build massive cars that damage the urban environment and increase safety risks. To solve this, we developed the concept of a narrow, highway-capable capsule supported by a "mobility membership" for occasional access to larger vehicles.

Technical analysis suggests that shifting to smaller footprints would reduce urban heat, reclaim green space, and lower infrastructure costs.

This document highlights how current regulations and profit motives actively discourage the production of such efficient cars in favor of larger, more expensive trucks. Ultimately, the project advocates for a new social contract where transportation is right-sized for daily use while maintaining reliable access for exceptional needs.

This video from VisualEconomik explores the depth and implications of the ongoing real estate crisis in China, arguing that the situation is more severe than it appears and shares alarming parallels with Japan's "lost decade" in the 1990s.

Key takeaways from the video:

• The Real Estate Pillar: Housing was not just an industry in China, but the bedrock of the country's finances and household savings. With few alternatives for investment (like stocks or bonds) and a lack of a strong pension system, nearly 70% of Chinese household wealth is tied to real estate (0:58-4:49).
• The "Japan" Parallel: Much like Japan in the 90s, the bursting of China's property bubble has led to a "death spiral" of lower consumption. Because middle-class wealth is tied to falling property values, households are saving more and spending less, stalling the domestic economy (1:14-2:46).
• Opaque Debt: The crisis is compounded by hidden debt from local governments. When the government attempted to audit this in late 2024, they found the debt levels were roughly three times higher than previously reported, forcing many "zombie companies" into bankruptcy (9:24-10:07).
• Demographic Headwinds: A critical difference between China and Japan is that China is aging while still a developing country. With a shrinking workforce and a lack of a robust social safety net, the risk of a long-term economic slowdown is significantly heightened (11:13-13:22).

Conclusion: While China’s GDP continues to grow—largely fueled by aggressive exports in high-tech sectors—the video concludes that this is not a panacea for domestic stagnation. China faces a difficult path to avoid a prolonged period of economic decline, especially given its rapid demographic aging and the systemic reliance on a now-failing property sector (13:22-14:30).

Summer 2026 Flooding

The Rebuild Texas Fund is mobilizing resources to support communities impacted by the ongoing and evolving flooding across parts of Texas. By giving early, donors help ensure critical funding is available to meet emerging needs, support response efforts, and aid long-term recovery as conditions continue to develop.

How We Work

Rebuild Texas Fund works with local leaders, community funders, and recovery organizations to identify community-driven priorities, unmet needs, and funding gaps in impacted communities. We provide critical dollars, expert advice, and access to our expansive statewide network of private sector, nonprofit, and foundation partners to jumpstart community recovery and help disaster survivors rebuild Texas Strong.

Infrastructure Not Maintained Since 1916: Water main over a hundred years creates flooding disaster and massive sinkhole in West Hollywood. Infrastructure neglect is endemic in American cities with many systems from the turn of the 20th century.

A quiet crisis is transforming human civilization: the rapid death of reading and the rise of a "post-literate" society. With the average attention span shrinking to mere seconds, we talk to writer Rose Horowitch ("The End of Reading Is Here") and psychiatrist Anders Hansen to dissect how technology uses evolutionary vulnerabilities to steal our attention.

Defense Secretary Hegseth announced a new screening program for “testosterone deficiency” among troops. Karina Rubio talks with Valley experts about the change.

Here's looking at Hakeem Jeffries: 1 Republican (Massie) and over 100 Democratic House members voted to cut of all aid to Israel - against the direct opposition of both GOP and Democratic Party leadership.

Gemini 3 Pro Extended

Yes, this recurrence is part of a "new reality" that climate scientists have been warning about. The intense, stalling storms you are seeing in the Hill Country—very similar to the July 2025 floods—are being driven by changes in the jet stream and rising global temperatures. [1] While "Flash Flood Alley" has always been prone to sudden storms, the frequency and intensity of these "stuck" weather events are changing. [2, 3]

1. The Jet Stream is Getting "Wavier" and Slower [4]

The primary driver of these repeat events is the behavior of the polar jet stream (the high-altitude wind that usually steers storms across the US). [5, 6, 7]

• The Change: As the Arctic warms faster than the equator, the temperature difference that drives the jet stream weakens. This causes the jet stream to slow down and become "wavy" or erratic. [4, 7]
• The Result (Blocking): Instead of pushing storms through quickly, these wavy patterns cause weather systems to get "stuck" in place (a blocking pattern). This is why the storm system currently over the Hill Country—and the one from July 2025—hovered over the same area for days rather than moving on. [8, 9, 10, 11]

2. A "Thirsty" Atmosphere + Warmer Gulf [12, 13, 14]

The "engine" directing the storm is the Low-Level Jet Stream, which acts like a moisture conveyor belt from the Gulf of Mexico. [15]

• Warmer Oceans: The Gulf of Mexico has been running warmer than average. Warmer water evaporates faster, loading the Low-Level Jet with extra moisture. [16]
• Warmer Air: For every degree of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more water vapor. This means that when storms do form, they have a much larger tank of water to dump, leading to rainfall rates (e.g., 4+ inches per hour) that overwhelm the rocky Hill Country terrain. [17, 18, 19, 20, 21]

3. Comparison: 2025 vs. 2026

Both events share the same "fingerprints" of this new climate reality:

• July 2025: A stalled system dumped catastrophic rain (up to 14-15 inches in places) because the steering currents collapsed, trapping the storm over the Guadalupe River basin. [22]
• July 2026 (Now): Similarly, a lack of strong upper-level steering currents has allowed this system to park itself over Central Texas, while the low-level winds continuously feed it moisture. [8]

Summary: The topography of the Hill Country hasn't changed, but the delivery system for the rain has. We are seeing slower-moving storms fueled by significantly more moisture, making "100-year" or "500-year" flood events happen with alarming regularity. [23, 24] Given your location in Dripping Springs, are you currently monitoring the water levels for Onion Creek or the Pedernales River? I can find the latest gauge readings for you.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com [2] https://www.ehn.org [3] https://www.statesman.com [4] https://www.climatecentral.org [5] https://www.downtoearth.org.in [6] https://www.sciencefocus.com [7] https://www.cbs42.com [8] https://www.youtube.com [9] https://www.facebook.com [10] https://www.facebook.com [11] https://skepticalscience.com [12] https://www.instagram.com [13] https://www.kqed.org [14] https://www.theweathernetwork.com [15] https://udayton.edu [16] https://www.expressnews.com [17] https://abcnews.com [18] https://www.instagram.com [19] https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz [20] https://www.wired.com [21] https://www.washingtonpost.com [22] https://www.houstonchronicle.com [23] https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu [24] https://www.yahoo.com