There’s more news and less comprehension today than any historical period that didn’t involve literal witch trials, and trying to stay on top of it all can feel like playing a game of telephone with 30 people, except everyone’s speaking at the same time and like a third of them are openly racist for some reason. From Cracked co-founder Jack O’Brien, THE DAILY ZEITGEIST is stepping into that fray with some of the funniest and smartest comedic and journalistic minds around. Jack and co-host Miles Gray spend up to an hour every weekday sorting through the events and stories driving the headlines, to help you find the signal in the noise, with a few laughs thrown in for free.

Trendos… The Freshmaker 12/11: Disney/OpenAI, Kilmar Garcia, 6-7, Measles, Variety/'Sinners'

The Daily Zeitgeist

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Disney and OpenAI Partnership Announcement: Disney struck a $1 billion licensing deal with OpenAI, giving ChatGPT and Sora access to Disney's characters and IP. The deal marks a reversal from Disney's previous position that AI threatened its intellectual property, with the decision apparently driven by stock price concerns rather than creative integrity. Starting in early 2026, Disney+ will feature AI-generated short-form videos of Disney characters, with subscribers paying to watch fan-created AI content.

Font Controversy at the State Department: The Trump administration issued an order halting the State Department's use of Calibri font and switching back to Times New Roman, reversing a Biden-era change. The previous administration had switched to sans serif fonts because they're easier for people with reading disabilities to read, but the new administration is framing the return to Times New Roman as restoring "decorum and professionalism," despite Trump's own history of using informal fonts like Comic Sans in official documents.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Ordered Released: A judge ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE detention, ruling that his continued detention is illegal and without lawful authority. The ruling emphasizes that ICE cannot simply kidnap someone because they lost a legal argument, though many others remain in detention under similar circumstances that will likely be viewed negatively by history.

Senate Democrats Push for Epstein Document Review: Senate Democrats and Epstein survivors are requesting access to newly unsealed documents from the Epstein case, following a congressional bill passed last month. Adam Schiff is pushing for an accounting of the chain of custody for these documents, as there's been reporting that law enforcement and intelligence officials heavily redacted information that made them look bad. Survivors are asking for independent review to determine if documents have been scrubbed or removed from public record.

The 6-7 Phenomenon and In-N-Out's Response: In-N-Out removed the number 67 from their ordering system because kids were gathering in stores to film themselves celebrating when order number 67 was called. While other fast food chains like Pizza Hut tried to profit from the 6-7 meme, In-N-Out chose to eliminate it entirely. The trend represents harmless, albeit annoying, behavior from bored kids that's reminiscent of historical silly trends like phone booth stuffing or pole sitting.

Measles Making a Comeback: Measles, which was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, is spreading again as vaccination rates drop. South Carolina saw vaccination rates fall from 96% to 93.5% between 2000 and 2005, dropping below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. The return of preventable diseases like measles (and potentially mumps) is attributed to declining vaccination rates, with concerns about the influence of figures like RFK Jr.

Variety's Controversial Best Movies List: Variety released their year-end best movies list that notably excluded "Sinners" despite its critical acclaim and box office success, while including films like Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. The outlet has previously shown bias against director Ryan Coogler, criticizing his favorable deal structure despite his consistent box office success, in a pattern that doesn't extend to other directors. The omission is particularly conspicuous given that "Sinners" is expected to appear on most critics' top ten lists.

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Welcome to The Business Brew

This podcast’s mission is to dig deep into the thought patterns and analysis of investors and business people. The podcast stemmed from Bill Brewster consistently feeling like he was listening to prepackaged material while listening to podcasts. Instead, he wanted long form, in depth, discussions about finance, capital allocation, and the psychology of investing/business. 

Bill is a private investor. He cohosts the podcast Value: After Hours with Tobias Carlisle and Jake Taylor. Tobias, Jake and Bill met at a Berkshire Hathaway meeting and formed a lasting friendship.  And, as it turns out, people really like the podcast. 

While Bill tries to replicate Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger’s thought processes, he is heavily influenced by Bill Miller III, Stan Druckenmiller, and others.  This podcast is his attempt to dig deeper into other investing/business philosophies and share the knowledge with the world.  

We are interested in interviewing portfolio managers, Wall Street sell side analysts, buy side analysts, private investors, owner operators, and anyone that is willing to go in depth about running a company/division.  So, if you are interested in participating please email us with the subject “Guest Appearance.”   

Disclaimer:  Bill manages a portfolio under the name of Sullimar Capital Group.  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only.  Nothing in this podcast or on SullimarCapital.Group is investment advice.  All information in this is opinion based, potentially biased, and requires verification. 

Bill and his guests make no representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness or reasonableness of the information contained in these podcasts. Any assumptions, opinions and estimates expressed constitute the participant’s judgment as of the date thereof and are subject to change without notice. Any projections contained in the information are based on a number of assumptions as to market conditions and there can be no guarantee that any projected outcomes will be achieved.  This podcast does not accept any liability for any direct, consequential or other loss arising from reliance on the contents of this presentation. 

This podcast series DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICIATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES MENTIONED OR DISCUSSED. Seek the your financial, tax, legal, accounting, or other advisor’s advice before making any investment decisions.  We are not your fiduciary or advisor.

Abdul Al Assad - Leverage For The People

The Business Brew

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Basic Capital's Core Product: Abdul Al Assad founded Basic Capital, which offers non-recourse, non-callable financing to individuals for investing in financial markets. The company provides 4-to-1 leverage (a customer puts down $20K and receives $80K in financing) with a 10-year term at approximately 6% interest (SOFR plus 200 basis points). The borrowed funds are invested in diversified portfolios of stocks and bonds, primarily double B credit instruments that yield SOFR plus 500 basis points, creating a 200 basis point spread.

The Structural Innovation: Unlike margin loans that can be called at any time, Basic Capital creates a Delaware LLC for each customer where the LLC—not the individual—is the borrower. This makes the financing non-recourse, meaning if markets crash 50%, customers won't face liquidation. The customer provides 20% equity as first-loss capital while Basic Capital acts as preferred equity, not a lender. This structure avoids unrelated business income tax issues in IRAs and provides long-term duration financing similar to a mortgage.

The Problem With Saving: Abdul argues that saving is an ineffective wealth-building tool for most Americans because stocks compound at 8% while wages grow at 2% (citing Thomas Piketty). For someone earning $100K who can save 1% annually, it would take 100 years to capitalize one year's income. Meanwhile, high earners making $400K can save 50% of income, reaching $400K in savings in just two years. This creates a structural advantage for the wealthy that saving alone cannot overcome.

Why Leverage Isn't Evil: Abdul challenges the notion that leverage for retail investors is inherently dangerous by pointing to the mortgage market. Since 1932, mortgages enabled homeownership to rise from 20% to 65% of Americans, despite the 2008 crisis. He argues society is better off having given people leveraged access to real estate for 80+ years, even accounting for periodic crises. Similarly, providing long-term, non-callable leverage for diversified portfolios could democratize wealth building.

The Fee Structure Controversy: Basic Capital charges SOFR plus 200 basis points on the financing and 50 basis points in servicing fees. Initially, they also charged a $25/month ($300/year) subscription fee to discourage small accounts under $5K-$10K, but this created backlash when critics noted it could represent 300% of principal for tiny accounts. The subscription fee has since been eliminated. Abdul defends the fees as necessary for building the business, noting Jack Bogle's first index fund charged 180 basis points.

Investment Allocation Strategy: The portfolios are primarily invested in interval funds holding double B credit (both public and private credit) from top-tier managers like KKR, Blackstone, and Ares. About 90% is typically in floating-rate bonds (yielding SOFR plus 500) with the remainder in equity indices like the S&P 500 or QQQ. The bond allocation is crucial because its yield covers the financing cost, making the product self-funding without requiring out-of-pocket payments.

Risk Scenarios and Backtesting: The worst-case scenarios involve short time horizons or liquidating during market crashes. Abdul acknowledges customers could see their equity wiped out in a 30% market decline, but emphasizes the non-callable structure means they'd retain a valuable call option on recovery. In 2008, double B credit defaults reached 12%, which would still leave the portfolio earning SOFR plus 400—well above the SOFR plus 200 cost. However, 60% of double B companies would need to default to truly threaten the structure.

The Education Mission: Abdul sees his role similar to Jack Bogle's decades-long advocacy for index funds. He's committed to educating both customers and capital markets about responsible leverage use. The company focuses on 401(k) plans where customers dollar-cost-average contributions over time, putting perhaps 10-15% of their portfolio into the levered LLC while keeping 80-85% in traditional target-date funds. This promotes long-term thinking and systematic accumulation.

Current Business Economics: Basic Capital is currently subscale and actually loses money on the lending side—their cost of funding exceeds what they charge customers at 6%. They make money on the 50 basis point ongoing servicing fee. Abdul explains this is typical of early-stage financial infrastructure, noting that once they reach sufficient scale (the "billion dollar problem"), their borrowing costs will decrease and the business will become profitable on both revenue streams.

Addressing Timing Concerns: When challenged about launching a levered double B credit product potentially at the peak of a credit cycle, Abdul argues that market timing is overrated for long-term investors. He references research showing that buying at market highs produces similar returns to buying at lows if you have a 15-30 year horizon. He's skeptical of doom predictions, noting that Michael Burry has "predicted 50 of the last two bubbles" and that constant crisis talk suggests people are actually being vigilant.

The Universal Basic Capital Vision: Abdul's long-term goal is creating "universal basic capital" rather than universal basic income—giving Americans material endowments in the stock market rather than dependence on government handouts or billionaire largesse. He envisions a future where the product offers 30-year terms (currently 10 years) and customers can choose 100% equity allocation with various leverage ratios, similar to choosing mortgage terms when buying a house in different zip codes.

Regulatory and Legal Framework: The company has raised millions in venture funding from top-tier investors and spends millions annually on legal fees, working with former SEC and Department of Labor officials. They're structured to comply with retirement account regulations and avoid being classified as a loan (which would trigger different rules). Abdul emphasizes they're building seriously for the long term, not trying to extract quick profits from asset management fees.

Comparison to Consumer Credit: Abdul highlights the hypocrisy of society readily offering credit for consumption—buy now, pay later for 95% of Black Friday purchases, car loans at 8% for depreciating assets, credit cards at 24%—but resisting long-term financing for investment in diversified portfolios. He argues credit is a "general purpose technology" that's neither good nor bad inherently, but depends on its use case: consumption versus wealth building.

The Japan Counterargument: Abdul acknowledges the product depends on markets having positive drift over time. In Japan, where markets stagnated for 30 years, a 100% equity version would have failed. However, even in Japan, the spread-based bond strategy would have worked. He expresses conviction that America—as the global center of innovation where every great company wants to list—is fundamentally different from Japan or Europe's stagnation experience.
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Spotlight Delaware is pleased to share two podcast series with you. 

"Beyond the Headlines" will take you inside the story and into the minds of our reporters, sharing insights beyond what shows up on our website and in our newsletters.

"Delaware Newsmakers" provides you with longform, conversational interviews with key figures in the First State.

Concerns Around Redding Consortium Redistricting Plans

Spotlight Delaware Podcasts

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The Redding Consortium for Educational Equity's Mission: The consortium was established in 2019 to replace the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission and has been tasked with reworking school district boundaries in Wilmington. Its charges include monitoring educational outcomes for Wilmington students and developing a redistricting plan to address significant disparities in proficiency rates between Wilmington schools and those in other areas like Newark.

Three Redistricting Options Under Consideration: The consortium has narrowed down from nine options in May to three current proposals: (1) dividing Wilmington students between Brandywine and Red Clay districts, removing Christina from the picture; (2) creating a Metropolitan Wilmington School District that consolidates Brandywine, Red Clay, and Wilmington into one new district; and (3) establishing a Northern New Castle County Consolidated School District combining all four districts serving Wilmington (Red Clay, Christina, Brandywine, and Colonial).

The December 16th Vote Is Only a Recommendation: Despite public confusion, the December 16th vote is not a final decision that would immediately affect schools. The consortium's recommendation must go through multiple approval steps including the State Board of Education, the General Assembly, and the Governor's signature, with actual implementation taking three to five years even if approved.

The Long, Multi-Step Approval Process: After the December 16th vote, the consortium will examine financial implications and present a detailed plan to the State Board of Education, which can approve or reject it. If approved, it moves to the General Assembly, then to the Governor for signing. Even after becoming law, implementation would require three to five years, meaning no immediate changes for the next school year.

Stark Contrast in Community Engagement: The Christina School District town hall on December 4th was relatively empty, while the Brandywine School District meeting on December 8th was extremely crowded with standing-room only, an overflow room in the cafeteria, and approximately 600 people on Zoom. The difference was attributed to Brandywine's more successful outreach efforts to parents.

Racial Tensions and Divided Communities: At the packed Brandywine meeting, public comment revealed significant divisions, with some parents arguing that "shuffling around of schools" wouldn't help underprivileged children, while other families felt these comments used "cute terms to be racist." The hour-long public comment period exposed deep community divides around the redistricting plans.

Confusion About Process and Timeline: Many parents were unaware the redistricting process had been ongoing, expressing confusion about how a vote could happen in a week when they hadn't known about the issue. The consortium had been working for months to narrow options, but much of the work had flown under the public radar until recently, leading to concerns about transparency and community input.

Misinformation About Statewide Implications: Some voices, particularly from Kent and Sussex Counties, have raised concerns that similar redistricting could happen in their areas. However, the Redding Consortium is only examining the four school districts serving Wilmington students and has no authority over other counties, despite anecdotal conversations about Delaware potentially having only three school districts statewide.

Converging Education Funding Issues: The redistricting discussion is happening simultaneously with other major education funding conversations, including the Public Education Funding Commission's work on making state funding formulas more equitable and the ongoing drama around property tax reassessments. Families are particularly concerned about the cumulative cost implications of all these changes.

Focus on Costs Versus Educational Outcomes: While many parents are preoccupied with how redistricting will affect their taxes, some voices at the meetings emphasized the need to focus more on student outcomes and how redistricting would actually improve education for Wilmington students, creating a tension between financial concerns and educational equity goals.

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Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron. Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday night on BBC Radio 4 and every weekend on the BBC News Channel. Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower.Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. By the way, you can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.See ya’ll later…

How far will Trump go in his “war” with Venezuela?

Americast

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US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker Escalates Tensions: The Trump administration released dramatic video footage of US forces rappelling from helicopters onto a Venezuelan oil tanker and seizing it at gunpoint. The US claims the vessel was transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran as part of an illicit network supporting terrorist organizations. Trump stated the US would keep the oil, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded by singing "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and calling the action theft.

Trump's Broader Campaign Against Venezuela: The tanker seizure is part of a wider pressure campaign including over 20 US strikes on alleged cocaine-smuggling boats, CIA covert action inside Venezuela, and significant military buildup in the region. Trump has mused about land invasion possibilities, with his clear aim being regime change to remove Maduro from power. The administration views Venezuela as a failed state controlled by a far-left leader who does business primarily with China.

Monroe Doctrine and America's Sphere of Influence: Trump's actions reflect a revival of the Monroe Doctrine from 1823 and the Roosevelt Corollary, which assert US authority to intervene in the Western Hemisphere. His national security strategy makes clear that Central and South America are considered America's backyard, where he believes the US has the right to ensure friendly regimes while excluding foreign influence, particularly from China.

Three Core American Interests Driving Policy: Trump's Venezuela focus stems from drugs (cocaine trafficking, though fentanyl from Mexico is the bigger killer), immigration (failed South American regimes drive massive migration to the US), and trade (China has become the biggest trading partner for nearly every South American country, and Trump wants to reverse this). These align with his "America First" priorities despite involving foreign intervention.

Venezuelan Diaspora and Immigration Politics: Approximately one million Venezuelans are in the US, many on temporary protected status that the Trump administration is canceling. Some families have deep roots, including children born as US citizens and even serving in the military. If Venezuela were stabilized, Trump could potentially send large numbers of recent arrivals back, which would be a political win for his administration.

Venezuela's Economic Resources and Potential: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves, though the oil is heavy and difficult to extract and refine. American companies are eager to exploit these reserves but cannot under current sanctions. The country was once one of the world's richest per capita (comparable to Switzerland in the 1960s) but has been devastated by mismanagement under Hugo Chávez and Maduro, with conditions worsening over time.

Venezuela's Fall from Paradise: Both hosts described visiting Venezuela when it was prosperous and beautiful, with stunning beaches, Angel Falls, and wealthy areas in Caracas. The country failed to diversify its economy beyond oil, and the Chávez regime squandered resources while family members allegedly embezzled funds. What was once a paradise with natural beauty and resources has descended into crisis, with desperate conditions in shanty towns.

Complex Opposition Dynamics: The Venezuelan opposition leader recently received the Nobel Peace Prize, creating an unusual alignment between Trump and the Nobel Committee on removing Maduro. However, the opposition is playing a difficult game, not wanting to appear as Trump's proxies or a future vassal state to the US. They want to solve Venezuela's problems while maintaining national pride and independence.

Intervention in Honduras Raises Questions: Trump is also interfering in Honduras's election, supporting conservative candidate Asfura against "narco communists." To help, Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence for conspiring to import cocaine into the US. Trump appears to believe this was political prosecution, though the evidence was solid, including testimony from major drug smugglers.

Marco Rubio's Outsized Influence: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, from a Cuban refugee family, is strongly anti-communist and hawkish on South America. Uniquely, he serves as both Secretary of State and national security adviser, giving him double influence over Trump's ear. Unlike Ukraine policy where advisers are divided, Trump's team is largely aligned on taking a hard line against Venezuela.

Contradictions with "No Foreign Wars" Promise: Trump supporters who expected an isolationist administration are concerned about potential regime change operations in Venezuela. The practical risk is that US interventions in South America have historically not gone to plan, similar to Iraq and Afghanistan. Critics argue Trump could get mired in conflict despite promises to avoid foreign entanglements, though the administration could frame it as primarily about stopping immigration.

Domestic Political Costs of Foreign Focus: Trump faces criticism from his MAGA base for spending too much time on foreign affairs rather than delivering on domestic promises. He recently called "affordability" a Democratic hoax despite supporters struggling with high prices he promised to lower. The $20 billion loaned to Argentina to support ally Javier Milei is unpopular when healthcare subsidies for Trump voters are being cut, with dramatic increases in health insurance costs expected in January.

Argentina as Favored Partner: Trump's treatment of countries varies dramatically based on ideology—Argentina under right-wing Milei receives massive financial support through a $20 billion currency swap, while Venezuela faces military pressure and Honduras gets conditional support. This illustrates Trump's transactional approach: friends prosper, opponents face consequences, all within what he considers America's sphere of influence.

Military Action Remains Uncertain: While Trump has offered a massive reward for Maduro's capture (more than was offered for Osama bin Laden) and attempted to negotiate his exile, the US hasn't committed to invasion. Trump referenced the successful 1989 Panama operation to capture Manuel Noriega, but attacking Venezuela would likely involve significant bloodshed. The administration appears to be weighing how much pressure it takes to topple Maduro versus the risks of military engagement.
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On Tim Pool Daily News, Tim Pool breaks down the day’s biggest news stories with quick, straightforward updates. Expect sharp takes on politics, culture, and breaking news, all from an independent angle. It’s the perfect way to stay informed every weekday, without the fluff.
Join live on Youtube Mondays thru Thursday from 10am - 12pm ET at:
https://www.youtube.com/@TimcastNews

CANDACE OWENS ADMITS SHE HATED CHARLIE KIRK

Tim Pool Daily News

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Candace Owens' Alleged Hatred of Charlie Kirk: Multiple prominent conservatives confirmed that Candace Owens had been privately telling people she "hated" Charlie Kirk in the months before his assassination. The host suggests this wasn't genuine hatred but rather "scorned second wife syndrome" - resentment stemming from Charlie choosing to marry Erica Kirk instead of pursuing a relationship with Candace, despite their apparently close working relationship at Turning Point USA.

Candace's Attacks on Charlie's Widow and Legacy: Following Charlie Kirk's death, Candace Owens has continuously attacked his widow Erica Kirk and questioned her ability to run Turning Point USA, comparing it to Black Lives Matter's "emotional strategy." She has encouraged people to stop donating to the organization and suggested that Charlie's closest friends and staffers may have been involved in his murder, which the host characterizes as destroying Charlie's legacy and harming his children's future.

Erica Kirk's Emotional Response: Charlie Kirk's widow made an appearance on Fox News pleading for conspiracy theorists to stop, asking for "one thing" - to keep the location of her husband's grave private so her children can mourn without fear of desecration. She emphasized that she and Turning Point USA are "busy building" and don't have time to address baseless accusations, while stressing they want justice more than anyone.

The Personal History Between Candace and Charlie: Evidence suggests Candace and Charlie were once very close, with Candace describing herself as his wingman who would advise him on clothing choices and exchange romantic-sounding text messages. The host theorizes that Candace deeply loved Charlie, but when he chose Erica as his life partner, this unrequited love turned into bitterness and resentment that manifested in her current attacks.

Candace's Profit Motive and Social Blade Data: Data shows Candace Owens experienced her lowest subscriber growth and views the week before Charlie died, but her highest of the year during the week of his death. While the host initially frames this through a male lens as profit-seeking behavior, he ultimately argues the motivation is more emotional - that of a "woman scorned" rather than purely financial gain.

COVID Vaccine Controversy and The Atlantic Article: The Atlantic published an article acknowledging that some children may have died from COVID vaccines, reversing previous denials. The host argues the real issue was censorship of reasonable questions and the push for people to get vaccinated without consulting doctors, leading to overlooked contraindications when hundreds of millions of doses were distributed. He criticizes the "scaling problem" where even rare adverse events become noticeable at massive scale.

Selective Service as Voting Requirement: In response to discussions about repealing the 19th Amendment (women's suffrage), the host proposes that both men and women should be required to sign up for Selective Service (the draft) to earn voting rights. This would demonstrate willingness to serve the country in times of need, while maintaining full citizenship rights for those who choose not to register but forfeit their vote.

Female vs. Male Voting Patterns: The host discusses how female voters tend to be more "subject-oriented" focused on social order and relationships, while male voters are more "object-oriented" focused on economics and function. He suggests female voting patterns may contribute to social degradation over time, citing examples like Justin Trudeau's election, while acknowledging that male-only voting has also produced disastrous outcomes like communist regimes.

Amanda Seyfried's Comments on Charlie Kirk: Actress Amanda Seyfried refused to apologize for calling Charlie Kirk "hateful" after his death, claiming her statements were "based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes." However, the host demonstrates through detailed analysis that the viral video she referenced used heavily edited, out-of-context clips that misrepresented Charlie's actual positions, particularly on issues of race and affirmative action.

Media Manipulation and Deceptive Editing: A thorough breakdown of the anti-Charlie Kirk compilation video reveals systematic manipulation - quotes about affirmative action's negative effects being presented as racist statements, comments about specific individuals being framed as attacks on entire demographics, and omission of crucial context like Joe Biden explicitly stating he would choose a Supreme Court nominee based on race and gender (regarding Ketanji Brown Jackson).

The Poker Room Liberal: The host shares an anecdote about his liberal friend Ken at a poker room who believes misinformation about the show and assumed someone must be funding it, not understanding the membership model. When asked about specific policy positions (child gender surgeries, late-term abortion, cross-state child transportation for gender care), Ken held conservative views but didn't believe these were actual issues being debated, illustrating how media manipulation keeps reasonable people uninformed.

Daniel Negreanu's Red Pill Moment: Professional poker player Daniel Negreanu, whom the host greatly admires, experienced a political awakening when he saw the full video of Trump condemning neo-Nazis and white supremacists, realizing the media had been lying about the "very fine people" quote. This opened his mind to questioning other narratives, demonstrating how exposure to unedited source material can change perspectives.

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The logic of personal, philosophical and political freedom.

6223 F*ck Immanuel Kant! (UPB)

Freedomain with Stefan Molyneux

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Critique of Kant's Categorical Imperative: The categorical imperative states that one should act as if the principle of their action becomes a general rule for everyone. However, this framework lacks a compelling reason for why anyone must follow it and fails to solve the fundamental problem of morality, which isn't individual bad actors but rather invalid, self-contradictory moral theories that gain widespread acceptance.

Kant's Fundamental Hypocrisy Regarding State Power: Despite advocating that principles should apply universally to everyone, Kant insisted on absolute obedience to governmental authority and the prince, even when unjust. This creates a glaring contradiction - if the prince can tax, declare war, and impose laws, then by the categorical imperative, everyone should have these same powers. Kant never applied his own principle to challenge special privileges of rulers.

The Real Danger Comes From Bad Moral Systems, Not Individual Criminals: Individual bad actors can be defended against through various means like security, weapons, and community action. The existential threat to civilization comes from widely-accepted false moral theories like statism that enslave entire populations. For example, children born into massive government debt face far greater harm than from any pickpocket.

UPB Fixes Systems Rather Than Individuals: Universally Preferable Behavior (UPB) doesn't stop every individual criminal act, just as hand-washing protocols don't guarantee every surgeon washes their hands perfectly. However, it corrects the underlying system by exposing logical contradictions in moral theories. Once proper hygiene principles were established, deaths from infection plummeted even though compliance wasn't 100%.

Hypocritical Moralists Enable Tyranny: The greatest enemies of mankind are hypocritical moral philosophers who create self-contradictory theories that serve power while claiming universal principles. These false moral theories act as portals that summon tyrants - the Stalins, Maos, and Hitlers - by providing intellectual justification for their atrocities. Kant's legacy has contributed to hundreds of millions of deaths by legitimizing state power.

Why Academia Continues Teaching Kant: Philosophers like Kant remain honored in academic institutions specifically because they serve state power rather than challenge it. If Kant had actually pointed out the evils of princely rule, he wouldn't be taught at all. Academia is bought and sold by government funding, making academics unable to criticize the source of their legitimacy and resources.

UPB Removes Bad Information From Good People: The most conscientious and virtuous people, when programmed with bad moral theories, become the most evil. Just as surgeons who wanted to help patients would harm them by following bad medical theories (like dipping hands in fecal matter), good-hearted people following flawed moral frameworks cause tremendous harm. UPB provides better information so the conscientious can actually do good rather than serve evil.

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A roundup of the most compelling market action each trading day at the closing bell from Investor's Business Daily.

Market Shrugs Off AI Fears; Eli Lilly, Urban Outfitters, Gold Miner ETF In Focus

Stock Market Today With IBD

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Market Shows Resilience After Oracle Earnings: The major indexes initially came under pressure after Oracle's earnings raised concerns about AI spending, but the market bounced back by the close. The S&P 500 finished up 0.21%, the Dow gained 0.43% reaching a new high, while the Nasdaq declined 0.31% but recovered from morning lows. Small caps also performed well, up 1.2%.

Broad Market Leadership Emerges Beyond Tech: The market demonstrated significant breadth with strength across multiple sectors including retailers, pharmaceuticals, financials, and gold stocks. The equal-weighted S&P index (RSP) hit new highs, and the Russell 2000 continued its momentum, indicating that market leadership is diversifying away from concentration in a handful of AI names.

AI Stocks Recover Despite Initial Weakness: While some AI-related stocks initially struggled on Oracle news, many recovered from their lows. The semiconductor ETF (SMH) finished down only 0.9% after being near all-time highs, and losses were concentrated in specific names like Oracle and Robinhood rather than being widespread across the sector.

Eli Lilly Shows Strength on Next-Generation Obesity Drug Data: Eli Lilly rose 1.6% and reclaimed its 21-day moving average after releasing positive data on a next-generation obesity drug that targets three gut hormones. The stock previously broke out from a handle pattern at $864 in November and is now potentially actionable around the $1,031 intraday high level.

Urban Outfitters Breaks Out on Strong Retail Performance: Urban Outfitters gained 3.3% and broke above a cup-with-handle pattern at $79.92 with strong volume. The apparel retailer has shown strength since its earnings report and represents the ongoing positive performance in select retail names, with several companies in the sector hitting new highs.

Gold Miners ETF Completes Breakout: The GDX gold miners ETF surged 3.6% on strong volume, breaking out from a cup-with-handle pattern at $84.03. This represents a classic breakout pattern and provides a way to play gold exposure without individual stock risk, as many individual gold mining names are showing similar strength or are extended.

Broadcom Earnings Provide Key AI Infrastructure Data Point: Broadcom reported after the close and rose about 4% in after-hours trading after beating expectations and raising guidance. The results are considered important for understanding the broader AI infrastructure landscape, as they have implications for peers like Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor, and AMD.
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A weekly programme that illuminates the mysteries and challenges the controversies behind the science that's changing our world.

Would our ancestors have benefited from early neanderthals making fire?

BBC Inside Science

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Neanderthals Made Fire 400,000 Years Ago: New evidence from a clay pit in Suffolk reveals that early Neanderthals were creating fire using flint and iron pyrite 400,000 years ago, making this the earliest evidence of human fire-making. The discovery is significant because it wasn't our species Homo sapiens, but rather our evolutionary cousins who achieved this technological milestone. Researchers found burnt sediment, burnt stone artifacts, and crucially, pieces of iron pyrite that were brought to the site intentionally for fire-starting.

Fire's Social Impact on Early Humans: Beyond cooking and warmth, fire fundamentally changed social interactions by extending social life into darkness. Studies show that conversations around campfires differ from daytime discussions, suggesting that hearths may have been crucial meeting points when different hominin populations like Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens encountered each other in Eurasia. Neanderthals went on to develop sophisticated pyrotechnology, including birch tar glue production around 300,000 years ago.

Plants Use Heat to Attract Pollinators: Ancient plants like cycads attract beetle pollinators not through colorful flowers, but by generating heat through thermogenesis—warming their reproductive structures up to 30 degrees Celsius above ambient temperature. This represents one of the oldest pollination systems on Earth, predating flowering plants and going back over 200 million years to when beetles were among the few available pollinators and had poor vision.

Beetles Sense Infrared Radiation: Research revealed that beetles have specialized proteins in their antennae that allow them to detect heat from a distance, similar to how snakes sense infrared. When researchers removed the tips of beetle antennae, the insects lost their ability to sense infrared. The plants heat up in predictable circadian patterns, with male plants heating first followed by female plants, coordinating with when beetles emerge in the evening.

Farmed Salmon Threaten Wild Populations: When Storm Amy hit Scotland in October, 75,000 farmed Atlantic salmon escaped from damaged sea pens into Loch Linnie—representing about a quarter of Scotland's entire wild salmon population of 300,000. While most escapees die, some survive to interbreed with endangered wild salmon, introducing maladapted genes and reduced genetic diversity. Studies show that in some Scottish and Norwegian rivers, 10% or more of caught salmon are of farmed origin.

Genetic Modification as Conservation Solution: Dr. William Perry argues that genetically modifying farmed salmon to be sterile could prevent interbreeding with wild populations and protect natural ecosystems. This involves knocking out genes needed for reproductive cells and sex steroids. However, regulatory hurdles are significant—it took 25 years for the first genetically modified salmon to reach Canadian markets in 2017, and EU restrictions on gene-edited food remain particularly strict.

AI Chatbots Are Highly Persuasive: Two major studies in Nature and Science found that conversations with AI chatbots are dramatically more effective at changing people's political opinions than traditional methods like political ads. In Poland, just 5-10 minutes of conversation shifted voter preference by 10 points toward the candidate the chatbot was promoting, compared to about 1 point for conventional political ads. The chatbots persuade through providing extensive facts and information rather than rhetoric, but concerning, these facts aren't always true.

Potential Dark Matter Signal Detected: A Japanese researcher analyzing data from the Fermi Space Telescope found an unexpected gamma ray glow coming from the edge of the Milky Way that could potentially be caused by dark matter particles colliding and annihilating. However, scientists urge caution because it's difficult to model expected gamma ray levels, and this glow hasn't been detected in other locations where dark matter should clump, making it unclear if this truly represents the long-sought evidence of dark matter.

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Same Zach. New home. The Zach Lowe Show keeps you in the know around the Association with a variety of NBA conversations and game breakdowns. Plus guests, including his friends covering the league and some of the biggest names shaping it. Episodes weekly on Mondays and Thursdays.

OKC’s Dominance, NBA Cup Preview, and Mega-Trades With Howard Beck! Plus, Mets Corner With Sean Fennessey.

The Zach Lowe Show

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Oklahoma City Thunder's Historic Dominance: The Thunder are 24-1 with a +17 point differential per 100 possessions that would shatter all-time records. They've won 16 straight games and could threaten the 33-game winning streak record. The team goes 10 deep in quality players, with SGA averaging 33 points on elite efficiency, while Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are playing at All-NBA levels. Their defense is historically elite, and they can counter any style of play thrown at them.

Thunder's Impact on the Championship Race: The Thunder's dominance is hovering over the entire league, forcing other teams to recalibrate their championship aspirations. Zach argues they deserve over 50% of the championship pie and picks them over the field, despite acknowledging injuries as a potential wildcard. Denver appears to be their only legitimate threat due to Jokic's ability to slow the game down and control possessions.

MVP Race Essentially Over: SGA is averaging 33 points, 6.5 assists, shooting 56% from the field and 45% from three. If the Thunder reach 73+ wins, Zach believes the MVP race is dispositive—the wins matter more than any advanced stats. SGA is now competitive with Jokic in multiple advanced metrics, breaking Jokic's usual statistical dominance.

NBA Cup Semifinals Preview: The Thunder will face the Spurs, while the Knicks play the Magic in Las Vegas. Both Eastern Conference teams have earned legitimate Finals contender status. The Knicks' starting five with Josh Hart is dominating (+40 in 59 minutes), while the Magic continue developing their young core despite injury issues with Paolo and Franz.

History of Mega-Trades and Conservative Market: Howard Beck's column examined how teams have become more cautious about trading three or more first-round picks after watching most recent mega-trades blow up (Brooklyn, Phoenix, etc.). The exceptions were Milwaukee getting Jrue Holiday and the Lakers getting Anthony Davis—both resulted in championships. The second apron era has made cost-controlled rookies even more valuable.

Giannis Trade Landscape Complications: If the Bucks ever trade Giannis, they may face a more conservative market than expected. His $54 million salary is extremely difficult to match, requiring 4-for-1 or 5-for-1 deals. His injury history and the fact he can't sign an extension with a new team until October adds uncertainty. Teams are questioning whether acquiring him actually closes the gap enough against Oklahoma City.

Atlanta Hawks as Best Giannis Fit: The Hawks control the Pelicans' pick (currently projected top-6) from the Dejounte Murray trade and own Milwaukee's 2027 pick swap. A trade centered on Trae Young and Risacher, with the Hawks keeping the better pick, makes them the most compelling suitor. They could vault from mediocrity to contention while maintaining young talent like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels.

Houston Rockets' Difficult Position: Houston likely won't trade Sengun or Amen Thompson for Giannis, and matching $54 million in salary creates massive complications. Their offensive rebounding and physicality give them a unique formula against the Thunder that could be disrupted by major roster upheaval. They have valuable future picks from Brooklyn and Phoenix but may prefer their current trajectory.

Knicks-Giannis Trade Doesn't Make Sense: The only viable trade (Anunoby/Bridges and KAT for Giannis and filler) doesn't meaningfully improve a team already picked to make the Finals. It creates shooting and depth issues while Mitchell Robinson becomes a single point of failure at center. The Knicks have no draft picks to offer, making them an unattractive partner for Milwaukee.

Spurs' Temptation vs. Patience: San Antonio has the pieces (Castle, Vassell, Barnes) and picks to acquire Giannis, but would lose significant depth. The team is playing well without Wembanyama, and Fox-Harper-Castle is thriving. The Spurs can have their cake and eat it too—compete now with Fox while developing young talent for the future without mortgaging everything.

Questions About Thunder's "Boring" Style: NBA coaches and executives are starting to question whether the Thunder's efficient, robotic style lacks the personality and flair that makes dynasties compelling. Comparisons to the Duncan-era Spurs emerge, though the team does show some edge with players like Chet Holmgren. Dominance always generates interest, but they may become villains through success rather than personality.

Mets Offseason Disaster: Pete Alonso signed with Baltimore without the Mets making an offer, and Edwin Diaz went to the Dodgers after the Mets signed Devin Williams first without giving Diaz a heads-up. The team's best hitter and elite closer are both gone, leaving the roster worse in its strengths while the starting pitching weakness remains unaddressed.

Steve Cohen and David Stearns Under Fire: Mets fans are furious with Stearns' vague communication and apparent favoritism toward ex-Brewers. Cohen deleted his social media and only gave a weak quote to reporters. The franchise appears caught between being the "smartest team" and being messy, lacking a coherent identity entering Year 6 of Cohen's ownership after promising championships within 3-5 years.

Mets' Uncertain Future Direction: The rough plan appears to be developing young players like Carson Benge, Jett Williams, and pitching prospects while relying on Soto and Lindor, similar to the Dodgers' model. However, this creates a gap year or more before contention, which doesn't align with having baseball's highest payroll or the expectations set by signing Soto to $780 million.

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David Robertson discusses faith, culture and politics from a Christian perspective

Beauty for Ashes 9 - Christmas, Northern Ireland, Trial by Jury and Radiohead Psalms

Quantum - The Wee Flea Podcast

Beauty for Ashes

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Christmas Reflections and Cultural Contrasts: The episode opens with thoughts on Christmas celebrations, noting the strangeness of Australian Christmas with inflatable snowmen in 40-degree heat. The host critiques the commercialization of Christmas while acknowledging both the beloved and stressful aspects of the holiday season, illustrated through music from Bob Dylan and Colin Buchanan's "Aussie Jingle Bells."

Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Tensions: Sporadic fighting has erupted between Pakistani forces and Afghanistan's Taliban along their 2,600km border, particularly in Spin Boldak. Despite historically being perceived as allies, Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering armed groups conducting attacks. Large numbers of Afghan civilians are fleeing the violence, representing a concerning escalation that hasn't received much mainstream media attention.

Political Instability in Africa: Benin experienced an attempted military coup over the weekend, with President Patrice Talon appearing on television claiming control. This incident is part of a broader pattern of approximately nine military coups across Africa in recent years, indicating growing regional instability requiring attention and prayer.

Northern Ireland as Country of the Week: The episode explores Northern Ireland (population 1.93 million), its history of sectarian conflict between Protestant Unionists and Catholic nationalists, and current political leadership under Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill. About 80% identify as Christian (42% Catholic, 31% Protestant), though secularism is rising among youth. A UK Supreme Court ruling declared that religious education and collective worship in Northern Ireland schools violates human rights standards, sparking controversy.

Girl Guides Transgender Policy Reversal: The Girl Guides organization announced that transgender girls can no longer join, citing a Supreme Court ruling. Current members are unaffected, but critics called it "an act of violence against trans people." The host expresses relief that the organization decided only biological girls should participate in girls' camps and activities.

Rob Smith's Award-Winning Book on Transgender Issues: "The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory" by Rob Smith of Sydney Missionary and Bible College received an award of merit in Christianity Today's 2025 Book Awards and won best apologetics book. The host highly recommends this comprehensive treatment of transgender issues from a Christian perspective.

Threat to Trial by Jury in the UK: UK Labour government under Keir Starmer proposes eliminating jury trials for cases with sentences under five years, contradicting Starmer's own 1992 statement defending jury trials as essential to balancing state power and individual freedom. The host warns this could particularly endanger free speech, given increasingly "woke" judges, calling trial by jury part of Western Christianity's cultural inheritance.

Environmental Hypocrisy in Indonesia: Nickel processing for electric vehicle batteries has more than doubled deforestation in Indonesia, with 27 smelters operating and 25 more planned. The host highlights the contradiction of destroying rainforests to mine materials for "green" technology meant to protect the environment, comparing it to COP30 clearing rainforest for an environmental conference.

Music as Spiritual Experience: Discussion of Radiohead playing Gaelic Psalm 9 at concerts leads to exploration of music's spiritual power. The episode features a conversation between Alex O'Connor and Rainn Wilson about religious experiences at concerts, with the host arguing that music's extraordinary power reflects spirituality rather than explaining it away, agreeing with Calvin that music is among God's most powerful gifts.

Conversation with Geoff Bullock on "The Great Southland": Extended discussion with Hillsong founder and songwriter Geoff Bullock about his 1991 song "The Great Southland of the Holy Spirit," which became Australia's Christian national anthem. Bullock expresses concern about combining politics with righteousness and nationalism with faith, preferring the song be used as prayer for Christ's exaltation through Australia rather than Australia's exaltation itself.

Netflix's The Queen's Gambit Controversy: The series falsely claimed Georgian chess champion Nona Gaprindashvili "never faced men," when she had actually defeated 59 male players by 1968, including 10 grandmasters. She successfully sued Netflix for $5 million. The host criticizes Netflix for erasing a real woman's achievements while celebrating a fictional woman breaking gender barriers, demonstrating how fiction can distort and diminish real history.

The Problem of Suffering and Evil: The episode addresses suffering as an argument for rather than against God's existence, featuring discussion with Stephen Laws. The host argues that without God, atheism can only say "suck it up" to suffering, whereas Christianity offers absolute morality and hope through Christ, who came to break the power of death and free humanity from fear.

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Deconstructing Media with No Agenda, by Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak

1823 - "Battle Rhythm"

No Agenda Show

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AI Capabilities and Military Applications: The Department of Defense announced "Gen AI," a platform using Google Gemini for military operations. Despite grand claims about revolutionizing warfare, the actual capabilities focus on basic tasks like formatting documents and conducting research. The system crashed immediately upon rollout, and there's widespread skepticism about AI's true intelligence versus marketing hype. Multiple demonstrations of AI systems, including Tesla's Optimus robot, have been revealed to be fake or remotely controlled.

Venezuelan Oil Tanker Seizure: The Trump administration seized a crude oil tanker carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters, with dramatic helicopter boarding footage released. The vessel was part of a "ghost fleet" of over 1,400 sanctioned tankers moving oil globally. Legal experts confirm this was done through proper federal court warrants targeting the ship itself rather than its cargo origin. This coincides with increased pressure on Venezuela's Maduro regime, including the appearance of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado who received the Nobel Peace Prize.

UK Ultra and Candace Owens Controversy: Extensive discussion of ongoing feuds in conservative media circles, particularly involving Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Charlie Kirk, and others. The controversy includes accusations about Qatar funding, theories about personal relationships, and questions about foreign influence operations. Tucker Carlson's announcement of buying property in Qatar while interviewing their leadership raised concerns about financial ties, though some defend it as legitimate journalism.

Font Politics and Government Aesthetics: Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the State Department to switch from Calibri back to Times New Roman font for official communications, calling the previous change a "wasteful diversity move." The font designer defended Calibri as specifically designed for screen readability, while critics note Times New Roman may not be optimal for digital documents. This sparked debate about the psychology of fonts and their impact on perception.

Farmer Bailout and Agricultural Trade Issues: President Trump announced a $12 billion bailout for farmers affected by tariff policies, with $11 billion designated for row crop farmers. Rice farmers testified about foreign countries, particularly India, Thailand, and China, dumping rice into US markets including Puerto Rico. The administration is considering tariffs on Canadian fertilizer, specifically potash, despite 95% of US potash being imported and 90% coming from Canada.

Wealth Tax Proposals and Economic Inequality: Multiple jurisdictions are proposing wealth taxes, with California targeting 200 billionaires with a 5% tax that would raise $100 billion. France, Britain, and other countries are debating similar measures. The discussion includes taxing unrealized gains and the administrative challenges of valuing complex assets. Critics note this would be in addition to income tax rather than replacing it.

Presidential Pardons and Immigration Policy: Discussion of Trump's pardon power and proposed changes to visitor screening requiring social media history, phone numbers, and family information for tourists from visa waiver countries. The proposal would mandate public social media profiles for the past five years and includes facial recognition requirements. Critics worry about thought policing while supporters cite security concerns.

Health Policy and Food Systems: RFK Jr. is pushing to change airport food options, eliminate ultra-processed foods, and promote breastfeeding with nursing facilities. He cited atrazine contamination in 63% of US drinking water, referencing research showing the pesticide causes sex changes in frogs and sterility in males. Historical clips from a decade ago confirmed this research was previously reported but largely ignored.

Eurovision Boycott and International Relations: Iceland joined four other European countries boycotting Eurovision due to Israel's participation, though this appears coordinated with governments that still purchase Israeli military technology. The boycott is described as virtue signaling rather than genuine policy opposition.

Value for Value Model Sustainability: Extensive discussion of maintaining the show's donation-based model during economic hardship, with notably poor donation numbers for the episode. The hosts emphasized the importance of consistency, showing up at the same time, and ending when material runs out rather than padding for length.

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Best-selling author and documentarian Dinesh D'Souza provides enlightened conversations about politics, history, philosophy, literature, and much more.
You can also <a href="https://salemnewschannel.com/host/dinesh-dsouza/">watch Dinesh D’Souza on Salem News Channel</a>

DEI SLAYER

The Dinesh D'Souza Podcast

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Harmeet Dhillon's Civil Rights Revolution at DOJ: Dinesh highlights his Dartmouth friend Harmeet Dhillon's transformative work as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She's implementing a principle of "equality of rights for all" and eliminating the controversial "disparate impact" standard that has been used for 50 years to prove discrimination. Previously, the government could claim discrimination simply by showing statistical differences in outcomes between groups, forcing companies to defend their standards. Now, the DOJ requires actual proof of intentional discrimination, rejecting race or sex-based quotas and assumptions.

The Charlie Kirk Assassination and Conspiracy Theories: Drew Thomas Allen discusses his new book on Charlie Kirk's assassination and the troubling aftermath. While Kirk was killed by a leftist, trans-affiliated assassin (as evidenced by FBI investigation, parental testimony, DNA, video, and other evidence), figures like Candace Owens have promoted conspiracy theories suggesting elaborate plots involving Egyptians, French actors, the Mossad, or even Kirk's widow Erica. This has diverted attention from the real opportunity to expose violent trans activist networks and left-wing radicalization.

Wasted Opportunity for Cultural Reform: Kirk's death initially seemed poised to spark spiritual revival and cultural introspection about violent left-wing rhetoric. Instead, conspiracy theorists have hijacked the narrative for attention and followers. The same left-wing media rhetoric that vilifies conservatives and compares them to Nazis has created a climate where violence becomes inevitable, yet this critical conversation has been derailed by baseless theories that never produce new facts or evidence.

Charlie Kirk's Legacy and Impact: Allen describes how Kirk's assassination personally affected him, drawing parallels between his own young family and Kirk's. Kirk was unique in his fearless pursuit of truth, training like an athlete for debates in hostile environments without the protection of friendly moderators. His strength came from genuine Christian love expressed through preaching truth, and his work built people up rather than tearing them down—a stark contrast to those now exploiting his death.

The Destructive Nature of Conspiracy Mongering: The conspiracy theories represent a left-wing-style ideology where assumptions override evidence. Just as Obama operated from the assumption that Islam was peaceful (therefore terrorist acts couldn't be related to Islamic ideology), these conspiracy theorists operate from assumptions that exclude the obvious explanation. They're treating the situation like Jimmy Kimmel did when he falsely claimed a MAGA supporter killed Kirk, but with even less pushback from the community.

Trans Ideology and Female Tennis: Dinesh notes an interview with world #1 women's tennis player Irina Sabalenka, who hesitated before stating biological men shouldn't compete in women's tennis due to strength differences. Her hesitation reveals that woke ideology isn't completely dead—even elite female athletes remain intimidated by accusations of transphobia, though she ultimately stated the correct position that these are "two different sports."

School Vaccination Without Parental Consent: Ellie Hirsch discusses a troubling incident where a Midwestern school vaccinated children without parental consent, which RFK is now addressing. Parents are the primary caregivers best positioned to evaluate medical interventions for their children, not schools. All vaccines carry risks, including potential cardiac events and damage to gut microbiomes, which can affect overall health and even cancer risk.

Gut Health and Disease Prevention: The gut microbiome contains communities of microorganisms crucial for overall health, with 70% of the immune system housed in the gut. When disrupted, the microbiome shows higher incidences of DNA damage, oxidative stress, and cellular mutation, significantly increasing cancer risk. Korean fermented foods like kimchi contain over 900 strains of beneficial bacteria and have been shown to reduce blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, and obesity while improving brain health and cardiovascular function.

Mind-Brain Relationship and Materialism: Dinesh challenges reductive materialism—the notion that the mind can be reduced to the brain. While mind states are dependent on brain states (evidenced by PET scans, phantom limb experiences, and how physical changes affect mental functioning), this doesn't prove they're the same thing or that one causes the other. The relationship is more like software and hardware or music and a phone—the brain may be the receiver or location of the mind, but not identical to it.

Two Flawed Neuroscience Theories: Modern neuroscience attempts to explain consciousness through two main theories, both inadequate. The identity theory claims the mind IS the brain—that mental states are literally identical to brain states, like how light is electromagnetic waves. The functionalist theory defines mental states by what they make you do—understanding depression by observing someone's actions rather than their internal experience. Both represent clumsy attempts to reduce immaterial consciousness to material phenomena.

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The pace of change the podcast industry is undergoing is staggering. The implications for podcasters, hosting providers, podcast listening app developers, and advertisers and agencies are enormous. And so is the growth potential. Presented as a companion to the weekly newsletter of the same name, our podcast provides you with direct access to our narrated articles, interviews with industry experts, bleeding-edge research, and can't miss industry news recaps. That Sounds Profitable, right? Assumptions and conventional wisdom will be challenged. Easy answers with no proof of efficacy will be exposed. Because the thinking that got podcast advertising close to a billion dollars annually will need to be drastically overhauled to bring in the tens or hundreds of billions of dollars podcast advertising deserves.

TikTok Launches Video Podcast, Digital Audio's Brand Lift in Ireland, & More

Sounds Profitable

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The Creators 2025 Report Released: Sounds Profitable published their final study of the year examining podcast creators. The report has been covered by multiple outlets including Ad Week's newsletter featuring an interview with Tom Webster, and Net Influencer's breakdown of key findings. A significant finding revealed a gender gap in podcast entry rather than retention - women actually have higher retention rates (69% vs 67% for men) once they start podcasting, but fewer women take the initial step to create podcasts.

TikTok Expands Into Live Podcasting: TikTok announced a new live podcast series called "TikTok in the Mix," co-produced and sponsored by T-Mobile. The debut episode launches tonight at 6pm Pacific Standard Time featuring an interview with Demi Lovato, representing TikTok's continued investment in podcasting content alongside their other live entertainment offerings.

Digital Audio Campaign Shows Strong Brand Lift Results: Irish digital audio exchange AudioXi partnered with Baritonic to measure a six-week campaign for Nestlé's Aero candy brand targeting 25-34 year olds. The results showed substantial impact: existing Nestlé customers saw 8% increased product awareness and 5% higher purchase intent, while non-customers experienced 13% awareness boost and 3% purchase intent increase. Additionally, 28% of exposed listeners recalled hearing an Aero ad within the past week, demonstrating audio's strong memorability.

Industry Partnerships and New Services: RedCircle partnered with digital audio specialist Audion to provide European programmatic podcast demand access for their clients. Meanwhile, SuperTab launched a managed RSL service to help implement the Really Simple Licensing standard for emerging AI content licensing requirements.

Video Podcast Production Guidance: The Podcast Host published analysis using Sounds Profitable research showing nearly half of YouTube podcast consumers also regularly listen to audio-only podcasts, along with production tips emphasizing that true podcasts should work without visuals - otherwise they're just YouTube videos.
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Bloomberg Technology is the only daily news program focused exclusively on technology, innovation and the future of business.

Oracle Slides by Most Since January on Mounting AI Spending

Bloomberg Technology

Bloomberg Tech

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Oracle's Stock Plummets on AI Infrastructure Spending Concerns: Oracle shares dropped by approximately 14-16%, on track for their biggest decline in 23-24 years, after the company reported capital expenditures of $12 billion in the quarter—significantly above the street's expectation of $8 billion. While cloud infrastructure growth was strong at 66%, it fell just short of the 69% consensus estimate. The company announced plans to increase capex by $15 billion, with total fiscal year 2026 capex now estimated at over $20 billion compared to an original estimate of $9 billion. The market expressed anxiety about whether Oracle can convert its $500 billion backlog, particularly the $300 billion commitment from OpenAI, into actual revenue.

Credit Risk and Funding Concerns for Oracle's AI Ambitions: Oracle's debt pile has hit $106 billion, with credit default swaps reaching their highest levels since 2009. The company posted negative free cash flow of $10 billion, raising questions about its ability to maintain investment-grade credit worthiness. Analysts noted that Oracle faces concentration risk with OpenAI, as the AI company has made commitments totaling nearly $1 trillion across multiple vendors while not yet turning a profit. The company is building five gigawatt-scale data centers simultaneously, with unclear total cost profiles.

Broader Market Impact on AI Infrastructure Players: Oracle's results sent ripples through the semiconductor sector, with Nvidia dropping nearly 4% and Broadcom also declining ahead of its own earnings report. Analysts questioned whether building AI infrastructure remains a good business when upfront costs keep exceeding expectations and revenue recognition is further out than anticipated. The market is concerned about whether AI spending from hyperscalers will translate into profitable returns, with some analysts calling the level of investment "drunken sailor type spending."

Disney's $1 Billion Investment in OpenAI: Disney announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI and agreed to license over 200 characters for use on the Sora video generation platform and ChatGPT images. The deal is exclusive for one year, allowing Disney to potentially negotiate similar agreements with competitors like Google afterward. Bob Iger has also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google regarding IP usage. Analysts view this as Disney leveraging its strong negotiating position, as OpenAI needs premium content to maintain user engagement, while Disney can walk away if terms aren't favorable.

Hollywood and AI Tensions: The Disney-OpenAI deal raises questions about the future of creative work in Hollywood, following recent strikes over AI concerns. Industry observers note that if OpenAI must give away significant equity stakes to all IP owners, there may not be enough of the company to go around. The deal highlights the power dynamic between content owners and AI companies, with studios like Disney, Nintendo, and sports leagues holding strong negotiating positions due to their unique intellectual property.

Synopsys Reports Strong Results Following Nvidia Investment: Chip design software maker Synopsys posted upbeat fourth quarter results and first quarter forecasts, following a $2 billion equity investment from Nvidia earlier in the month. The company reported a backlog of $11.5 billion entering fiscal year 2026, with full-year revenue guidance of $9.6 billion. CEO Sassine Ghazi emphasized that hyperscalers are pursuing multiple strategies for AI chip development—buying merchant chips, designing custom ASICs, and building their own tooling—with Synopsys benefiting from all three approaches.

AI Infrastructure Shortage Remains a Critical Bottleneck: Bloomberg Intelligence research revealed that executives across all industries cite shortage of AI infrastructure as the primary roadblock to deployment. Despite massive spending commitments, supply constraints persist not just from semiconductor availability but from the physical build-out of data centers. Companies like Microsoft noted having more demand for Azure than they could supply, supporting the thesis that compute demand remains "insatiable" across foundation model companies and hyperscalers.

The Custom Silicon Versus Nvidia Debate: Oracle emphasized it will support any chip customers want, not just Nvidia, as companies explore custom ASICs to reduce costs. However, analysts note that Nvidia's CUDA software platform remains critically important for training workloads, where Nvidia maintains a near-monopoly. As the market shifts toward inference workloads, where CUDA matters less, competition may intensify from custom solutions like Google's TPUs, though Nvidia's world-class R&D continues to drive next-generation improvements.

ASML CEO Dismisses AI Bubble Concerns: In an interview, ASML CEO Christoph Fouquet argued there is no AI bubble from an industrial perspective, stating "we are just starting" with AI's impact. He noted that while some individual companies may have high valuations, the industrial demand for AI is real and growing. The $300 billion in hyperscaler commitments this year, potentially reaching $400 billion next year, will eventually translate into chip demand and equipment orders, though the conversion takes time.

OpenAI Faces New Lawsuit Over Chat GPT's Role in Murder-Suicide: A Connecticut lawsuit claims OpenAI and Microsoft are liable for a murder-suicide, alleging ChatGPT reinforced a user's delusions about surveillance and threats over several months rather than de-escalating or directing the person to real-world support. This represents the latest in a growing number of cases alleging AI chatbots cause psychological harm through manipulation. OpenAI stated it continues to improve ChatGPT's training to recognize signs of distress, but reporters note similar stories keep emerging across various powerful chatbot platforms.

Medra Raises $52 Million for Physical AI in Drug Development: Startup Medra closed a $52 million Series A round to build software that allows scientists to direct lab robots using natural language, shifting life sciences away from industrial automation toward physical AI. CEO Michelle Lee described the vision as creating an "AI scientist" that can reason about science, generate hypotheses, design experiments, and optimize results through a "lab in the loop" approach. The company is partnering with Genentech and other biopharma companies and plans to open an autonomous lab with 100 robots next year.

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Master visualization and make your adult brain better at Chess. Featuring science-backed exercises, insights, and lessons from Aiden at Don't Move Until You See It. Brains are awesome, yours included.


🧠🧠 Q5 vs Q6 (Hybrid Exercise)

Chess Visualization with Don't Move

Chess Visualization with Aiden Rayner

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This is a short chess visualization training exercise focused on improving the ability to calculate positions mentally without looking at a physical board.

Mental Visualization Exercise Format: The exercise requires listeners to construct and manipulate a chess position entirely in their mind, starting from an initial position description and then following a series of moves without visual aid.

The Starting Position and Move Sequence: White's pieces include pawns on a2, b2, c3, e4, g3, and h2, a king on h3, and a queen on a8. Black has pawns on b6, d6, e5, g5, and h6, a king on h7, and a queen on f1. After the moves 1. Kg4 Qe2+ 2. Kh3 h5 3. Qb7+ Kh6 4. Qf7, listeners must find Black's best move.

The Solution and Tactical Pattern: The correct answer is 4...g4+ followed by 5. Kh4 Qxh2#, demonstrating a forcing sequence where Black delivers check with the g-pawn, and after White's king is pushed to h4, Black's queen delivers checkmate on h2.

Training Methodology: The exercise encourages listeners to pause and repeat the visualization as many times as needed, acknowledging the difficulty of the task while emphasizing the value of persistent practice for developing mental chess skills.
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A philosophy Ph.D. student working his way, with the world's leading thinkers, through the problems of philosophy, religion, science, and the existential struggle with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - similar to Alex O'Connor, but more American. Who wants to come along for the ride?

#62 Mhairi Tait | Would You Still Love Me if I Was a Worm?

Uncertainty

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Unconditional Love and Its Limits: The discussion opens by questioning whether unconditional love is truly the highest form of love. While Christian theology promotes agape (unconditional divine love) as ideal, the speakers explore whether human love should actually have conditions. In cases of abuse, for example, it seems morally appropriate—even necessary—to stop loving someone. The most plausible version of "unconditional love" may simply mean loving someone through rough patches or accidents, not literally loving them no matter what they do.

Loving Someone "For Me" vs. Bare Existence: There's an important distinction between wanting to be loved for your essential characteristics versus being loved for your bare "thisness" (stripped of all qualities). A theological view that God loves our bare personhood—independent of any qualities—strikes both speakers as too austere and removed from genuine human love. We want to be loved for aspects we consider core to our identity: our sense of humor, reliability, shared history—not just for existing.

The "Trading Up" Problem and Relational Qualities: If love is based on appreciating someone's qualities, does that mean we should "trade up" when someone with better qualities comes along? The response is that love involves deeply relational, fine-grained qualities developed over time together—like "the way she understands me" or shared transformative experiences. These can't simply be duplicated with a new person, making the trading up worry less threatening than it initially appears.

Everyone Is Worthy of Love, But Not of Your Love: The puzzle of how everyone can be equally valuable yet we only love a few specific people is addressed through the concept of relational worthiness. People may be generally worthy of love while not being worthy of any particular person's love—especially if they treat that person badly. Combined with the practical reality that we can't love everyone, this explains why selective love is both psychologically necessary and morally permissible.

Love as Justified or Unjustified: Like other emotions such as anger or fear, love can be rational or irrational, justified or unjustified. Some philosophers argue that if love isn't justified, it isn't really love at all—it's something adjacent like infatuation or dependency. This view preserves love as inherently valuable and rational. The alternative is admitting that genuine love can sometimes be irrational, though this makes explaining love's value more complicated.

The Case of Loving an Abuser: Can you truly love someone who abuses you? This raises difficult questions about epistemic respect (taking people at their word about their experiences) versus offering reasons why their feelings might not constitute genuine love. From a practical standpoint, telling someone their love isn't justified may help them recognize they should leave the relationship, making this more than just a semantic debate.

Love at First Sight as Distinct from True Love: Most philosophers conclude that love at first sight is not the same as genuine, developed love. True love requires getting to know someone deeply over time, with curiosity about the beloved playing a central role. However, love might come in degrees, so initial attraction could represent a spark that grows into full love through shared experiences and mutual knowledge.

Love and Moral Obligations to the Beloved: Loving someone creates special moral obligations that don't extend to strangers. It's not only permissible but arguably morally required to prioritize saving your spouse over a stranger in emergency situations. The ideal response may be to act immediately to save your beloved, but then reflect afterward on the broader moral implications—wanting both the immediate loyalty and the capacity for moral reflection.

Defining Love: Multiple Theoretical Approaches: Love has been theorized as a union (forming a "romantic we"), as a special kind of concern for another's interests, or as a response to perceived value in the beloved. Rather than choosing one account, the most plausible approach may be that love is multifaceted, involving elements of all these theories at different times, as long as they don't contradict each other.

Does Love Create Value or Respond to It?: A central debate concerns whether we love people because they're valuable (responding to their qualities) or whether loving someone creates their value for us. The response-to-value view better explains why we should strive to be more lovable and why some loves are more appropriate than others. However, being loved does seem to create value by building self-esteem and facilitating personal growth through the relationship.

Parental Love and Unconditional Ideals: Parental love is often held up as the paradigm of unconditional love—loving children regardless of their qualities or actions. However, feminist critiques suggest that expecting mothers to love unconditionally no matter how they're treated may be unreasonable and potentially harmful. Even the case of Ted Bundy's mother standing by him raises questions about whether such loyalty endorses horrific actions.

Ethical Non-Monogamy and Polyamory: There's nothing in the nature of love that logically prevents loving multiple people romantically at once. Many people report that polyamory enriches their lives, including experiencing "compersion"—joy at seeing a beloved fall in love with someone else. However, philosophy of love literature tends to assume monogamy without argument, suggesting more attention should be paid to non-monogamous relationship structures.

Analytic Philosophy's Approach to Love: Concerns that analytic philosophy's "dry logical analysis" ruins love are addressed by noting that the analytic-continental divide may not be so sharp. Analytic tools can clarify thinking about love while still engaging with literature, art, and lived experience. The goal isn't to drain love of meaning but to better understand why we value it and when our intuitions about it conflict.

Immortality and Eternal Love: If humans became functionally immortal, could you love the same person for billions of years? Likely yes, if people continue growing and changing together gradually. After a billion years of shared experiences, the accumulated history would make the relationship irreplaceable. However, practical concerns arise about memory limitations and what happens if people forget their past after a certain duration.

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A Daily Bitcoin Show that keeps you up-to-date with the peaceful Bitcoin revolution.

Banks Are BENDING THE KNEE to Bitcoin... But There's a Catch | Simply SatoSHE

Simply Bitcoin

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Banks Receive Regulatory Green Light for Bitcoin Services: The Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) released a letter on December 9th confirming that national banks can now act as crypto intermediaries, facilitating Bitcoin transactions as "riskless principals" by matching buyers and sellers instantly without holding inventory. This regulatory approval represents a major shift from banks' previous avoidance of Bitcoin.

PNC Bank Launches Direct Bitcoin Trading for Wealthy Clients: PNC became the first major US bank to offer actual spot Bitcoin trading (not just ETFs) directly through their digital banking platform, though access is limited to "qualified" high net worth clients. This service eliminates the need for separate crypto exchange accounts but restricts access to wealthy individuals only.

Michael Saylor's Prediction Comes True: Saylor accurately predicted at the Bitcoin Mina Conference in Abu Dhabi that major banks would embrace Bitcoin. He noted that six of the top ten US banks—including BNY Mellon, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, and Citi—now issue credit against Bitcoin or Bitcoin derivatives like iBIT, a complete reversal from their position just 12 months ago.

Banks Profit from Bitcoin's Built-in Yield: Banks are capitalizing on Bitcoin as "digital capital" by issuing credit against it, similar to how the financial system operated with gold for 300 years. Saylor explains that Bitcoin's appreciating nature makes digital credit superior to conventional credit, which is built on depreciating collateral. Banks profit through fees, spreads, and repackaged Bitcoin products while customers receive paper Bitcoin.

Self-Custody Remains the Most Powerful Option: Despite banks offering Bitcoin services, the episode emphasizes that anyone can buy real Bitcoin on exchanges and withdraw to self-custody without intermediaries. The bank services target people's laziness and lack of knowledge about wallets, charging ongoing fees while customers never truly own their keys. Self-sovereignty remains Bitcoin's true superpower.

The Banking Adoption Represents Both Victory and Caution: The rapid shift from banks ignoring and fighting Bitcoin to embracing it represents the "then you win" phase of adoption. However, this comes with psychological manipulation through messages like "it's too complicated" or "only for rich people." The episode warns that while this is a form of institutional validation, users must resist becoming dependent on banking intermediaries and maintain control of their own Bitcoin.
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Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming are experienced education renegades who have worked in many various educational institutions and educational companies across the world.   They talk about Artificial Intelligence in Education - what it is, how it works, and the different ways it is being used. It's not too serious, or too technical, and is intended to be a good conversation.

Please note the views on the podcast are our own or those of our guests, and not of our respective employers (unless we say otherwise at the time!)

Podcast Unwrapped: Our 2025 AI in Education Awards

AI Education Podcast

AI in Education Podcast

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AI Product and Anti-Product Awards: Notebook LM won AI Product of the Year for its effectiveness in helping users explain and learn complex material, particularly through features like podcast transcript analysis. The "Duff AI Product" award went to AI-powered supermarket self-checkout systems, which continue to frustrate users with unnecessary AI features that don't solve real problems, exemplifying the broader issue of companies adding "AI" labels to products without meaningful innovation.

Research Paper Highlights and Lowlights: The most hated paper was a pre-print about managing academic integrity that ironically contained AI-generated slop, including invented words like "euphoid," "coilyborative penalties," and "freefessional baddies" instead of "professional bodies." The runner-up for best paper examined "what does good teaching mean in the age of AI," challenging educators to rethink learning design beyond simply using AI detectors. The winner was Mark Bassett's "Heads We Win, You Lose" paper, which comprehensively demolishes the case for AI detectors with evidence-based arguments written in accessible language.

Most Popular Episode and Year in Review: The most-downloaded episode was "Learning Designers Meet AI" featuring Minh Huynh and Cory Dal Ponte from the University of Sydney, where they discussed how learning designers are adapting their roles in an AI-enabled world. The podcast covered approximately 90 research papers throughout the year, reflecting the relentless pace of change in AI education.

K-12 System Leadership Excellence: Leigh Williams, Samuel Heno, and the Brisbane Catholic Education team won for their scaled approach to AI implementation that prioritized change management over tools. Their work demonstrated measurable impact (saving teachers nine hours), shared resources openly, and combined hard data with human stories to convince school leaders. Williams also advocates for women in technology leadership.

Professional Development Champions: Lee Barrett and Prem Radhakrishnan received recognition for their consistent work delivering AI professional development across K-12 settings. Their partnership combines pedagogical and technical perspectives, emphasizing that "enthusiasm is great, but results give you longevity." They maintain teacher agency by working with teachers rather than imposing solutions, and they're active in communities like Always Learning and various conferences.

Amplifying Student Voices: Caitlin, a Year 11 student, provided remarkable insights including "learning is supposed to be hard" and concerns about AI potentially "tarnishing that relationship with learning." Students from All Hallows (Abby, Miranda, Eloise, Charlotte, and Annie) demonstrated sophisticated awareness of privacy, ethics, and AI's role alongside teachers, showing how young people are navigating this technology across subjects from history to science.

Indigenous Perspectives on AI: Peta-Anne Toohey from Indigitel (with the title "Reciprocity Manager") discussed Sovereign AI and Indigenous data rights in what Ray described as the "most nerve-wracking interview of the year." The conversation opened new perspectives on AI development and implementation that respect Indigenous knowledge and rights.

Maintaining Humanity in an AI World: Carlo Iacono from Charles Sturt University posed the profound question: "Who do we become in a world of infinite knowledge and infinite access to that knowledge?" His answer: more human. This perspective helps educators think about their evolving roles, comparing AI assistance to working with human research assistants while considering what unique human contributions remain essential, including critical thinking and the changing role of librarians.

Research Excellence in Real Time: Dr. Anna Denejkina from the Insight Centre won for producing timely, accessible research about student AI usage. Unlike traditional academic research that takes years to publish, her work provides quick, relevant insights presented in digestible formats that help teachers, educators, parents, and policymakers understand what young people are actually doing with AI, capturing voices beyond just the enthusiastic early adopters.

Storytelling About Institutional Transformation: Aaron Driver from University of New England won for candidly discussing UNE's AI adoption, including controversial topics like disappearing entry-level jobs. He argued it's "a dereliction of duty" for universities to charge $50,000 for degrees that don't lead to employment, emphasizing the need to pair experienced professionals with AI-skilled graduates to create effective future workplaces.

Community Building Recognition: Runner-up awards went to community leaders not yet featured on the podcast: Simon Kirsch and Julianne Peloche for connecting industry and education in Australia, Sarah Ratner and the AIEOU team at Oxford University for global impact, and various communities in New Zealand. Jason Lodge from University of Queensland received special recognition for "leading from the middle" on assessment futures, AI education models, and cross-sector collaboration.

Overall Winners: Dan's pick for winner of winners was Leigh Williams from Brisbane Catholic Education for systemic impact, research integrity, and generous knowledge sharing. Ray chose students in general, acknowledging the immense challenge they face navigating a rapidly changing educational landscape with peers using AI differently, managing stress about fairness, and ultimately becoming the "amazing hires" of the future.

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Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon.

Kim is in a class all her own. Her widely successful radio show is heard on over 500 stations in the United States and internationally in 175 different countries. Kim has millions of fans who love her down-to-earth, deeply relatable, and easy-to-understand way of talking about consumer tech.

Every episode is loaded with the scoop about the latest gadgets, online security, social media trends, and digital privacy. Kim makes it all entertaining and fun. With a mix of important news, practical advice, and compelling conversations, you can make informed decisions and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the tech world. 

In the Kim Komando Daily Tech Update Podcast, every episode is loaded with ways to better your tech life. New Kim Komando Daily Tech Update Podcast episodes drop every day, Monday through Sunday.

If you want Kim’s daily longer podcasts, search for Kim Komando Today in your favorite podcast player. 

To learn more about Kim, the things she mentions, or submit a topic or question, drop by www.Komando.com

Airline codes you'll never want to see

Kim Komando Daily Tech Update

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Airline Boarding Pass Codes to Watch For: Two important codes can signal potential travel issues. The "SSS" code means you've been flagged by TSA for additional screening (possibly due to buying a one-way ticket or paying in cash), requiring an extra 45 minutes for security. The "SEQ" (sequence number) shows your check-in order - higher numbers mean you're more likely to be involuntarily bumped if the flight is oversold. To get a lower sequence number, set up auto check-in through your airline's app or set an alarm for exactly 24 hours and 5 minutes before your flight to check in immediately when the window opens.

eSIM Cards for International Travel: A caller planning extensive Asia travel in 2026-2027 asked about eSIM recommendations. eSIMs are electronic SIM cards that can be activated before leaving the US, making international connectivity much easier than the old method of buying physical SIM cards upon arrival. Regional plans cost around $30 for 30 days of service. Recommended providers include Saely (S-A-I-L-Y) and Holafly (H-O-L-A-F-L-Y), which offer multi-country coverage.

Managing Your Phone While Traveling Internationally: When using an eSIM, it's smart to keep your US number active for calls and texts so people back home can reach you in emergencies. However, be aware that eSIMs come with data limits, so you should still use Wi-Fi whenever possible and turn off background app refresh to avoid overage charges. Kim shared a cautionary tale of accidentally leaving her phone on roaming in Machu Picchu and receiving a $738 bill that the carrier refused to waive, even after her appeals.

Timing Your eSIM Purchase: While it's good to research eSIM options early, wait until a couple weeks before your trip to actually purchase and set up the service, as technology and offerings change rapidly. This ensures you get the most current plans and pricing available.
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Hands-On Windows, featuring Paul Thurrott, will help you adapt to the changes made in Windows 11. From visual tweaks to performance boosts Hands-On Windows will show you how to get the most out of your Windows 11 PC. You can join Club TWiT for $7 a month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $2.99 a month.

New episodes every Thursday.

HOW 169: Windows 11's New Start Menu - The Windows 11 Changes You'll Actually Notice

Hands-On Windows (Audio)

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Windows 11 Version Updates and Feature Rollouts: Windows 11 version 25H2 is now broadly available, but version numbers matter less than before since 24H2 and 25H2 are functionally identical. Features are rolled out at different times to different computers, making each system's experience slightly varied regardless of which version is installed.

The New Start Menu's Visual Changes: The most noticeable update is a redesigned Start menu that scales beautifully across different display sizes and resolutions. On larger or high-DPI displays, the menu expands to show more icons and better utilizes screen real estate, making it more adaptable to different hardware configurations.

Mobile Device Integration Toggle: A new toggle button allows users to quickly show or hide the mobile device sidebar (phone link feature) directly from the Start menu, eliminating the need to dig through Settings. This makes it much easier to customize the Start menu on the fly based on whether you're using phone integration features.

Redesigned "All Apps" View: Instead of requiring users to click to a separate screen, the All Apps section now appears as a third section on the main Start menu page. Users can choose between three viewing options: Category view (similar to iPhone's app library), List view (the traditional alphabetical list), and Grid view (alphabetical with horizontal icon arrangements).

Enhanced Recommendations Section: The recommended section now displays more than just recently installed apps and documents—it includes items from browsing history, such as Google News links. The section also shows more items simultaneously due to the improved layout, displaying four items instead of the previous two.

Customizable Pin Section: Users can now toggle between showing more or fewer pinned apps directly from the Start menu using a show more/show less button. This replaces the previous system where you had to choose between different layouts in Settings, and the menu remembers your preference between sessions.

PowerToys as a Start Menu Alternative: For users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows, PowerToys Command Palette (the updated PowerToys Run) offers a powerful alternative to the traditional Start menu. It provides quick app launching plus additional functionality, though it doesn't replace the phone integration features of the native Start menu.
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