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Minerals at the Negotiating Table: Resource Politics and Peace in Eastern DRC
The United States brokered a strategic partnership deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in December 2025, co-signing a DRC–Rwanda peace agreement on the same day. Whether a mediator with a strategic interest can also be neutral is a question the Washington Peace Accords have yet to answer. Critical minerals are no longer a backdrop to negotiations in eastern DRC but they are increasingly the point of concern. Yet understanding their role requires looking beyond the well-worn "conflict minerals" narrative and asking a harder question: whose resource interests are actually shaping the path to a negotiated settlement?
Eagles Biggest Question Has to Do With Jalen Carter Again
If things are similar to how they've been in years past, the Philadelphia Eagles will have one of the better defenses in the NFL. The only question that remains for this defense at the moment is what it will do with Jalen Carter.
Wednesday briefing: Do MPs have the will to stop mega-donors interfering in UK politics?
In today’s newsletter: The representation of the people bill has become a test of whether Britain can curb the surge in billionaire‑backed donations trying to influence how we run the country
Travis Hunter’s change in appearance gets noticed by NFL fans
Travis Hunter entered the NFL in 2025 with a lot of hype surrounding him. He won the 2024 Heisman Trophy for his outstanding two-way performances with the Colorado Buffaloes under his father, Deion Sanders. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him as…
Tech Investors and Longevity Influencers Back Neko Health’s Mega Round
The health tech start-up co-founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek is worth billions more after a new $700 million funding round.
Raiders Get Strong Fernando Mendoza Take From Former NFL Coach
The Las Vegas Raiders have a decision on their hands with training camp nearing, and that’s whether the Silver and Black should go with veteran Kirk Cousins or hand the keys to the franchise over to Fernando Mendoza.Having Cousins start the season can allow Las Vegas to bring Mendoza along slowly. Nonetheless, one former NFL […] The post Raiders Get Strong Fernando Mendoza Take From Former NFL Coach appeared first on HEAVY.
Ravens Named ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year
The Ravens were honored for their comprehensive work with youth development in Baltimore.
Promising Patriots OL named to NFL’s 2026 All-Breakout team
Patriots center Jared Wilson could be a potential breakout player to watch in 2026.
Browns young cornerstone already in elite company after rookie season
He may only be entering his second season in the NFL, but Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger already finds himself in elite conversations
Gold ‘Iran war participation trophy’ appears in DC for Trump
A protest group called The Secret Handshake placed a 10-foot-tall gold trophy on the National Mall for President Trump. In a press release, the group said the trophy is intended for de-escalating the ongoing conflict through “positive reinforcement.”
Cleveland Browns: Veteran QB schooled rookies on substance over style
Netflix series reveals Joe Flacco having some fun with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel about life in the NFL.
Pat Oliphant, fearless Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist, dies at 90
PHOENIX (AP) — Pat Oliphant, an influential political cartoonist known for creating caricatures of U.S. and world leaders, died Monday. He was 90.
Pat Oliphant, fearless Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist, dies at 90
Pat Oliphant, one of the most influential political cartoonists, has died at 90
Lindsey Graham's career and influence on American politics
Learn about the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham
Senate Democrats Block Defense Bill Over War in Iran
The vote reflected how the political debate over the conflict in the Middle East has sapped bipartisan support for a normally popular measure.
47 revelatory hours with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
To review this month’s supposed remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, I must first correct the record. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a game about pirates (and assassins) in the 18th century Caribbean. Sure, sure, that’s what the trailers would have you believe. They’ve go their clips of Edward Kenway swinging his swords and steering his pirate ship into cannon-blasting combat against British frigates. Is Resynced truly a pirate game? Of the 47 hours I spent playing Resynced over the past few weeks, I will admit I spent maybe 44 (?) of them collecting plunder with Blackbeard, drinking rum with Anne Bonny and debating the pros and cons of the lawless pirate-run settlement Nassau with Benjamin Hornigold. I may in fact have spent dozens of hours sailing to remote islands, reading treasure maps, opening messages left in bottles, sinking the odd Man o’ War with a well-timed broadside, collecting sea shanties for my crew, befriending a pet monkey, and hunting whales. I am nevertheless neither so Gullible nor so Narrow-Minded as to call the magnificent Resynced a “pirate remake.” Oh no. Forget any reviews of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced you may have read. Forget what you yourself may have played, if you’ve spent any time with the game since its launch. What Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is really about I’m here to give you the scoop (spoilers for Resynced’s Animus menu lore, which many players are probably not going to see): Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the new game whose development was led by Ubisoft Singapore, is set in the year 2096. It’s about a societal split, about revolution, about an old Assassin’s Creed adventure repurposed in the series’ distant future as propaganda or samizdat. It’s about the overheated future of 2096, essentially conquered by the series’ well-established nefarious Templar-run company Abstergo. (In this future, Abstergo is, among other things, remaking a 2013 pirate movie called Devils of the Caribbean, but this time in VR. The VR version will be backed by a marketing plan that involves AI influencers, a 10,000-avatar “metaverse premiere event” and that manufacturing of memes aimed at “50 million VR nodes.” See what I mean about Abstergo being evil?) Resynced is about a late 21st-century population mollified by the widespread use of Abstergo’s Animus devices which let people experience the lives of historical figures culled from “genetic memories.” It’s about an insurgent faction of Assassins. And it’s about a plan to wake the population into revolutionary fervor by showing them the memories of 18th century pirate Edward Kenway, who—as depicted in the original Black Flag and again in Resynced—gradually comes to an understanding about the Assassins of his day and their centuries old fight for freedom. Resynced is also about an AI developed within the late 21st-century Animus, called Ego. It has found a way to alter genetic memories, to create and show Animus users false ones. The game is about Ego’s efforts to tell the people experiencing Edward Kenway’s memories that Kenway was wrong, that fighting against order is folly, that we should crave a world where “compliance is rewarded with power.” Who are we in this game? We’re an unnamed Animus user in 2096 who experiences Kenway’s journey virtually. At four moments during Kenway’s exploits in the Caribbean our virtual jaunt can be interrupted for 10-15 minutes, as we explore Animus “rifts” where Ego explicitly tries to tell us how wrong Kenway was. None of this is what 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was about, of course. That was a different game, even if you also spent dozens of hours pirating as Kenway in that game, across missions and a map that’s been faithfully reintroduced and rebuilt for Resynced. The 2013 Black Flag was about you playing as an unnamed researcher newly hired in 2013 by Abstergo Entertainment, the video game development wing of the Templars’ evil-corp. In that game, you were assigned to use the Animus to dive into the genetic memories of Desmond Miles, a man who died in Assassin’s Creed III and who was descended from a long line of Assassins (and at least one Templar) whose adventures were featured across the prior AC games. In 2013’s Black Flag, your mission was to plumb the Edward Kenway experience for material that Abstergo could use in productions such as the motion picture Devils of the Caribbean, though the Templars had some ulterior motives for the assignment. Resynced is therefore not a remake of 2013’s Black Flag. It’s a sequel. It is a new game about a new exploration of Edward Kenway’s pirate/assassin journey, set 83 years after the framing sequences of the original game. Resynced provides a new narrative framework that, thanks to the concept of an AI that wants to alter historical memories, arrives with creative justification to tweak a now-classic 13-year old game. That makes Resynced, already a hot seller, a tantalizing hint of where Ubisoft could go with a line of Assassin’s Creed remakes. They could remake the first game, the Ezio games, even the recent ones set in ancient Egypt and Greece. And for each, they could not just modernize the graphics and controls but expand and alter their sequences of events to use them as reference points for a conflict set in the late 21st century, as rival factions try to weaponize historical memories. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, even when that work consists of ravings about Assassin’s Creed’s modern day plot, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe A story most players will probably miss If you didn’t know any of this, I’m not surprised. If you played the game and still didn’t catch it, I’m not a bit shocked. If Ubisoft has no plans to do more of this, I won’t fall down. Almost all of what I’ve described is optional and missable in Black Flag Resynced. I nearly missed it myself, as I planned for a breezy playthrough of an old Assassin’s Creed favorite. Instead, I found myself in a 40+ hour hunt for the “real” story, buried deeper in Resynced than any gold-filled chest. The story of 2096 is Resynced’s meta-story, told in two remote pockets of the game: 1) four optional playable “rifts” that players may find as they proceed through Resynced’s pirate fantasy , 2) in dozens of text files tucked three menus deep in the game’s barely-interactive Animus hub. Assassin’s Creed games have almost always had a meta-story about people in the 21st century (usually matching the game’s release year) and their connections to the main history portions you play. Those meta-stories have always been squeezed into the margins, though seldom as severely and as, uh, graphiaclly simple, as in recent games. Back in 2013, the modern-day exploits of you as an Abstergo Entertainment employee were prominent. They were portrayed via first-person portions that occasionally interrupted the third-person Kenway experience and could be explored for hours, complete with their own missions, side quests and puzzles. Resynced’s 2096 story—of Assassin “Watchers” vs. Abstergo/Tempar goons, of rogue AIs, of panicking scientists, of a woman wondering why her Animus-addicted husband is muttering about Mary Read (“What does he mean by Assassins?”), of a fight for the population’s hearts and minds via varying interpretations of Edward Kenway’s life choices—is mostly told through unlockable text files. The files are interesting. Offered via diary entries, intercepted chats and news reports, they present varied perspectives of a world in crisis. One set works as a narrative puzzle as it reveals the Rashomonic interpretations of a massacre, or was that a successful Assassin hit? Another favorite reveals the rising bitterness of a person who, through Edward Kenway’s journey, now shakes at the ignored evil around him. One surmises that Ubisoft is averse to putting the Assassin’s Creed’s meta-story in the way of more marketable pirate playgrounds and ninja/samurai epics. Instead, we get a better-than-nothing text-in-menus approach introduced in 2025’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In Shadows, players unlocked the meta-story text files largely via time-gated missions that called on the user to kill X number of enemy type Y, clear three enemy castles, re-win a three-phase fighting tournament, and other grinds. Time restrictions on accessing these missions and unlocking the files meant it could take players months to access the full story in-game. But even in the most hardcore Assassin’s Creed hangouts, the fanbase instead seemed to throw up their hands rather than grind to keep up. In Resynced, Ubisoft has shown some mercy, diminishing the amount of new text files that are tied to timed grinds. Now, most of the text-based 2096 lore are associated with “data file” collectibles that players can find in the world. That includes a batch of written entries that explain a historical link between the feudal Japan era in Shadows and the piracy adventures in Black Flag. Players who explore a lot will find dozens of data files, though the game does not appear to offer any in-game tracker for finding each one. You just need to keep looking for them. As of this writing, I have most of them, but not all. I can’t find any full guide for them online. And even Ubisoft’s optional $5 microtransaction that reveals lots of items in-game does not appear to reveal the locations of the text files (at least the official description omits them from its collectibles list). That’s not a huge bother, because tracking the data files down compelled me to re-explore the waves and islands of Black Flag. That was a thoroughly pleasant task to do for the first time in a dozen years. I expect many players, though, will be content to wait for the files to be reproduced in an online AC wiki somewhere, the easier to read on a web page. It may not seem enticing to play a video game in order to gradually unlock pages of text to read. Why not, you may ask, just read a book, where they put the pages in order? For one, they’ve not tucked this latest installment of Assassin’s Creed’s meta saga in a book. I also enjoy the unordered delivery, the dawning comprehension of a story about 2096’s desperate people and questionable tech, which I glimpsed first at its middle, then the end, then the front, then other moments in between1. I am also enamored with the idea of the Assassin’s Creed games I’ve previously played, including Black Flag, being repurposed for an information war. The ideas in Resynced’s meta-story, which builds off characters and ideas in Shadows’ chunks of text, are strong. The potential of where they could go with it is exciting. As for the pirate stuff? Looks great, controls pretty well, is fun to play and oh so speedy in terms of how much of a good time you can have with each sit-down. It never gets old to chase a new shanty page across a rooftop, bombard a fort with upgraded mortars or use a diving bell to explore sunken wrecks (hats off to the team at Ubisoft Barcelona that worked on the underwater portions in Resynced; that team is now facing layoffs, such is the misery of modern gaming and oft-troubled Ubisoft). New pirate missions in Resynced involving new ally characters are brief, dramatic and add more to Edward’s story, even if the gameplay perks they provide barely enhance the gameplay. A new denouement for high-class pirate Stede Bonnet is affecting; a new hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure is a welcome extra moment. A new epilogue to hunt down a pirate killer, on the other hand, over-complicates Kenway’s character. The ending credits remain my favorite of any game I’ve ever played. Black Flag provides great source material. The revisit is well-made and a great sign of what could be. It is offered in a different wrapper that hints at an opportunity for more interesting remakes to come, should Ubisoft choose to pursue such treasures—and as we brace to resist or comply with an Abstergo future. 1 The messages that Edward Kenway finds in bottles tell another out-of-order story, one about a man reckoning with the strange memories and voices he’s heard in his head since he was a boy. That tale was also in the 2013 game and develops into one of Black Flag’s most compelling character arcs. In Resynced, it has lost its climax, because the bottle story previously paid off in the halls of the first-person Abstergo Entertainment, which is exclusive to the older game. An altered resolution, written by the 2013 game’s lead writer is fine, doesn’t invalidate the 2013 version, but makes for an inferior final note.
Why the $9.99 price tag still rules retail
The $9.99 price point remains a powerful strategy because many consumers perceive products under $10 as noticeably more affordable than those priced at $10 or higher, even though the difference is only a penny, The Wall Street Journal reports. Companies are increasingly struggling to maintain these prices due to rising costs from inflation, fuel, tariffs […]
‘We Love Iraq,’ Trump Tells New Prime Minister in Oval Office Meeting
The meeting comes as President Trump’s administration has been ratcheting up pressure on Baghdad to diminish Iran’s influence in Iraq.
I’ve attended 1,000+ sporting events. Here are my top five stadium essentials
What you take with you, or leave at home, can have a big influence on how much you enjoy the experience
Akin, an Elite Global Law Firm
Akin labor & employment and complex commercial litigation partner Laura Smolowe has been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal's 2026 Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys list. The…
Who's the Best QB from the 2024 NFL Draft Class?
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye headlined a rare quarterback class in the 2024 NFL Draft, but which one is the better player after two seasons?
New England Patriots Dealt Harsh Linebacker Verdict in NFL Rankings
The New England Patriots spent the past two seasons rebuilding a defense capable of carrying a contender.NFL evaluators still see a weakness right in the middle of it.No Patriots player appeared in ESPN’s ranking of the NFL’s top 10 off-ball linebackers for 2026. New England also failed to place anyone among the honorable mentions or […] The post New England Patriots Dealt Harsh Linebacker Verdict in NFL Rankings appeared first on HEAVY.
Skip Bayless runs to Joe Burrow's defense after NFL poll
Bengals QB Joe Burrow has an unexpected defender in his corner.
U.S. small business owners grew more optimistic in June but inflation worries are climbing
The NFIB's optimism index rose to 97.4 in June, nearing its 52-year average, as 21% of owners named inflation their top business problem
2026 NFL 'Triplets' rankings: Where every team's QB, RB, pass catcher combo stands
Ranking the best and worst QB-RB-WR combinations before the 2026 NFL season kicks off.
Jordan Walker shines in new MLB Home Run Derby format; the 20 greatest NFL coaches of all time
Plus why every semifinalist can (and cannot) win the World Cup
Consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June as gas prices fell
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the consumer price index (CPI) eased in June as consumer price growth slowed after a recent surge caused by the Iran war.
Yankees prospects: Week 16 minor league recap
We’re getting close to a big inflection point of the minor league season.
Big Banks Smash Earnings Records, but ‘Tectonic’ Risks Loom
The largest banks in the United States collectively raked in tens of billions of profits in the second quarter, despite the war in Iran and persistent inflation.
Josh Allen voted the NFL’s top quarterback by AP writers
The 2024 AP NFL Most Valuable Player beat out Patrick Mahomes, who earned the top spot each of the three previous seasons.
Titans add pass rush in early 2027 mock draft by Yahoo! Sports
The Titans may target South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart in the 2027 NFL draft to boost their pass rush.
Pound marches higher as investors focus on UK politics
The pound rose against the dollar on Tuesday as investors took profits after the U.S. currency's recent climb to more than one-year highs ahead of key U.S. inflation data later in the day, while holding steady against the euro.
US small-business sentiment rebounds in June, inflation a major worry for many
WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. small-business sentiment increased in June, but the share of owners reporting that inflation was their "single most important" problem was the highest in nearly two years, and more said they had raised average selli...
US small-business sentiment rebounds in June, inflation a major worry for many
U.S. small-business sentiment increased in June, but the share of owners reporting that inflation was their "single most important" problem was the highest in nearly two years, and more said they had raised average selling prices.
Patriots scouting report: Travis Shaw is a massive human being
Previewing the Patriots defensive tackle heading into his first NFL season.
RFK Jr. faces Hatch Act complaint after intervening in congressional races
A top Senate Democrat has requested an investigation into whether the health secretary broke a law that bars political appointees from trying to influence elections.
Industry Sales Grow 2.5% in Q2 as Business Pressures Persist
Distributor growth accelerated from the first quarter, but inflation, delayed purchasing decisions and uneven performance continue to temper promo industry sales.
Lane Johnson headlines Eagles’ leaked Madden NFL 27 ratings
The Eagles are well represented among Madden 27's projected top 100 players, though two popular platforms disagree on several overall ratings.
The Top Fantasy Football Tight End Sleepers for 2026 Drafts
The best 2026 fantasy football sleeper tight ends offer late-round upside, expanding roles, and paths to outperform expectations during the NFL season.
49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Gets Brutal Commanders Prediction
Former NFL wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh issued a blunt prediction to the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk. Over the last few weeks, Aiyuk has been on a tirade on social media with several videos explaining his side of the story while attacking the Niners.Nonetheless, after attacking the 49ers, Aiyuk then transitioned to shots at Washington Commanders […] The post 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Gets Brutal Commanders Prediction appeared first on HEAVY.
'Amazing heartland of the US': Some Kansas City-area businesses thriving after World Cup experience
"I feel like it's been great for the city": The World Cup business bump may not have been universal, but many KC-area businesses say the influx of visitors has made a major impact.
Notre Dame's Leonard Moore Is Every Wide Receiver's Nightmare
Cornerback Leonard Moore is an absolute shutdown artist for Notre Dame, and he'll be the same for the team that takes him early in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Who Are the Players to Watch During 49ers Training Camp?
During the NFL offseason, fans and media around the league finally get the opportunity to see how teams will operate in the upcoming season. That process starts during each team’s training camp. All NFL players will report to training camp by July 28. The stretch of practices will lead right into the Hall of Fame […] The post Who Are the Players to Watch During 49ers Training Camp? appeared first on The Lead.
Acute kidney injury after TAVR: Simple biomarker helps cardiologists identify high-risk patients
The CALLY index, a biomarker that examines systemic inflammation, immune system activity and nutrition, could provide care teams with significant value.
Health Department declares measles outbreak in Teton County
Wyoming reports third case amid heavy influx of tourist crowds in Jackson and Grand Teton National Park.
The Quintessential Trump-era Politician
In 2020, I wrote an article about collaboration and collaborators. The title was History Will Judge the Complicit, and it started with the story of two famous East Germans, Markus Wolf and Wolfgang Leonhard, who both landed in East Berlin just after the end of the war. Although they came from very similar backgrounds, the former stuck with the regime, eventually becoming its spy boss; the latter, horrified by the brutal reality of Soviet-style communism, escaped. By way of juxtaposition, I also wrote about Lyndsey Graham and Mitt Romney. These two men also made very different decisions when confronted by Donald Trump’s assault on the ideals that they had both grown up believing: A glance at their biographies would not have led many to predict what happened next. On paper, Graham would have seemed, in 2016, like the man with deeper ties to the military, to the rule of law, and to an old-fashioned idea of American patriotism and American responsibility in the world. Romney, by contrast, with his shifts between the center and the right, with his multiple careers in business and politics, would have seemed less deeply attached to those same old-fashioned patriotic ideals. Most of us register soldiers as loyal patriots, and management consultants as self-interested. We assume people from small towns in South Carolina are more likely to resist political pressure than people who have lived in many places. Intuitively, we think that loyalty to a particular place implies loyalty to a set of values. But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.” In the wake of Graham’s unexpected death on Saturday, I wrote about him again. He was, in many ways, the quintessential politician of Trump’s Washington, a man who shifted 180 degrees. Graham had been a fervent American patriot, proud reserve officer and military lawyer; he became one of the most important defenders of a president who believes soldiers are “suckers and losers” and shows no respect for law of any kind. As his politics changed, his language grew coarser and his behavior grew worse: He urged Israel to “level the place” in Gaza, and insulted the Danish prime minister in Munich, prompting a colleague, Senator Elissa Slotkin, to issue an apology. Here’s an excerpt from the article, which you can read in The Atlantic (gift link here) Like his close friend John McCain, Graham believed that America should stand at the center of a broad democratic alliance. The few times I met him were in that context, at the Munich Security Conference or at other European-American gatherings, which he once attended with great regularity. He also took seriously the practice of American democracy at home. In a 2014 conversation with The Atlantic, he described himself as a pragmatic politician who eschewed populist slogans. “I know Washington is broken, but what’s broken about it is everybody yelling and nobody trying to fix it,” he said. “I’m trying.” When Donald Trump first appeared in U.S. politics, Graham recognized him immediately for what he was: the spokesman for an alien ideology, one radically different from the idealistic patriotism that Graham had practiced and preached since childhood. Trump privately mocked the military that Graham loved as nothing but “suckers and losers.” He put falsehoods, cynicism, and personal greed at the center of his politics, while expressing disdain for transparency, accountability, and democracy itself. In 2015, Graham described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot” who should “go to hell.” Also as a “nutjob.” When Trump won, Graham understood, as did so many others, that he would have to make some important choices. For a while, he went silent. In the spring of 2016, I saw him at one of those conferences in Europe. He seemed too depressed to speak. But then, like many other Republicans—and, more important, like many other people who have lived under political occupation or experienced radical regime change—he made the decision to abandon his previous ideals, to bury the patriotism that was once so important to him, and to become, instead, a loud, opportunistic collaborator. As I wrote in 2020, it’s very hard to look in to anyone’s heart and to understand their motivations from the outside. But it does seem that Graham had a deep need to be relevant, to be in the game, to be a player, at any cost. And that, rather than any particular achievement, is what he will be remembered for. Continuing to monitor conflicts of interest, ostentatious emoluments, outright corruption and policy changes that will facilitate outright corruption. (Read my original article, Kleptocracy Inc and check out the SNF Agora Institute chart) June 27 Trump diverted funds from more than 900 projects nationwide—including safety upgrades at national parks—to finance beautification projects around Washington, including $700,000 used to fix a White House walkway. June 28 After a years-long Department of Justice investigation into Abbott Laboratories over its management of a baby formula facility where potentially deadly bacteria turned up enough evidence to criminally charge the firm, top department officials instead opted for a financial penalty—illustrating the department’s move away from strict corporate enforcement under the Trump administration. June 29 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stacked the Defense Policy Board—which is charged with providing independent national security recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of Defense—with Trump allies, including tech billionaire Marc Andreessen, who has invested in defense contractors like OpenAI and SpaceX, after purging the panel last year. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock in Axon—which makes about 90% of US tasers—two weeks before ICE solicited bids for a $220 million taser contract. The White House unveiled limited-edition US passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a portrait of Trump overlaid on the Declaration of Independence. June 30 Trump made around $1.2 billion from his various crypto companies last year, including more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial and $600 million from sales of his meme coin. Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. These are expected to be largely doled out through the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s informal network of intermediaries. White-collar defense attorneys say they can typically win pardons for clients for $2 million. Last year, Trump administration officials awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million to Clark Construction for the White House ballroom—negotiations in which the president was directly involved. July 1 The Amazon MGM Studios documentary about Melania Trump earned the First Lady more than $10 million. Trump made hundreds of individual stock purchases worth as much as $12.8 million the day before his announcement pausing “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days sent the S&P 500 soaring nearly 10%—one of the largest single-day gains ever. Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral saw record surges in revenue during Trump’s first year in office, earning $77.5 million and $121.9 million respectively, compared to average annual revenues of $25 million and $75 million during Trump’s first term. Entities across the Persian Gulf paid more than $300 million to Trump’s businesses last year, including $263 million from the sale of half his stake in World Liberty Financial to a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a top UAE royal and brother of the country’s president. Kash Patel failed to properly disclose his stock purchase of a Department of Justice contractor, MicroStrategy, worth up to $250,000 last year, despite laws requiring disclosure within 45 days of the trade. July 2 Trump has been directing administration officials to steer more government contracts—so far worth more than $2.4 billion—to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace firm, after Amazon gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donated to the White House ballroom project, and reached a $40 million deal to license a Melania Trump documentary. Alongside the billions he made from cryptocurrency last year, Trump earned millions of dollars from real estate licensing fees, including $21 million from organizations in the UAE and $9.2 million in Saudi Arabia, along with smaller sums from merchandise sales, including $4.7 million from Trump Watches and $35,920 from 45 Guitar, a guitar brand endorsed by the president. House Democrats accused consultants tied to the Trump administration of financial fraud, alleging they gave prospective donors to America250—the bipartisan committee created by Congress to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial—the banking and routing numbers for Freedom 250, the White House’s fund for events like the UFC cage fight. Democrats also allege that Freedom 250’s CEO traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to solicit donations from foreign government officials and business leaders. The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of gun regulations would lift the prohibition on mailing handguns to individuals, a significant win for GrabAGun—the direct-to-consumer firearm retailer on whose board Donald Trump Jr. sits and in which he holds a 1.1% ownership stake. GrabAGun currently must rely on a middleman to transfer firearms to customers. Trump’s financial disclosure revealed that he made more than 21,000 securities trades during his first year back in office, growing his investment account to at least $858 million across stakes in around 1,600 companies, compared to the 13 total trades Joe Biden made during his entire presidency. July 4 Nearly 1 million people who bought the president’s meme coin—Trump Coin—collectively lost $3.8 billion on the token, while he walked away with $636 million. July 6 Shares of Dell closed up 4.4% after Trump recommended people buy the firm’s computers during a speech announcing the launch of Trump investment accounts for children, boosting the more than $1 million worth of shares the president owns in the company. July 9 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh named crypto investor and Trump ally Marc Andreessen to a task force aimed at modernizing the Federal Reserve, including rethinking its approach to inflation—a key factor keeping interest rates elevated. Palm Beach International Airport has officially changed its name to Trump International Airport—a move that will require Florida to pay royalties to the president’s family for licensing his name. I was there a few months ago, during a trip to Barcelona. The sculptures were a revelation, I’d never seen so many together before. Each one has its own personality. Enjoy the good weather, if you are lucky enough to have it. History Will Judge the Complicit The Quintessential Politician Autocracy Inc Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Nearly 6 in 10 young women get health and wellness information from influencers
Young women are especially likely to say they often see influencer content about beauty and appearance.
Madonna’s Knockdown Center Set Was Sexy, Latex-Clad History in the Making
A report from the century’s most consequential confluence of gay guys and plus ones.
NFL Coordinator Rips Buffalo Bills’ Receivers From Last Season
Every year, it feels like the Buffalo Bills have a chance to go all the way. That’s the outlook when […]
Roundup: Cocoa demand / ‘Funflation’ / Data center utility demand
Market instability: Cocoa demand is showing signs of recovery after a period of weakness, but the market remains unstable as prices continue to swing sharply amid uncertainty over supply and consumption. Chocolate makers are still adjusting to elevated cocoa costs, while traders are watching factors such as crop conditions, weather risks and shifting consumer behavior. […]
How Unaffordable is Health Care and What Can We Do About It?
For decades, the cost of medical care, prescription drugs and health insurance has consistently risen faster than general inflation and wage growth, posing financial challenges for government, businesses and people.
Chargers Daily Links: Monday Open Thread
Your source for all Chargers and NFL news from around the web.
Aaron Brewer cracks top-10 of interior offensive linemen ranking
Brewer ranks as 10th best interior offensive lineman; 3rd best center in NFL.
Former Michigan star quarterback, NFL player dies at 89
Former Michigan MVP Bob Ptacek, who also played for the Cleveland Browns, has died.
Scientists discovered the brain doesn't make decisions the way we thought
A new study suggests the brain begins making decisions much earlier than scientists previously thought. Researchers found that even primary sensory regions are influenced by higher brain areas through rapid feedback loops, rather than simply passing information forward. This more dynamic view of brain function could help engineers design future AI systems that think more like biological brains while using far less power.
Moses was the ‘first capitalist’ and Cain the ‘first socialist.’ Thus saith this LDS influencer from the past
Conservative LDS writer Cleon Skousen has been dead for 20 years. But his approach to the Bible and politics remains very much alive in the church and the nation.
Former NFL QB calls Commanders his 'breakout' offense in 2026
Not everyone is worried about the Commanders' offense in 2026.
How sports stars can also be influential climate leaders
Climate leadership does not require personal perfection. In fact, acknowledging contradiction can strengthen credibility.
Businesses brace for years of inflation as new costs pile up
Companies blame tariffs, energy prices and demand from AI data centers, raising concerns that inflation above the Fed’s target rate could persist.
The Many Lives of Lindsey Graham
A look back at one of the Senate's most influential and complicated figures.
JJ Watt Makes Opinion of Joe Burrow, Bengals Very Clear
Retired NFL star J.J. Watt shared high praise for Joe Burrow during a visit to Cincinnati.
When regulation is good for business
By now, I think I have established both my view that I am a fan of ESG investing and the benefits of regulating what is and isn’t a sustainable investment, and my view that in Europe, ESG regulation has gone too far and become too costly. It almost feels like the old Aristotelian maxim of doing things in moderation that leads to the best outcomes is valid in regulatory efforts as well. To give you an example, let’s look at a study by the National Bank of Belgium on the impact of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) on fund flows of conventional and ESG funds. The SFDR was announced on 27 November 2019 and came into effect on 10 March 2021. It was implemented in several stages and split funds marketed in the EU into three broad categories: (i) Art. 6 funds that are basically conventional funds without any specific ESG integration, (ii) Art. 8 funds that ‘promote environmental or social characteristics’, which must provide additional reporting how they do that, and (iii) Art. 9 funds that are impact funds. The gaps between the announcement and the phased implementation give us an idea of how fund flows were affected by the regulation. It is clearly visible in the figure below that once the new regulation was announced and when it was initially implemented, fund flows in Art. 8 and Art. 9 funds increased significantly. Conventional Art. 6 funds also saw more inflows, but the increase was not statistically significant. I should add that the data below is pure fund flow, cleaned of performance effects and of any reclassified funds that moved from one classification to another. Note also that once the initial rush in ESG funds was over, additional, stricter regulatory requirements didn’t create that many new flows. This implies that with additional regulation, the funds incurred higher costs to comply but didn’t benefit in terms of new inflows and higher assets under management. Fund flows as the SFDR regulation was implemented in the EU Source: Emiris et al. (2026) When examining the drivers of these flows, the authors of the study found that institutional investors were more likely to switch to ESG funds and particularly so in countries where concerns about sustainability are culturally more accepted. In a society where buy-in into environmental and social risks is higher, private investors were shifting more of their assets into ESG funds as the regulation made it clear which funds are really green and which ones are not. And institutional investors in these countries did so as well, given the societal pressures and reputational risks of sticking with conventional funds. Meanwhile, fund managers reacted to the changing regulatory environment as well. Many funds that were mildly green before the regulation was announced became greener and more sustainable as the regulation was introduced to attract new assets and new investors. Cleverly, and unsurprisingly, these ESG funds also charge on average higher fees, which means that not only did fund managers gather fresh assets, but their profitability increased as well.
Steelers Great Gives Blunt Take on Aaron Rodgers’s Legacy
Pittsburgh Steelers great Jerome Bettis gives his take on what Aaron Rodgers's legacy is at the end of his NFL career. The post Steelers Great Gives Blunt Take on Aaron Rodgers’s Legacy appeared first on HEAVY.
Viewpoint: SCOTUS strikes a blow against junk science in Bayer glyphosate case. Will it deter mass tort litigators?
Mass tort litigation grows like weeds. Last week, the Supreme Court created the ultimate lawsuit-killer by rejecting state court claims that conflict with
Seahawks’ New Ownership Gets Blunt Devon Witherspoon Take
The Estate of Paul G. Allen announced on July 11 that it has agreed to sell the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family. Vinod Khosla, a limited partner with the San Francisco 49ers, is leading the ownership group.Moreover, the transaction will set a new benchmark for NFL franchise sales. ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Adam Schefter […] The post Seahawks’ New Ownership Gets Blunt Devon Witherspoon Take appeared first on HEAVY.
49ers' 2017 draft pick retires after 80 games in NFL
He did his best to stick around the league.
The real Daeron speaks: ‘House of the Dragon’ star unpacks the Ormund relationship
‘House of the Dragon’ star behind Daeron Targaryen (the real one) speaks. The actor talks the ‘uncontrollable, chaotic’ Ormund and the ‘inherent conflict of power.’
Games Done Quick 'Excited' To Work With Saudi-Owned SNK For Around Three Hours Before Pulling Sponsorship Deal
'DQ is committed to supporting human rights and inclusivity, and we recognize that this partnership conflicted with those values'
Scientists discover a hidden heart valve risk linked to gum disease
Researchers found that bacteria linked to gum disease may help drive the development of calcific aortic valve stenosis by triggering inflammation and calcium buildup in the heart valve. The early findings suggest that keeping gums healthy could play a role in reducing the risk of this serious heart condition.
NFL minds rank Jake Ferguson as top half tight end
Where would you rank Jake Ferguson among NFL tight ends?
Patriots scouting report: Jared Wilson has reached his destination
Previewing the Patriots center heading into his second NFL season.
Does Ty Simpson have potential to surpass Matthew Stafford?
What is Ty Simpson’s NFL ceiling?
Christian Barmore Trusts Patriots' Retooled Defensive Front to Deliver
In 2025 -- albeit playing against a schedule that on paper at least appears to have been much weaker than the one that lies dead ahead – the New England Patriots found ways to overcome some serious injuries up front defensively. With journeymen types like Christian Elliss and Jack Gibbens stepping in and stepping up, the Patriots won three playoff games without leading tackler Robert Spillane at inside linebacker. When defensive tackle Milton Williams was sidelined, Khyiris Tonga, on his fourth team in five NFL seasons, raised his game, earning eight regular-season starts.
Steelers top offensive lineman gets no respect from NFL execs
Three true centers made ESPN's list of top interior offensive linemen but Zach Frazier wasn't one of them.
Here's how Lindsey Graham influenced taxes, trade, and defense
Sen. Lindsey Graham served more than 30 years in Congress. The powerful lawmaker helped influence corporate tax, tariffs, and defense policy.
Can Rashawn Slater Return to His Elite Form?
Can Rashawn Slater regain his place among the NFL’s elite left tackles? If he stays healthy in 2026, his return to All-Pro form could be one of the biggest reasons the Chargers take the next step as a legitimate AFC contender.
Bears' Darnell Wright dubbed among best tackles in NFL
Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright is garnering massive respect around the NFL as he ranked among the top six tackles in the league.
Lindsey Graham’s death will shake the Senate and November election. Here’s what comes next
The sudden death of influential Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham will have implications for legislative business in the Senate and the November election. Here’s what we know about what comes next.
Seahawks Issued Compelling Take on Raiders’ Maxx Crosby
The Seattle Seahawks have one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushes, which helped fuel their run to winning a Super Bowl last season. Nonetheless, the Seahawks were able to get to the quarterback without having a premier pass rusher. Seattle made the opposing signal-caller uncomfortable with a constant pass rush, thanks to their depth. […] The post Seahawks Issued Compelling Take on Raiders’ Maxx Crosby appeared first on HEAVY.
FlexWork Sports fumbled Tetairoa McMillan youth football camp
The far more clickable headline would be that Panthers receiver and 2025 NFL offensive rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan was a no-show for a youth football camp on Wednesday, July 1.
ESPN picks Detroit Lions' 2026 X-factor
NFL games and seasons are won in the margins. ESPN shared its X-factor for the Detroit Lions' 2026 campaign.
Colorado shows large financial commitment to NFL experienced coaches
Colorado added former NFL players Pierson Prioleau and Xavier Adibi to Deion Sanders' staff as the Buffs reshape their defense in 2026.
Why the Trillion-Dollar AI Buildout Is Quietly Squeezing Small-Business Owners
New York Fed President John Williams says AI-driven demand is now one of the inflation risks he is watching most closely. The stakes are high for small-business owners.
How School-Based Kindness Training Can Help Support Students’ Mental Health
Paul & Thompson: Young people should be taught how to handle conflict without cruelty, repair a relationship, reach out when someone feels alone.
Colts Defender Lands On Top 25 Under 25 List
The Indianapolis Colts have one of the NFL's best young players under 25.
How Titans' Tony Pollard compares to other starting running backs?
Tony Pollard lands in the middle of PFF rankings as the Tennessee Titans prepare for the upcoming NFL season.
Opinion | Fitness Influencers Are Not Making Men More Fit
Manosphere fitness influencers are the wrong model. Health requires looking at life as a whole, not as an exercise in “optimization.”
RFK Jr.’s focus on preventive health panel provokes new fears
Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his sights set on remaking another influential health panel, one that determines what preventive medical services insurers must cover …
NFL executives, coaches and scouts rank Broncos in Top 10
Broncos Country knows Denver has one of the best rosters in the league. Now, those across the league acknowledge that.
Delaware's 2026 Most Influential & Inspiring in Entertainment
A bar owner, concert booker and radio host. Meet our 2026 Most Influential & Inspiring in Entertainment.
Patriots scouting report: Christian Elliss is a valuable contributor
Previewing the Patriots linebacker heading into his sixth NFL season.
Moving from SF to Buenos Aires helped him build a family
Sunflower cofounder Koby Conrad moved from San Francisco to Buenos Aires. Its helped him "lock in" and build a family.
Packers Get New Micah Parsons Injury Prediction From NFL Exec
The Green Bay Packers have multiple question marks to answer ahead of the 2026 NFL season, but none of them are bigger than the one about superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons. Last offseason, the Packers pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys to acquire Parsons. Unfortunately, after a strong start to the season, […] The post Packers Get New Micah Parsons Injury Prediction From NFL Exec appeared first on HEAVY.
Brandon Graham praises Jalen Hurts, Vic Fangio’s Eagles defense
Brandon Graham joined NFL Network's Good Morning Football and offered some early expectations of where the Eagles are headed.
This ultrasound treatment may help stop arthritis before it starts
A simple, non-invasive ultrasound treatment could one day help injured joints heal instead of remaining trapped in a cycle of damaging inflammation. Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville found that continuous low-intensity ultrasound encouraged key immune cells called macrophages to shift from an inflammatory state toward one that supports tissue repair.
Breaking: Seahawks have sale agreement--for an NFL-record $9.6B
The buyer is a group led by Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla. The Paugl G. Allen Estate announced the deal, subject to NFL approval.
The Carrier Behind LATAM Airlines' Inflight Entertainment Overhaul
LATAM is reinventing inflight entertainment by following Delta Air Lines' digital blueprint, combining AI, Viasat WiFi, and personalization.