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Gemini user hits 5-hour usage cap after a single prompt, Google responds
"Yikes!" is exactly the right reaction for this situation.
Another Android brand is teasing us with magnetic rear screens
Another Android smartphone maker has launched a magnetic rear display accessory for its smartphones and it is really good.
Galaxy S23 owners say Samsung did them dirty by leaving out this feature in One UI 8.5 update
Galaxy S23 owners are frustrated after the One UI 8.5 update skipped a key feature that newer Samsung devices received.
Federal health department withdraws controversial vaccine panel changes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services quietly withdrew revisions to a key vaccine advisory panel after a federal judge ruled officials exceeded their authority in a seeking vaccine changes.
One UI 8.5 breaks dark mode on Samsung phones, but there's a workaround
Several Samsung Galaxy users are reporting that dark mode is broken on their devices since the One UI 8.5 update, but workarounds exist.
I’d switch to a Pixel in a heartbeat if it weren’t for this Samsung app
Pixel offers clean Android and fast updates, but this Samsung app delivers customization and features that Google's phone still can't match.
Local professionals invited to attend Business After Hours
ESCANABA – This Wednesday, the Daily Press, Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) and the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency (MDSCAA) will be partnering to host Business After Hours, a networking event for local professionals. The event will be held at DATA, 2901 27th Ave. N, Escanaba, on Wednesday, May 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. and […]
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 finally enables partial screenshots, but not for everyone
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 brings the long-leaked partial screenshot feature and enables it by default, but only for large screens.
Google just replaced another major piece of Fitbit's identity
Older Fitbit Community discussions are no longer easily accessible despite Google promising a read-only version.
Over 20 Aspen businesses plan to shut down in some capacity for 2027 airport closure
Aspen Chamber Resort Association presented to the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority Board Wednesday on potential impacts to the workforce during the 2027 Aspen/Pitkin County Airport closure to help guide initial conversations about waiving required work hours for employee housing.
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 reveals new screenshot buttons, likely for Aluminium OS
In Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3, we've spotted new buttons in the screenshot overlay that could potentially be intended for Aluminium OS devices.
Senator Laird Names Salinas Regional Sports Authority 2026 Nonprofit of the Year
Official website of Senator John Laird, representing California Senate District 17.
Galaxy S27 Pro leak suggests a pocket-friendly phone with Ultra features
It sounds like a Galaxy S27 Pro is on the cards for next year, and a new report may have just revealed screen info.
Google quietly nerfed its AI Pro plan, and here's what you get now
Google claims a fairer approach, while users call it a "scam."
Google caps off I/O 2026 day one with Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 release
As if you didn't have enough Google news to catch up with after I/O's keynote, we've also got a new Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 release.
Plex announces borderline offensive Lifetime Pass price hike
Starting on July 1, newly purchased Lifetime Plex Pass subscriptions will cost $749.99, three times the current $249.99 rate.
Android users are finally starting to see Google's major Gemini app design overhaul
Google is rolling out a fresh redesign for the Gemini app for Android ahead of I/O 2026, matching the iOS app redesign in early May.
Cleveland County Recreational and Entertainment Facilities Authority seeking proposals for underwriters, trustee bank for future arena bond issuance
The Cleveland County Recreational and Entertainment Facilities Authority approved issuing a request for proposals for an underwriter and trustee bank service for future bond issuance related to the new arena
Ebola outbreak prompts U.S. to screen travelers at airports, other ports of entry
The U.S. is relying on a special public health authority to bar non-U.S. passport holders who have been to Uganda, Congo or South Sudan from entering the country.
Potential federal college sports reform could reshape Florida football
Proposed federal reforms surrounding NIL, transfers and NCAA authority could significantly impact Florida and other SEC football programs.
Amazon's Kindle shutdown is sending users down the jailbreak rabbit hole
Amazon is retiring support for these Kindle models, and many users are finding unexpected ways to keep them alive.
Galileo Galilei, scientist: “In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual”
Galileo’s warning about scientific consensus still resonates centuries later as modern discoveries continue overturning accepted wisdom.
Gemini Intelligence requirements mean most Android phones are going to miss out
Gemini Intelligence's requirements are higher than you might realize.
Sony's explanation for its embarrassing AI photos just leaves more questions
Sony has responded after getting roasted online over its new AI camera tool.
Gemini's Spark agent has leaked, and it looks like it's gunning for Claude Cowork's throne
It could clean up your messy Gmail inbox or make changes to your Google Docs.
Praise to the chief: A week of homage to Trump
Since returning to office, Trump hasn’t just solidified his grip on Republican politics and asserted his executive authority deep into the federal government. He has inspired, encouraged, and, at times, outright demanded to be showered with homage.
Google explains why some new Gmail accounts only get 5GB storage
In a statement to Android Authority, Google confirmed it is testing a new storage policy that offers reduced free storage in select regions.
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
Google starts rolling out QR code-based Quick Share transfers between Android and iPhone
Android phones that don't have native Quick Share-AirDrop support can now use QR code sharing to send files to iPhones.
Governors’ Policy Actions in Rural Health Workforce
Rural Health Transformation Program Insights (Download) Governors play a critical role in shaping the health workforce, using levers such as budget proposals, executive authority, and cross-agency coordination to recruit, train, and regulate workers. States face workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, which reduce access to healthcare, impact health outcomes and harm local economies. The Health […]
Google's May Android Canary update brings the blur
Google's got a new bleeding-edge release ready for testers, with Android Canary 2605 now available for the Pixel 6 and newer.
Google’s upcoming 'Gemini Spark' could soon book your flights and handle your inbox
Google may unveil Gemini Spark at I/O 2026, an AI agent that can automate tasks and act on your behalf across apps and services.
The era of 15GB free Gmail storage is ending
Google could be testing a change to its free storage tier by offering 5GB free storage instead of 15GB with Gmail accounts.
Google may finally let you move passkeys to another password manager on Android
Google could soon end the passkey lock-in for its Password Manager's users.
Google may finally have a true Nest Hub successor in the works
A seemingly new device called the 'Google Home Display' has leaked, and we're excited for what might be in store.
Portland’s proposed arts tax makeover prompts legal threat by business lobby
The Portland Metro Chamber claims the City Council lacks legal authority to raise the tax from $35 to $50 without voter approval, despite city attorney's opinion to the contrary.
Google could finally give Pixel phones proper Material You color controls
A new Android 17 leak suggests Google is working on deeper Material You color customization options for Pixel phones.
Las Vegas tourism agency approves spending up to $464M on marketing city
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors approved extensions and updates to five contracts, emphasizing the need for speed, flexibility and scale in promoting the destinat...
Quick Share is coming to more phones, and expanding into apps
Google previously brought AirDrop support to some Android phones, but it's now announced that Quick Share is coming to WhatsApp.
Trump’s rollback of toxic gas rules limits EPA’s authority to protect public health, analysis says
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is about 60 times more carcinogenic than believed in 2006, research finds
Britain Politics
TV presenters report from Downing Street in London, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 as Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the biggest threat yet to his authority after a growing
Here's how to watch The Android Show I/O Edition live today
Google will hold The Android Show I/O Edition later today. Here's how you can watch it and what you should expect.
Blue Bloom Media Launches Authority Content Service For Local Business AI Search
With many businesses noticing a decline in organic search traffic, Blue Bloom Media has announced authority content campaigns designed to help l...
CSC wins NIL arbitration case brought by Nebraska football players
The College Sports Commission won the first major test of its authority to enforce a salary cap in college sports Monday when an arbitrator upheld the fledging agency's decision to deny a set of deals involving Nebraska football players.
CSC wins NIL arbitration case brought by Nebraska football players
The College Sports Commission won the first major test of its authority to enforce a salary cap in college sports Monday when an arbitrator upheld the fledging agency's decision to deny a set of deals involving Nebraska football players.
Plant Health 4 Life – reinforcing simple actions that protect plants
The Plant Health 4 Life campaign returns for its fourth and final year, continuing a shared effort by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission and 33 countries to put plant health at the heart of our everyday choices.
Nunn urges Iran ‘off‑ramp,’ won’t set limits on Trump war powers
As the Iran ceasefire falters, Rep. Zach Nunn says the U.S. needs an “off‑ramp” to the war but sidestepped limits on presidential military authority.
The Pixel Screenshots app could be the next big addition to Aluminium OS
Google may bring its AI-powered Pixel Screenshots app to desktops, potentially expanding beyond Pixel phones to the rumored Aluminium OS.
Massive water main break closes businesses, sends offices into WFH mode in Auburn Hills, Orion
Water main break could take a minimum of two weeks to fix, the Great Lakes Water Authority said.
The Pixel's best voicemail feature might soon expand to non-Pixel phones, 20+ markets
Google may bring Take a Message to non-Pixel phones and new regions like India and Europe. These could be the new supported markets.
7 On Your Side: Sports fan gets stolen rent money back
When TV sports marketer Courtney Becker couldn't get her money back, she contacted a totally different kind of housing authority -- 7 On Your Side.
Breaking: Samsung starts rolling out stable One UI 8.5 to Galaxy S25 users in the US
A very good start to the week for Galaxy S25 users in the US.
GrapheneOS says Google is making life harder for rival operating systems and devices
Graphene argues that Google's device verification systems could lock users into approved hardware and software.
Samsung Messages is almost dead, and Google Messages is still missing 5 big features
Samsung Messages is shutting down this summer. Users aren't happy about it. Here are five things our readers say they'll miss about the app.
Iran’s injured supreme leader out of public view but still shaping strategy, US intel assesses
US intelligence assesses that Iran’s new supreme leader is playing a critical role in shaping war strategy alongside senior Iranian officials, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence. The reports found that precise authority within a now-fractured regime remains unclear, but that Mojtaba Khamenei is likely helping direct how Iran is managing negotiations with the US to end the war.
MICC highlights renewed small business innovation authority
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The reauthorization of two federal small business innovation programs is expected to strengthen how the...
MICC highlights renewed small business innovation authority
The reauthorization of two federal small business innovation programs is expected to strengthen how the Mission and Installation Contracting Command delivers emerging technology, shortens procurement timelines and expands opportunities for industry partners supporting Army readiness. The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act of 2026, signed into law April 13, reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through Sept. 30, 2031. The action restored continuity to programs that experienced a lapse after the end of fiscal year 2025, placing some Phase I and Phase II efforts on hold.
How to remove Gemini Nano from Chrome (and free up 4GB of storage)
Here's how to delete Chrome's weights.bin file and disable Gemini Nano to reclaim your storage space on Windows and macOS.
Google opens its smartest Gmail writing feature to basically everyone
Google is rolling out Gmail's new 'Help me write' upgrades to almost everyone with a Workspace or Premium account.
Judge rules Trump administration’s cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional
The Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $100 million in humanities grants to scholars, writers, research groups and other organizations was unconstitutional, and the Department of Government Efficiency had no authority to end the funding, a federal judge in New York ruled on Thursday.
Maine candidate for governor unveils plan to lower energy costs
Bennett said he wants to trim back electric company profits, help heritage industries, increase efficiency and create a new authority to look to the future.
Syracuse officials address concerns over CRB's loss of investigative authority
It’s the first in a series of scheduled meet and greets.
People once risked everything just to keep their hats on
Centuries ago in England, hats weren’t just accessories—they were statements of power and rebellion. Refusing to remove a hat could challenge authority, even in courtrooms and before kings. People valued their hats so deeply that robbery victims sometimes begged to keep them over money. In a world where going bareheaded signaled poverty or madness, hats shaped identity, respect, and even family discipline.
Thank goodness: Google says it's not about to reveal a Liquid Glass makeover for Android
Android boss Sameer Samat recently posted a teaser video for The Android Show, with some users thinking a Liquid Glass overhaul was coming.
Oura’s subscription-free rival is back on Kickstarter with a tempting new bundle
Ultrahuman is back on Kickstarter with Ring PRO bundles that include the company’s portable Mini Charger and PowerPlug discounts.
Google officially announces The Android Show I/O Edition, teases huge year ahead
The Android Show I/O Edition will be livestreamed on YouTube, giving Android its own dedicated showcase ahead of Google I/O 2026.
Google hasn't forgotten about Keep's lock screen notes (yet)
We've seen evidence that Google is again working to let us take notes in Keep using a handy lock screen shortcut.
Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to meet Tuesday to talk city budget proposal
A draft ahead of this meeting shows general support for Mayor Sean Ryan's plan with a few uncertainties that it would like addressed.
Samsung can't stop leaking its upcoming foldables in One UI 9
We dug into Samsung's One UI 9 software and found images showing off the Wide Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 devices.
Samsung shows off wild new phone displays with insane colors and private health tracking
If this is what Samsung Display is cooking up, we're pumped about future smartphone displays.
Oklahoma AG urges agency to let states regulate sports prediction markets
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is pressing federal regulators to make clear that states — not the federal government — have authority over sports-re
Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL leak with improved cameras and 'Pixel Glow' RGB LEDs
Brighter displays may be coming too!
Google's sweeping Gemini UI revamp is here, but Android users have to wait
Google Gemini is getting a fresh new look, with a redesigned interface appearing on iOS. Here's a sneak peek at what it looks like.
Google finally explains why AICore uses so much storage
The AICore app on many Android phones can balloon in size, but Google has now revealed why it's a storage hog.
California Politics 360 Full Episode | High-speed rail project facing delays
This week, the authority delayed a vote on the project’s latest business plan. State lawmakers and officials warn the plan lacks transparency, key cost information and violates state law.
I stopped playing music on my Android phone and went back to my iPod
In 2026, my favorite music player has no Wi-Fi, no notifications, and no subscription. Here's why I'm using an iPod instead of an Android.
Booking sales up
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority destination sales group booked 221 future events in February and March for Las Vegas — 38 percent of them new to the city — resulting in ...
The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
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