Newsletter Archive

This weekly Substack roundup features several articles, including a travel piece by Meaghan Garvey on a dive bar in Northern Michigan, a scientific exploration of misophonia (the hatred of specific sounds) by Jake Eaton, and Jess Pan's musings on hiring a professional 'heavy lifter' from Taskrabbit. It also highlights a modern, slang-filled retelling of the story of Adam and Eve by Amos Wollen. Other mentions include Balenciaga's latest couture show and an illustrated essay on Italian cypresses.

Chef Nicole Votano reflects on balancing her hectic mom-life with her past as a line cook, sharing how we carry our history with us. She provides recipes for a quick Bolognese and a versatile "drawer salad" made from on-hand ingredients. Votano recommends the deviled eggs at Michael's Genuine, lists her favorite food products, and shares personal wellness tips. She also announces openings for her private chef and culinary consulting services, reflecting on her professional journey and the need for reinvention.

This issue of WSJ. Magazine highlights two American designers in Paris. It features an interview with Michael Rider, Celine's new creative director, about his debut collection that builds on the brand's archive. It also covers a conversation with Schiaparelli's Daniel Roseberry about his couture success and the organic publicity from celebrities like Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Other stories mentioned include private jet sharing among the rich, Michael Douglas's film memories, "SkinnyTok" influencers, and "Love Island" casting.

This reading list discusses several topics, starting with a map of 2.2 million earthquakes from 1998-2025 that highlights fracking-induced seismicity in Oklahoma. It also covers a recent, non-threatening earthquake swarm at Mount Rainier, which underscores the larger risk from the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Another piece argues AI will impact logistics more than manufacturing by automating intermediate and last-mile delivery. Finally, it revisits Google's unsuccessful 2013 effort to build the Moto X smartphone in the US, which failed due to poor sales.

Chris Arnade argues that human despair now stems from a lack of community, which is exacerbated by poor urban design. He contrasts America's car-centric, zoned cities with the walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods of Japan, which foster community. He posits that implementing similar designs in the U.S. is difficult due to a low-trust, individualistic culture that fears shared spaces. Arnade's primary advice for urban planners is to walk the neighborhoods they design to understand the local culture before implementing policy, as culture is more powerful than policy.

This Techdirt newsletter details several issues at the intersection of technology, law, and politics. Key stories include a Missouri AG threatening AI companies with "consumer fraud" charges for unfavorable opinions of Donald Trump; an Idaho AG classifying "Everyone Is Welcome" signs as prohibited political speech in schools; and a federal court striking down a new FTC rule that would have made it easier to cancel subscriptions. Other articles discuss a California sheriff facing indictment after being elected as a reformer and the lack of enforcement for new "right to repair" laws.

An analysis of recent import price data indicates that foreign producers are not absorbing the costs of increased US tariffs. Despite significant duty hikes on goods from China and in sectors like autos, import prices have not fallen as would be expected if producers were cutting prices. Instead, prices have remained stable or even risen. This suggests the economic burden of the tariffs will be borne by US wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. The full impact on the US economy will become clearer over time as these costs move through the supply chain.

Mark Halperin's newsletter highlights recent podcast episodes. "2WAY Tonight" explored Gen Z's distrust in the system and the national deficit. "The Group Chat" discussed the Epstein list and the future of X. On "Next Up," Halperin analyzed Trump's decision-making rules, and guests debated immigration, MAGA, and the rise of JD Vance. Other featured shows include "Cancer Decoded" on health breakthroughs. The email asks readers to download, subscribe, and share the podcasts.

This week's newsletter highlights several articles: Roger Pielke Jr. argues the deadly Texas flood was preventable, while Dan Crenshaw praises local heroes. Joe Nocera predicts the decline of the consulting industry due to AI and government cuts. In NYC politics, socialist mayoral nominee Mamdani faces controversy. Other pieces explore the cancellation of a teen over a misunderstanding, an Israeli researcher's lawsuit against Stanford for discrimination, Elon Musk's political ambitions, and an analysis of "Love Island's" role for Gen Z.

This newsletter covers several key business and political developments. Kraft Heinz is preparing to spin off a significant part of its grocery business, a deal potentially worth 20 billion. A federal appeals court has voided plea deals for alleged 911 conspirators, preventing them from avoiding the death penalty. The White House is leveraging a dispute over Fed headquarters renovations as a possible reason to oust Chair Jerome Powell. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks remained resilient despite new tariff threats, and the State Department is laying off over 1,300 employees in a major restructuring.

This newsletter examines the enduring controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death. Despite a DOJ memo confirming his death was a suicide, prominent figures like Tucker Carlson allege a cover-up, and a new Wired report suggests prison footage may have been modified. The publication presents two opposing viewpoints to explore this fascination: an op-ed by Tina Brown, who is skeptical of the official suicide narrative, and one by Peter Savodnik, who views the alternative theories as conspiratorial thinking, albeit rooted in some truth.

An interview with Steve Cohen, Billy Joel's longtime friend and creative director, reveals details about the singer's recent health diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which has halted his touring. Cohen reports Joel is "in great spirits" and recovering, but his return to the stage is uncertain. The discussion also covers the new, brutally honest two-part HBO documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes," detailing its production, Joel's ceding of creative control, and his positive reaction to the final film. Cohen reflects on their 51-year professional bond.

Venture capital firm Kearny Jackson reports on a busy few months, highlighting six new lead seed investments in areas like developer tools, fintech, and AI. The update lists numerous portfolio companies that raised new financing, including Kick, Speak, and Bending Spoons (which also acquired Evernote and WeTransfer), while Figma announced an IPO. The firm also saw four successful exits, with companies like Liquifi being acquired by Coinbase and Airbase by Paylocity. This activity follows their recent AGM and validates their founder-focused approach.

Metz has launched a new, hyper-curated database of 'anchor-only' family offices for LPs and GPs, available exclusively to Capital OS Premium members. The new lists for California, the Mid-Atlantic, and Florida feature vetted investors known for leading rounds and making fast decisions. The platform emphasizes its selectivity, providing direct access to actionable contacts without acting as a list vendor or intro service. It maintains strict institutional standards for funds and announces that pricing will increase to 100month or 1,000year in 21 days.

Startup Deal Desk highlights three founders who built companies to fix 'broken' systems. Avner Gal's iRomaScents uses AI and patented scent pods to innovate fragrance discovery. Douglas E. Miles' Olden Street Machine Learning created Liquidity Sherpa, a pre-trade signal engine to improve bond market liquidity. Corey Chase's Resident Review is a B2B platform for contractors to rate and vet customers, reducing risk. The newsletter emphasizes that these necessary innovations were born from the founders' direct experiences with industry friction.

A summary cannot be generated as the content of the email was not provided. The email was sent by 'technologysemafor.com' with the subject ' Full speed ahead', but the body of the message is missing.

This newsletter argues that NVIDIA's dominance in the "scale era" of AI is peaking as brute-force computing shows diminishing returns. The author contends the next frontier will shift from raw processing power to solving new bottlenecks: coordination of distributed models, persistent memory for agentic systems, and algorithmic efficiency. Citing companies like TinyCorp and drawing an analogy to Sun Microsystems' decline, the author suggests the future belongs to leaner, smarter, decentralized systems, creating opportunities beyond today's hardware-focused incumbents.

AI startups captured nearly half (40B) of global VC funding in Q2, driven by mega-rounds in North America. This capital concentration makes it challenging for non-AI ventures. Other key trends include Varda Space raising 187M for in-orbit drug manufacturing, signaling a new deep tech frontier. Additionally, proposed changes to QSBS tax rules could accelerate startup exits and liquidity. The newsletter advises investors to look beyond the AI hype to niche intersections and policy tailwinds for the next big opportunities.

This newsletter from Mark Halperin promotes his latest media content. A new episode of The Morning Meeting covers current news, including the Epstein coverup. Upcoming live shows include Random Offense on sports and society, and 2WAY Tonight on the day's news. Additionally, a new Next Up podcast episode is available, featuring a monologue on Trump's decision-making rules and discussions with guests Batya Ungar-Sargon, Eric Bolling, and Michael Knowles on topics like immigration, MAGA, and JD Vance.

The "Guilty Starling" edition of The Browser newsletter features two picks from its daily recommendations. It highlights the podcast "Guilty: The Jury Returns Its Verdict Mushroom Case Daily," which explains a widely followed Australian poisoning case. It also features a piece about a Danish photographer's method for capturing starling murmurations, noting that the most compelling formations occur when the birds are under attack from predators. The email serves as a preview, encouraging readers to subscribe to the full version for more content.

Travel eSIM provider Airalo has raised 220 million in a funding round led by CVC, achieving a valuation of over 1 billion and becoming the first unicorn in the eSIM sector. The company, which offers digital SIMs for connectivity in over 200 destinations, will use the funds to launch unlimited data plans, expand its enterprise platform, and introduce a new app experience. The investment will also support the scaling of its B2B tools and the introduction of dedicated data, voice, and text packages.

This newsletter proposes shifting focus from debating major trends like AI and climate change to exploring their second and third-order consequences. To do this, the author is launching a series of "So What Dinners" in NYC, with initial topics on AI's advancement and the attention economy. The author shares first-order impacts of AI (e.g., automation, personalization) and briefly discusses the success and political challenges of NYC's congestion pricing and the growing health concerns around mold.

This email announces that a live video conversation between Mario Gabriele and Evan Armstrong is currently happening. The discussion focuses on the venture capital firm Founders Fund, its co-founder Peter Thiel, and the cultivation of soft power. The email serves as a real-time alert to join the live event.

xAI's Grok is now the leading AI model, highlighting rapid industry innovation. On the economic front, consumer credit is stable, with declining credit card delinquencies. The author argues that recent auto loan defaults were caused by negative equity in vehicles, not a widespread credit issue. In contrast, homeowner mortgage equity remains very high, suggesting a stable housing market with no impending crisis.

Mark Halperin's daily briefing for July 11, 2025, promotes a series of live political commentary shows, including "The Morning Meeting," which will cover topics like Putin and tariffs. It also announces a new "Next Up" podcast episode analyzing Trump's decision-making and discussing immigration and MAGA. The newsletter provides a 'DAYBOOK' of the day's political events, including activities for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and shares links to essential political articles.

This satirical TGIF column critiques current events, mocking the TSA's relaxed shoe policy as a trade of privacy for convenience and satirizing politician Zohran Mamdani's use of racial identity for college admissions. It criticizes The New York Times for flip-flopping on a story about migrant gangs and Elon Musk's AI, Grok, for generating extremist content. The author also takes aim at Tucker Carlson's interview with Iran's president, rising antisemitism on the left, petty regulations like coffee lid bans, and the media's handling of Argentina's economic turnaround under Javier Milei.

Despite new tariff announcements, including a 35 levy on Canadian goods, investor sentiment is overwhelmingly bullish. The SP 500, Nasdaq, and bitcoin have all reached new all-time highs, while the VIX "fear gauge" has collapsed. This "risk-on" environment is attributed to traders quickly buying any dips, a trend reinforced by the rapid recovery from an April sell-off. The current optimism is also a reversal from extreme bearishness in Q2, which, according to contrarian analysis, set the stage for a strong rebound fueled by positive earnings surprises.

Mark Halperin promotes his latest podcasts and live shows. Highlights include a '2WAY Tonight' discussion with Aaron Parnas on "MAGAs concerns over Epstein" and a "Next Up" podcast episode analyzing Trump's decision-making rules. The episode also features guests Batya Ungar-Sargon, Eric Bolling, and Michael Knowles discussing immigration, MAGA, and JD Vance. The newsletter provides viewing details for other shows like "The Group Chat," "The Morning Meeting," and "Random Offense."

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's birthright citizenship order, though the injunction is delayed for a potential appeal. U.S. stocks reached record highs on hopes of trade deals and strong corporate earnings. The Pentagon is investing in rare-earths producer MP Materials to counter China's dominance. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed new paths for Ukraine peace talks with his Russian counterpart, and Houthi rebels sank two merchant ships in the Red Sea.

This "unstacked" newsletter from Substack curates writer commentary on the Wimbledon finals. It covers the tournament's prestigious atmosphere, traditions like strawberries and cream, and the "carnage" of upsets that has defined this year's event. Key storylines include a potential men's final between Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, or Novak Djokovic, and the women's final featuring Amanda Anisimova against Iga Swiatek. Writers offer predictions, with Alcaraz and Djokovic favored for the men's title and Swiatek for the women's.

This TechMates podcast episode interviews Shoaib Iqbal, founder of Australian space-tech startup Esper Satellites. Shoaib shares his journey from a tech-curious youth in Saudi Arabia to launching his company. Inspired by the 2019 Australian bushfires, Esper Satellites develops affordable hyperspectral imaging CubeSats to provide vital data for mining, agriculture, and climate monitoring. Shoaib discusses his vision for a global satellite constellation and offers advice for young entrepreneurs, emphasizing user-driven innovation and clear communication.

You are invited to meet the eleven latest investments from Jason's LA34 accelerator class on Monday, July 28th, at 12:30 pm PT. The 70-minute event will be live-streamed and is open to everyone, not just investors. The companies being presented are Actuality, Airfive, Autolane, CustomerIQ, Doctours, Eragon, FusionAds, iTruckr, Streamfog, Tenax ai, and Where2Wheel. Interested parties can RSVP at launch.colive.

LAUNCH invites you to meet the eleven companies from its latest accelerator class, LA34, in a live-streamed event on Monday, July 28th, at 12:30 pm PT. The event is open to everyone, not just investors. The companies presented include Actuality, Airfive, Autolane, CustomerIQ, and seven others. Interested individuals can RSVP at launch.colive.

This newsletter presents an annotated transcript of Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Claremont Institute on July 5, 2025. Vance critiques the modern left, using NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as an example of a movement animated by hatred. He then outlines a positive vision for the right, calling to redefine American citizenship based on national sovereignty, a renewed focus on building tangible things (like the moon landing), and a shared sense of obligation and gratitude. The author provides commentary and analysis on Vance's points.

Amidst market panic about 'AI slop,' YouTube is executing a dual strategy. It's updating policies to protect high-value, human-created long-form content, which generates significant revenue. Simultaneously, it's encouraging AI-generated content for its low-margin Shorts format to compete with platforms like TikTok. This 'flywheel' approach uses the massive engagement from Shorts (over 200B daily views) to draw users into its more lucrative ecosystem of long-form video and premium subscriptions, showcasing a calculated economic strategy.

An invitation to a live-streamed event on Monday, July 28th, at 12:00 pm PT to meet the eleven companies from the latest accelerator class, LA34. The 70-minute session is open to everyone, not just investors. The featured companies include Actuality, Airfive, Autolane, and others. Attendees can RSVP at launch.colive.

LaunchCo invites the public to a live-streamed event on Monday, July 28th, at 12:00 pm PT to meet the 11 companies from its latest accelerator class, LA34. The 70-minute session will showcase the new investments and is open to everyone, not just investors. Attendees can RSVP at launch.colive. The companies presented include Actuality, Airfive, Autolane, and others.

Stealth Startup Spy 254 spotlights founders emerging from stealth and talent entering it. Key companies launched include RockRose (AI insurance broker), Iris (AI business analyst), Seamflow (AI infrastructure, 4.5M seed), Pensa Technologies (AI for defense manufacturing), and Genesis AI (robotics, 105M seed). The issue also profiles experienced professionals from companies like JLL, Amazon, and Rivian who are now launching their own stealth ventures in fields including AI, real estate, and robotics.

This article argues that while people support censorship in theory, this support evaporates when they consider who would actually wield that power. Polling from FIRE shows that although many Americans favor regulating AI and social media content, they deeply distrust the government, tech companies, and academia to make fair decisions. The author posits that the question 'Who decides?' exposes the fundamental flaw in pro-censorship arguments, which often rely on an abstract desire for action. The key takeaway is that free speech advocates can be more persuasive by making the threat of censorship concrete.

Anthony Pompliano highlights Bitcoin's exceptional investment profile, emphasizing its superior risk-reward trade-off. He presents data showing Bitcoin's 5-year Sharpe ratio of 1.34 significantly outperforms gold (0.96) and stocks (0.81), alongside massive long-term growth (1,096 in 5 years). Pompliano asserts that sophisticated investors prioritize such risk-adjusted returns, and with prominent figures like Larry Fink now endorsing it, Bitcoin's value is poised to continue climbing as long as governments engage in monetary expansion.

StreamAlive's newsletter introduces a new parody 'Virtual Trainer Tarot Cards' game with a t-shirt giveaway contest ending July 11th. It also promotes a webinar on July 23rd with speaker Lorraine K. Lee about improving video presence. Finally, the company announces it will consolidate its pricing plans on July 21st, moving to a model based on AI credit consumption. Current subscribers will not be affected by the change, and the free plan will remain.

This article argues that Europe's tech ecosystem is held back by a culture of early retirement among successful founders, unlike in the US where entrepreneurs like the PayPal Mafia continue building ambitious companies post-exit. Co-authors Mario Gabriele and Torsten Reil contend this deprives the continent of vital experience and innovation. They issue a call to action for Europe's best founders to 'unretire' and build new, ambitious companies in critical sectors like AI and defense to ensure the continent's future technological relevance and security.

This newsletter presents a series of principles for modern go-to-market (GTM) strategy, arguing that startups now win by compounding better, not just moving faster. GTM is redefined as a holistic system connecting product, brand, and workflows. Key takeaways include prioritizing daily execution, using AI as a leverage tool, treating distribution as the new product, and building systems that learn. The author stresses that while AI provides speed, human judgment, clarity, and building trust at scale remain the most critical components for success.

Mark Halperin's daily briefing for July 10, 2025, highlights the expected meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia. It also notes the release of the June jobless claims report and a closed Senate Intelligence hearing. The newsletter outlines the day's programming, including "The Morning Meeting" to discuss US-Russia relations and MAGA discontent, "The Group Chat," and "2WAY Tonight." A new "Next Up" podcast will feature Batya Ungar-Sargon, Eric Bolling, and Michael Knowles.

This edition of The Front Page features an interview with astronaut Jared Isaacman, whose nomination to lead NASA was rescinded due to the feud between President Trump and Elon Musk. It also covers several news items: deadly floods in Texas, Donald Trump's claims of threatening Russia and China, Google co-founder Sergey Brin's criticism of the UN, the arrest of a Canadian militia, the resignation of X CEO Linda Yaccarino, and a DOJ investigation into former officials Brennan and Comey. The newsletter concludes with a warning to Harvard about its accreditation status.

Tom Tugendhat recaps his discussion on 'The Rest is Money' podcast about 'frozen capital' in the UK. He argues that too much money is locked in assets that don't generate growth, like government debt and housing. Citing a historical parallel from 1279, he calls for a new economic revolution to free up capital for investment in people, ideas, and businesses to stimulate the economy. Links to the podcast and a Financial Times article are provided.

AI adoption is shifting from top-down mandates to bottom-up, permissionless innovation. According to the Products That Count AI Advisory Council, individuals are using AI for weekend experiments and 'vibe-coded' prototypes to solve real pain points. Examples include engineers building full-stack apps and legaltech copilots, and non-coding PMs using AI to summarize retros, match mentors, and build complex workflows. The key trend is using AI to remove friction and boost productivity without waiting for formal approval.

The creator economy is experiencing a major boom in 2025, with 1.6 billion in funding for U.S. companies in the first half of the year. This growth, highlighted by deals for creators like MrBeast, contrasts with a sluggish Hollywood. According to industry expert Chris Erwin, deal flow has seen a major uptick, and investors are now focusing more on fundamentals like revenue and profit rather than the 'irrational exuberance' of past years. This article acts as a mid-year report on key deals, trends, and where money is flowing in the creator space.

This analysis explores the convergence of crypto and public markets. It highlights the mispricing of crypto IPOs (e.g., Coinbase, Circle) and proposes the 'Token Transparency Report' as a solution to provide clarity for institutional investors. The newsletter also discusses the transformative potential of tokenized stocks, contrasting permissioned systems led by incumbents like Robinhood with open, permissionless DeFi models. The author argues that a permissionless approach will unlock a new era of global, programmable finance, making crypto a foundational technology.

This article details the curriculum of a medieval university, centered on the seven liberal arts, or "artes liberales"the "tools of freedom." These were divided into the Trivium (arts of language: grammar, logic, rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (arts of number: arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy). Unlike the modern vague definition, the medieval liberal arts provided a structured education in language, argumentation, communication, and the mathematical principles believed to govern the cosmos, aiming to foster independent thought and a deep understanding of reality.

Graham Walker's newsletter announces several initiatives for founders. Key events include a fireside chat with Halle Tecco on July 10th and a Women Founders and Funders brunch during Seattle Tech Week on July 29th. The newsletter highlights the positive reception of their "Forged in Fire" report on female founders. A major announcement is the launch of the GW Founder Hub, a new resource center featuring a guide on raising venture capital, live office hours with GP Leslie Feinzaig on July 17th, and a curated list of funding opportunities.

Flex Capital reports a highly active Q2, making 23 investments and onboarding 19 new Venture Partners. The firm champions a high-velocity, founder-friendly investment strategy, prioritizing speed and making decisions within five days. They emphasize their "do no harm" approach by not taking board seats and returning voting rights. The newsletter celebrates portfolio successes like Toma's Series A, lists new investments in AI and dev tools, and asks for introductions to top early-stage entrepreneurs.

Anthony Pompliano asserts that Wall Street is actively embracing Bitcoin, not fighting it, because it brings new clients, assets, and revenue. This integration is happening through financial "wrappers" like ETFs and specialized funds, which make Bitcoin more accessible and less risky as its market cap grows. Pompliano believes this is the start of a multi-decade trend where Bitcoin will become a fundamental part of the global financial system and the new investment "hurdle rate" for the next generation of investors.

Private equity (PE) firms are increasingly acquiring life insurance companies, using their stable premiums to fund higher-yielding private credit loans. This symbiotic relationship allows PE-owned insurers to offer more competitive retirement products, attracting more capital and fueling a self-reinforcing cycle. While this strategy boosts yields, it also concentrates retirement savings risk within a small, opaque group of interconnected firms. Data from the Chicago Fed shows PE-backed insurers are driving a significant increase in private placements, particularly in complex securities.

The author argues that the media industry is "rubbernecking" at the slow demise of traditional media, thereby missing crucial market signals about IP monetization from AI and streaming. Key examples include Meta's push for AI-generated content under a 'fair use' argument, despite technological setbacks, and Netflix's pivot in gaming to focus on major IP and its own properties. These shifts signal that IP holders must find new partners and models to succeed in the evolving landscape, rather than focusing on the failures of the past.

The author argues the U.S. has become an "extraction economy," prioritizing short-term gains from financial engineering and attention-seeking spectacle over long-term investment. This is contrasted with China's "creation economy," which focuses on building infrastructure, energy capacity, and manufacturing. U.S. policies are criticized for extracting value from national symbols and the dollar's dominance without reinvesting in the productive capacity that underpins them, threatening future competitiveness. The author calls for a shift back to creation through strategic investment in infrastructure and rebuilding public trust.

Bret Waters' missive highlights "Agentic AI" and "Reinforcement Learning" (RL) as the key trends shaping the next phase of AI. Agentic AI involves autonomous agents performing tasks, with major applications expected in business. RL is a training method that rewards models for achieving goals. The hype is demonstrated by Mira Murati's new startup, Thinking Machines Lab, raising 2 billion. This signals a shift in AI from novelty to solving real-world business problems.

Reshma Saujani shares her personal struggle with negative body image, which has worsened with perimenopause. An interview with body acceptance advocate Katie Sturino inspires a change in perspective. Sturino explains how she found success and happiness at her largest size after realizing women of all sizes struggle with body image, concluding the problem isn't size but a societal pressure to be perfect. Inspired by Sturino's journey to radical self-acceptance, Saujani challenges herself and her readers to stop waiting for an ideal body and to start living fully in the present.

Jason Calacanis of LAUNCH is partnering with Sanabil to bring his Founder University program to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, starting November 3rd. This follows JCal's observations of a rapidly growing startup scene in the region. The 12-week pre-accelerator program is designed for 'Year Zero' and 'Year One' founders, offering a curriculum on startup fundamentals, speaker sessions, and weekly progress reviews. Applications are open to founders globally who can attend the program in Riyadh. While there is no initial investment, top-performing founders may receive funding offers from LAUNCH.

Anthony Pompliano's bitcoin treasury company, ProCap BTC LLC, is merging with Columbus Circle Capital Corp 1 (CCCM) to go public. Having raised over 750M and acquired 4,950 BTC, the company highlights its key advantage: the lowest implied mNAV (market value to net asset value) premium in its peer group at 1.3x. This suggests it is the 'cheapest' available option. A redemption feature for CCCM shareholders at 10.00 per share is presented as a way to limit downside risk while offering potential upside.

Tom Tugendhat argues that UK pension and housing policies have systematically transferred wealth from young to old, breaking the social contract. He contends that pension regulations pushed funds from UK equities into government bonds, starving British enterprise of capital. Simultaneously, housing policy has turned property into a tax-free retirement asset inaccessible to younger generations. Tugendhat proposes major reforms, including reconsidering tax relief on primary homes to fund incentives for investing in UK companies, building more houses, and overhauling the pension system to fuel domestic growth.

This daily briefing from Mark Halperin for July 8, 2025, details his media schedule and key political events. Guests on his various shows include author Salena Zito, journalist Emily Jashinsky, and Calley Means, an advisor to HHS Secretary RFK Jr. The political daybook highlights Israeli PM Netanyahu's meetings with congressional leaders, Gov. Newsom's tour in South Carolina, Sec. Rubio's travel to Malaysia, and President Macron's UK state visit. Key discussion topics for the day include Ukraine, tariffs, and Newsom '28.

Peter Leyden shares edited video interviews from his "The Great Progression" event, offering a positive outlook on the future. The interviews feature Steven Johnson on AI's impact on knowledge work with tools like Google's NotebookLM; Siri co-founder Adam Cheyer on the next decade of AI development, predicting a helpful ecosystem; and bioengineering expert Ryan Phelan on using genetic tools to combat climate change and extinction. Links to the full videos and transcripts are included.

This newsletter explores how to host with intention, based on Priya Parker's book 'The Art of Gathering.' The main idea is that every gathering needs a clear purpose to be meaningful. Key principles include starting with a 'why' to guide decisions, curating the guest list to foster connection, using the physical space to shape behavior, and providing clear structure instead of being a 'chill' host. The opening and closing moments are critical for setting the tone and creating a lasting impression. Ultimately, hosting is presented as an act of leadership in designing an experience.

The author presents the 'Agency Loop,' a cycle where AI reshapes reality. It starts with AI products creating new social behaviors ('Cluey'), which creates demand for new physical capabilities. This leads to AI-driven design of new materials to overcome physical bottlenecks. The complexity of this task then forces a fundamental reboot in AI architecture to achieve true creativity. This cyclefrom social protocols, to physical matter, to intelligence architectureis accelerating, creating a powerful feedback loop for technological advancement and investment opportunities.

This article from Heterodox Academy (HxA) argues that internal reform of academia and its external defense against political threats are not mutually exclusive and must be pursued concurrently. Citing debates from its 2025 conference, HxA refutes the idea that focusing on internal issues like ideological homogeneity is a distraction from larger political battles. It posits that the erosion of public trust in higher education, caused in part by these internal problems, has fueled the external backlash. Therefore, while university leaders fight political battles, faculty must continue the work of cultural change on campus.

To combat the FDA's slow, outdated workflows that are hindering US biotech innovation, The Abundance Institute and Stand Together are raising 4 million to embed a "strike team" of 15-20 AI engineers and data scientists within the agency. This team will modernize systems, automate paperwork, and accelerate drug approvals. The initiative, compared to an elite special forces mission, aims to prove the value of embedding tech talent in government to solve critical bottlenecks. The author, Joel Lonsdale, is personally donating and asks others to support the program to keep the US competitive.

Richard Mensah, founder of Salley, reports significant progress for Salley AI in Q2 2025. The company has secured a pilot with a major US telecom, seen 133 QoQ growth in its enterprise pipeline, and hired an experienced Head of ML. Mensah also mentions his recent business travels and the separate "Salley Lessons" newsletter. The company is now focused on product development and is seeking introductions to AI engineers and potential investors for an upcoming funding round.

The narrator, Francine, describes her attempt to help a family in extreme poverty. After being approached by 14-year-old Anne, Francine provides money, pays bills, and finds a job for the mother, Marilyn. However, she soon uncovers a more complex reality of drug use, hidden family members to maintain benefits, and criminal activity. A violent incident involving a gun reveals the family's connection to drug dealers. Francine's well-intentioned efforts are consistently undermined by the family's lies and manipulation, revealing problems far deeper than just poverty.

This newsletter provides curated links on various topics. Key articles explore the strategies behind YouTube star MrBeast and OnlyFans billionaire Leo Radvinsky. Another piece details Barry Diller's 50-year career in entertainment. Other links discuss the vulnerabilities of U.S. and Japanese national debt, how Japan revolutionized shipbuilding, the future of medicine moving towards biological engineering, and tips for making friends after 30. The issue also includes a recommendation for the TV show "South Park" and a concept about the societal impact of "eyes" (cameras) outnumbering "legs" (mobility).

Marty Goldensohn, 78, shares his experience of finding a new romantic partner after his wife of 41 years passed away. He connected with a woman who had also lost her spouse. He reflects on how their shared experience of loss, advanced age, and established lives create a different kind of relationshipone built on acceptance, companionship, and creating new memories, rather than the urgent intensity of young love. They navigate life with separate homes, blended families, and a mutual understanding of mortality, finding joy and support in their later years.

This edition of the Seedraisr newsletter highlights 38 new VC PE funds raised in late Juneearly July 2025. It provides a detailed look at the first 10, including Project A (325M), Mätch VC (40M), and Norrsken VC (300M). For each fund, it lists size, location, industry focus, and investment stage. The newsletter also features a "Content Corner" with industry articles and a "Stealth Momentum" section on new funds and founders. The full list of 38 funds is available to paid subscribers.

Joe Nocera reflects on his Italian immigrant grandparents and the meaning of Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus" on the Statue of Liberty. He contrasts the poem's welcoming message"Give me your tired, your poor"with the historical reality of intense anti-immigrant bigotry faced by Southern and Eastern Europeans. Nocera argues that today's anti-immigrant fervor against Latin Americans mirrors the prejudice of a century ago, questioning how descendants of immigrants can now oppose the very process that allowed their families to thrive in America.

The "Entertainment Strategy Guy" introduces an updated "worst-case scenario" analysis for Disney. Amidst concerns over theatrical misses (e.g., 'Elio'), a flat stock price, and theme park attendance not fully recovering to pre-COVID levels, the author frames this as a "1-in-20" thought exercise to explore potential weaknesses under CEO Bob Iger. The full analysis is paywalled.

This post announces a podcast interview (Ep 118) with Marc Andreessen by Joe Lonsdale. They discuss whether AI and robotics can fuel an American industrial renaissance, benefiting rural areas and reversing the decline of manufacturing. The conversation covers historical tariff policies (McKinley vs. Trump), the economic shift to services that created cultural divides, smart immigration policy in an AI economy, and the potential bottlenecks to this technological boom. The interview was conducted for the Ronald Reagan Economic Forum.

Unshackled Ventures is hosting an in-person session in San Francisco on Tuesday, July 23, to guide international founders through the O-1 visa process. Featuring immigration experts Manan Mehta, Anna Marie Garcia, and Minn Kim, the event will cover the 8 eligibility categories, common pathways, and tips for building a strong application. The session is aimed at technical founders on F-1, OPT, STEM, or H-1B visas. RSVP is required for entry.

This email digest highlights an article, "The LaGuardia Incident," which uses an event at the airport to illustrate the breakdown of America's social contract. The piece suggests that the conflicts witnessed in air travel reflect a wider societal decay. The email also includes four additional, unspecified articles.

A quantitative analysis of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) board transcripts reveals that a governance framework called Student Outcomes Focused Governance (SOFG) has created a "process trap." The study found that 25 of the board's work is now dedicated to managing its own complex rules and procedures, which the author terms a "Governance Tax." This includes time-consuming self-evaluations and debates over its rulebook, diverting focus from its core mission of overseeing the district and improving student outcomes.

This article is a satirical take on Soham Parekh, a man known in tech circles for holding multiple startup jobs at once. Instead of hiding after being exposed, the piece humorously claims he was producing a musical album titled "50,000,000 Startups Cant Be Wrong: Soham Parekhs Greatest Hits." The parody includes fake celebrity endorsements from Billie Eilish and DJ Shadow praising his job-hopping 'hustle.' An editor's note confirms the entire story is fictional and intended as a parody of tech culture.

The request to summarize content from technologysemafor.com could not be completed as no email body was provided. Only the subject line, ' Techs big, beautiful bust', was included.

Ryan Roddy advocates for regular 'blood cleanings' using therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to remove environmental toxins like microplastics, PFAS, and heavy metals, drawing a direct analogy to preventive six-month dental check-ups. He argues these accumulated toxins cause chronic disease and that cultural trends in wellness are priming the public for such a service. He highlights Circulate Health, a company he invested in, which offers TPE to lower biological age and improve health markers. Despite high costs and the need for more data, he foresees it becoming a standard, insured health practice.

The author reflects on the 90-day "CoAuthored revival" within the Foster writing community, praising its ability to foster deep, authentic connections and a sense of belonging through collective truth-seeking. The post notes the community's evolution from a tech startup to a space for human expression after being overtaken by AI. It concludes by announcing the revival will pause for the summer, with a possible return in the fall, and encourages members to continue writing and sharing their work.

Neo's June update showcases major portfolio company milestones. Chai Discovery launched Chai-2, a powerful new AI model for pharma. Prediction market Kalshi raised a 185M Series C at a 2B valuation. Replit crossed 100M in ARR, and VibeCode launched its mobile app builder. The newsletter also features news from community members and announces a final call for Neo Scholar applications, which are due Sunday, July 6.

George Emerson argues that Canada Day is celebrated on the wrong date. He dismisses July 1, 1867, as a mere administrative milestone and proposes more meaningful alternatives. His preferred date is December 31, 1775, when a diverse group of Canadians repelled an American invasion of Quebec City. He presents this event as a more fitting origin story that captures Canada's true spirit of resilience and multicultural cooperation, urging a celebration of the nation's character over its bureaucracy.

This analysis challenges the "bigger is better" AI narrative, arguing that small language models (SLMs) are superior to large language models (LLMs) for enterprise use. SLMs provide significant advantages in cost-performance, security through local deployment, and energy efficiency. Performance benchmarks show SLMs are highly competitive for specific business tasks. The article concludes that for enterprises seeking practical, secure, and cost-effective AI solutions, specializing with SLMs is the only sustainable path forward, representing a fundamental shift in AI strategy.

The author contrasts the ad-dominated media world, epitomized by the Cannes Lions festival, with the emerging creator economy. They argue that the traditional advertising model stifles creativity and distorts content to serve brands. In contrast, direct audience subscriptions on platforms like Substack empower creators to produce more authentic, in-depth, and diverse work without being beholden to advertisers. This shift is fostering a new cultural economy that prioritizes the relationship between creators and their audiences, unlocking previously suppressed creative potential.

Reshma Saujani explores why many women in their 40s realize they don't know their own likes, attributing it to a lifetime of conditioning to excel and people-please. This focus on achievement over joy, unlike their male counterparts, leads to a disconnect from personal passions and contributes to midlife burnout. Saujani reframes this midlife awakening not as a failure, but as a critical opportunity for self-discovery and building a more authentic life.

Carrie Sheffield covers several political topics, including President Trump's proposal for 1,000 newborn investment accounts to promote financial literacy. She also critiques California Governor Gavin Newsom's leadership, citing a new book on the state's decline, and argues that New York politician Zohran Mamdani is out of touch with lower-income voters. Sheffield further discusses her firsthand experience with the marginalization of conservative voices at Harvard University and praises President Trump's move to cut federal funding to the school.

Mark Halperin announces that while several regular 2WAY shows like The Morning Meeting are on hiatus until July 7, there is still a full schedule of content for the week. Programming includes two episodes of 'Citizen McCain' with guests Gianno Caldwell and Amie Parnes, 'The Moynihan Report' with matchmaker Amy Van Doran, 'Cancer Decoded' featuring a patient's journey with a new treatment, and 'The Group Chat' discussing the 2028 election. The email provides details and viewing links for each show.

The stock market has experienced a historic rebound, reaching new all-time highs driven by increased liquidity (M2 money supply). According to investment firm Coatue, the dominance of the "Mag 7" stocks may be waning, making way for an "AI super-cycle." This new phase is expected to be led by a new class of winners in AI power, software, and semiconductors. The author, Anthony Pompliano, believes this momentum will continue, pushing the market to even higher highs.

Achieving energy abundance requires investing in grid flexibility and storage, not irrationally blaming renewables for instability. Surging demand from AI makes grid modernization essential to avoid wasteful overbuilding for peak loads. The author refutes claims that renewables cause blackouts, citing a hypothetical Spanish outage as a grid management failure, not a renewables failure. While the US debates, China is building flexible grids to support all energy sources. The US must embrace grid modernization and all forms of cheap, abundant energy to ensure future prosperity.

This issue warns that Generative AI is fundamentally nondeterministic, as a study showed fine-tuning can cause models like GPT-4o to generate harmful content, making human verification essential. Other key signals include Brazil ending social media's safe-harbor defense, the creation of an energy-efficient 'biocomputer' from living neurons, Meta seeking private equity for its GPU buildout, and China's server upgrades making memory the new AI supply bottleneck. Data points show rising AI adoption in business, recruiting, and software pricing, though its use for emotional support remains low.

This article contends that venture capital firms are hypocritical because they don't adhere to their own advice. It highlights numerous contradictions, such as VCs advising founders to have a single CEO while their own firms have multiple partners, urging low salaries while taking high ones, and pushing for public offerings while remaining private. The author illustrates these points to show that VCs preach a doctrine they refuse to practice in their own businesses.

This edition of The Ankle highlights major industry shifts, including a leaked Spotify deck detailing its strategy to compete with YouTube for video creators. It also explores how indie studios like A24 are offering more favorable deals to talent than traditional studios. Other key stories cover the grim atmosphere within major cable companies, the failure of Pixar's "Elio," challenges for Netflix's "Little House on the Prairie" reboot, and a new UK show, "Virgin Island," revealing Gen Z's viewing habits.

This email from calacanissubstack.com announces a new post on the Calacanis Substack titled "Meet Gen-Xi". The email's body is brief, containing only a link for the recipient to click and view the full article on the web. No summary or content from the article is included in the email itself; it serves purely as an announcement and a link to the content.

Jason Calacanis describes "Gen-Xi," a generation burdened by student debt and poor job prospects, making them susceptible to socialist policies like rent control. He argues these ideas are flawed and that the real solution is more capitalism. He advocates for deregulating housing to increase supply, making student loans dischargeable in bankruptcy to reform higher education, and for individuals to make smarter consumer choices regarding college degrees and personal spending.

This newsletter critiques several topics, starting with the irony of Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee calling the FOMC the "worlds greatest deliberative body" despite its record of groupthink and unanimous votes. The author then criticizes the Wall Street Journal's news section for its negative coverage of a U.S. strike on Iran, calling it biased. The piece also highlights a Supreme Court majority opinion that rebuked Justice Jackson's dissent for advocating an "imperial Judiciary." Finally, it expresses skepticism about Harvard's ability to replace federal funding with corporate sponsorships.

The robotics industry is nearing a "ChatGPT moment" thanks to advanced AI models and affordable hardware. However, it faces challenges in battery life, operational latency, and data collection. This article argues that crypto and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) can provide solutions by creating incentive-based systems for charging infrastructure, teleoperation data, and latency optimization. Crypto can also enforce robot safety through on-chain identity and economic guarantees, where misbehaving robots have their staked assets "slashed" to compensate victims.

David Crane criticizes Governor Gavin Newsom's administration for policies that have significantly benefited state employees while harming the private sector. Since 2019, state staffing has increased by 21 and compensation by 48, while California's unemployment rate has risen to 26 above the national average. Crane warns of future tax hikes to cover deficits and unfunded pension liabilities, making the state less attractive to employers. He concludes that a change in leadership and a move toward a more tech-enabled government are needed to fix these fiscal issues.

Joe Lonsdale hosts political commentator Dave Rubin to discuss the new media movement and free speech. Rubin recounts creating the platform Locals to combat Big Tech censorship and shares insights on the 'Twitter Files.' The conversation covers the troubling rise of a 'woke right,' with figures like Tucker Carlson attacking Churchill, and explores how to respond to conspiracy theories. Rubin also discusses his new ventures, including a tequila company and an AI version of himself, and offers ideas for elevating public discourse.

The author argues that capital allocators engage in 'moral arbitrage' by treating systemic societal risks like antisemitism and social collapse as 'unmodelable edge cases' or contrarian opportunities. This is framed as a massive fiduciary failure, not a rational strategy. Using examples like the 1930s German brain drain, climate change-related stranded assets (150B lost), and the opioid crisis (1T economic cost), the author demonstrates that ignoring these large-scale risks consistently leads to catastrophic financial losses. The real risk is not acting early, but waiting until value is already destroyed.

This essay argues that attention is the new foundational infrastructure of power, determining political, military, and economic outcomes. The author uses three examples to support this: Donald Trump's social media-driven foreign policy, Zohran Mamdani's digitally-powered victory in the NYC mayoral primary, and the startup Cluely's venture funding based on its ability to capture attention. The piece posits a new supply chainAttention Speculation Allocationwhere narrative discipline is the key to acquiring resources, shifting power from traditional institutions to masters of the digital feed.

A news alert from The Wall Street Journal reports that a cease-fire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding. The communication, identified by its subject line, suggests a de-escalation in the conflict between the two nations. No further details on the terms or duration of the cease-fire were available in the provided content.

In Missive 205, Bret from 4thly challenges the conventional wisdom that Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) are a safe financing option for startups. He argues the name is misleading, as SAFEs can introduce significant risks and complexities for founders. These include the potential for severe, unexpected dilution and complications in subsequent priced equity rounds. The missive advises founders to be cautious and fully understand the long-term implications of SAFEs before using them, suggesting they are not the straightforward solution they appear to be.

Unshackled VC has promoted Alexis Maciel to Principal. The announcement recognizes his valuable contributions to the firm and its portfolio companies. In his new role, he will take on expanded responsibilities, reflecting the firm's confidence in his leadership and abilities.

No content was provided in the request. The summary cannot be generated without the body of the email.

This article argues for the protection of free speech at U.S. borders, criticizing policies that allow warrantless searches of travelers' electronic devices. The author contends these searches violate First Amendment rights, create a 'chilling effect' on expression for journalists and activists, and allow the government to scrutinize personal beliefs without suspicion. The piece calls for greater legal safeguards to ensure constitutional protections apply to individuals entering the country.

Joe Lonsdale argues that proposed AI regulations, often championed by large tech incumbents, threaten to stifle innovation by creating high barriers for startups. He warns this "regulatory capture" could cement the dominance of a few companies and cede America's technological edge to rivals like China. Lonsdale urges Congress to reject broad licensing schemes and instead adopt targeted, pro-competition policies that protect the entire innovation ecosystem, not just the established players, to ensure continued U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.

Greg Lukianoff has announced the release of his new TED Talk. In a communication from his Substack newsletter, he shared that the talk is available as of today. The purpose of the message is to inform his audience about this new content and encourage them to watch it.

Reshma Saujani re-evaluates her perception of former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern following her resignation. Initially viewing Ardern as "complicated" for being unhappy despite her success, Saujani now sees her decision to step down due to having "not enough in the tank" as a courageous act of self-preservation. She argues Ardern's choice challenges the unsustainable societal pressure on women leaders to "do it all" and provides a powerful example for women to prioritize their well-being and redefine success on their own terms.

The central claim of the content, based on its title 'Meta makes the dumbest models,' is a critique of the models produced by Meta. The author asserts that these models are inferior, though the specific reasons for this claim (e.g., simplicity, ineffectiveness, poor design) are not detailed in the provided information. The statement is a strong, negative assessment of Meta's technological output in this area.

Peter Leyden is calling for an 'A Team' of leading experts and innovators to gather in San Francisco. The objective is to collaborate on finding a 'new way forward' to address today's complex societal challenges. This initiative aims to harness the collective intelligence of top minds to brainstorm and develop actionable solutions for the future.

UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat argues that the Conservative government has taken a strong stance against Iran by sanctioning over 400 entities, including the entire IRGC, and passing the National Security Act. He criticizes Labour leader Keir Starmer for opposing these measures and failing to commit to proscribing the IRGC. Tugendhat contrasts Starmer's perceived weakness with Donald Trump's clear position on Iran, questioning Labour's readiness to handle national security threats from the Iranian regime.

This newsletter from "manojnayakcom" is titled "Hare Krishna, Hare Rama - Jaipur." It likely discusses a personal experience or reflection related to the Hare Krishna movement within the city of Jaipur. The content probably centers on a visit to a local temple or the cultural significance of the mantra in that specific location.

This is a welcome email for new subscribers to the "Nicole's Global Palate" newsletter on Substack. It confirms the user's subscription and serves as an initial point of contact. The email's purpose is to greet the new reader and likely sets expectations for the type of content they will receive, which, given the title, is probably related to international food and cuisine.