★ Priority · 13
IT FINALLY MIGHT BE TIME
PRIORITYRussell Clark from Capital Flows and Asset Markets
- Pro-labour policies have driven low unemployment and higher cost of capital, but equity markets have resisted declining despite expected headwinds.
- Credit spreads have tightened excessively since COVID due to Federal Reserve intervention, masking the negative impact of rising sovereign yields on equities.
- Signs of rising corporate borrowing costs are finally emerging through inflecting high-yield spreads and rising CDS on hyperscalers.
- Gold outperformance versus treasuries suggests markets may be pricing in the long-delayed negative effects of elevated cost of capital on equities.
The Democrats Who Know How to Win. Plus. . .
PRIORITYThe Free Press
- Michigan Senate primary between moderate Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed remained too close to call with 95% votes counted.
- Democratic Party split evenly: moderates won in St. Louis (Wesley Bell over Cori Bush), progressives gained in House races including Will Lawrence in Lansing.
- Results show dueling Democratic factions fighting to a draw ahead of Election Day, with both wings claiming victories.
š¬ New thread from Macro Charts
PRIORITYMacro Charts
- S&P 500 hit new all-time high with 72% of stocks closing higher; Tech sector led with 4% gain, Materials up 2%.
- SOX and IGV semiconductor/tech indices both rallied strongly and ranked among top performing groups.
- Broad market strength signals one of the year's most important tactical setups with potential to turn good year into excellent one.
Tyler Cowen: Nothing Can Stop the AI Revolution
PRIORITYThe Free Press
- Tyler Cowen argues that little can meaningfully slow the AI revolution despite concerns about an AI bubble, based on the logic and momentum of the technology.
- Recent spectacles like the Situational Awareness hedge fund collapse, while dramatic, do not represent systemic risk to the broader AI advancement trajectory.
- Historical precedent from dot-com and housing bubbles shows that major disruptions did not prevent dominant companies from emerging and sectors from ultimately growing.
MACRO AND JAPAN
PRIORITYRussell Clark from Capital Flows and Asset Markets
- Western macro investors consistently misjudge Japan's market dynamics, often arriving too late to the consensus.
- Foreigners rarely achieve insider understanding of Japan's markets; true insights require deep cultural and institutional knowledge.
- Historical examples like Steve Roach's call for 3% JGBs demonstrate the cost of foreign misreading of Japanese dynamics.
š¬ New thread from Le Shrub
PRIORITYLe Shrub from Reminiscences of a Shrub Operator
- Nasdaq has risen 7% from the 'Situational Meme Bottom' called last week, with QQQ reaching its 50% retracement level at $705.
- Leadership has rotated back to Mag7 stocks while SOXX has only reached 38.2% retracement at $538, indicating divergent sector momentum.
- Ongoing 'War of Worry' continues as markets await Hormuz deal resolution, which has been repeatedly delayed despite optimistic near-term expectations.
- Technical levels for bounce have been achieved, prompting reassessment of market positioning and risk management strategies.
Coordinated FX intervention: everybody's favourite market event
PRIORITYMark Farrington from Dollar Watchtower
- Foreign exchange market operates as 'Wild Wild West' with $10 trillion daily OTC transactions based on market convention and good faith rather than formal regulation.
- FX valuations lack intrinsic framework due to fiat currencies having no cashflows, making pricing frameworks like PPP and EER frequently deviate from reality.
- Massive capital flows now dominate over trade flows, with carry trades and offshore accounts creating fluid, unpredictable currency dynamics.
- Market interventions provide temporary guardrails and valuation frameworks in an otherwise opaque OTC market, creating opportunities for informed participants.
A New High for Legal Weed. The Wunderkind Who Lost $35 Billion. Plus. . .
PRIORITYThe Free Press
- Daily marijuana use now exceeds cigarettes and alcohol in America for the first time, marking a major shift in consumer habits.
- Evidence of heavy marijuana use harms is mounting despite legalization, with prominent figures like Elton John questioning whether legalization was a mistake.
- Data reveals overlooked details in drug policy that may explain why legalization momentum could stall.
š¬ New thread from Macro Charts
PRIORITYMacro Charts
- SMH tested support at $524.77 near a predicted $525-530 pullback range, with buyers showing at key technical levels.
- Semiconductor stocks could be setting up for one of the most important tactical trades of the year with significant August upside potential.
- Technical support held at open, recovered through the day, validating buy signal setup described in weekend report.
Pick Your Fighter: Precious Metals vs. Copper
PRIORITYPauloMacroās Substack
- Macro thesis centers on USD rolling over from extended positioning, anticipating another 'Triple Yasu' scenario of simultaneous USD, bond, and equity weakness.
- Author expresses libertarian skepticism toward precious metals despite their historical appeal, favoring alternative hedges given macro backdrop.
- Comparison between precious metals and copper positioning relative to expected macro volatility and currency weakness scenarios.
Should I Get a Gun?
PRIORITYThe Free Press
- British journalist reflects on Second Amendment after experiencing active-shooter incident in Washington D.C., genuinely seeking to understand pro-gun perspectives.
- Article frames gun ownership debate as fundamental question about freedom and safety, seeking common ground through respectful dialogue.
- Larissa Phillips responds as a Free Press colleague to explain the pro-gun position and its relationship to American values of liberty.
š¬ New thread from HFI Research
PRIORITYHFI Research
- Negotiations between Oman and Iran are ongoing, but Iran's position remains unchangedāthey want control over the Strait entry lane.
- The US initially rejected Iran's demands but now appears open to negotiation, though Iran may be escalating demands after Trump's recent actions.
- The fighting pause may have been timed around Arbaeen (August 4-5) rather than driven by negotiation breakthroughs.
š¬ New thread from PauloMacro
PRIORITYPauloMacroās Substack
- BoJ intervened heavily in yen late last week with Friday intervention including EUR/JPY sale of 40bn units, equivalent to 8.5T yen.
- Fed apparently conducted a sale on behalf of US Treasury after Friday market close, indicating coordinated central bank action on currency.
- Commentary references broader macro developments including Iran peace deal negotiations and Situational Awareness hedge fund issues.
Politics · 15
The Cambridge Fabulist
Eli from Man of Steeleās Substack
- A Times Higher Education journalist's inquiry into plagiarism allegations against Cambridge's youngest Black professor triggered a police investigation, raising questions about institutional responses to academic integrity concerns.
- The case highlights tensions between legitimate academic scrutiny and concerns about bias in how such investigations are conducted and framed.
- The illogical outcomeāpolice involvement in what should be an academic matterāexemplifies broader institutional dysfunction.
Irelandās ā¬53m Government Jet āCanāt Land in Fogā After Israeli Tech Boycott
Jonathan Sacerdoti
- Ireland's ā¬53 million government jet was ordered without an Israeli-made enhanced vision system to avoid direct defense company agreements, limiting its ability to land in fog.
- The decision highlights a contradiction: Ireland attempts to boycott Israeli technology while relying on Israeli innovation across military, aviation, and healthcare sectors.
- The controversy raises questions about the feasibility of comprehensive Israeli tech boycotts in European defense and critical infrastructure.
Ghazi Hamad Did Not Retract His Threat to Repeat October 7 Again And Again
John Aziz
- Hamas official Ghazi Hamad refused to retract or apologize for his statement that Hamas would repeat October 7 attacks 'again and again' until Israel's elimination.
- Hamad reframed the intent behind October 7, claiming deliberate civilian targeting was not Hamas's 'thinking' despite extensive evidence to the contrary.
- The interview demonstrates Hamas leadership's continued commitment to hostility and unwillingness to genuinely disavow attacks on civilians.
The Failure of a Society
Jonathan Rosen from House of Rosen
- Gaza under Hamas since 2007 has chosen conflict and terrorism over development, with no free elections or peaceful power transfers.
- Hamas leadership has enriched itself while the population remains aid-dependent, with unemployment at 40-47% and poverty above 50% before October 2023.
- The essay critiques global supporters of Hamas as backing a demonstrably failed authoritarian society.
Goodbye, Rod Liddle
PAIDWinston Marshall
- Winston Marshall recounts his reconciliation with Rod Liddle, a critic who once harshly reviewed Mumford & Sons but later became an unexpected ally.
- At a Social Democrat Party convention in October 2023 amid anti-Israel protests, Liddle demonstrated moral courage by defending Israel without precedent.
- Marshall uses Liddle's passing as a reflection on standing firm against 'ghouls' and the importance of principled friendships forged through shared conviction.
The Terrorist NEXT DOORā¼ļø
Shana Meyerson from Unapologetically Jewish
- Shana Meyerson responds to constant accusations of being a 'genocidal baby killer' for her Zionist identity and support for Israel.
- She argues that guilt-by-association campaigns misrepresent the Gaza conflict and ignore Israel's documented efforts to prevent civilian casualties.
- The piece addresses how pro-Israel advocates face rhetorical demonization despite defending documented humanitarian practices.
BIBI VALUE
The Oracle by Polymarket
- Amit Segal, chief political analyst for Israel's Channel 12, argues that Netanyahu's odds of 1-in-3 to remain prime minister after October 27 elections are mispriced.
- Unlike US or UK systems, Israeli elections can end in hung parliaments where the incumbent benefits from deadlock, plus rotation government options exist.
- The interview examines Netanyahu's political survival prospects, Trump-Netanyahu relations, coalition scenarios, and Iran war implications for the election outcome.
The Green party tried to get me arrested
Jonathan Sacerdoti
- UK police visited author's home based on Green Party complaint about antisemitic comments, attempting to silence him for opposing party racism.
- Author recognized the visit as an attempt to establish boundaries around his free speech on controversial topics including antisemitism and Middle East issues.
- Incident highlights pattern of law enforcement being used to address perceived 'thought crimes' in modern Britain rather than actual violence.
- Author's proactive recording of the encounter signals resistance to what he views as intimidation tactics against journalists and broadcasters.
Passing Gas
PAIDDoomberg
- EU's veto powerāpromised as sovereignty protection during union formationāhas been systematically weakened over decades through expanded exemptions.
- Russian sanctions negotiations expose brittle tensions between national capitals and Brussels over remaining member-state autonomy.
- Sovereignty's last stand plays out as EU bureaucracy continues grinding away at checks on central planning authority.
We've Seen This Movie Before
Jeremy McKeown from Hypernormal Times
- Trump claims Iran peace talks underway while Iran denies any negotiations exist, echoing familiar diplomatic theater patterns.
- Brent crude stabilized in mid-$80s and Dow hit record highs despite geopolitical tensions, signaling market exhaustion rather than peace pricing.
- Market has reverted to following behavioral patterns rather than fundamentals, allocating cash based on repetition rather than actual news.
Treating Chinese Marxism Seriously
Dr Warwick Powell from Warwick Powell's Substack
- Western commentators systematically fail to understand Chinese Marxist political economy as a legitimate ontology, instead dismissing it as mere ideology or propaganda.
- Chinese government discourse on economic policy, including Xi's remarks on domestic demand promotion, is fundamentally rooted in Marxist frameworks that Western analysts overlook.
- Misreading Marxism as window-dressing rather than operational policy guidance leads to partial and misleading Western assessments of Chinese economic strategy.
Agent Orange 2.0
Gold and geopolitics
- Accumulating structural policy damage masked by attention-grabbing headlines represents a long-term strategic approach distinct from traditional winning.
- First-term tariff policy on China demonstrates using conspicuous economic measures to obscure deeper institutional changes.
- The piece applies contrarian logic to assess anti-establishment political action through a lens of delayed consequences and structural manipulation.
āWe Generously Decided Not to Murder Youā Is Not a Good Defence of Islam
John Aziz
- A student defending Islam at Oxford Union inadvertently undermined her own position by framing Muslim tolerance as protection from hostile crowds, implying the presence of genuine threat.
- The defense mechanismāgratitude for not being attacked by the ingroupāparadoxically validates the motion about Western suspicion of Islam rather than refuting it.
- The debate framing conflates fundamentalist Islamic ideology with Muslims themselves, obscuring necessary nuance in discussing religious doctrine versus believers.
Oxford Is Shaping Britainās Future. That Should Worry Everyone.
Restoring the West by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
- Oxford Union debate on Islam attracted hundreds of masked activists who clashed violently with police, requiring Ā£100,000 in taxpayer security spending.
- Physical intimidation and mob violence effectively barred paying student members from attending the debate, surrendering the institution's authority to street agitators.
- The incident reflects a broader breakdown of civil discourse in British academia where threats of violence have become normalized as political argument.
Who are the Jihadists?
Roy Ben-Tzvi
- Jihadism is a comprehensive ideological strategy to conquer and dominate 'kufar' (infidels) globally, not merely a reaction to foreign policy grievances.
- The operational sequence involves first conquering Arab and Islamic states, then establishing separate enclaves in non-Muslim lands as local branches of a global caliphate.
- Both Muslim and non-Muslim communities outside the jihadist framework are treated as infidel societies to be conquered under this ideological endpoint.
Macro · 14
US Markets - Five Points
Derek Wallis
- US markets are reaching new highs driven by momentum and technical factors rather than fundamental shifts.
- Effective energy policy should focus on driving costs toward zero through innovation and efficiency gains.
- Political and moral assertions about CO2 and climate change are often framed as scientific findings to justify centralized planning and intervention.
War Note: A Crude Time for Patience, TACO-Howitzer, Latest Hormuz Developments, Asia Situation Part 7
MacroEdge Research
- TACO-driven melt-up continues with Qatari mediators confident Strait of Hormuz reopens within 24 hours; S&P and Dow hit all-time highs.
- Pro-asset inflation regime repeats April playbook with Administration pushing TACOs against war escalation, benefiting nominal assets.
- Crypto showing constructive technicals while high-beta names spike to near all-time highs; midterm election cycle in 3 months drives borrowed-time nominal growth.
Twilight over the Rising Sun
Gold and geopolitics
- Japan's 1989 peak represented an unsustainable bubble with Tokyo exchange at 42% of global equity value and companies valued at 60x earnings.
- Aggressive monetary tightening by the Bank of Japan's new governor burst the asset bubble, triggering a decade-long decline in real wages and near-zero growth.
- The collapse illustrates how policy-driven reversals of speculative excess can produce prolonged economic stagnation and asset destruction.
Jackson Hole: Your Bank Account is Next
Garrett Baldwin
- Banks treat customer deposits as loans to themselves, not customer assets, creating a fundamental misalignment in how savers view their bank accounts.
- Upcoming Jackson Hole symposium discussions on monetary policy and Fed operations directly impact deposit stability and banking sector dynamics.
- The framing of deposits as bank liabilities rather than customer assets has critical implications for savings security and financial planning.
The Trump Administration is Manipulating Oil Prices - This Will Backfire
Bison Insights
- Trump administration has repeatedly paused and canceled military strikes on Iran while claiming diplomatic breakthroughs on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
- The pattern of extended negotiations and ceasefire extensions since the conflict began suggests Trump may be manipulating oil prices through geopolitical uncertainty.
- Repeated false signals about imminent agreements risk backfiring by damaging credibility and potentially destabilizing energy markets.
Mid-Year Newsletter and Life Update
Jordan from GeĆ³logo Trader š¦šŗ
- Australia's personal income tax now represents 42.6% of all tax revenue versus an OECD average of 23.7%, with gross debt exceeding $1 trillion.
- Real GDP per person under current government leadership has declined below starting levels, breaking a decades-long trend of incumbent governments leaving Australians better off.
- Location-independent earners face 42.6% tax in Australia versus 0% as Paraguayan tax residents with properly structured foreign sourced income.
Buyers Beware
Nico from AiQ
- Strategic miscalculations and belief in outdated tariff policies are ushering in a new era of protectionism affecting global trade.
- De-escalation of Hormuz crisis could trigger synchronized buying from GCC buyers after five months of stock drawdowns, reshaping regional commodity buffers.
- Historical precedent from 2021 shows how brief windows of import surges following regional droughts can significantly tighten global wheat balance sheets.
- European economies face multiple challenges entering winter despite the absence of international psyops, with shipping route ransoms creating systemic vulnerabilities.
Global Liquidity Watch: Weekly Update
Michael Howell from Capital Wars
- Global liquidity remained stable last week but momentum is slowing with weaker central bank support.
- Softer US dollar, stable collateral values, and low volatility offset declining central bank liquidity.
- Investors rotating away from Asia tech and Japan toward Europe despite maintaining overall risk-on positioning.
Here is How China Win's The AI Power Race
Grizzle Research and Quant
- China accounts for 20% of global manufactured exports and 30% of world manufacturing value-added but is better positioned than US for Middle East conflict due to strategic reserves.
- China holds estimated 1.5 billion barrels of strategic oil reserves compared to US at 307.65 million (lowest since 1983), providing significant geopolitical insulation.
- Iran conflict is accelerating China's renewable energy progress and battery storage advances, reducing crude oil dependence and strengthening strategic autonomy.
- China's economic positioning and energy transition strategy demonstrate how geopolitical disruption can accelerate decarbonization while reducing resource vulnerability.
The Bond Market Awakens
Andrew Sarna
- Fed held rates steady but faced three dissenting governors pushing for hikes, creating market uncertainty on forward guidance.
- 30-year Treasury yields broke above 2007 levels as long-end curve dysfunction deepens amid inflation and geopolitical pressures.
- Hyperscaler cloud businesses drove AI stock gains, while Utilities suffered as AI sector rotation continued through earnings season.
YWR: PEVC Q2 2026 Deal Tracker
PAIDErik@YWR
- Anthropic raised $65 billion at $965 billion valuation in Q2 2026, a $585 billion increase just three months after a $380 billion February round.
- Top PE/VC deals show massive capital concentration in AI, with Anthropic's $47 billion run-rate revenue driving extreme valuation multiples.
- Deal flow data provides situational awareness on where institutional capital is deployed and trends for public market implications.
Welcome to the Digital BRRR... (AKA: The Jackson Hole Agenda)
Garrett Baldwin
- Jackson Hole's official 2024 theme on 'Financial Innovation' masks a central banking agenda to fundamentally rewire the global monetary system.
- Central banks and the BIS are advancing stablecoins as replacements for banking deposits, which would alter balance sheet interpretation and create new financial risks.
- Stablecoin frameworks enable cross-border dollar flows and represent a structural shift in monetary policy implementation that officials prefer to introduce quietly before public awareness.
The Compute Standard
Capital Misallocation
- Japanese bubble of the 1980s deferred costs for 36 years through refinancing vehicles, with land values reaching absurd peaks like Ā„36.5M per square meter in Ginza.
- Historical pattern shows technology eventually wins and infrastructure survives, but investors are destroyedārelevant to current AI/GPU boom dynamics.
- Parallel drawn between past land-backed lending bubble and today's compute-backed lending, suggesting AI infrastructure may face similar reckoning.
Portfolio Update
The Haymaker Team
- 30-year U.S. Treasury yield broke to 18-year high at 5.27%, threatening to breach 5.5% resistance level not tested since 2003.
- Dramatic Treasury yield movements represent one of two major market developments from the prior week with significant implications for rates markets.
- Breakout in long-duration rates suggests potential shift in bond market structure and inflation expectations.
Markets · 11
Resets & What's Cool with the Kids
Andrew Sarna
- S&P 500 rallied 5%+ over four days, matching rare historical occurrences in 1999, 2000, and November 2020.
- Citadel deployed AI to replicate PhD-level research in 3 hours versus 3 weeks, signaling AI's impact on investment research.
- Airtable acquisition at 2.7x EV/ARR shows SaaS valuation compression from 75x, reflecting market downturn severity.
- Venture managers needed 95th percentile performance since 2017 just to match S&P 500 returns.
US Markets - First Look
Derek Wallis
- S&P 500 near all-time highs with 10-year yield at 4.62%; international markets flat with European tech firms emerging as AI winners.
- Asian markets rallied strongly: Japan +2%, China +1.5%, Korea +1.8%; China launches global tax initiative.
- Key economic data releases include ADP employment and ISM Services; SpaceX spending continues unabated.
FX Positioning And The Suppression Of Volatility
Capital Flows
- Yen intervention campaign led by Bessent and Tokyo with specific policy mechanics determining next move; VIX rising alongside 2% equity rally.
- Carry trade liquidity feeds entire AI trade positioning; tomorrow's stream maps global growth divergence across major economic blocs.
- Livestream analysis breaks down FX positioning suppression of volatility and macro conditions shaping next regime shift.
Part Two: Leopold and the Media (The Access Economy)
Postcards From the Edge of the World
- Financial media failed to adequately scrutinize Leopold Aschenbrenner's hedge fund despite having sufficient information about his inexperience, leverage, and cultivated narrative.
- Incentive structures in the 'access economy' discourage journalists from challenging powerful figures and narratives they depend on for story access.
- The collapse of his fund revealed institutional failures in due diligence by prime brokers and media gatekeepers who prioritized narrative over substance.
Trading Post August 4, 2026 My Options
Michael Burry
- S&P 500 surged 5% over four trading days to new highs, a pattern that preceded major market peaks in 2000 (dot-com bubble) and 1999 (dot-com crash).
- Semiconductor stocks (SOX) showed momentum reversal after July losses, but the broader question is whether they can lead the market higher sustainably.
- Market conditions mirror risk of a major correction; leverage from rising prices could force momentum funds to unwind positions sharply.
How to Lose $35 Billion with Philosophy
Ted Gioia
- 25-year-old hedge fund manager Leopold Aschenbrenner lost tens of billions in days by using 4x leverage to buy AI stocks while shorting supposed AI victims.
- His strategy doubled down on AI exposure rather than hedging, making even modest AI stock declines catastrophic for the fund.
- The collapse represents 2026's biggest financial fiasco and illustrates the dangers of leveraged, concentrated bets without proper risk management.
US Markets - Five Points
Derek Wallis
- US markets slightly higher with limited catalysts beyond speculation about Iran tensions.
- Author explores parenting philosophies through comparison with tiger mom approach, ultimately demonstrating that discipline can lead to same outcomes as free-range methods.
- Charlie Parker and Nietzsche frameworks suggest mastering rules before transcending them, and examining whether life principles are genuinely one's own.
- GLP-1 side effects discussed alongside broader themes of personal transformation and individual agency in achieving goals.
US Markets - First Look
Derek Wallis
- S&P flat as oil and 10-year yields edge higher; European tech leads while consumer names lag.
- Asia mixed with Japan down, China up, reflecting divergent regional economic signals and geopolitical developments.
- Market themes include Iran uncertainty, record stock highs, AI's economic transformation, and upcoming economic data releases.
SAAS: Slopulism As A Service
Nico from AiQ
- European conditions are deteriorating while Black Sea geopolitical risks remain severely underpriced following recent developments.
- China presents a paradoxical picture with growth red flags and weak broad demand offset by emerging green shoots in grains and localized weather improvements.
- Wheat and agricultural commodity volatility reflects structural supply concerns rather than transient headline noise, requiring traders to distinguish signal from noise in pricing.
Market Commentary
David Cervantes from David Cervantes | Pinebrook Capital
- Historical data shows semiconductor ETF (SMH) forward returns following -20% corrections since 2011, with analysis of recovery patterns.
- The Citadel bid for Leopold's Situational Awareness Fund created a floor on recent downward price action in the rotation trade.
- Study measures forward price paths at 1-week, 2-week, and 30-day intervals from the -20% crossing point, including additional drawdown data.
[Abridged] Foundations: Market Structure, Volatility Targeting, Pod Shops & Other Gremlins
Michael Burry
- 2011-2026 delivered 12.09% annualized real returns with dividend contribution at 1st percentile, marking exceptionally unusual market performance.
- Recent market volatility regimes show big down days trigger ~4x more chaos than 1985-2000 era, but fear dissipates ~2x faster with less next-day memory.
- Lo and MacKinlay's variance test suggests markets deviate from random walk behavior, with prices not growing variance linearly over time periods.
Culture · 9
If "everything is art" then nothing is
Hot Takes by Adam Singer
- Postmodern art philosophy treats everything as art, which paradoxically means nothing qualifies as art anymore.
- High-priced art sales like the $120,000 banana exemplify how meaningless objects are laundered into legitimacy through spectacle and marketing.
- When craft, beauty, and meaning are abandoned in favor of empty spectacle, art becomes a con targeting unknowledgeable audiences.
Your 3pm crash isn't your coffee. It's your blood sugar ā 20 meals that flatten it
Parent Fit Club
- Post-meal blood sugar spikes, not coffee or age, drive the 3pm energy crash experienced after normal meals.
- Muscle contractions after eatingānot beforeāeffectively reduce blood glucose spikes by activating GLUT-4 transporters independent of insulin signaling.
- Research shows movement immediately following meals outperforms pre-meal activity in flattening glucose responses and sustained energy levels.
An Essential Book for Teachers, Parents, and Anyone Interested in Learning
Restoring the West by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
- 75% of high school students experience boredom, anger, sadness, fear, or stress in school, with suicide rates spiking during academic years.
- Daniel Willingham's book presents nine cognitive science principles for designing classrooms that inspire learning instead of depressing students.
- The book should be assigned nationwide in schools of education to fundamentally redesign how students experience learning.
āThe old-media era of journalists really wanted to be powerful. And I think now itās about being interesting.ā
The Substack Post
- Richard Rushfield, pioneering entertainment journalist and independent media founder, discusses the shift from old media's pursuit of power to modern journalism's focus on being interesting.
- The interview covers Rushfield's career covering Hollywood from American Idol through SAG-AFTRA strikes and the industry's adaptation to streaming and AI threats.
- As founder of The Ankler and creator of The Rushfield Jamboree on Substack, Rushfield exemplifies the new independent media landscape.
Ala kachuu
Roy Ben-Tzvi
- The practice of 'ala kachuu' (bride theft) in Kyrgyzstan involves young men abducting women from public streets while passersby assume it is consensual romance.
- The tradition persists because bystanders rationalize abductions as prearranged, leaving victims uncertain whether they have been kidnapped or are part of an agreed arrangement.
- The article examines a form of coercive marriage that operates in plain sight with social complicity.
A Live Conversation with Sam Harris and Scott Galloway
The Prof G Pod
- Galloway and Harris discuss the collapse of trust in expertise and how social media has fundamentally altered our relationship with attention and information.
- Political extremism is driven by broader forces including the fragmentation of shared reality and the gamification of discourse on digital platforms.
- AI risks, meditation, and personal meaning-making are explored as counterweights to nihilism and polarization in modern society.
Boy George And The Problem of Proportionality
Eli from Man of Steeleās Substack
- Boy George released a new single 'We Will Dance Again' with provocative lyrics addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict and proportionality in warfare.
- The song reflects Boy George's decades-long commitment to nonconformity and freedom of expression from the 1980s to today.
- The lyrics confront selective memory and condemnation while defending Israel's right to self-defense against attacks like October 7.
Nasturtiums 4-Eva
Rosie from Milk Street Cooking School
- Nasturtiums are fully edible plants with peppery flavors ranging from delicate flowers to fiery seed pods usable as 'poor man's capers.'
- The leaves work well in salads and pestos, flowers serve as garnishes, and the pods can be salt- or vinegar-cured for vinegar infusions.
- The author provides four nasturtium recipes featuring pestos, Vietnamese summer rolls, and nasturtium-infused vinegar for various culinary applications.
5 Things Every Parent Should Know About The Gentle Parenting Myth
Restoring the West by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
- Gentle parenting often overlaps with permissive parenting in practice, as families avoid conflict and let children negotiate boundaries.
- Developmental psychology shows children need loving authority, firm boundaries, and manageable frustration to build resilience and self-control.
- Prioritizing being adored over exercising authority risks raising children who struggle with boundaries, responsibility, and legitimate authority.