🌊 Cops: AI Camera Edition
Plus: Explosive diarrhea outbreak, France loses, & Buffett snubs Gates
When Jack Dorsey launched Twitter on July 15, 2006…
Do you think he thought that, 20 years later, AI videos of Mitch McConnell dancing in the hospital and “I was having explosive diarrhea before it was cool” posts would dominate the feed on his site?
At least it’s better than the #ElmoIsFascist trend we had on this day a year ago.
Man sucked out of plane window
Explosive diarrhea outbreak worsens
France goes gentle into that good night
-Max and Max
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Officers Fired After Data Misuse
At least nine Georgia police officers have been arrested and fired this year for misusing Flock Safety license plate reader data for personal reasons
Flock Safety is an AI-powered camera system used by law enforcement to capture vehicle license plates and specific vehicle details
Five Albany Police Department officers were fired and charged this week with misuse of license plate data and violation of oath of office, after an internal audit found repeated non-law-enforcement use of the system. Four other officers have been fired across Georgia, but authorities haven't detailed what any of the officers had searched for
The arrests have fueled broader concern about the technology's scope, with opponents worried it could be used to track people's movements
Man Sucked Out of a Plane Window
A woman saved her husband from being sucked out of a Ryanair plane window mid-flight on Friday
Svetlana Grković was traveling with her husband, Ljubisa Karović, on a flight from Greece to Germany when an apparent engine failure sent debris into the cabin window, shattering it and causing rapid decompression
Karović, 61, was pulled halfway out of the aircraft for about two minutes and lost consciousness three times before Grković and others pulled him back inside. He had kept his seatbelt fastened, which helped others hold onto him. He remains hospitalized and doesn’t remember the incident
Andy Burnham to Become Prime Minister
Andy Burnham is on track to become British Prime Minister next Monday after securing uncontested backing to lead the Labour Party
As of Tuesday, 349 of Labour's 403 MPs endorsed him, well past the threshold to block any rival candidate. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, will formally become Labour leader on Friday and prime minister on Monday, succeeding Keir Starmer to be the UK’s sixth PM in seven years
Starmer resigned on June 22 after two years in office following sliding approval ratings, election losses, MP rebellions, and backlash after appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US
Cyclospora Outbreak Worsens
A cyclosporiasis outbreak has spread across 34 states, sickening nearly 7,000 people, per the CDC
The parasitic infection, spread via contaminated water or food, causes diarrhea and is rarely fatal. Michigan has been hit hardest, with over 3,300 reported cases. Health officials identified lettuce and salad greens as potential sources, though no specific grower or supplier has been confirmed
Cyclospora has a one- to two-week incubation period, complicating the investigation. Health officials recommend washing produce thoroughly, buying whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed, and cooking vegetables to reduce risk
The Conference that Created AI
In the summer of 1956, a small group of researchers gathered at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. They had received a modest $7,500 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation for an eight-week workshop studying artificial intelligence.
Their work laid the foundation for the AI that we know today.
Read part 3 of our series on the history of AI here.
Mbappe Goes Mvisible
Spain dominated France 2-0 in Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal, booking their first World Cup final spot since 2010. France, the World Cup favorites, were stifled by the Spanish defense
Inflation Cools in June
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices rose 3.5% year-over-year in June, easing from May's 4.2% and beating analyst forecasts of 3.8%.
Buffett Cuts Gates Foundation Donation
Warren Buffett left the Gates Foundation out of his yearly stock donation, instead contributing nearly $6B to four family-linked charities.
What Does Roca Nation Think?
💰 Yesterday’s Question: As the popularity of capitalism declines in the US, have you yourself become less capitalist in recent years? Please be specific!
Yes and no. Looking at the general landscape right now (and even best case scenarios for the future), it’s hard to feel unabashedly passionate about capitalism. But I’m not sure how many better options we have for a country of our scale, besides better safety nets. It’s unfortunate that anything that puts people over profit gets automatically smeared as “socialism” or “communism,” but that’s another discussion.
I don’t ardently defend capitalism, but I know I have benefited from it. Went to a decent college, got a decent job, and just bought a decent house. Had a lovely wedding and honeymoon, and hoping to have kids in the near future — but thinking about childcare costs is one of the things that makes me
feel most bleak about capitalism.
At the end of the day, I think the arguments over semantics miss the mark. Left or right, I think the majority of Americans can agree on a few big things economically: we shouldn’t be controlled by a handful of big tech billionaires; we shouldn’t be replaced by robots; food, housing, and healthcare shouldn’t be seen as luxuries; and having kids should be more attainable for families who genuinely want to.
Evan from Illinois
Defining myself as “less capitalist,” might be a stretch. I certainly think my views surrounding capitalism have changed, but I struggle to believe in a really viable alternative. Corruption is definitely an issue, but it seems to plague socialist governments as well. I grew up fairly conservative and have definitely become less so in recent years. I do believe wealth and income inequality are huge issues and I believe the immensely wealthy have a moral responsibility to make society a more equal and just place. Does this mean “handouts” as angry critics of socialism often decry? I don’t think so. Does it mean reevaluating minimum wages, healthcare, insurance, and general cost of living? Probably. It is certainly difficult to call a society that permits unimaginably huge profits for relatively few people just. Higher taxation rates on the wealthy could really solve some (not all) issues in the United States. The rich may complain about higher taxes unfairly taking their wealth, but I think that is a lesser evil than people going hungry, children missing out on proper education, veterans going homeless, etc. These issues are exacerbated at best by capitalism. I’m not suggesting we toss the entire system, but even slight reform (in the form of higher taxes for the wealthy) could provide great social profit for the country at large.
Sean from CT
I don’t think people are less capitalist, but many of us don’t like the crony capitalism and the corporatized life we’re forced into. In 2011 Richard Branson said
“We need a new mindset to make capitalism an acceptable force in the world. If businesses are purely about profit and amassing bonuses, screwing people and the world in the process, then they will not be around for long, and don’t deserve to be.
“But if they start to be a force for good, I genuinely think we could get on top of most of the problems of the world. And people will have a lot of fun. It is just such a satisfying way of doing things.”
And that’s the brand of capitalism we need to bring back.
Bryan from South Carolina
💰 Today’s Question: Do you believe that it’s much harder for young people to buy a home and live well than it was for their parents?
Reply to this email with your response!
Nuts About a Comeback
The Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise is getting revived, with Big Shot Pictures buying a 25% stake in partnership with longtime owner Bagdasarian Productions.
Snake for a Slice
Florida's 2026 Python Challenge is underway, and one Everglades City restaurant is offering a unique reward for hunters who bag an invasive Burmese python.
Nuevo Chipotle
Chipotle is opening its first restaurant in Mexico this week, launching on Thursday in San Pedro Garza García near Monterrey.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts
The Sertaõ, which is almost as big as Western Europe, is the poorest part of the country, yet crime is concentrated in cities and along the coast, where gangs battle over drug routes. In this video, we drive through the rural inland, where you’d never know about those issues.
Hope you enjoy and have a great day.
–Max and Max