🌊 New Cholesterol Pill Approved
Plus: Trump says China rigged 2020, United unveils new middle seat, & 20 Questions!
A day that will live in in-foamy.
Pour one out because today is the 42nd anniversary of the US raising its drinking age from 18 to 21. Many wonder how it’s possible that you can die in war or start a family before you can take your first sip of Kylie Jenner’s new tequila, but we understand why the law was designed this way: People should get at least four years of drinking practice before they can rent a car at Hertz.
Here’s 20 Questions and time for some news.
Trump: China interfered with 2020
New cholesterol pill approved
United unveils new middle seat
-Max and Max
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Trump Delivers Primetime Speech
President Trump gave a primetime address Thursday night alleging China interfered in the 2020 election, saying he had declassified documents supporting the claim
Trump said China acquired 220M voter files and cited over 275,000 noncitizens registered to vote across several states, though he did not present evidence that any ballots were altered. A 2021 US intelligence assessment had concluded China did not interfere in the 2020 vote count or election infrastructure
Democratic lawmakers accused Trump of undermining confidence in the upcoming midterms. Trump also urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would add voter ID and citizenship requirements for registration
The Man Tasked with Saving AI
In November 2022, Big Crypto faceplanted in front of the world.
That was the month that Sam Bankman-Fried’s $32B exchange, FTX, went bankrupt. With FTX’s implosion and the crypto community’s anti-government philosophy, crypto seemed a prime target for a slow, regulatory death.
To save itself, it needed a game plan. Enter Chris Lehane.
He helped create a pro-crypto super PAC that has influenced critical elections and contributed to the passage of favorable crypto laws.
Fast forward a few years, and now Lehane’s been tasked with running it back, this time to save AI from a regulatory stranglehold. Read our full deep-dive here.
OpenAI Announces Hardware Product
OpenAI is developing a portable, screen-free smart speaker as its first consumer hardware product, per Bloomberg News
The device would function as an AI companion, controlling smart-home appliances, playing media, answering questions, and tapping into ChatGPT's capabilities. It will include a camera and sensors, plus a rechargeable battery so it can move between rooms
The launch comes days after Apple sued OpenAI and two former Apple employees, accusing them of systematically acquiring confidential information to speed up OpenAI's hardware push. OpenAI disputes that its device infringes on any trade secrets
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Fired
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky faced backlash after firing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov six months into his tenure
Thousands protested across Ukraine, demanding Fedorov's reinstatement. Fedorov said he'd asked Zelensky to remove Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, accusing him of blocking modernization and drone initiatives
Zelensky said he had to "choose one side or the other," facing backlash within his own government: A senior Air Force commander resigned in protest, calling it "a great evil for the country's defense capability," and an MP from Zelensky's party quit in solidarity
FDA Approves Cholesterol Pill
The FDA approved Merck's daily cholesterol pill, Lipfendra, marking the first oral drug in a class previously limited to injections
Lipfendra works by blocking PCSK9, a protein that interferes with the body's ability to clear LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. Clinical trials showed the drug cut LDL levels by nearly 60% over six months, with side effects similar to a placebo
The pill will cost $10.50 a day, cheaper than injectable PCSK9 inhibitors like Amgen's Repatha. Merck's CEO said the pill could make LDL reduction more accessible, as the company also studies whether it directly reduces heart attacks and strokes
Middle Seat Makeover
United Airlines unveiled a redesigned middle seat on its Economy Plus cabin, converting it into a shared table for extra elbow room. Domestic flights start this fall, with international routes following by early 2027. Pricing hasn't been announced.
US Imposes Tariffs on Brazil
The Trump Administration imposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing unfair trade practices in payments, ethanol, intellectual property, and environmental enforcement. Exemptions cover goods like beef, coffee, and aircraft parts.
Argentina Faces FIFA Scrutiny
Argentina players sparked controversy after displaying a banner reading "The Falklands are Argentine" while celebrating their 2-1 World Cup semifinal win over England. England’s Downing Street backed calls for a FIFA investigation, and some urged suspensions ahead of Sunday's final against Spain.
What Does Roca Nation Think?
🏀 Yesterday’s Question: Promise this has nothing to do with England’s loss, but which fan base in sports (college and pro) has suffered the most over the last 25 years?
The Cleveland Browns fans... The franchise has been so bad that if you look up “inept” in the dictionary, their logo appears. Oh wait, they are so bad, they have no logo.
Tom from Ohio
Minnesota…speaking from a Wisconsinite who spent 4 years there for college and got swept up in the “this is our year” hype only for it to crash and burn
(I’m looking at you, Vikings and Wild). I wouldn’t say it’s an every year thing, but it’s wild (no pun intended) when you’re watching a MN team click so well only to phone it in when it matters most.
Honorable Mention: The Buffalo Bills…because YOU LITERALLY HAD A CLEAR SHOT TO THE SUPER BOWL when Mahomes/the Chiefs were out of contention, and you still blew it.
Jillian from Wisconsin
Nebraska football. Hands down. We went from being a powerhouse for 3 decades including winning 3 national championships over a 4 year period in the ‘90s, to a laughingstock.
Nebraska owns five recognized national championships, 43 conference championships and 70 weeks ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. From 1969 through 2003, we appeared in a bowl game for 35 consecutive seasons.
We spent hundreds of millions trying to fix the situation, including major stadium and facility upgrades- nicer locker rooms than most NFL teams. And then we brought a former hero on the field, Scott Frost, to be the head coach. We had zero doubt he was going to be the savior bringing us back to greatness. It was the biggest disaster yet with no winning seasons and no bowl games. And even though he got a huge buyout of his contract, he’s still suing the university for more. Further, every time a national TV game we get embarrassed. Yet our fans are resilient and amazing, maybe even deceived. We continue to sell out every game since 1962. Even now, we’re paying around $8 to $9 million per year for yet another new coach and feel pretty good because we won seven games and became bowl eligible two years in a row.
At least in college sports, there can be no doubt that no former powerhouse has fallen further.
Kevin from Nebraska
20 Questions
Ladies and gentlemen, the Weeknd.
It was a lot of fun going through your answers from last Friday. We especially appreciated the person who responded “🤯 No!!! 😭😱😭 just NO!!!” to the question of what you would do for news if Roca disappeared.
We’re returning with an open-ended edition of 20 Questions. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!
Here are selected answers from last week’s open-ended 20 Questions.
1. Are people too dependent on coffee, or is it a ‘good’ addiction?
“Yes, the line outside my local Starbucks looks like a drive-thru methadone clinic”
“As a monster a day guy, I don’t think people are ‘dependent’ on coffee. I’d say that caffeine in general is an ‘easy’ addiction to kick.”
“It’s a GREAT addiction”
2. Should gambling be legal?
“No. It’s a zero sum game.”
“Yes, except for prediction markets”
“it will always exist, so yeah, it should prob be legal”
3. Best bet you ever made?
“Buying an a 1996 Oldsmobile from a friend’s great grandmother. 12 years and 100k miles later I still have it and it runs like a top.”
“Put $1 on Seattle to win the Super Bowl and won 43 cents”
“Betting I’d still be married 45 years later in my life”
4. What’s your favorite podcast?
“99 percent invisible”
“Stuff You Should Know”
“Hot Dog is a Sandwich (Mythical Kitchen)”
5. Who is your favorite comedian?
“Nate Bargatze” (By far the most popular answer)
“mitch hedberg, rip”
“My Dad”
6. How do you feel about political correctness?
“i live by the philosophy, dont be a d***, so wherever that falls”
“It’s used as a way to bog down 50% of conversations now, regardless of who is lobbing the accusation”
“I ignore it and suffer”
7. If Roca disappeared, where would you get your news?
“If Roca disappeared I would have to begin a trek to find them and bring them back.”
“The NYTimes and WSJ”
“Piece it together from main steam media while trying my best to find another more reasonable source. “
8. Last book you read?
“Re-read ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ with my son”
“Sapiens: A brief history of Humankind”
“A law textbook”
9. Why are fewer people getting married nowadays?
“They want to be free, not tied down to anything. Parents have done a terrible job of passing on the benefits of a good family life”
“4 million reasons. dating apps, porn access, later waves of feminism and women’s autonomy, male loneliness epidemic, divisive culture and politics, specifically intense division between the genders right now, a general cultural shift in how we understand the utility of marriage.”
“Because they are looking for the “perfect partner.” Spoiler: Humans aren’t perfect.”
10. Are dating apps a net negative or positive for society?
“negative... go touch grass and talk to people”
“At this point, they are positive. Almost every couple I know met that way.”
“In a vacuum, negative. But where society has already progressed where people don’t have that ‘3rd place’ to meet people at, it is a positive.”
11. Best midnight snack?
“Whataburger”
“Cold Pizza”
“Are people still awake at midnight?”
12. Comfiest clothing item you have?
“Neon yellow croc sandals - they’re my house slippers - they’re so ugly and cringe but I just can’t quit them.”
“All my threadbare, horrifying sleeping shirts”
“My hiking pants that will never see a hiking trail.”
13. Your least favorite word?
“moist” (The overwhelming majority)
“Synergy”
“Leverage - I use it a lot for martial arts, and have no issue with that usage. But I hear it way to much at work about how are we leveraging this project into more projects, can we leverage any opportunities here, etc. it just gets so annoying and overused.”
14. Babysit Jack-Jack from the Incredibles or Maggie Simpson?
“Maggie Simpson because I could have a deep conversation with her.”
“Jack-Jack would be interesting”
“I would be terrified of losing jack jack, so im going with maggie”
15. Round pickles or spear pickles?
“Spears, I don’t like commitment to a whole one”
“neither?.. round pickles get let gross juice on my plate so I guess that”
“Round! Much more versatile”
16. Do you use the word ‘mid’?
“only ironically”
“only against my own will, much like “swag””
“nahh... shit’s mid”
17. Is meteorology a scam?
“past the next 12 hours, they have no real idea what’s going to happen”
“yes, what other profession gets to be wrong 99% of the time but still be taken seriously”
“No -- predictions are much better today than in the 60s”
18. Thoughts on cyclists?
“They are a scurge that must be stopped.”
“Pompous mid‑lane oxygen thieves (used mid on purpose)”
“I am one. We all need to drive carefully and be considerate of others.”
19. Your favorite campfire song?
“The C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. Song - Spongebob” (Very popular answer)
“Where Did You Sleep Last Night”
“Honestly have never sang a song around a campfire.”
20. What should be a college major that isn’t?
“How to fully read and respond to an email.”
“urban food systems/urban sustainability/urban planning that’s actually good and not just how to write bus lane policy”
“Personal Finance 101 including mortgages, investments, retirement accounts, household budgeting”
‘Til Reality Do Us Part
Actor Shia LaBeouf confronted a woman who has been publicly insisting for months that she's married to him. The woman reportedly believes the real LaBeouf is in hiding and that the public version is a "clone," and has been posting videos across state lines addressing him directly. No legal action has been announced.
Posthumous Setlist
Ten unreleased tracks recorded by a young David Bowie, back when he still went by his real name, Davie Jones, are set for release. One single, “I Want Your Love,” is already streaming, with the full collection out September 18.
Monkey Business
A new monkey species with bright pink-orange lips has been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Lomami National Park. Researchers first spotted it in 2008 but only recently confirmed it as genetically distinct.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts
First of all, The Odyssey was amazing. It’s a terrific summer blockbuster and a true epic. While it may not have been perfectly executed, it’s quite a task to depict the Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe’s dark magic, the giant soldiers, and the Trojan horse. What a movie — going to see it again.
Now, a long way from Homer’s Greece is the deep tech community of Southern Cal. Check out our latest RocaNews video, which takes you to the future.
–Max and Max
Great newsletter, but I don't love the new font—it's pretty harsh to read to me