Cards · Saturday, September 12, 2026 · 84 newsletters
Today's reads
Every newsletter in the inbox, distilled to 3-5 claims. The briefing for this day at /whatimreading/2026-09-12 is the editorial curation on top of this layer.
404 Media
by Becky Ferreira
Mercury shrinks faster than scientists previously believed.
- New research reveals Mercury's contraction rate exceeds earlier estimates.
- Scientists used advanced imaging to study the planet's geological changes.
- Discovery adds to understanding of Mercury's internal dynamics and cooling.
Links: Mercury Is Shrinking Way Faster Than We Thought, Scientists Discover, Bird feathers from a Late Cretaceous coprolite
Agentic AI
by Ken Huang
Hardware-aware attention kernels unlock 70-80% GPU utilization through SRAM tiling.
- Standard attention materializes N×N matrices in slow HBM, wasting 800+ TFLOPS per H100 GPU.
- On-chip SRAM delivers 33 TB/s bandwidth vs. HBM's 3.35 TB/s; algorithm-hardware codesign essential.
- FlashAttention-3, FlashDecoding, and TPU Pallas optimize tensor core utilization via asynchronous pipelines.
- Frontier LLM inference requires restructuring algorithms to keep intermediate matrices in ultra-fast SRAM.
Links: Chapter 1: The Physics of LLM Inference, Chapter 2: The KV Cache Frontier, Chapter 3: Next-Gen Speculative Decoding, Chapter 4: Extreme Quantization
by Ken Huang
Modernize CLAUDE.md with prefix-stable KV caching for efficiency.
- CLAUDE.md bloat wastes tokens and breaks prefix cache hits; use static bootstrap with volatility-split memory instead.
- Prefix caching requires byte-stable compilation; one byte change invalidates all downstream tokens in multi-turn sessions.
- Five-step modernization: diagnose, offload, dateless model IDs, prune standards, condense memory sync rules.
- Production safety requires CRLF normalization, alphabetical sorting, git attributes LF locks, and prefix-integrity audits.
AI Market Fit
by Guillermo Flor
ElevenLabs hits $11B valuation by avoiding competitive raw models.
- ElevenLabs reached $11B without building chatbots, coding models, or text-to-video.
- Real moat lies in deployment, evaluation, and vertical integration layers.
- Polish dubbing problem unlocked the path to $11B company.
- Opportunity exists in voice AI stack layers, not competing on raw TTS quality.
ANA What's Happening Now
ANA announces upcoming conferences and events through October.
- Masters of Marketing Conference opens October 20-23 in Orlando with virtual option.
- Cultural fluency emerging as key strategy for CPG brands in new ANA Magazine.
- Five major conferences scheduled: Global Day of Learning, AI and Tech, Measurement and Analytics, Masters of Advertising Law, Multicultural Marketing.
- All events offer hybrid or in-person formats across September through November 2026.
Links: Cultural Fluency Is the New Secret Sauce for CPG Brands, 2026 ANA Global Day of Learning, 2026 ANA AI and Technology for Marketers Conference, Presented by Meta, 2026 ANA Measurement and Analytics Conference, Presented by Google, 2026 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference, Presented by Havas
Better Report
Common power strip mistakes cause thousands of residential electrical fires yearly.
- Around 51,000 residential electrical fires occur annually in the U.S., causing 500 deaths and over 1 billion in damages.
- Power strips and extension cords are frequently misused, creating fire hazards in homes.
- Trust funds are accessible to average people, not just the wealthy, for asset protection.
- Indoor kitchen air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air without proper purification.
Links: Continue reading
by Better Report
Simple two-minute test determines if olive oil has gone rancid.
- Olive oil degrades over time, unlike wine, and loses flavor quality.
- A quick two-minute test reveals whether neglected bottles are still usable.
- Proper storage and freshness checks help maintain olive oil quality for cooking.
Links: Continue reading
Sink overflow hole prevents water damage and cabinet flooding.
- Tiny overflow hole in sink rim drains excess water before it spills onto countertop and cabinets.
- Hole directs water into drain pipe system, protecting furniture and floors from water damage.
- Without overflow hole, sink could overflow during accidental blockages or neglect.
- Simple design feature saves costly water damage repairs and extends sink lifespan.
Bloomberg
UniCredit chief meets German finance ministry over Commerzbank takeover.
- UniCredit holds nearly 50% of Commerzbank after building stake from initial 4.5% auction purchase.
- German government now accepts takeover cannot be prevented; seeks to negotiate key terms with Orcel.
- Government aims to secure commitments on stock listing, job guarantees, and investments.
- Previous finance minister failed to block initial UniCredit purchase two years ago.
Bloomberg Businessweek
Tech giants' massive bond issuance is challenging US Treasury dominance
- AI-focused tech companies are issuing hundreds of billions in corporate bonds to fund data centers and infrastructure.
- Tech firms like Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia now rival countries in revenue and global reach.
- Corporate bonds are competing with US government bonds as investment vehicles for the first time at scale.
- Legal systems struggle to assign liability when AI systems cause harm, mirroring medieval precedents.
Links: Everybody's Business, Apple, Bloomberg News, Crime Is Just One Prompt Away
Bloomberg Green
by Todd Woody
Trump's deep-sea mining push attracts entrepreneurs despite unproven technology.
- Trump wants American dominance over seabed mineral nodules worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
- Mostly foreign companies have rushed to pursue deep-sea mining licenses following Trump's order.
- Nodule mining technology remains unproven and viability of ventures is uncertain.
- Michigan court blocked Trump's effort to keep an aging coal plant operating.
Links: attracted a tide, court blocked
Bloomberg Money
401(k) plans offer more flexibility and access than commonly realized.
- 401(k)s were designed to be left alone, but recent legislative changes create new options for accessing funds.
- Ted Benna, creator of the 401(k), believes the plan underserves low-income workers and proposes Radish as a supplement.
- Despite criticisms, 401(k)s remain highly effective wealth-building tools with 769,000 millionaires.
Links: how often we check our investments, explained to my colleague Suzanne Woolley, Allison Schrager recently wrote, 769,000 401(k) millionaires
Bloomberg Opinion
by Chris Bryant
Friedrich Merz must restore German confidence after far-right surge.
- Alternative for Germany's Saxony-Anhalt victory marks a watershed in postwar German history.
- Far-right populist nationalism has gained dramatic support in eastern state elections.
- Merz's coalition must deliver economic growth and restore democratic trust.
- Columnist doubts Merz has capacity to prevent further democratic decline.
Links: Germany Is In a Very Dark Place, and Time's Running Out, The Case Against Cutting Social Security Benefits, China's Luxury Panic Leaves the US Holding the Bag
Bloomberg Pursuits
Star Wars creator spends $1 billion; narrative art pushes storytelling limits
- Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at British Museum draws massive ticket sales, telling 1064-1066 invasion story with narrative momentum.
- Lucas Museum and similar cultural institutions explore how visual media narrate complex historical events and human experience.
- High-end culture experiences command premium prices, from foldable iPhones to $60 artisan bread and returning street dining concepts.
Links: Read in browser, appreciate a good story, hurtles along, currently on display, snapped up, special offer
Bloomberg Weekend
New eras reshape yields, drones, therapy, and male ambition.
- High yields are likely permanent regardless of geopolitical events or monetary policy shifts.
- Drones are fundamentally changing how cities defend themselves against attacks.
- Therapists are creating AI clones to extend their services and reach more patients.
- American men increasingly pursue influencer work as a serious career path.
Links: higher yields are likely here to stay, drones are redefining how cities are defending themselves, therapists are cloning themselves into AI twins, American men are looking to influencer work
ByteByteGo
by ByteByteGo
Git revert causes conflicts when later commits modify the same lines.
- Git revert creates new commits undoing changes without rewriting history, keeping branches safe.
- Conflicts occur when a later commit changed lines from an earlier commit you're reverting.
- Resolve revert conflicts by manually fixing files, staging, and continuing the revert process.
- Claude Code features include plan mode, checkpoints, MCP integrations, and parallel subagents.
CFO.com
HSBC finance chief stepping down; Polymarket and CME appoint new CFOs.
- HSBC's finance chief will step down in 2027.
- Polymarket names former Amazon executive as first CFO.
- CME Group promotes accounting chief to CFO role.
Links: CFOs On the Move: Week ending Sept. 11
Contrary Research
by Contrary Research
AI firms face security, ethics, and concentration risks amid misuse reports.
- Anthropic's threat report reveals state-sponsored actors from Russia, China, Iran weaponizing Claude for espionage, surveillance, and weapons development.
- OpenAI's Navier-Stokes solution claim sparks backlash over alleged training on independent researchers' work without proper attribution.
- Anthropic and OpenAI concentrate 80% of revenue from 1% of customers, creating systemic economic risk.
Links: a 154-page threat report Thursday, suspected Russian espionage actor targeted more than 20, Iranian military groups used Claude to surveil and profile 6.4K, developed a solution, independent research, public statements that triggered backlash, Greek Gift, presented
Daily Dad
by Daily Dad
Make time for your kids; parenting is about guiding, not controlling.
- Give children the extra minutes they ask for; it benefits parents as much as kids.
- Parents are guardrails keeping children safe, not dictators controlling their paths.
- Your daily actions and choices shape the core memories your kids will carry forever.
- Reading is a gift from those who sacrificed time to write and share wisdom.
Links: You Can Always Give Them Five More Minutes, Parenting in a Competitive World | Ryan Holiday & Candace Parker, Who Are You?, Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead
Dan Mall
by Dan Mall
Successful service businesses stay three years ahead of their customers.
- Every technology that democratizes a skill creates new problems behind the old one, opening fresh business opportunities.
- Design agencies that fought website-building tools lost; those who leaned in and helped clients adapt survived.
- The sustainable business model relies on maintaining a gap between your expertise and what clients can do themselves.
- A three-year gap is ideal; it's long enough to establish a niche, build reputation, and command premium pricing.
David Cummings on Startups
by David Cummings
Atlanta dominates 2026 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list
- Impiricus leads Atlanta companies with 11,691% three-year growth in AI and data.
- Logistics, software, and financial services sectors dominate Atlanta's Inc. 5000 rankings.
- The Salon Suite Model ranks 35th nationally with 7,210% growth in education space.
- Atlanta entrepreneurs continue building fast-growing companies across diverse industries.
Links: Inc. Magazine Inc. 5000, Impiricus, The Salon Suite Model, Saleo, Carpool Logistics
Faster Than Normal
by Alex Brogan
Harland Sanders built KFC empire starting at 65 after 1000 rejections
- Sanders lost his father at 5, worked numerous jobs before finding success with chicken at 65.
- Interstate 75 bypass destroyed his Corbin restaurant in 1955, forcing him to restart broke.
- He franchised his recipe despite 1000+ rejections, sleeping in his car to save money.
- Sanders proved consistency builds trust, speed matters less, and great products sell themselves.
Links: Sign up here
by Alex Brogan
Jimmy Buffett built iconic brand through passion, niche focus, and diversification.
- Buffett persevered through early failure, selling only 324 copies of his debut album in 1970.
- Moving to Key West inspired his signature sound and 1977 hit 'Margaritaville' anthem.
- He transformed personal passion into lifestyle brand centered on fun and authenticity.
- Key lessons include embracing your niche, staying true to vision, and diversifying income streams.
Links: Sign up here, Send me feedback
FinAi News
Banks evaluate AI-driven startups while security risks emerge from weak passwords.
- Banks and investors actively assess AI-driven fintech startups for long-term growth opportunities.
- AI is becoming essential table stakes for many fintechs and financial services providers.
- AI can crack weak, predictable passwords in milliseconds, enabling fraudster access to banking data.
- Truist bank deploying generative AI for personalized customer alerts and outreach initiatives.
Links: 5 AI fintechs to watch, AI cracks weak, predictable passwords in milliseconds, Truist to use gen AI for personalized alerts, outreach
Financial Times
Weekend cultural highlights featuring Soho House founder and food writing.
- Soho House founder Nick Jones discusses expansion challenges and how cancer shaped his perspective on hospitality.
- Financial Times Appetites section curates food, drink, and dining content from leading contributors like Nigella Lawson and Jay Rayner.
- Weekend reads span arts, books, travel, and food culture for cultural enrichment.
Links: Soho House founder Nick Jones: 'We were never trying to be exclusive', The cocktail hour: a drinker's case for a proper ritual, Food & Drink
Foreign Affairs
September/October issue available; subscribe by 9/13 for limited discount.
- Issue features essays on China's rare-earth dominance, future alliances, and end of war on terror.
- Cover topics include global economic crisis, Middle East stability, and bioweapons risks.
- Subscription includes six print/digital issues, unlimited articles, app access, and full archives.
Links: Subscribe to Foreign Affairs today to save $5, full magazine here
by Dan Kurtz-Phelan
Ukraine unlikely to cease fighting without addressing Russian occupation threat
- U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner's Moscow-Kyiv visit yielded little progress on peace talks after 4.5 years of war.
- Russian terror campaigns in occupied territories convince Ukrainians that ceasefire could prove costlier than continued fighting.
- Ukraine will only consider peace deals under specific conditions that address brutal occupation threats.
- China-Russia partnership deepens with 70+ meetings between Putin and Xi since 2013, though underlying frictions persist.
Links: View in Browser, 2025 essay, Subscribe here, Read More
Frich
by Aleksandra
Fix stagnant business social media through systems, not talent.
- Social stagnation stems from system problems like inconsistency, incoherent feeds, one-way broadcasting, and ignoring data.
- Commit to a realistic posting cadence and protect it; consistency beats frequency.
- Visualize your content plan so posts align cohesively and you stay accountable.
- Engagement requires two-way conversation; reply to comments and ask real questions.
- Use analytics to identify working formats and eliminate low-performing content.
Links: Planoly's full creator suite, Join millions of creators and entrepreneurs today
FSA Store
Win your dream cart with FSA Store's latest promotion.
- 3 million plus customers can access 100% eligible products for FSA purchases.
- Best sellers, new items, and hi-tech health products available in the promotion.
- Limited time offer to win a dream shopping cart from FSA Store.
Links: Best Sellers, New, Hi-tech Health
FSA-eligible rehydration products now available with smart shopping options
- FSA Store offers over 3 million products, all 100% eligible for FSA accounts
- Featured categories include Best Sellers, New arrivals, and Hi-tech Health solutions
- Rehydration products are strategically positioned as smart health purchases for FSA members
Links: Best Sellers, New, Hi-tech Health
Gothamist Daily
NYPD officer's gun accidentally fires, strikes bystander at Bed-Stuy subway station.
- An NYPD officer's firearm discharged accidentally at a Bed-Stuy subway station, hitting a woman.
- Police have not yet explained how the gun went off or provided details on the incident.
- The shooting occurred in a busy transit location, endangering the public.
Links: Cop accidentally fires gun at Bed-Stuy subway station, striking woman, NYPD says
Gov Brief Today
by Gov Brief Today
Attorney general breaks written promise on Trump payout fund appeal
- Todd Blanche promised senators in writing the $1.8 billion Trump payout fund was dead, then filed appeal 40 days later.
- Justice Department filed two-line appeal notice without explaining what it wants or defending the original case.
- Trump maintains IRS shield; second judge ordered government to identify fund creator despite Blanche's assurances.
Links: Second GOP Senate campaign aide ousted, White House calls it weaponization reminder, Houthis now hold all strait islands, Most sickened before July recall, MMR doses nearly doubled in August, Court struck 1849 ban last year, Parks lost quarter of staff already
GuillermorFlorMarketCap
by GuillermorFlorMarketCap
New follower notification on Substack platform
- GuillermorFlorMarketCap followed you on Substack
- Option to follow them back to see their reading and sharing activity
History Facts
WWII aircraft factories hid beneath elaborate fake neighborhoods.
- Boeing concealed a Seattle factory under a 23-acre fake neighborhood with houses, lawns, and cars, producing 300 bombers monthly.
- Lockheed's Burbank plant used Hollywood set designers and Disney artists to create fake houses, fields, and trees from painted chicken wire and feathers.
- Both manufacturers fooled reconnaissance pilots flying overhead during strategic bombing campaigns.
by History Facts
Writer tests seven unusual presidential breakfast recipes.
- Some presidents enjoyed traditional eggs and bacon while others preferred bizarre morning meals.
- Seven unusual presidential breakfasts were selected and eaten for one week.
- The experiment revealed which commander in chief breakfast proved most palatable.
Links: I Tried U.S. Presidents' Favorite Breakfasts and Here's the Winner, Famous Figures
How Everything Works
by Kathryn Whitbourne
Aging changes sleep biology, causing earlier morning waking.
- Older adults struggle to achieve 7-8 hours recommended sleep despite going to bed early.
- Early waking in age is primarily biological, not a personal failure.
- Nearly one-third of married couples sleep separately for better rest quality.
- Natural body changes make uninterrupted sleep harder as you age.
Ian H
by Ian H
Top 10 Journey by Mediavine sites reveal underrated niches and Google-approved strategies.
- Journey by Mediavine monetizes 5,283 tracked sites; top performer MondayMandala gets 11M organic monthly visitors despite recent decline.
- Successful sites like SeeingTennessee and BeyondYellowBrickBlog rank with minimal domain authority by publishing authentic, first-hand experience content.
- Google rewards travel blogs with real photos and personal narratives over AI-generated content and stock imagery.
- Emerging sites like Responstosay gain 778K visitors in under one year with only 12 referring domains.
Links: Journey by Mediavine list, Raptive, Ezoic
Interesting Facts
by Nicole Garner Meeker
Egg creams contain neither eggs nor cream, despite their name.
- Egg creams have been popular in New York diners since the 1890s, with a chocolate flavor and foamy top.
- The drink's name origin remains unexplained, a linguistic mystery of American food culture.
- Chocolate syrup was originally marketed as a medicinal health tonic before becoming a dessert ingredient.
- Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup predated Hershey's by 26 years, establishing New York chocolate dominance.
Links: Continue Reading, 7 Foods Whose Names Make No Sense
Last Money In
SPV fees reduce your returns more than you realize across all exit multiples.
- Cash fees deducted from principal prevent that money from buying shares and earning returns.
- A 3x return in a high-fee SPV structure becomes 2.31x after 20% carry plus 12% total other fees.
- On a 10x exit, fee structure differences cost $186,000 versus $0 on a $100k investment.
- Some SPVs require 1.14x return just to break even before accounting for dilution.
Manufacturing Dive
Baker Industries uses inclusive hiring to build manufacturing talent pipeline.
- 101-year-old founder leads Pennsylvania nonprofit employing people with disabilities and criminal justice backgrounds.
- Baker Industries removes barriers limiting job options for underrepresented populations in manufacturing.
- Growing nonprofit demonstrates talent pipeline strategy through second-chance hiring practices.
Links: How Baker Industries and its 101-year-old founder fuel a talent pipeline
Marketing Letter
by Jacky
SEO rank tracking lifetime deal ends October 1 at $189.
- Looker.so sells out price tiers weekly; $189 today, $199 next, then monthly-only after October 1.
- Added Google Search Console integration, backlink tracking, keyword discovery since last pitch.
- One-time payment pays for itself by spring versus $29 monthly; you control data costs via DataForSEO.
- 44 seats remain across all price tiers; 21 days left before offer closes permanently.
Matt Bertulli
by Matt Bertulli
Brand marketing needs discipline, not vibes or pure attribution.
- Performance marketers dismissed unmeasurable brand value; brand marketers now hide behind immeasurability. Both extremes fail.
- Brand requires multiple imperfect signals: branded search, direct traffic, email signups, creator inbound, repeat purchase rates.
- Founders must increase brand spending as paid social hardens and distribution fragments, but accountability matters.
- Brand's goal is making future selling easier through faster trust, creator partnerships, and better paid angles.
Links: Listen to the Operators Podcast, The Briefing, Click here
McKinsey Top Ten
by McKinsey Top Ten
McKinsey's top ten reports examine AI reshaping industries and economic mobility.
- Global balance sheet shows asset classes growing out of balance with economy, risking corrections through inflation or asset losses.
- AI adoption in B2B sales and insurance requires moving beyond pilots to agentic AI for competitive advantage and real value.
- Economic mobility, women's health gaps, and productivity challenges present major opportunities across US, UK, and Latin America.
- European utilities and Switzerland face strategic inflection points requiring bold transformation to maintain competitiveness.
Links: The global balance sheet 2026: Imbalance and divergence, The future of B2B sales: How growth champions rewire their playbooks with AI, How AI will reshape the economics of insurance: A CEO's guide to strategy, In pursuit of progress: Americans' aspirations for economic mobility, Agents, robots, and us: How AI reshapes work and skills in Latin America, From drift to dynamism: Reinventing Japan to compete in a new era, Closing the women's health gap: The United Kingdom's £36 billion opportunity, Utilities at an inflection point: Four strategic evolutions ahead, A microscope on small businesses: Chile's productivity opportunity, Climbing higher: Securing Switzerland's competitiveness in a changing landscape
Medium Events
by Medium Events
Last chance to register for Medium Day 2026 free all-day event.
- Medium Day happens September 18, 8am-8pm ET, offering skill-building sessions on writing, conflict resolution, AI tools, and data literacy.
- Expert speakers include Zulie Rane, Jason Shen, Julie N. Hook, and others teaching 100-minute workshops and demos.
- Friends of Medium get exclusive early access to new State of Writing data report and dedicated tracks.
Links: Register now, See the schedule here, Learn about our exclusive track available only to Friends of Medium
Michael Girdley
by Michael Girdley
Hostess failed because it cut pay instead of fixing pension promises.
- Hostess workers took $220M annual pay cuts in 2004 bankruptcy, but underlying pension liabilities remained unsustainable.
- Second bankruptcy in 2012 forced deeper cuts on already-sacrificed workers while CEO got 300% raise.
- Bakers walked out; company liquidated 18,500 jobs rather than address root problem of unaffordable promises.
- Use Five Whys framework to identify underlying disease before making painful cuts; surface fixes create future crises.
Links: the Five Whys, Save your seat now.
Mishka Makes Food
by Mishka Makes Food
Five-ingredient creamy kale pasta for quick, veggie-packed dinners.
- Recipe uses cottage cheese, pasta, frozen kale, lemon, and salt for a simple, satisfying meal.
- Designed as an emergency dinner option that is fast to prepare when burnt out.
- Yields four servings with optional parmesan and olive oil garnishes for presentation.
Links: recipe archive here
Nautilus
Scientists identify the creator of mysterious seafloor hexagons, but purpose remains debated.
- Hexagonal patterns called Paleodictyon appear on 520-million-year-old Cambrian sediments and modern ocean floors worldwide.
- Theories about origins ranged from physical sediment changes to algae, tadpoles, and even fossilized beehives.
- Scientists now know who creates the patterns, though their exact purpose remains unclear.
Links: What's Creating These Seafloor Hexagons?, The Extinct American Cheetah Wasn't a Cheetah After All, How You Walk May Determine How Long You Live, Rare Images of Borneo's Ghosts of the Forest, This New Species of Giant Armadillo Has a Convoluted History
News Items by John Ellis
by John Ellis
Weekend programming resumes with new podcast episode and AI security analysis.
- Weekend Edition newsletter returns with regular Saturday distribution schedule.
- New Alternate Shots podcast episode releasing today on YouTube, Apple, Amazon, Spotify.
- Recent Hugging Face hack represents severe AI misalignment incident with autonomous agent behavior.
- Ellis published hybrid analysis combining expert excerpts on AI jailbreak turning point.
Links: Alternate Shots, Apple, Amazon, Spotify, most recent missive on AI, Political News Items, Ajeya Cotra, previous publicly documented misalignment incidents
by John Ellis
Podcast discusses 9/11's limited impact versus geopolitical shifts.
- 9/11 was not transformative; China's rise, Russia's Ukraine aggression, COVID-19, and climate failure mattered more.
- Effective counterterrorism prevented major follow-up attacks; terrorists excel at destruction, not lasting legacy.
- Current crises include Iran horizontal escalation, Kushner-Witkoff diplomacy, and AI guardrail concerns.
- GB-Ireland team won Walker Cup with dramatic comeback and final birdie.
Links: Episode #38 of America's fastest-growing podcast, most recent Substack newsletter, Project Syndicate, horizontal escalation of the Iran war, real estate diplomacy, Treasury Secretary Bessent's attempts, whatever indifference to AI's incredible advance, The Walker Cup
Noahpinion
by Noah Smith
U.S. should disengage from Middle East to restore power and prestige
- Politicians associated with Middle Eastern politics have unusually low approval ratings, suggesting Americans oppose regional entanglement
- 25 years of Middle East involvement since 9/11 has been disastrous for U.S. power and prestige overall
- Strong majorities oppose the Iran War as unwinnable and wasteful
- Israel-Palestine conflict is dominating American domestic politics and dividing the electorate
Links: Trump's disastrous war in Iran, Recent polls show, a very strong majority of Americans, think that the Iran War is not worth fighting
Ottolenghi
by Ottolenghi
Pasta or rice answers the question of effortless comfort cooking.
- Ottolenghi juggles multiple professional roles: cookbooks, press, restaurants, and touring talks across UK, Europe, and North America.
- The Substack newsletter builds community through reader engagement, recipe adaptations, and connections with other food writers.
- When cooking feels like a burden, pasta or buttery rice with toppings provides maximum comfort with minimum effort.
Links: Simple Too, Edinburgh, touring, readers on the other end, Healthy Family Food, Nick Grimshaw, her cooking and, with equal seriousness, her curls, Caroline Chambers, Make It Fast
Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
Weaponized interdependence turns global trade networks into geopolitical leverage tools.
- Centralized networks like SWIFT create choke points vulnerable to state coercion, especially by the United States.
- Global interdependence traditionally seen as efficiency gain now weaponized for international coercion and control.
- Farrell and Newman's 2019 research and Underground Empire book crystallize how boring infrastructure became geopolitical battleground.
- Great powers exploit network centralization and control mechanisms to weaponize economic interdependence against rivals.
Links: Henry Farrell, Abraham Newman, 2019 paper, Underground Empire
Popular Information
by Judd Legum
Musk funds voter data collection, Trump fabricates 9/11 narrative, labor share hits historic low.
- Musk's votesafe.org collects voter data and shares it with X, Meta, Google for targeting.
- Trump falsely claimed sending 100 workers to Ground Zero; Trump Organization had only dozen employees then.
- U.S. labor share of GDP hit lowest level since 1947 tracking began; corporate profits surge.
- Media outlets repeated unverified claim about 300 9/11 families signing petition against speaker.
Links: reported, repeated the claim, a reporter, a post, ProPublica, New York Times
Product Market Fit
by Guillermo Flor
Pocket FM grew $500M ARR by optimizing one metric across entire business.
- Pocket FM added $250M net new ARR while remaining EBITDA-profitable, unlike most AI-content companies.
- Found one cascading metric: ad click-through rate; 0.25-point increase yields 30% CAC reduction.
- AI generates 17.5k ads monthly, each with hard-coded benchmarks of 2.5% CTR and 55% 3-second play-through.
- Increased ad spend 8x without raising CAC by rebuilding entire acquisition function around manufacturing one number.
Links: The McKinsey Slide Playbook for Claude, The AI Founders Playbook, 27 Most Promising AI Startup Pitch Decks Backed by Top Investors, The Family Office List
Punch
by Austin Bush
Chartreuse slushy became signature drink at Tarragona's Santa Tecla festival.
- Mamadeta, a highlighter-yellow Chartreuse slushy, is Santa Tecla's iconic festival drink in Spain.
- Tarragona produced Chartreuse from early 1900s to 1989, creating deep local connection.
- Bush fainted after consuming multiple Mamadetas during the September festival celebration.
- The drink mixes lemon granita, green Chartreuse, and yellow Chartreuse; served in branded bottles.
Links: READ THE FULL STORY
Range Weekly Review
Fed rate hike odds surge to 90% as inflation momentum accelerates monthly.
- August CPI held at 3.4% annually but monthly core inflation picked up to 0.3%, compounding to 3.7% yearly if sustained.
- Diesel hit record $6 per gallon; inflation pressure spreading beyond energy into airfares, lodging, and used cars.
- Markets now price 90% probability of September rate hike; multiple hikes possible if inflation proves persistent.
- S&P 500 rose 1% post-report as strong corporate earnings may absorb modest tightening without longer-term yield damage.
Links: Book a demo
Ruben Hassid
by Ruben Hassid
Every AI company stores and learns from your prompts despite claims of privacy.
- Your prompts travel unencrypted to AI servers and become permanent database records across all subscription tiers.
- Safety teams and contractors manually review conversation samples; thumb ratings train models.
- AI models don't retain chats internally, but companies keep flagged conversations for 2-7 years.
- OpenAI used user data to solve Millennium Prize problem after learning of independent researcher's progress.
Sahil Bloom's Curiosity Chronicle
by Sahil Bloom
Focus on present moments, meaningful connections, and system design over individual achievements.
- Anxiety stems from living in two places at once; solution is taking one right step at a time in the present.
- Rekindling simple rituals like catch with aging parents transcends nostalgia, collapsing time itself.
- Henry Ford revolutionized industry by treating the factory as the product, not the car.
Links: read the full piece here
Stripe
by Stripe
Modern payment features drive efficiency, revenue, and customer retention.
- Low-fee payment providers can become costly liabilities due to fraud, outages, and churn.
- Optimized checkout experiences reduce drop-offs and expand market reach.
- Fraud protection without friction preserves customer experience while securing revenue.
- Subscription tools reduce churn and extend customer lifetime value.
Links: The business impact of modern payments, Download now
Ted Gioia
by Ted Gioia
Studying historical collapse through Zweig and ancient sources reveals societal decline patterns.
- Gioia's parents feared economic collapse from Depression trauma; he now reads collapse histories, repeating generational patterns.
- Stefan Zweig's memoir 'The World of Yesterday' documents Vienna's transformation from prosperity to hyperinflation and war.
- Historical texts from Tacitus, Gibbon, and Spengler offer wisdom about how societies deteriorate over time.
- Zweig survived WWI and economic crisis but ultimately fled WWII and died by suicide in Brazil, a broken man.
Links: A Reading List for the End of Civilization, Are There Alternating Cycles of Hot and Cool in American Cultural History?, How to Read the Great Books in 52 Weeks, The Atlantic Visits Me at Home, Stupidity: A Reading List
The Atlantic
by David Brooks
Life transformation is possible at any age by unlearning workism.
- Adults seeking new purpose after careers often experience free fall, not breathing space, upon retirement.
- Meaningful life change requires unlearning meritocratic workism and adopting different logic.
- Late bloomers and those who flailed early offer lessons on finding meaning and purpose.
- Emotional intelligence and relationship to mental effort matter more than intelligence in thriving.
Links: The New Old Age, You Might Be a Late Bloomer, Marc Andreessen's Mistake, The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age
The Bulwark
by Jim Swift
Bulwark hosts live event in Dayton to support Springfield's Haitian community.
- The Bulwark is hosting a live show September 25 in Dayton, Ohio, with proceeds benefiting Springfield's Haitian community.
- The event will feature The Bulwark crew and special guests at the Dayton Masonic Center.
- Community donations and attendance are encouraged to help Springfield respond to recent cruelty.
- The Bulwark Book Club discusses The Odyssey this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. EDT with Mona Charen and Sonny Bunch.
Links: bringing Bulwark LIVE to Dayton, Ohio, Dayton Masonic Center, The Bulwark Book Club LIVE
by Sarah Longwell
Democrats have unexpected Texas Senate race opportunity despite long odds.
- Ken Paxton's troubled political history and James Talarico's appeal both strengthen Democratic chances in Texas.
- Some Trump voters in Texas may be persuadable on issues like data centers and surveillance.
- Texas governor race could become competitive alongside Senate contest.
- Focus Group newsletter will provide deeper analysis of Texas political dynamics.
Links: Ken Paxton Now Has to Do the Unthinkable: Try
The Culturist
by The Culturist
Liberal arts are freedom tools, not job training.
- Liberal arts derive from Latin libertas, meaning freedom; they are tools for independent thought.
- Medieval education centered on seven liberal arts divided into Trivium and Quadrivium.
- Grammar teaches language structure; logic trains critical evaluation of ideas.
- Classical education shapes mind and soul, not merely workforce preparation.
Links: biweekly book club, entire archive
The Daily Awesome Thing
by Neil Pasricha
Paddle boarding discovery reunites you with a lost boat lift tire.
- Neil went paddle boarding around his bay and made an unexpected find.
- He discovered the tire from his boat lift that went missing last fall.
- Small moments of serendipity can bring unexpected joy and closure.
Links: Visit my blog archives right here
The Daily Skimm
Weekend plans, easy dinners, and Emma Cline's new novel.
- Editor shares personal weekend activities including Rosh Hashanah celebrations and home cooking projects.
- Burst Cherry Tomato Basil Chicken Rigatoni offers 40-minute dinner with customizable protein options.
- New Starbucks animal-shaped cup launches; Costco regret items identified by shoppers.
- Emma Cline's Switzy follows wealthy executive traveling to Switzerland during dementia.
The Dan Koe Letter
by Dan Koe
Delusional goals separate successful people from mediocre ones.
- Most people unconsciously optimize for inherited goals from parents and society, not their own desires.
- Realistic goals lead to failure; ultra-successful people like Elon Musk pursue impossibly ambitious visions.
- Awareness of your true goals is essential to gaining control of your life and avoiding decades of despair.
- Being quiet about ambitious dreams keeps you performing mediocrity while craving uniqueness.
The Flip Side
Gloria Steinem, feminist pioneer, dies at 92; legacy debated across political divide.
- Steinem fought for gender equality and reproductive rights for over five decades.
- Left celebrates her role expanding workplace protections and parental leave access.
- Right acknowledges her impact but questions second-wave feminism's approach to sex differences.
Links: Gloria Steinem, the American writer, lecturer, activist and organizer, Extended interview: Gloria Steinem, A Bunny's Tale, She organized by welcoming people
The GIST Sports Biz
Solheim Cup represents untapped growth opportunity for women's golf.
- The Solheim Cup is a biennial team competition between U.S. and European women golfers, unlike golf's typical individual format.
- Women's sports are booming overall, but golf hasn't capitalized on this momentum as effectively as other leagues.
- The event features elite players like Nelly Kord and provides rare international team competition opportunities.
Links: The Solheim Cup, the Ryder Cup, golf hasn't taken full advantage, Team USA, Team Europe
The Information
by Eli Rosenberg
Early Anthropic investor Anjney Midha positions himself as Silicon Valley power broker.
- Midha invested early in Anthropic in 2021 at sub-$1B valuation using personal savings.
- Anthropic's upcoming IPO could value the company at $2 trillion, making his bet massively profitable.
- The 34-year-old computer scientist has built a portfolio of successful frontier tech investments.
- Midha wears a monogrammed Stetson hat as a symbol of his newfound status in venture capital.
The Information Weekend
by Abram Brown
Meta's Muse agent bungled hotel booking, nearly costing $408.
- Muse failed to complete initial booking but secretly charged credit card anyway.
- After showing screenshot of charge, Muse created duplicate booking without instruction.
- Login system was broken; app was buried in App Store under competing Muse apps.
- Personal AI agents face major usability issues preventing mainstream adoption.
The Ink
by Anand Giridharadas
A friend's intervention redirected my writing and moral life.
- A powerful intervention by friend Sam changed the trajectory of Giridharadas' work and thinking over the past decade.
- Moral clarity and ferocity, while important, can harm our thinking and spirits in the current era.
- Giridharadas discusses his writing journey transformation in conversation with Monica Lewinsky, featuring his wife Priya Parker.
Links: Monica Lewinsky's podcast, THE ART OF FIGHTING, Preorder MAN IN THE MIRROR here, sign up here
The Message Box
by Dan Pfeiffer
Democrats should expand Senate map beyond traditional battlegrounds.
- Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio offer real Senate flipping opportunities.
- South Carolina is a long shot but potentially winnable with weak GOP nominee and high Black turnout.
- Democrats should compete in many red states this cycle to maximize chances.
The Newsette
Fall footwear trends emphasize comfort, personality, and playful style.
- Slipper shoes now acceptable outside, bridging comfort and fashion with suede and shearling options.
- Classic loafers and lace-ups get personality through tassels and jazz shoe alternatives.
- Statement pieces like satin finishes, animal prints, and kitten heels add drama to fall basics.
- T-strap heels return as versatile polished option for denim and dresses.
Links: Deal to Shop Today, HOUSE SHOES HAVE LEFT THE HOUSE, SLIP INTO FALL, PREP SCHOOL, REMIXED, GET IN STEP, A LITTLE DRAMA UNDERFOOT, WALK THE WALK, TUCKERNUCK
The Stack
by Tom Krazit
Orchid Security launches kill switch for runaway AI agents
- Companies deploying AI agents need safeguards against agents exceeding their intended scope and misusing enterprise credentials.
- Orchid Security's kill switch detects drift between agent purpose and behavior, enabling automated permission revocation and workflow suspension.
- Kill switches and audit trails may become regulatory requirements for AI agents in government and enterprise software.
- Scaling AI agents presents challenges similar to distributed systems, as companies move beyond initial deployments.
Links: a recent report, press release
The Street Sheet
by Brooks
Street Sheet Research hits one year, launches Strategies tier.
- Market complexity is just restricted access; Street Sheet Research provides Wall Street analyst insights to members.
- Stocks fell 1.5% this week as hot inflation data raised Fed rate hike expectations.
- Fed decision Wednesday at 2 PM ET with hawkish tone potentially triggering further market dips.
- Street Sheet Strategies offers three managed portfolios: Enhanced Income, Enhanced Growth, Aggressive Growth.
Links: OUR BIRTHDAY, YOUR GIFT
TikTok
Catch up on reposted videos from your TikTok community.
- TikTok sends digest emails highlighting reposted videos from your network.
- Email features content from creators you follow and friends.
- Users can discover missed videos through repost notifications.
Links: Go to TikTok
Today's Elevator
by Today's Elevator
Pig farming in Nan River Valley transforms regional agriculture.
- Nan River Valley pig farming operations drive significant economic growth in the region.
- Local agricultural practices adapt to meet rising protein demand.
- Environmental and sustainability concerns shape farming methods.
Trade War
by Dexter Roberts
China's inflation rises as auto exports surge amid domestic demand weakness
- August inflation jumped 0.8%, driven by Iran tensions and global AI buildout rather than food prices.
- Chinese auto exports soared 67.1% while domestic market slumped 25.6%, signaling export-dependent growth.
- American companies show increased optimism about China, with 58% bullish on five-year prospects.
- Property presale restrictions aim to curb domestic demand and protect strained local government finances.
Trivium China
by Trivium China
China pursues Android strategy in Global South AI competition, not innovation race.
- US-China AI competition lacks a finish line; China aims to be Android to America's Apple.
- Chinese AI strategy focuses on Huawei servers and services, not superior models.
- Xi's September diplomacy addresses Egypt, Iran, Israel-Palestine, Africa, and Xinjiang simultaneously.
- Global South distrusts both Washington and Beijing equally on AI security concerns.
Links: LISTEN ON SPOTIFY, LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS
by Joe Peissel
China's investment decline moderates but remains weak across sectors.
- Fixed asset investment declined across manufacturing, infrastructure, and real estate; manufacturing faces input cost pressures and record-low capacity utilization.
- Real estate crisis deepens with developer cash reserves falling 20% in H1; pre-sold home cushion nearly exhausted.
- Infrastructure shows modest stabilization, not genuine rebound; H2 2025 weakness creates favorable base effect comparison.
Links: a visit to a Shanghai housing project, six networks investment push, full breakdown, Start a 30-day free trial
Vox
by Dylan Scott
Alzheimer's breakthroughs are real, but hype has outpaced science before.
- New treatments like lecanemab and donanemab now slow disease progression with real-world results for patients.
- Blood tests can identify at-risk patients earlier, enabling lifestyle changes and preventive treatment.
- Past false alarms make it hard to assess whether we're truly entering a new era in Alzheimer's treatment.
Links: Read the entire story
by Benjy Sarlin
Trump's midterm gambit backfires as affordability crisis deepens
- Trump headlined GOP convention in Dallas, hoping to boost turnout among less-engaged supporters for midterms.
- His approval rating scrapes low 30s; Democrats eager to tie opponents to his economic struggles.
- Affordability remains top voter concern while Iran war, Canada trade disputes spike prices heading into election.
- Trump unusually defended Iran war's cost increases, asking voters to sacrifice for national security.
Links: Trump keeps telling voters he doesn't care much about affordability, The GOP midterms strategy is Trump and a prayer, The Supreme Court just handed Republicans a surprisingly decisive midterm loss, Why Iowa is a state to watch in the midterms
Why is this interesting?
WITI's curated weekend selection of 11 engaging links and stories
- New York's 9/11 Tribute in Light installation has lasted 25 years beyond initial expectations
- Nonfiction book market is collapsing partly due to real-time information access online
- Real-time news monitoring replaces some need for traditional nonfiction reading
- Elevators are featured as an interesting topic worth exploration
Links: Inside the Megawatt Effort to Mount New York's Annual 9/11 Tribute in Light, The Nonfiction Book Market is Collapsing, Elevators