Good morning. It's Thursday, July 24, and we're covering President Donald Trump's AI policy, the sentencing in the University of Idaho killings, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
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President Donald Trump unveiled his administration’s AI policy yesterday. The 23-page framework outlines actions the government will pursue across dozens of federal agencies to promote its AI goals and outpace China on development. Read the document here.
The policy broadly seeks to accelerate AI innovation in the US. That includes loosening environmental regulations to speed up the construction of data centers. The government will also invest in training efforts for high-demand positions like electricians and HVAC technicians. In all, there are over 90 federal policy actions the government aims to take within one year.
Trump signed three executive orders yesterday to kick-start the policy effort—one on fast-tracking permits for data centers, one to promote exporting AI tools to friendly nations, and one restricting federal contracts to AI chatbots the administration deems to be free of ideological bias. |
Former criminology student Bryan Kohberger was sentenced yesterday to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of University of Idaho students in 2022. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for burglary. The sentencing caps a yearslong case that had puzzled investigators.
In mid-November 2022, the four victims were found stabbed to death in an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. After weeks without an arrest, police matched Kohberger’s vehicle to surveillance footage of a white sedan near the victims’ home. DNA on a knife sheath at the crime scene matched samples recovered from Kohberger’s parents’ trash (see timeline).
Kohberger, who was pursuing a doctorate in criminology at a nearby university, originally pleaded not guilty. He changed his plea earlier this month, avoiding a trial carrying a potential death sentence. Neither he nor investigators have publicly revealed a motive, despite calls for an explanation by the victims’ family members. See impact statements from yesterday's sentencing here. |
The United Nations’ top court ruled yesterday that failing to combat climate change could violate international law. Though nonbinding, the opinion asserts a sustainable environment as a human right, laying a foundation for global agreements and future lawsuits.
The decision, by the International Court of Justice’s 15 judges, follows a campaign by Vanuatu to clarify countries’ climate obligations. The 83-island archipelago in the South Pacific ranks as the 20th most climate-vulnerable nation, partly due to rising sea levels and poor infrastructure. Over 130 countries backed Vanuatu; top polluters China and the US argued existing climate agreements were sufficient.
The court said failure to adopt ambitious climate plans would breach international law. The opinion applies to all UN member states and allows developing nations to seek compensation from major emitters for climate-related damages.
The ICJ’s ruling follows similar opinions by Latin America’s top human rights court this month and Europe’s last year. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> Matthew Perry's former doctor, Salvador Plasencia, pleads guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution related to Perry's October 2023 fatal overdose (More) |
> Venus Williams, 45, becomes the second-oldest woman in history to win a tour-level singles match with first-round victory at Citi Open in Washington, DC (More) | Kansas City Royals pitcher Rich Hill, 45, becomes oldest player since 2012 to start an MLB game (More) |
> ESPN and NFL close to signing deal for ESPN to purchase NFL Network and RedZone for a reported $2B (More) |
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> Google DeepMind releases AI tool that fills in missing words and phrases in ancient Latin texts, predicts date and location of writing (More) |
> Physicists demonstrate gold can be superheated to 14 times its melting point while remaining solid; results challenge longstanding theory of how materials behave under extreme temperatures (More) |
> Researchers use CRISPR to prevent mosquitoes from transmitting malaria; replacing a single molecule that stops the disease-causing parasite inside the insects from spreading (More) | CRISPR 101 (1440 Topics) |
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> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.8%, Dow +1.1%, Nasdaq +0.6%) after the US strikes a trade deal with Japan (More) |
> Tesla reports 16% quarterly drop in auto revenue, marking the second consecutive quarter of revenue declines (More) | Alphabet tops Q2 earnings estimates, raises spending forecast to roughly $85B (More) | Chipotle shares fall 9.8% in after-hours trading after the chain trimmed its forecast for same-store sales growth (More) |
> US existing home sales fall 2.7% month over month in June, marking a nine-month low; median home price of $435,300 is up 2% from a year ago and the highest median home price for any June on record (More) |
Credit Cards: This morning's Business & Finance newsletter dives into the history of the ubiquitous rectangular cards. Email comes out at 8:30 am ET—sign up here to receive! |
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> National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard releases previously classified report, alleges Obama-era intelligence officials overemphasized evidence Russia preferred a Trump win in 2016 (More) | Florida judge denies Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein (More) |
> Columbia University agrees to pay $200M to settle federal allegations the school failed to protect Jewish students; university also agrees to oversight of its hiring and admissions process, will share some information with immigration authorities (More) | State Department opens investigation into Harvard University's participation in foreign visa program (More) |
> Ukrainian activists protest Zelenskyy-backed law weakening anticorruption watchdogs in first major antigovernment demonstrations since Russia-Ukraine war (More) | Over 100 aid organizations warn of mass starvation in Gaza, accuse Israeli government of restricting, delaying food deliveries (More) |
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> How to Think Like a Spy
Big Think | Andrew Bustamante. A former CIA officer shares what it really takes to serve in the world’s most secretive intelligence agency, including how spies are trained to be invisible, adapt, and operate in moral gray zones. (Watch)
> The Evolution of Friendship
Psyche | Bénedicte Sère. Friendship has evolved from a public and political bond shaped by ancient philosophy into a deeply personal connection. The shift reveals not just how we relate, but how societies define their values. (Read) |
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