Latest Episode
June 2 0000 UTC Brief
In U.S. politics
Democrats are still standing by Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, even after fresh reports about sexual messages he allegedly sent to several women and earlier fallout over offensive Reddit posts and a Nazi-symbol tattoo. Bernie Sanders also said he is not backing away from his endorsement, while privately, party strategists seem to be bracing for a very messy general election.
In New Jersey
About 60 people rallied at the statehouse in Trenton over Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s response to protests outside Delaney Hall, the federal immigration detention center in Newark. The demonstrations have led to clashes with ICE agents and state police, and after Saturday’s violence, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed a 9 p.m. curfew near the facility.
In the Middle East
President Trump reportedly clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Monday call over Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon. According to Axios, Trump called Netanyahu “crazy,” accused him of ingratitude, and shouted at him during the exchange. Diplomatic subtlety remains in short supply.
In business and energy
Starz has named longtime Disney executive Jim Kapenstein as its new chief legal and strategy officer. He starts next week and will report to CEO Jeffrey Hirsch, with responsibility for the company’s legal affairs and strategic direction.
Separately, new research says the UK’s net zero economy is now worth more than £100 billion a year and supports more than a million jobs, with nearly half a trillion pounds in investment in the pipeline. The study also says the sector is linked to higher wages and wider regional benefits.
In science and defense
U.S. Special Operations Command is set to begin fielding the MK24 Medium Range Gas Gun Assault rifle before the end of the fiscal year. The weapon can switch between 7.62mm NATO and 6.5mm Creedmoor in about a minute, and SOCOM says it is meant to replace the MK17 SCAR under a 10-year, $92 million contract with LMT Defense.
In South Korea, researchers say they improved a key reaction used in fuel cells and metal-air batteries by changing the electric environment around the catalyst instead of redesigning the catalyst itself. In tests, the desired reaction pathway rose from about 12% to as much as 52%, which could help reduce energy losses in future clean-energy systems.
In Kenya
Hundreds of residents in central Kenya marched against a proposed U.S.-run field hospital for U.S. citizens exposed to Ebola. The plan has clearly landed badly with the local public, which is usually a sign someone thought the rollout was optional.
About
This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
Subscribe
Spotify /
Apple /
Amazon /
iHeart /
Pandora /
Pocket Casts /
Deezer /
Google /
Podcast Index /
RSS