Craig's Daily Newsfeed

Latest edition: 2026-07-10 · 118 items · RSS feed

news (40)

At least 12 dead and 19 missing in wildfire in southern Spain

BBC World

A local official said four of the victims may be British after a fire broke out near Los Gallardos, Almería.

Huge crowds in Mashhad as Iran's late supreme leader is buried

BBC World

Ali Khamenei was buried at the Imam Reza shrine, Iran's holiest Shia Muslim site, ending six days of public mourning ceremonies.

Ukrainian agent accused of murdering Monaco bomb suspect changes story

BBC World

Two men with links to Ukraine's security services are accused of killing Anastasiia Berezovska and dumping her body in woods.

Palestinians mourn Gaza World Cup screenings organiser killed in Israeli strike

BBC World

Aid worker Mohammed al-Wahidi had become a prominent humanitarian figure during the Israel-Hamas war.

Chip giant SK Hynix raises $26.5bn in mega US share sale

BBC World

The shares are set to start trading on the Nasdaq on Friday in what will be the largest ever debut by a foreign firm.

Big fall in oil, gas and cargo ships taking US-backed Hormuz route after new strikes

BBC World

Data shows a decline in the number of ships - many carrying oil and gas - going through the waterway after attacks this week.

Tensions erupt in Indian state after 11-year-old raped and murdered

BBC World

The girl's body was fished out from a pond on Sunday - a day after her family reported her missing.

Ukraine strikes Russian ships near Crimea, escalating attacks on fuel supplies

BBC World

The attacks appear to be the latest phase of Ukraine's bid to choke off supplies and routes into and out of occupied Crimea.

Ebola death toll reaches 600, as new cases suspected in other parts of Congo

NPR News

New suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in parts of Congo that were previously unaffected, the government said, signaling the continued spread of the disease beyond the epicenter in Ituri.

U.S. and Iran exchange intensifying fire across Mideast, threatening ceasefire deal

NPR News

Back-and-forth attacks have repeatedly threatened the ceasefire, but Thursday's appeared bigger all around.

President Trump cleans house at the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission

NPR News

With just months until the midterms, President Trump relieved the remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a move condemned by Democrats and voting rights advocates.

In private call, Education Dept. tried, but failed, to reassure disability advocates

NPR News

The disability community has long worried about what would happen if special education oversight moved from the Education Department to another agency. Now, those moves are becoming more real.

Trump's arch clears another hurdle, setting up a big debate: Do height limits apply?

NPR News

The Interior Department is arguing D.C. height limits don't apply to federal projects, bucking a century of precedent. If the panel reviewing Trump's arch agrees, experts say it could change the city.

France downs Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semifinal

NPR News

Morocco was no match for France, which lost 2-0. The French, one of the pre-tournament favorites, move on to the World Cup semifinals against either Spain or Belgium.

Smithsonian chief emphasizes 'accuracy and integrity' after White House report

NPR News

The memo from the Smithsonian's secretary, Lonnie Bunch, responded to a White House report that calls the National Museum of American History driven by "a radical, activist ideology."

How to deal with seesawing gas prices

NPR News

Gas prices have fluctuated since the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Iran, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and left consumers unsure of what they'll pay at the pump.

Developing countries spend more repaying foreign debt than on education, UN reveals

The Guardian (World)

Unesco report shows children lost out to servicing debt in 113 countries, with 18 spending five times more on loansMost developing countries spent less on education than they did repaying debt last year, according to the UN, at the same time as global aid to education is predicted to decline by up to 30%.More was spent on servicing foreign debt than on education in 113 developing countries in 2025, according to research by the UN’s culture and education agency, Unesco. In sub-Saharan Africa, countries spent 3.6 times more on debt than education. Continue reading...

Furore in Nigeria over fake federal agency set up in government HQ

The Guardian (World)

President orders investigation after fictitious body given funding, triggering renewed scrutiny of alleged corruptionA fictitious federal entity that was allocated 1.3bn naira (£700,000) in Nigeria’s 2026 budget has precipitated a political storm in Africa’s largest democracy in the run-up to a general election set for January.The fake agency came to light last October when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, wrote to the police alleging that his signature, along with official seals and reference numbers, had been forged by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who was claiming to have been appointed by the presidency to head the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC). Continue reading...

LGBTQ+ cruise ship refused entry to Egypt days after Turkey turned it away

The Guardian (World)

Scarlet Lady’s 2,000 passengers told of change as one of those onboard says they will ‘sparkle and spend elsewhere’An LGBTQ+ cruise ship blocked from Turkish waters this week has been refused entry into Egypt.The Scarlet Lady’s 2,000 passengers, including the Broadway performer Patti LuPone, woke on Thursday morning to find a note placed under their cabin doors informing them that the ship was urgently looking for alternative ports. Continue reading...

Species’ ingenious survival strategies no match for human destruction, red list reveals

The Guardian (World)

Newly endangered animals include desert frogs and snails in extreme ocean depths, both threatened by miningLife has colonised every corner of the planet by evolving ingenious survival strategies but these are increasingly being overwhelmed by destructive human activities, this year’s red list of endangered species has revealed.Many snails, limpets and clams have adapted to life at crushing depths in the oceans on hydrothermal vents where water temperatures can reach 450C (842F). But an assessment for the red list found that two-thirds of the hundreds of mollusc species found only on deep sea vents were at risk of extinction because of deep-sea mining. Continue reading...

Mexico investigates whether US lied about role in capture of drug lord

The Guardian (World)

Reporting suggests FBI involved in seizure of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada García from Mexican territory in 2024Mexico has launched an investigation into whether the US lied about its involvement in the capture and secretive transfer of a top Sinaloa cartel member in 2024, in what would be a potential violation of the country’s sovereignty.The US has long denied it played any role in the operation to detain the drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, a founder of the Sinaloa cartel, inside Mexico. Recent reporting by the local media outlet Pie de Nota, however, suggested that the FBI was involved in his capture. Continue reading...

Canada to buy 12 hi-tech German submarines after bidding war

The Guardian (World)

TKMS beats South Korean rival to multibillion-dollar contract that will deepen Canada’s Nato tiesCanada has selected a German consortium to build a dozen cutting-edge submarines in one of the country’s largest-ever defence contracts that will further deepen its Nato ties before a crucial summit this week.On Monday the prime minister, Mark Carney, announced the winner of a tightly contested battle for the lucrative government contract to replace its fleet of ageing, secondhand subs, most of which are undergoing maintenance. Continue reading...

South Korea chip maker SK hynix rides AI boom raising $26.5bn in huge US listing

The Guardian (World)

SK hynix, a supplier of advanced memory chips, has seen profits skyrocket thanks to the global race to build AI datacentresSouth Korean chip maker SK hynix set pricing for its mega US listing on Friday, aiming to raise $26.5bn as it takes advantage of the AI boom in what will be one of the world’s biggest ever stock sales.The Asian semiconductor giant plans to issue the equivalent of about 18m shares on Wall Street’s tech-heavy Nasdaq index later in the day. Continue reading...

‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency

The Guardian (World)

Plans to build a NZ$3.5bn datacentre in Makarewa in the country’s south has drawn concern about electricity and water use, and potential noise pollutionPeople living near the site of New Zealand’s first planned AI datacentre are calling for more transparency about the project, especially about how the centre’s huge electricity and water use and potential noise pollution could affect them.Singapore-based company Datagrid has secured approval to build a NZ$3.5bn (US$2bn) AI datacentre on a 49-hectare site in Makarewa, just north of New Zealand’s southern-most city, Invercargill. Construction is due to begin this year, with the centre becoming operational by 2028. Continue reading...

England vs Norway: All to know ahead of FIFA World Cup quarterfinal

Al Jazeera English

Haaland vs Kane and other key factors before World Cup 2026 showdown between England and Norway in Miami.

Wildfires in southern Spain kill at least 12

Al Jazeera English

Andalusia's deadliest fire comes as heatwaves across Europe have left swaths of the continent highly vulnerable.

The US is building a new pressure architecture against Iran

Al Jazeera English

Trump’s NATO diplomacy is part of a wider effort to weaken Tehran by reshaping the region around it.

‘Unstoppable force’: Mbappe’s France crush Morocco’s World Cup dreams

Al Jazeera English

Morocco came to the quarterfinal with high hopes and revenge on their minds, only to be met with the in-form team.

South Korea’s SK Hynix raises $26.5bn in record-breaking US IPO

Al Jazeera English

South Korean chip giant makes largest-ever debut by a foreign firm in the US, eclipsing Alibaba's 2014 IPO.

Spain vs Belgium: World Cup quarterfinal – prediction, start time, lineups

Al Jazeera English

Spain, aiming to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2010, face Belgium in Friday's contest in Los Angeles.

Tense standoff at an anti-migrant protest in a South African town

Al Jazeera English

Locals at an anti-migrant protest wielded sticks in an attempt to evict suspected undocumented residents of Alexandra.

Venezuela’s turn to Israel is about survival, not conviction

Al Jazeera English

Delcy Rodriguez is courting Israel only to secure Washington’s support and undercut her main rival.

Seafarers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz sue shipping company in Thailand

AP News

AP Exclusive: Inside Israel’s push to clear sea munitions, part of global push to protect waters

AP News

Canada’s Carney defends his visit to Saudi Arabia and slams criticism from afar

AP News

8 men indicted in planned drone and sniper attack on White House UFC cage-fighting show

AP News

Mexican man killed in Houston ICE shooting was not the target of operation, lawmaker says

AP News

FACT FOCUS: A look at the Trump administration’s challenge to birthright citizenship

AP News

List of possible Platner replacements grows

AP News

News outlets urge a judge to sanction OpenAI in a high-stakes AI copyright fight

AP News

tech-science (25)

Flores Hobbits' eating habits offer clues about their evolutionary past

Ars Technica

If Homo floresiensis wasn't a fire-using hunter, its origins could be different than we thought.

Michigan's explosive outbreak of diarrheal parasite jumps to over 1,200 cases

Ars Technica

In neighboring Ohio, cases have reportedly reached over 500.

OpenAI wants its new tool to do your work for you and with you

Ars Technica

Rebranded Codex promises independent workflows that can run "for hours if needed."

Patch for Windows Defender 0-day could allow attackers to fill hard disk

Ars Technica

The feud between NightmareEclipse and Microsoft shows no signs of resolving soon.

Allstate accuses Broadcom of auditing it because it quit VMware, CA

Ars Technica

Broadcom accuses Allstate of dodging VMware audits.

Humanoid robots controlled by surgeons did world-first operation on live pigs

Ars Technica

Preclinical trial is testing the feasibility of humanoid robots in surgery.

Judge doesn't like Elon Musk settlement with SEC, but says court can't block it

Ars Technica

Judge reluctantly approves $1.5M settlement with SEC over Twitter stock violation.

OpenAI may have made a fatal misstep in copyright fight with news orgs

Ars Technica

OpenAI may be sanctioned for hiding, deleting ChatGPT logs in NYT copyright fight.

Microsoft’s carbon emissions went up 25 percent last year

The Verge

Microsoft may once again be struggling to keep up with its own climate goals, according to its 2026 sustainability report. As reported by GeekWire, the report states that Microsoft's carbon emissions increased 25 percent in 2025, totalling 34 million metric tons "without select interventions." Microsoft says this was "driven primarily by the expansion of our […]

Fidji Simo steps down from leading OpenAI’s AGI work due to illness

The Verge

OpenAI's Fidji Simo is departing her full-time role as the company's AGI chief and is transitioning to being a "part-time advisor," she said on X. The news follows Simo's original announcement in April that she would take a few weeks of medical leave due to a neuroimmune condition, shortly after she had taken on the […]

Netflix reportedly considers adding always-on channels

The Verge

Netflix is thinking about adding always-on channels that would stream specific shows and movies, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move sounds like a Netflix version of always-on services like Pluto TV and Tubi, except the big hook for those is that they're free - because of the ads you have to watch. Netflix […]

The ChatGPT browser is already dead

The Verge

OpenAI is already shutting down ChatGPT Atlas, its browser that could do tasks for you on your behalf, less than a year after launching it. Atlas was announced in October, but as part of its wave of news about ChatGPT Work today, the company confirmed that it will be "sunsetting" Atlas and is targeting an […]

The floatable, powerful Soundcore Boom 2 speaker is over half off

The Verge

Bluetooth speakers with big sound and great features are hard to find for under $100, with most offerings being some variation of the same basic (and often small) design. Thankfully, through July 10th Woot has the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 on sale for $69.99, which is $20 cheaper than the discounted price at other retailers […]

Google will now tell you if an ad was made with AI

The Verge

You can see if ads on Google Search, Google Discover, and YouTube were made or edited using AI from a new section in Google's "My Ad Center," as reported earlier by TechCrunch. The update, announced on Thursday, adds a "created or edited with AI" label under the "how this ad was made" tab. Users can […]

Google’s Nest Thermostat has hit its best price of the year

The Verge

If you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to cut down on cooling costs, Google’s Nest Thermostat can help. It’s packed with smart controls and energy-saving features, and right now it’s on sale in white for $79 ($50 off), which is its best price of the year, at Amazon.  The smart thermostat is quick to […]

Microsoft’s patch Tuesdays are about to get bigger

The Verge

Windows 11 updates could soon include fixes for more security issues at once. Microsoft said in a blog post on Thursday that it's now using AI to "identify potential issues earlier," which means "customers will see a higher volume of security updates included in each security release." Hackers, even amateurs, have increasingly been using AI […]

Show HN: Getting GLM 5.2 running on my slow computer

Hacker News

Comments

EU Parliament greenlights Chat Control 1.0

Hacker News

Comments

Train sim created by just one person is being called the best ever made

Hacker News

Comments

Show HN: 18 Words

Hacker News

Comments

GPT-5.6

Hacker News

Comments

Postgres rewritten in Rust, now passing 100% of the Postgres regression tests

Hacker News

Comments

Interview with Mitchell Hashimoto about Ghostty and Zig

Hacker News

Comments

Hy3

Hacker News

Comments

Will We Ever Find Alien Civilizations?

Quanta Magazine

Astronomer David Kipping discusses why claims of extraterrestrial life keep dissolving under scrutiny, why we need a more statistically grounded approach to searching for life beyond Earth, and why it’s rational to believe that we may be alone. The post Will We Ever Find Alien Civilizations? first appeared on Quanta Magazine

anime (6)

Live-Action Happy Kanako's Killer Life Series Gets 2nd Season

Anime News Network

2nd season debuts in September

Crunchyroll Streams Same-Day English Dub for 'Goodbye, Lara' Anime

Anime News Network

Brianna Knickerbocker, Anairis Quiñones, more star in dub

Armiger Entertainment Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Tenchi Galaxy Anime Pilot

Anime News Network

Tenchi Universe director Hiroshi Negishi returns for spiritual sequel with hopes of full new series

Salamander Pictures, Nippon Animation's 20001 An Earth Odyssey Anime Short to Premiere on July 18

Anime News Network

Short to premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival in competition

Firefly Wedding Anime Premiere Draws A Crowd With Its Bloody Adaptation

Anime News Network

The anime turns up Shinpei's yandere tendencies, which Uchiyama delivers with thrilling precision. His final scene, where he promises to make her happy—excitedly smiling while doused in blood—is sure to be as memorable as Future Diary's Yuno Gasai viral yandere face.

Ramparts of Ice ‒ Episodes 13-14

Anime News Network

As is right and proper for the end of a season, both the main couples scoot right up to the verge of everything changing.

comedy (23)

#655 Fart In My Mouth and Call It a Love Story

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Mark goes to Nashville with Shane Gillis and runs into Luis J Gomez! Then he heads over to see Aladdin on Broadway, disappears and goes to hang with William H. Macy! Joe narrowly avoids a shiv and gives up a sick addiction! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories -Support the show & get 20% off your 1st Sheath order with code TUESGAYS at https://www.sheathunderwear.com  -Buy 2 months of BlueChew Gold & get your 3rd month FREE when you use promo code TUESDAYS @ http://BlueChew.com/

#654 Rachel Profiling

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Joe gets a monstrous smoky gift from a pal! The boys get a visit from city officials live during the show, and the Listicle gets a soaking bed! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories -Support the show & sign up for your $1/month trial of Shopify. Head to https://www.shopify.com/tuesdays -Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster at http://RocketMoney.com/TUESDAYS

#653 Super Flu Jimmy Snuka

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Mark gets the super flu! Then Normado gets pressured into an automobile hygiene fix before giving an inappropriate pep talk to a hockey team! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays   - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories - Buy 2 months of BlueChew Gold & get your 3rd month FREE when you use promo code TUESDAYS @ http://BlueChew.com/ - Click the link http://kalshi.com/r/TUESDAY or download the Kalshi App and use code TUESDAY to sign up and trade today! - Upgrade your workout wardrobe. Sign up as a VIP & get 80% off everything at https://fabletics.com/TUESDAYS - Save 20% on your first online order at http://lucy.co/TUESDAYS with promo code TUESDAYS

#652 Show Me Your Tilts

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Mark's sick!! Yet he still sees a little stick-and-puck, runs into a (semi) celebrity, and ends up on the ice! Joseph sees a live fail video in real life! And it's a 10 out of 10 fail, ladies and gentlemen! Then he sees another catastrophe at hot yoga! It's Tuesdays! - Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories   - Support the show & get 20% off your 1st Sheath order with code TUESGAYS at https://www.sheathunderwear.com - Get 20% off your first 6 months of Quo business communications at http://quo.com/TUESDAYS - Support the show & sign up for your $1/month trial of Shopify. Head to https://www.shopify.com/tuesdays

#651 Lilo and Glitch

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Joe has a spell, heads to Florida and gets a train ticket to puke town! The Listman ends up with a diagnosis he never could have expected!!! Mark misses out on a rawbar gift! Then Normando heads to the Lil' Rhody Laugh Riot festival and does comedy on a bus! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories -Buy 2 months of BlueChew Gold & get your 3rd month FREE when you use promo code TUESDAYS @ http://BlueChew.com/ -Click the link http://kalshi.com/r/TUESDAY or download the Kalshi App and use code TUESDAY to sign up and trade today! -Don't sleep on @ultrapouches. New customers get 15% off with code TUESDAYS at http://takeultra.com #UltraPouches #ad

#650 Couch Dracula

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Mark is on a HELLACIOUS press tour! Joe "accidentally" puts Greg the cat in jeopardy! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays   - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories   - Support the show & sign up for your $1/month trial of Shopify. Head to https://www.shopify.com/tuesdays - Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster at http://RocketMoney.com/TUESDAYS - For free shipping on your order & 365-day returns go to https://www.Quince.com/TUESDAYS - Take Cheers Restore after your last drink or before going to bed and wake up feeling at least 50% better - or your money back. For a limited time, Tuesdays with Stories fans are getting 20% off their entire order at http://CheersHealth.com/TUESDAYS #Cheers #ad

#649 Meat and Greet

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Mark goes on Late Night with Seth Meyers! Oscars' standards! Joe gets betrayed by McDonald's - or does he??? Mark gets caught stealing! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays   - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories   - Support the show & get 20% off your first Nic Nac order with code tuesdays at http://NicNac.com/tuesdays - Limited Time Offer - Get 15% OFF Huel online with our exclusive code TUESDAYS15 at https://www.huel.com/TUESDAYS15 New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering & supporting the show! - Click the link http://kalshi.com/r/TUESDAY or download the Kalshi App and use code TUESDAY to sign up and trade today!  - For free shipping on your order & 365-day returns go to https://www.Quince.com/TUESDAYS

#648 So Fresh and So Spleen

Mark Normand - Tuesdays with Stories

Mark pushes an admission out of the suits! Joe mistakes a woman's identity for the first time in his So-Called life! Joe and Mark have a debate for the ages and almost come to blows! It's Tuesdays! Our Stuff: - http://www.patreon.com/tuesdays - youtube.com/tuesdayswithstories -Click the link http://kalshi.com/r/TUESDAY or download the Kalshi App and use code TUESDAY to sign up and trade today! - Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold w/ code TUESDAYS @ http://BlueChew.com/ - Support the show & sign up for your $1/month trial of Shopify. Head to https://www.shopify.com/tuesdays

467 Satellite: Listen To My New Podcast - Broccoli and Ice Cream

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Andrea Allan on the KATG Network

466 Satellite: Coming Out Of The Casket

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Chemda and Jay Michaelson on the KATG Network

466: Coming Out Of The Casket

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Chemda and Jay Michaelson on the KATG Network

464 Satellite: The Woo Test

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Robert Woo and Alice Fraser on the KATG Network

464: The Woo Test

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Robert Woo and Alice Fraser on the KATG Network

463 Satellite: Razzin' Bran

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Mary Houlihan on the KATG Network

463: Razzin' Bran

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Mary Houlihan on the KATG Network

462 Satellite: I Self-Love You

Myq Kaplan - Hang Out With Me

Myq hangs out with Sarah Chandler and Eli Valley on the KATG Network.

Robert Kelly and Louis CK on RK’s new special KILL BOX

Louis CK (YouTube)

Louis CK Joe list movie promo yet again

Louis CK (YouTube)

Highlights from FOURTH OF JULY Beacon Premiere

Louis CK (YouTube)

Louis CK & Joe List Hilarious (or not) Movie Promo

Louis CK (YouTube)

Louis CK Fourth of July coming to Canada

Louis CK (YouTube)

Fourth of July Trailer (2)

Louis CK (YouTube)

Louis CK and Joe List Fourth of July Tickets

Louis CK (YouTube)

podcast (24)

Episode 327: You Ain't So Smart (Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People")

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler return to the Southern Gothic well and talk about Flannery O'Connor's short story masterpiece "Good Country People." A nihilistic atheist philosophy PhD named Joy or Helga (depending on who you ask) lives with her mother and some tenants on a farm in rural Georgia. One day 19-year-old aw-shucksy Bible salesman comes to the house and shakes up her philosophical convictions. Plus a case study of a sexsomniac who masturbates (and more) in his sleep. Support Eliza's film project [seedandspark.com] Brice, M., Gales, A. Z., Attali, V., Chauvin, M., & Arnulf, I. (2026). Left hand sleep masturbation in a right-handed male patient with sexsomnia. Sleep Medicine, 108823. [scientificdirect.com] Good Country People by Flannery O'Connor [wikipedia.org]

Episode 326: The Most Important Episode of Your (Academic) Life

Very Bad Wizards

Are you a college student or about to be one? Do you have friends or family in college? This is the most important episode of your life. David and Tamler do something a little different this episode and tier rank a wide range of academic fields from engineering to art history, computer science to women & gender studies. Step aside U.S. News and World Report, the new definitive rankings have just dropped. Plus, Dave reveals he's in the Epstein files, but do we buy his explanation? Have you always wanted to ask us a question but too cheap to spring for Patreon? Join us Saturday 2/21 at 6pm Eastern for our first ever reddit AUA on r/verybadwizards Final Tier List [spoiler!]

Episode 325: It Is Happening Again

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler return to Mircea Eliade's The Sacred and Profane and discuss the chapter "Sacred Time and Myths." How does viewing time as circular give us a periodic window into the sacred? What does it mean to reactualize the creation of the universe in ritual and to view time as "starting anew"? How did Christianity radically change the experience of time by locating the incarnation of the sacred in the historical past? Plus, do you believe in conspiracy theories?  A new study says you should think twice about putting them in your dating profiles. Green, R., Kamitz, L. C., Toribio-Flórez, D., Biddlestone, M., Gasking, F., Sutton, R. M., & Douglas, K. M. (2022). Conspiracy theories and online dating: It'sa (mis) match!. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 01461672251399448. Eliade, M. (1959). The sacred and the profane: The nature of religion (Vol. 81). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Episode 324: Irruption of the Sacred

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler consecrate their podcast with a discussion of "The Sacred and the Profane" by Mircea Eliade. We focus on the first chapter on sacred spaces, where the divine breaks through (or irrupts) our homogenous and chaotic reality, creating a center that gives us meaning and allows us to orient our lives. Plus speaking of the profane, a new study shows that cursing makes you stronger – but why in god's living fuck do they always end up spewing nonsense about the "underlying psychological mechanisms"?    Stephens, R., Dowber, H., Richardson, C., & Washmuth, N. B. (2025). "Don't hold back": Swearing improves strength through state disinhibition. American Psychologist. Eliade, M. (1959). The sacred and the profane: The nature of religion (Vol. 81). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Episode 323: Debate Me 'Phro

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler dive into Plato's Euthyphro, part of our intermittent Back 2 Basics series. A young cocksure priest, confident in his holiness, bumps into Socrates on his way to court to prosecute his father for a wrongful death. After a few rounds with Socrates on the nature of piety, he becomes a little less sure of himself.  We talk about Plato's decision to set the dialogue in the days before Socrates' own trial, the famous Euthyphro dilemma, the seemingly little progress that's made in defining piety, and much more. Plus Oliver Sacks wrote books where the truth seemed stranger than fiction, but how much of what he wrote was really true? Oliver Sacks Put Himself Into His Case Studies. What Was the Cost? by Rachel Aviv [newyorker.com] Plato's Euthyphro [wikipedia.org] We are teaming up with givedirectly, and a whole bunch of podcasters to help families in Rwanda. While match funds last, your donation will be 1.5x matched, meaning every $100 donation will turn into $150 for families in need. Go to givedirectly.org/wizards if you find it in your heart to give a donation.

Episode 322: A Theater of Simultaneous Possibilities (William James' "The Stream of Thought")

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler return to William James' monumental "Principles of Psychology", this time wading through his famous chapter "The Stream of Thought." We talk about his rejection of empiricist theories of consciousness in favor of a view that consciousness is a continuous stream of thoughts, sensations, and emotions without any elements (atoms) that repeat or appear in other people's streams. We talk about how vividly James captures certain features of consciousness, like trying to recall a forgotten name, or the ways that the subjective per of two people differ radically in the same environment. And we debate the merits of James' methodology as well as his universalist ambitions. Plus, we discuss one of the early to mid-2000s papers, how seeing Batman on a subway makes you more altruistic because – wait, hold on, what, this study is from 2025??  Pagnini, F., Grosso, F., Cavalera, C., Poletti, V., Minazzi, G. A., Missoni, A., ... & Bertolotti, M. (2025). Unexpected events and prosocial behavior: the Batman effect. npj Mental Health Research, 4(1), 57. James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. Chapter 9: "The Stream of Thought" [free access to fulltext via psychclassics.yorku.ca] We are teaming up with givedirectly, and a whole bunch of podcasters to help families in Rwanda. While match funds last, your donation will be 1.5x matched, meaning every $100 donation will turn into $150 for families in need. Go to givedirectly.org/wizards if you find it in your heart to give a donation.

Episode 321: The Journey Begins (Plus Blind Ranking Philosophers)

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler begin their long journey home to Homer's Odyssey, the tale of king Odysseus' 10 year journey home after the Trojan war (maybe the greatest story ever told). We dive into the first two books, which focus on Odysseus' 20-year-old son Telemachus, the swarm of suitors who have descended on Odysseus' house during his long absence in the hopes of marrying his clever and beautiful wife Penelope, and the goddess Athena, whose plan to get Odysseus home to Ithaca is finally set into motion. (Much more to come on this monumental work for our beloved Patreon supporters).  Plus for all you Homer haters, David makes Tamler blind rank a list of (pre-1950) philosophers. The Odyssey [wikipedia.org] The Odyssey (transl. by Emily Wilson) [amazon.org affiliate link]

Episode 320: Forgive Me (Kafka's "A Hunger Artist")

Very Bad Wizards

David and Tamler return to one of their favorites, Frans Kafka, this time on his beautiful and distressing short story "The Hunger Artist," a story that brims with metaphorical possibilities but also implores us to accept it on its own mysterious terms. Plus gooning. The Goon Squad by Daniel Kolitz [harpers.org] "Gooning" definition [urbandictionary.com] A Hunger Artist [wikipedia.org] A Hunger Artist (full text) [kafka-online.info]

#476 — The Bittersweet Age

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Susan Cain about writing, creativity, and what AI means for human culture. They discuss the future of books and reading, the tells AI inherits from good writers, why the advent of AI may spark a revival of the humanities, following your bliss, the ethics of curing sadness, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#475 — The Hard Problem of Consciousness

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Michael Pollan about consciousness, the mind, and the self. They discuss Pollan's new book, the relationship between consciousness and intelligence, whether consciousness is a product of evolution, the role of psychedelics in consciousness research, AI and the question of machine consciousness, the illusion of the self, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#474 — More From Sam: Hasan Piker, Islamism, Making Sense Community, and More

Sam Harris - Making Sense

In this latest episode of the More From Sam series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events. They discuss the launch of Making Sense Community, Sam's Ben Shapiro conversation, the New York Times's embrace of Hasan Piker, Zohran Mamdani's approach to Islamism, the misuse of the word "genocide," AI-driven job displacement, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#473 — Money, Power, and Moral Failure

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Lloyd Blankfein about finance, politics, and the state of American society. They discuss Blankfein's memoir, Goldman Sachs and its role as a market maker, the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the AI investment bubble, wealth inequality and the rise of trillionaires, the crisis of antisemitism on the left and right, Trump-era corruption and the post-truth political environment, the national debt, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#472 — Strange Days on the Right

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Ben Shapiro about their pre-election debate and the fractures on the right. They discuss Trump's second term surprises, familial corruption, tariff policy, the ideological world of Tucker Carlson, the spread of conspiracism on the right, antisemitism as the ur-conspiracy theory, JD Vance's political calculations, the future of Israel and the Palestinian question, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#471 — The End of History, Revisited

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Francis Fukuyama about liberal democracy, American politics, and global order. They discuss the misunderstood thesis of "The End of History," how conservatism has mutated into ethno-nationalism, the self-defeating extremes of both identity politics and neoliberalism, the damage of Trump's second term, the war in Iran, the future of Israel, antisemitism on the left and right, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#470 — Democrats at a Crossroads

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Rahm Emanuel about American politics, the state of the Democratic Party, and the 2028 presidential race. They discuss Emanuel's possible presidential run, identity politics and the left's cultural cul-de-sac, the Mississippi reading miracle, antisemitism on the left and right, the Gaza war, Netanyahu's failures, U.S. policy toward China, wealth inequality, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

#469 — Escaping an Anti-Human Future

Sam Harris - Making Sense

Sam Harris speaks with Tristan Harris about the dangers of AI and the race to build it. They discuss the new documentary The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, the lessons of The Social Dilemma, the arms race dynamics between AI labs, the "intelligence curse" and its implications for human political power, the psychology of tech CEOs indifferent to extinction risk, the possibilities of US-China coordination on AI safety, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.

About a New Pandemic?! and the Billion Dollar Ballroom

We're Not Wrong

With hantavirus the talk of the town, the gang examines whether it's actually at risk of becoming a new COVID-like pandemic — spoiler: it's not — as well as the hype cycle around this sort of terrifying news that drives clicks. They also dive into the latest developments in Trump's quest for a White House ballroom, as $1 billion Secret Service funding requests begin to raise eyebrows.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:16:08 - New Pandemic?!00:42:27 - Billion Dollar Ballroom01:05:32 - Emails01:27:29 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Spirit Airlines and the US-Germany Pullout

We're Not Wrong

The gang discusses the closure of Spirit Airlines, which shuttered over the weekend following several bankruptcies, a failed merger with JetBlue, spiking oil prices, and a general frustration from flyers for decades. Which one of these factors played the largest role in the death of Spirit? They discuss. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is continuing to shrink its footprint in Europe, with another 5,000 troops set to leave Germany behind. Is it time for Europe's defense to be more Europe-centric, or is this the US once again abandoning allies under Trump?Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:17:26 - Spirit Airlines00:47:43 - US-Germany Pullout01:05:21 - Emails01:34:54 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Microlooting and the SPLC Indictment

We're Not Wrong

Hot off a controversial appearance in the New York Times opinion page, the gang discusses the concept of "microlooting." Spurred on by comments made by podcasters Nadja Spiegelman and Jia Tolentino, as well as political streamer Hasan Piker, the crew wonders whether there's any case in which "microlooting" can be justified, or if it's actually just hurting leftist causes. Then they turn to the SPLC's recent indictment over accusations that paying informants within targeted hate groups actually counts as funding these hate groups — and, in doing so, constitutes fraud. Compelling case, or obvious reach?Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:23:53 - Microlooting00:48:27 - SPLC Indicted01:07:32 - Emails01:12:09 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About "Monitoring the Situation" and Michael Jackson

We're Not Wrong

The gang discusses the newly-developed "Monitoring the Situation" livestream, an X-hosted 24/7 live feed designed to serve as an alternative to traditional media. Backed by Andreesen Horowitz, is "Monitoring the Situation" something you need in your life, or just another way to stay glued to your phone. They then discuss the new Michael Jackson biopic, which was forced to undergo a full rework in post-production to avoid discussing the pop star's sexual allegations, and ask whether a movie about MJ should be forced to reckon with that chapter in his life.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro and Gerrymandering00:34:16 - "Monitoring the Situation"00:59:51 - Michael Jackson01:12:21 - Emails01:29:18 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Eric Swalwell and Viktor Orbán

We're Not Wrong

The gang reacts to the rapid fall of Eric Swalwell, who went from sitting Congressman and the Democratic (and, therefore, overall leading) frontrunner for governor of California to resigning over multiple sexual misconduct allegations. They then turn their attention to Viktor Orbán, who leaves power after 16 years following his recent loss in Hungary's election.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:17:39 - Eric Swalwell00:48:39 - Viktor Orbán01:16:29 - Emails01:31:20 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Afroman and Kanye West

We're Not Wrong

The gang discusses Afroman's elevated status following his recent win in a high-profile defamation lawsuit involving Adams County police officers. Is the rapper actually a First Amendment hero, or is there more to this case than you might think? They then turn their attention to another rapper — Kayne West — who recently found himself banned from entering the UK to perform at a local festival, resulting in that festival being canceled. Did the UK overstep, or is this merely the consequences of years of Ye's antisemitic behavior?Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:11:50 - Afroman00:42:51 - Kanye West01:07:13 - Emails01:27:09 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About Social Media Souring Democracy and Disney Adults

We're Not Wrong

The gang discusses new polling showing heavy social media users are less committed to the concept of democracy, raising questions about whether online life is distorting reality or just revealing deeper cracks. Then they pivot to “Disney adults,” a high-spending, status-driven fandom that fuels Disney’s success while drawing ridicule. Is it harmless escapism or something more unsettling?Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:03:52 - Global Developments (Mostly Iran)00:42:44 - Social Media and Democracy01:14:14 - Disney Adults01:38:01 - Emails01:50:50 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the DHS Shutdown and Millennial Feminism

We're Not Wrong

The gang talks through the ongoing problems facing travelers as TSA delays continue to build up. With the Democrats balking at their initial proposal in order to ask for additional ICE restrictions, what solution — if any — can we find to this DHS shutdown? Then they discuss a new piece in The Atlantic arguing that former Jezebel writer Lindy West's new memoir marks the end of "millennial feminism."Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:11:03 - Iran00:22:54 - DHS Shutdown00:47:14 - Millennial Feminism01:11:36 - Emails01:53:55 - Wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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