Politics

U.S. Kills al-Qaeda Leader

August 2, 2022
Washington Post, New York Times, CBS News
The context
President Biden confirmed this afternoon that a U.S. drone strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second in command in al-Qaeda during 9/11 and Osama Bin Laden's successor.
U.S. Kills al-Qaeda Leader

Most wanted

  • Ayman al-Zawahiri was at the top of the most wanted list for his role in overseeing and organizing the attacks on 9/11. After the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during Obama's presidency, al-Zawahiri stepped into the deceased leader's shoes as the head of al-Qaeda.
  • According to officials, the drone strike that killed al-Zawahiri was carried out over the weekend, and the strike hit a house in Kabul where the leader was hiding out.
Go deeper →

First since exit

  • The strike that killed al-Zawahiri is the first since the United States withdrew troops from Afghanistan last year.
  • Officials said that the U.S. military did not conduct the strike, leading some to speculate that the CIA had conducted the strike.
  • The successful strike is a win for the Biden administration that pulled troops last year.
Go deeper →

Biden confirms

  • In Biden's remarks, he calls the strike an example of the U.S. maintaining its ability to conduct operations and pursue high priority targets even without soliders on the ground in Afghantistan.
  • The Biden administration said that there were no civilian casualties in the strike in the residential neighborhood in Kabul.
  • After al-Zawahiri's death, all the top conspirators in the 9/11 attacks have been captured or killed.
Go deeper →

Today’s trending stories distilled into one-minute bites

Delivered to your inbox, daily

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

What else is going on?

The context
January inflation was higher than expected, sparking fears that the Federal Reserve may enact further interest rate hikes.
The context
January inflation was higher than expected, sparking fears that the Federal Reserve may enact further interest rate hikes.
Go deeper
 →

Higher than expected

  • Consumer prices rose 0.5% in January, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index, which was higher than experts expected.
  • The Federal Reserve may issue a more aggressive hike in the coming months to slow inflation.
Go deeper →
The context
The White House reassured the press today that there was no indication that the unidentified flying objects shot down over the US and Canada were part of a Chinese spy program, leaving more questions about the objects’ origins.
Politics
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

More and More Mysterious Objects

The context
The White House reassured the press today that there was no indication that the unidentified flying objects shot down over the US and Canada were part of a Chinese spy program, leaving more questions about the objects’ origins.
Go deeper
 →

Unclear origins

  • The White House said today that there is no indication that the three objects shot down by the US military over the weekend were part of China's spy program.
  • Officials have yet to analyze the debris from the objects because access has been impossible due to weather conditions and location.
  • The administration suggested the balloons were tied to a commercial or harmless entity.
Go deeper →
The context
The US has issued a top-level advisory warning American citizens to leave Russia immediately. The advisory also warns Americans not to travel to Russia under any circumstance as the war in Ukraine drags on.
Politics
Monday, February 13, 2023

US Warns American Citizens to Leave Russia

The context
The US has issued a top-level advisory warning American citizens to leave Russia immediately. The advisory also warns Americans not to travel to Russia under any circumstance as the war in Ukraine drags on.
Go deeper
 →

Top-level advisory

  • The US issued a top-level advisory today warning American citizens to cease travel to Russia and to leave the country immediately.
  • The advisory was issued as the war in Ukraine continues to escalate and nears its first anniversary on February 24th.
Go deeper →
June 8, 2022

This Week In Technology June 2nd

This week, the COO of Meta, Sheryl Sandberg, is stepping down, Elon Musk demanded employees return to the office, and Clearview AI got some bad news.
 This Week In Technology June 2nd
Learn more
 →
Sources: 

COO No More

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Meta (Facebook), announced she would be stepping down after 14 years.

Go deeper →

Tesla's Back In the Office

Elon Musk declared that Tesla workers should return to the office full time or get lost.

Go deeper →

Facial Technology Clampdown

Privacy watchdogs and AI innovators disagree on the way forward for facial recognition technology.

Go deeper →
Entertainment
May 19, 2022

This Week in Entertainment

The defamation trial of actress Amber Heard and actor Johnny Depp raged on and singer Eric Clapton’s European tour is on hold.

This Week in Entertainment
Learn more
 →
Sources: 
ABC, Newsweek, Fox News, Billboard, The Hill, CNN

Ongoing: Amber Heard V. Johnny Depp

May 20th, 2022 

Actor Johnny Depp is suing his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, for defamation over an op-ed penned by Heard about her experience with domestic abuse. The op-ed is allegedly about her marriage to Depp. 

Clapton on Hold

May 18th, 2022

Guitarist and singer Eric Clapton announced that he would cancel two shows on his European tour after testing positive for Covid-19. 

Try something new

Go back in time

The context
The producers of the film "Rust" named Bianca Cline as its cinematographer. The documentary will cover the death of the film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during production when a prop gun held by lead actor and producer Alec Baldwin misfired with a live round.
Entertainment
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Rust Documentary Is Moving Full Speed Ahead

The context
The producers of the film "Rust" named Bianca Cline as its cinematographer. The documentary will cover the death of the film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during production when a prop gun held by lead actor and producer Alec Baldwin misfired with a live round.
Go deeper
 →

Green light for Rust documentary

  • The producers of the film “Rust” announced that they had found a cinematographer to continue the production of the film after it was halted when the former cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed in an on-set accident.
  • The producers announced in October that the film would be completed in Hutchins’ honor and that a documentary would be made about the completion of the film.
Go deeper →
The context
Meta is reportedly planning a new round of layoffs that are expected to happen sometime in March.
Technology
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Meta May Be Planning Further Layoffs

The context
Meta is reportedly planning a new round of layoffs that are expected to happen sometime in March.
Go deeper
 →

Here we go again

  • Meta is preparing for a new round of job cuts that are expected to take place in March and will affect an unknown number of people.
  • In November, Meta laid off about 13% of its workforce.
  • Meta is one of the few tech companies to expand on earlier layoffs from 2022, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised that 2023 will be a year of "efficiency."
Go deeper →
The context
Ford’s electric vehicles will get new batteries that charge faster and are more affordable, thanks to new chemical breakthroughs in battery tech.
Technology
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Ford Announces Battery Upgrades

The context
Ford’s electric vehicles will get new batteries that charge faster and are more affordable, thanks to new chemical breakthroughs in battery tech.
Go deeper
 →

Better batteries

  • Ford announced it is opening a $3.5 billion electric vehicle factory in Michigan that will produce batteries with a new formula.
  • The lithium iron phosphate battery's chemistry means they are more durable, faster charging, and more affordable.
  • The new factory will generate 2,500 new jobs.
Go deeper →
Politics
May 19, 2022

This Week in Politics

The national formula shortage is finally starting to look up; a racially-motivated shooting in Buffalo left ten dead, and a Supreme Court leak shook the foundations of the court. 

This Week in Politics
Learn more
 →
Sources: 
CNN, Fox News, The Atlantic, New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washington Examiner, The Guardian

Ongoing: Formula Shortage

May 19th, 2022

The U.S. has been hit by an infant formula shortage, causing many parents and caregivers to panic as store shelves continue to thin. The formula shortage is due to a combination of factors, and federal help is on the way. 

Shooting in Buffalo Leaves Ten Dead

May 18th, 2022

Ten people were shot and killed at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY, on Saturday, May 14th, 2022. The shooter, a white 18-year-old, targeted a predominantly black community and used a legally purchased semi-automatic rifle. 

Delivered to your inbox, daily

This site is powered by

Learn more about how this site was built
 →
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Follow us