CIRCLE WITH A DOT

The Guardian | Muskism by Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff review – how Elon Musk is reshaping the world by Christopher WebbHenry Ford changed the face of industry forever – what kind of economic model do Musk’s methods presage?Genius industrialist or clownish conman, humanity’s saviour from a rapidly crumbling planet or rabid social media troll – the verdicts on the world’s richest person vary in flavour, but most share something in common: they focus on Musk as an individual. In their study, Quinn Slobodian, a historian at Boston University, and Ben Tarnoff, a tech writer, wish to reframe the conversation. The most important question, they argue, is not “who is Musk?” but “what is Musk a symptom of?”As the title suggests, their answer is “Muskism”, the coinage a deliberate nod to Fordism, the shorthand for 20th-century capitalism built on the pairing of mass production with mass consumption. If Fordism was the last century’s operating system, Slobodian and Tarnoff contend that Muskism is this century’s. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/mar/26/muskism-by-quinn-slobodian-and-ben-tarnoff-review-how-elon-musk-is-reshaping-the-world#elonmusk #technology #muskism #fordism #capitalism

The Guardian | Epstein survivor who voted for Trump says she now fears ‘we’re not going to get justice’ by Anna BettsJena Lisa Jones says she backed Trump in 2024 election because of his campaign promises to release Epstein filesAfter casting her vote for Donald Trump in 2024 in hopes that he would bring transparency around the Jeffrey Epstein case, Epstein survivor Jena Lisa Jones said in an interview this week that she now fears “we’re not going to get justice in all of this”.“I wanted my day in court,” said Jones, who has said she was abused by Epstein when she was 14, in an interview on the Shadow Sessions podcast that aired on Thursday morning. “I didn’t get that, and we were so close to it, it really got ripped from us, and then after [Epstein] passed, everything just went into a circus show.” Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/26/trump-voter-epstein-survivor#donaldtrump #jeffreyepstein #sextrafficking #uspolitics #shadowsessions

Bloomberg Technology | Truce Prospects Lift Stocks | The Close 3/25/2026Bloomberg Television brings you the latest news and analysis leading up to the final minutes and seconds before and after the closing bell on Wall Street. Today's guests are Edward Jones’ Mona Mahajan, Lotus Technology Management’s Alap Shah, Mizuho’s David Bellinger, S&P Global Energy President Dave Ernsberger, Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s Veronica Willis, BMO’s Mark McCormick, Willow Wealth CEO Mitchell Caplan, & Pleasant/Rock Co-Founders Brian K. Hinds Jr. & Malcolm Jenkins. (Source: Bloomberg)Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-03-25/the-close-3-25-2026-video#bloombergtelevision

qwant news | Donald Trump Names Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg To Tech Advisory CouncilDonald Trump has announced the inaugural slate of members for the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, a body created by an executive order in January to bring together the nation’s leading experts in science and technology. Among the first appointees are Oracle co‑founder Larry Ellison, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, venture‑capitalist Marc Andreessen, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The council is intended to advise the president on how to strengthen American leadership in emerging technologies.The list also includes Google co‑founder Sergey Brin, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, Oracle executive vice chair Safra Catz, Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte, Coinbase co‑founder Fred Ehrsam, physicist John Martinis, Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO Bob Mumgaard, and AMD CEO Lisa Su. Notably absent is Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, who was once a major donor and adviser to Trump but fell out with the administration after being removed from the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Other figures mentioned in the coverage include David Ellison’s Paramount, which is pursuing a takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, and a California jury verdict finding Meta and Google liable for creating addictive products that harm minors.The White House says the council, which could eventually number up to 24 members, will be chaired by venture capitalist David Sacks and White House Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios. Its mandate is to focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, ensuring that the American workforce can thrive in what officials describe as a “Golden Age of Innovation.”Read more: https://deadline.com/2026/03/trump-larry-ellison-mark-zuckerberg-tech-advisory-council-1236765723/#donaldtrump #larryellison #markzuckerberg #nvidia #google

yahoo news | Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appointed to White House advisory councilMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on a new White House science and technology advisory council. The 13‑member panel is tasked with shaping the administration’s policies on artificial intelligence, and it includes other high‑profile tech leaders such as Oracle executive chairman Larry Ellison and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Zuckerberg said he was “honored to join the President’s council and work with other industry leaders to help make this happen,” emphasizing the group’s role in guiding the nation’s AI strategy. The announcement coincided with a high‑profile court ruling in which a jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for contributing to a plaintiff’s addiction to social‑media platforms and subsequent mental‑health issues. The plaintiff, a 20‑year‑old Californian, argued that the companies’ negligence was a substantial factor in her harm, and the verdict underscores growing legal scrutiny of tech firms’ impact on children and young adults. In the same period, Meta disclosed a sizable layoff, trimming hundreds of jobs as part of a broader reorganization. While the cuts reflect ongoing cost‑saving measures, executives have hinted that the company will lean more heavily on artificial‑intelligence technologies moving forward, a shift that aligns with Zuckerberg’s new advisory‑council responsibilities.Read more: https://wjactv.com/news/nation-world/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-appointed-to-white-house-advisory-council#meta #markzuckerberg #whitehouse #donaldtrump

yahoo news | ‘Big Tech invincibility is over:’ Historic social medial addiction ruling agains...A Los Angeles jury has delivered a landmark verdict finding Meta and Google liable for fueling teen social‑media addiction, awarding the plaintiff—a 20‑year‑old identified only as “KGM”—$3 million in damages. KGM testified that platforms such as Facebook and Instagram wrecked her mental health after she became addicted as a teenager, and the jury concluded that the companies acted with malice or egregious conduct. The decision follows nine days of testimony, including direct statements from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, and it opens a second phase of deliberations on punitive damages that could increase the payout dramatically.The ruling is being hailed by critics as a watershed moment that could dismantle the “legal shield” long enjoyed by Big Tech. Advocates such as Sacha Haworth of the Tech Oversight Project and psychologist Jonathan Haidt liken the verdict to a seismic shift comparable to the tobacco industry’s downfall, arguing that social‑media firms will now be treated like any other industry that knowingly harms children. Lawmakers, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, see the case as a catalyst for the Kids Online Safety Act, legislation aimed at banning targeted advertising to minors and prohibiting data collection without consent. Meanwhile, Meta and Google have each expressed disagreement with the verdict and indicated they will pursue appeals.The Los Angeles decision arrives amid a broader wave of litigation against the two companies, with more than 2,000 pending lawsuits consolidated in a federal multidistrict case and additional state‑level actions slated for June and August. Earlier this month, Meta was fined $375 million in New Mexico for exposing children to online predators, underscoring the mounting legal pressures facing the industry. Legal experts warn that the verdict could open floodgates for further accountability, potentially reshaping how social‑media platforms design and market their products to younger users.Read more: https://nypost.com/2026/03/25/business/historic-social-medial-addiction-ruling-against-meta-google-could-open-legal-floodgates/#losangeles #meta #bigtech #techoversightproject

Canary Media | Crusoe taps not one but two novel battery technologies for AI buildout by Julian SpectorAI infrastructure startup Crusoe has always differentiated itself from its competitors by finding creative ways to tap energy. Now, it’s investing in two of the most potentially transformative battery technologies on the market. Crusoe has signed a deal with Form Energy to purchase 120 megawatts of iron-air…Read more: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/batteries/crusoe-taps-novel-battery-technologies-ai-buildout#crusoe #formenergy #ai

The Guardian | Big tech reckoning: Meta fined $375m in landmark case – The Latest by Presented by Lucy Hough with Katie McQue ; producer Bryony Moore ; senior producer Ryan Ramgobin ; lead producer Zoe HitchA court in the US has ordered Meta to pay $375m after a jury found that the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, enabled harm including child sexual exploitation on its platforms. The landmark victory marks the first time the social media corporation has been successfully sued by a US state over child safety issues. Could it set a new precedent for holding big tech to account? Lucy Hough speaks to the investigative reporter Katie McQue. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/video/2026/mar/25/big-tech-reckoning-meta-fined-375m-in-landmark-case-the-latest#meta #bigtech #landmarkcase #childsafety #socialmedia

qwant news | Meta lays off hundreds more workers as Mark Zuckerberg pivots away from costly 'metaverse' pushMeta is laying off several hundred employees across key divisions—including Facebook and its Reality Labs unit—as the company restructures for an artificial‑intelligence‑focused future. The cuts come as Meta pulls back from its costly metaverse push, after pouring tens of billions into virtual‑reality hardware and software with limited payoff. By shifting resources toward AI and wearable technology, the firm hopes to chase faster growth and clearer returns as demand for VR headsets cools and investor enthusiasm fades.CEO Mark Zuckerberg is driving the AI transition, saying earlier this year that 2026 will be “the year that AI starts to dramatically change the way that we work.” Teams are being flattened and AI tools are being deployed to boost productivity, with some affected staff offered alternative roles—though a few positions may require relocation. The latest lay‑off follows earlier reductions, including roughly 1,500 jobs eliminated in Reality Labs in January and a 5 % cut of the company’s lowest‑performing employees last year. Rumors that Meta could axe up to 20 % of its workforce this year have been dismissed as speculative.Meta is also ramping up its AI‑related spending, projecting $115 billion to $135 billion in capital expenditures for the year—a roughly 75 % increase over the prior period—largely earmarked for data centers, servers and other infrastructure needed to power advanced AI systems. Operating expenses are expected to rise about 40 % as higher compensation is offered to attract technical talent. Since the start of the year the company’s shares have fallen nearly 10 %, trading around $598 per share at mid‑day Wednesday.Read more: https://nypost.com/2026/03/25/business/meta-is-laying-off-more-workers-these-departments-are-being-impacted/#meta #markzuckerberg #realitylabs #ai #virtual-reality

The Guardian | US has caused $10tn worth of climate damage since 1990, research finds by Oliver MilmanUS, top carbon emitter in history, has ‘a lot of responsibility’ for causing ‘substantial’ harm globally, scientist saysThe US has caused an eye-watering $10tn in global damages to the world over the past three decades through its vast planet-heating emissions, with a quarter of this economic pain inflicted upon itself, new research has found.By being the largest carbon emitter in history, the US has caused greater harm to worldwide economic growth than any other country, ahead of China, now the world’s largest emitter that is responsible for $9tn in GDP damage since 1990, according to the findings of the paper. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/25/us-climate-damage-research#airpollution #greenhousegasemissions #us #china #gdpdamage

The Guardian | Epstein accountant and lawyer say federal agents never questioned them by Oliver MilmanIn House depositions, disgraced financier’s associates say they were not contacted after his 2008 plea dealSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailJeffrey Epstein’s accountant and his attorney have both said that federal government investigators never interviewed them about the late financier’s crimes and their work with him, according to deposition videos released by the House of Representatives’ oversight committee. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/epstein-accountant-lawyer-house-depositions#jeffreyepstein #federalgovernment #accountant #attorney

The Guardian | Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters by Dharna NoorLawmakers say moratorium on construction would buy time to create strong, federal guardrails for AIAmid an unprecedented energy crisis and the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, progressive lawmakers have unveiled a new policy to place a moratorium on the construction of AI datacenters.The policy, announced by Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democratic representative, on Wednesday morning, aims to ensure the AI boom protects the environment and communities, and benefits workers instead of harming them. A temporary ban, the lawmakers say, would give the US government time to create strong federal safeguards for AI, which is “affecting everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids’ education”. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/datacenters-bernie-sanders-aoc#ai(artificialintelligence) #uscongress #uspolitics #datacenters #energycrisis

The Guardian | How weaving, glamping and kayak tours are helping to tackle deforestation in Argentina’s Gran Chaco by Sophia Boddenberg in Chaco and Natalie Alcoba in Buenos AiresSmall farmers and community-led conservation efforts are trying to protect one of the biggest semi-arid forests in the world – under threat from expanding agriculture, wildfires and the ‘logging mafia’ Jorge Luna stands in a piece of Argentina’s Gran Chaco forest that he calls his own. Birds sing as he surveys skyscraping molle trees, known as pepper trees, palo santo and algorrobo, or carob trees. “It’s good wood,” says Luna, 55. “I was about to cut them down.”Selling timber promises quick and easy money in the sprawling ecosystem that covers parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. But it comes at a steep price, contributing to rampant deforestation and irreversible damage to the forest. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/25/argentina-gran-chaco-deforestation-eco-tourism-weaving-glamping-kayak-tours#argentina #conservation #deforestation #treesandforests #granchaco

The Guardian | We’re letting big corporations gamble with our lives. Act now, or the food could run out | George Monbiot by George MonbiotThe fragility of the global food system fills me with dread – and the war with Iran has exposed just how close to collapse it is The fate of environmentalists is to spend their lives trying not to be proved right. Vindication is what we dread. But there’s one threat that haunts me more than any other: the collapse of the global food system. We cannot predict what the immediate trigger might be. But the war with Iran is just the right kind of event.Drawing on years of scientific data, I’ve been arguing for some time that this risk exists – and that governments are completely unprepared for it. In 2023, I made a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into environmental change and food security, with a vast list of references. Called as a witness, I spent much of the time explaining that the issue was much wider than the inquiry’s scope. Continue reading...Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/25/big-corporations-global-food-system-war-iran#globaleconomy #georgemonbiot #foodsystem #foodsecurity #environmentalchange

@TheBadPlace circle's stock tanking 15% because the senate wants to ban stablecoin rewards feels like watching regulators finally read the fine print on defi yields.

yahoo news | BlackRock boss Larry Fink: Oil at $150 will trigger global recessionLarry Fink, the chief executive of BlackRock, warned that if oil prices were to rise to $150 a barrel for several years, the result would be a “stark and steep” global recession. He explained that the outcome hinges on the Middle‑East conflict: a settlement that re‑integrates Iran could push prices back below pre‑war levels, but a continued Iranian threat would keep oil above $100 and possibly near $150, putting “profound implications” on growth, living standards and public finances. Fink urged governments to be pragmatic about their energy mix, using all available sources while aggressively expanding cheaper, clean alternatives to avoid over‑reliance on imports.When asked about parallels with the 2007‑08 financial crisis, Fink dismissed any similarity, saying the financial system today is far more secure and that the modest fund‑withdrawal issues BlackRock has seen represent only a tiny slice of the overall market. He also rejected the notion of an AI bubble, despite the massive capital flowing into the technology, and stressed that cheap, abundant energy is essential for AI development. According to Fink, the United States, Europe and China must accelerate investments in solar, nuclear and other low‑cost power sources if they wish to remain competitive in the AI race.Fink’s annual shareholder letter and his BBC interview both highlighted the social impact of AI, warning that its rapid adoption could widen inequality unless the workforce is re‑skilled. He argued that the coming AI boom will create “enormous” demand for trades such as plumbers, electricians, welders and other hands‑on occupations, while some traditional office roles may decline. He called for a re‑balancing of career advice that has long favoured university degrees, suggesting that a strong career in skilled trades should be equally respected and pursued.Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wqrdkx8ppo#blackrock #larryfink #middle-east #ai

yahoo news | BBC Audio | Business Matters | #32 BlackRock CEO: Global Recession Looms if Iran...Larry Fink, chairman and chief executive of BlackRock – the world’s largest asset manager with over $14 trillion under management – warned that if the conflict with Iran continues, oil prices could stay above $100 a barrel for years and even climb to $150. Such sustained high energy costs would ripple through agriculture, fertiliser production and global supply chains, acting as a regressive tax that hits the poorest hardest and could trigger what he described as a “stark and steep recession”.Fink urged an “energy‑pragmatism” approach, arguing that countries should draw on every available source – oil, gas, renewables and nuclear – to build resilience, especially given Europe’s fragmented power systems. On trade, he said globalisation is being recalibrated rather than reversed, with post‑war trading patterns moving toward more symmetrical relationships, even as tariffs remain inflationary. He dismissed direct comparisons with the 2008 financial crisis, noting that the $2.2 trillion private‑credit market is now more transparent and has clear liquidity limits.Looking ahead, Fink highlighted artificial intelligence as a transformational force that will drive massive infrastructure investment and create large numbers of skilled blue‑collar jobs. He argued societies have over‑emphasised university education and need to re‑value trades in an AI‑driven economy, suggesting that the future will require a balance of high‑tech expertise and practical, hands‑on skills to support both economic growth and social stability.Read more: https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0n8hrxv#blackrock #iran #europe #ai #globalrecession

yahoo news | 'Flummoxing': Expert flags stunning FBI oversight with Epstein's closest...**Paragraph 1** Legal analyst Lisa Rubin told MS NOW’s Alicia Menendez that the FBI’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s inner circle appears seriously lacking. According to Rubin, both Darren Indyke—Epstein’s former attorney and co‑executor—and his accountant Richard Kahn testified before Congress that they had no knowledge of Epstein’s alleged child‑sex‑trafficking crimes. However, the testimony contains glaring gaps, and Rubin points out that at least two victims reported to the FBI that Indy Indyke explicitly instructed them not to speak with law‑enforcement, promising only that a lawyer would be available if they chose to cooperate.**Paragraph 2** Rubin says the pattern of alleged obstruction extends beyond the victims themselves. A former personal chef for Epstein reportedly recounted a similar warning from Indy Indyke: “If somebody tries to approach you with something, do not accept it.” These statements suggest a coordinated effort to silence witnesses at a time when authorities feared Indy Indyke might be served with legal papers. Despite these accusations, the federal investigation has not produced a clear path to accountability.**Paragraph 3** Compounding the confusion, Rubin notes that neither Indy Indyke nor Kahn was ever interviewed by the FBI or the Department of Justice—a fact she describes as “flummoxing.” Without direct questioning of the two men, prosecutors lack crucial evidence to determine whether they committed perjury or helped obstruct the investigation. Rubin concludes that, while the testimonies of victims and close associates hint at a cover‑up, the absence of formal interviews leaves any potential legal repercussions uncertain.Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/epstein-2676615122/#fbi #jeffreyepstein #darrenindyke #congress #departmentofjustice

yahoo news | BLACKROCK TCP ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Urgently Reminds BlackRock TCP...Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder‑rights law firm, announced that a class‑action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all investors who purchased or otherwise acquired BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: TCPC) securities between November 6 2024 and January 23 2026. The complaint alleges that, during this “Class Period,” BlackRock TCP’s officers made materially false or misleading statements and failed to disclose several adverse facts, including that the firm’s investments were not being timely or appropriately valued, that portfolio‑restructuring efforts were ineffective, that unrealized losses were understated, and that the company’s net asset value (NAV) was consequently overstated. On January 23 2026 the company disclosed a 19 % decline in NAV due to a sharp rise in non‑performing loans, causing the stock to drop 12.97 % to $5.10 per share three days later.Investors who bought BlackRock TCP shares and suffered losses have until April 6 2026 to apply to the court to be appointed as lead plaintiff. Bragar Eagel & Squire urges affected shareholders, long‑term stockholders, or anyone with information to contact the firm directly to discuss legal options. The firm’s litigation partners, Brandon Walker and Melissa Fortunato, are available by phone at (212) 355‑4648 or by email at investigations@bespc.com, and a contact form is also provided on the firm’s website. There is no cost or obligation to reach out.Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. operates offices in New York, South Carolina, and California and represents individual and institutional investors in securities, derivative, and commercial litigation, as well as consumer‑protection and data‑privacy matters. For further details about the lawsuit, the firm’s practice, or to stay updated, interested parties can visit www.bespc.com or follow the attorneys on LinkedIn. This announcement was distributed through GlobeNewswire as a paid placement.Read more: https://smb.amnews.com/article/BLACKROCK-TCP-ALERT-Bragar-Eagel-andamp-Squire-PC-Urgently-Reminds-BlackRock-TCP-Investors-with-Large-Losses-to-Contact-the-Firm-Before-April-6th?storyId=69c30ee93971457808b0c888#bragareagel&squire #blackrocktcpcapitalcorp #nasdaq #u.s.districtcourt

The Daily Beast Latest Articles | Judge Jeanine Minion Makes Bombshell Admission About Trump Enemy Probe by Annabella RosciglioneKent Nishimura / REUTERSA top deputy to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, has admitted that the government lacked evidence in its probe of one of Trump’s perceived political enemies. Pirro’s office opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in January, after President Trump claimed that there was “criminality” in Powell’s testimony to Congress about the scope of the $2.5 billion renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg quashed the subpoenas into the Fed last week, ruling that the probe showed signs that Pirro—a former Fox News host nicknamed “Judge Jeanine”—was motivated to launch the investigation into Powell due to Trump’s desire to fire the Fed chair to cut interest rates.Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeanine-pirro-deputy-makes-bombshell-admission-about-trump-enemy-probe-of-jerome-powell/#jeaninepirro #trump #federalreserve #jeromepowell #u.s.districtjudge