Syria says its army has begun to withdraw from the mainly Druze city of Sweida - after days of deadly clashes. Also: eight babies have been born in UK using three people's DNA to prevent genetic disease.
This Machine Kills - Patreon Preview – 414. Deus Ex Zuck
After chatting about Ed’s trip to Greece, we turn our sights on the incredible amount of money that Mark Zuckerberg is spending to poach big names from across the tech sector and assemble the greatest crossover event in AI history. What could possibly make this level of investment into creating the Meta Superintelligence Lab a worthwhile endeavor? We lay out the Meta logic as it seems to be playing out.
••• Here’s What Mark Zuckerberg Is Offering Top AI Talent https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-meta-offer-top-ai-talent-300-million/
••• Here Is Everyone Mark Zuckerberg Has Hired So Far for Meta’s ‘Superintelligence’ Team https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-welcomes-superintelligence-team/
••• Zuckerberg Leads AI Recruitment Blitz Armed With $100 Million Pay Packages https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/meta-ai-recruiting-mark-zuckerberg-5c231f75
••• Meta held talks to buy Thinking Machines, Perplexity, and Safe Superintelligence https://www.theverge.com/command-line-newsletter/690720/meta-buy-thinking-machines-perplexity-safe-superintelligence
••• Meta Wins Blockbuster AI Copyright Case—but There’s a Catch https://www.wired.com/story/meta-scores-victory-ai-copyright-case/
••• 'A Black Hole of Energy Use': Meta's Massive AI Data Center Is Stressing Out a Louisiana Community https://www.404media.co/a-black-hole-of-energy-use-metas-massive-ai-data-center-is-stressing-out-a-louisiana-community/
Standing Plugs:
••• Order Jathan’s new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite
••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble
••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills
Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)
CBS News Roundup - 07/16/2025 | World News Roundup Late Edition
Former Vice President Mike Pence says the Trump administration should release all the Epstein files. President Trump continues feud with Fed Chair Powell, but retreats from threats to fire him. Fall River, Massachusetts Fire Chief believes no foul play was involved in deadly assisted living home fire. CBS News Correspondent Christopher Cruise Keiper with tonight's World News Roundup.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
PBS News Hour - World - Syria and Druze minority agree to new ceasefire after Israeli strikes on Damascus
Some Syrian military units are withdrawing from the southern city of Suwayda after days of deadly fighting. Secretary of State Rubio announced late Wednesday that all parties, including Israel, agreed to a ceasefire. But the day began with Israeli strikes in Syria's capital, part of an operation it claimed was to protect a minority group in Syria it considers an ally. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
PBS News Hour - World - News Wrap: 2nd party exits Netanyahu’s parliament coalition, leaving him with a minority
In our news wrap Wednesday, a second party in Israel exited Netanyahu's coalition, leaving him with a minority in parliament, an American aid organization in Gaza says 20 Palestinians died in a crowd surge at one of its distribution sites today and President Trump lashed out at his own supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and called it a "big hoax." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
PBS News Hour - World - Palestinian American ambushed on family land and killed by Israeli settlers, cousin says
The U.S. is demanding accountability amid a surge in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians. On Friday, a 20-year-old Palestinian American was beaten to death in the West Bank. Saifullah Musallet is now the fifth American to be killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war in Gaza began. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Musallett's cousin, Nizar Milbes. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The Gist - The Great Lantern Fly Freakout: Is That BS?
Sadie Dingfelder returns to assess the national stomp-fest against lantern flies and asks: did it do anything, or was it all buggage and bluster? Then, a deep dive into the Supreme Court’s CASA ruling on nationwide injunctions, and how a seemingly dramatic limitation on judicial power proved to be less than world-shifting in practice. Finally, Trump disavows Epstein file disclosure demands, setting off a civil war within MAGA media as conspiratorial cracks widen and cranks rage. Produced by Corey Wara
Production Coordinator Ashley Khan
Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com
To advertise on the show, contact ad-sales@libsyn.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist
Subscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: GIST INSTAGRAM
Follow The Gist List at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack
The Source - VIA focuses on improving service with frequency and growing ridership
Via metropolitan transit is moving on the development of mass transportation. There are the Green and Silver advanced rapid transit lines. The Better Bus Plan looks to boost frequency on key routes. What is Transit Oriented Development (TOD)? What is the long-term vision for VIA?array(3) {
[0]=>
string(20) "https://www.tpr.org/"
[1]=>
string(0) ""
[2]=>
string(1) "0"
}
PBS News Hour - Art Beat - ‘John and Jim’ symphony honors marriage equality with its future increasingly in doubt
Ten years ago, marriage equality became the law of the land when the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional. A symphony piece now honors the love story of Jim Obergefell and husband John, and how the fight to prevent an overturn of the case continues. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Power-Hungry Data Centers Gobble Up Illinois’ Energy, Water
They use up massive amounts of electricity and water, strain state resources, and get hundreds of millions of dollars in tax subsidies. So what benefits do data centers actually bring to Illinois residents?
Reset digs into this question with Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of Citizens Utility Board, and Brett Chase, environmental reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.