Anthropic Forms National Security Advisory Council
Anthropic announced the formation of the Anthropic National Security and Public Sector Advisory Council on Wednesday, featuring 11 inaugural members, including former U.S. senators and senior officials from the defense, intelligence, energy, and justice departments.
The council, which describes itself as bipartisan, includes Roy Blunt, a former Republican senator and member of the Intelligence Committee; David S. Cohen, Deputy CIA Director under the Obama administration; and Patrick Shanahan, a retired Boeing executive and Acting Defense Secretary under the first Trump administration.
The advisory council will reportedly help Anthropic develop applications that strengthen the strategic capabilities of the U.S. and "closely allied democracies" in cybersecurity, intelligence and scientific research, while supporting industry standards to promote a "race to the top" for responsible national security AI use.
Pro-establishment narrative
This strategic move positions America to maintain its technological edge in an era of great power competition. The council brings together proven national security leaders who understand the stakes of AI development for democratic values and military superiority. With China rapidly advancing its AI capabilities, having experienced defense officials guide responsible AI deployment ensures America stays ahead while protecting sensitive operations.
Pro-China narrative
Anthropic's new National Security Advisory Council highlights America's narrow view of AI a weapon for great-power rivalry. China's strategy is different. While Washington recruits ex-Pentagon officials and dangles stock options, Beijing trains engineers, builds GPU clusters, and funds open-source innovation. The U.S. treats AI as a battlefield; China treats it as the foundation of a new civilization.
Establishment-critical narrative
Global AI progress requires collaboration between the world's leading AI powers rather than zero-sum competition. Almost half of the top AI researchers globally were born or educated in China, making international cooperation essential for breakthrough discoveries in healthcare, education and climate solutions. Dividing computing resources and research talent pools will slow progress on challenges that affect all humanity.
Techno-skeptic narrative
Tech companies are becoming military contractors under the banner of national security, potentially building AI superintelligence without adequate safeguards to protect humanity. This advisory council represents a cynical manipulation of nationalist sentiment to bypass safety requirements for advanced AI development. The focus on maintaining dominance prioritizes geopolitical competition over the existential risks posed by uncontrolled AI advancement.
Nerd narrative
There's a 0.5% chance that OpenAI, Google DeepMind, or Anthropic will announce that they are pausing all training runs above a certain size for safety reasons before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
White House Fires CDC Director Susan Monarez
Susan Monarez has been removed as the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the White House announced on Wednesday. She served 27 days in the position, making her the shortest-serving director in the agency's 79-year history.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. summoned Monarez to Washington on Monday and demanded she fire top CDC officials, including Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Daniel Jernigan, and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. All three have since resigned.
An email written by Houry cited rising vaccine disinformation and limits on CDC communications, while Daskalakis's resignation letter, posted on X, stated: "I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies ... that do not reflect scientific reality."
Establishment-critical narrative
Monarez stood up for scientific integrity by refusing to rubber-stamp unscientific directives or firing dedicated health experts who had served the public for decades. Her termination is a dangerous politicization of science that threatens evidence-based public health systems. The systematic dismantling of CDC leadership puts millions of American lives at risk.
Pro-establishment narrative
The administration rightfully removed a CDC director who was not aligned with the president's health agenda and refused to implement necessary changes. Monarez's inability to work collaboratively with HHS leadership and her attempts to involve senators in internal disputes demonstrated poor judgment and insubordination that warranted termination.
Centre Narrative
What's unfolding at the CDC should deeply concern every American, whether you are MAGA, MAHA, or neither. Leadership uncertainty and key resignations caused by hyperpartisanship and the politicization of a scientific sector have created chaos, leaving Americans dangerously unprepared for future health crises. Whether or not you care now, the consequences will be clear when the next serious threat hits.
Nerd narrative
There's a 22% chance that the CDC's In-Season Flu Severity Assessment for the 2026 season will be classified as "High," according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Japanese City Proposes 2-Hour Daily Smartphone Limit
The Toyoake Municipal Government in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, submitted a bill on Monday to create an ordinance urging all residents to limit daily smartphone use to two hours outside of work and study time.
The proposed ordinance recommends that elementary school children avoid smartphone use after 9 p.m. and junior high school students and older ones avoid use after 10 p.m., with no penalties for violations.
Mayor Masafumi Koki stated the proposal aims to prevent excessive device use causing physical and mental health issues, including sleep problems, and to address truancy among children dependent on smartphones.
Narrative A
This ordinance addresses a real crisis affecting families across Japan. Kids are skipping school because they can't put down their phones, and adults are sacrificing sleep and family time for endless scrolling. The two-hour guideline provides much-needed structure.
Narrative B
Government overreach has no place in personal device choices. Besides, this proposal ignores the real issue It's not the screen itself that's the problem, it's what's happening behind it. Families can manage screen time without municipal interference.
Trump Meets Blair, Kushner on Gaza Post-War Plans
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair attended a White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday to discuss plans for Gaza's post-war reconstruction and future governance.
President Trump's son-in-law and former Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner, also participated in the meeting, which covered multiple aspects of the conflict, including the present situation with the hostages and the escalating humanitarian crisis in the territory.
The meeting was revealed by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in an interview with Fox News, who stated that the administration is developing a "comprehensive plan" for Gaza's future and expressed his belief that the conflict would be settled "certainly before the end of this year."
Pro-establishment narrative
To further the president's humanitarian aims, the administration is developing a comprehensive plan for Gaza's post-war reconstruction and governance. The Gaza conflict will come to an end, very possibly before the end of this year, and when it does, the U.S. will be ready to step in and support a lasting and mutually beneficial settlement.
Establishment-critical narrative
Blair, Trump, Kushner, and Witkoff are engaging in a conspiracy to oust the Palestinian people from their ancestral homeland. Their so-called "peace" is just a mechanism to seize control of the Gaza Strip for their own ends, with the likes of Trump and Kushner treating this territory as little more than real estate to line their own pockets.
Nerd narrative
There is a 10% chance that the Gaza war will end and significant progress will be made towards a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict before January 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Nvidia Beats Earnings Expectations Amid AI Bubble Concerns
Nvidia's Q2 revenue reached $46.7 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $46.2 billion and marking an increase of 56% year-over-year. The data center division generated $41.1 billion, slightly below the $41.3 billion forecast, while net profit was $26.4 billion, or $1.08 per share.
U.S. President Donald Trump initially banned Nvidia's AI chip sales to China, predicting an $8 billion sales loss. In July, he revoked the ban, allowing sales if Nvidia shares 15% of revenue from those exports with the U.S. government.
The S&P 500 closed at a record high of 6,481.40 points on Wednesday, rising 0.24% ahead of Nvidia's earnings report. The Nasdaq increased by 0.21%, and the Dow Jones climbed 0.32%. Nvidia represents about 8% of the S&P 500.
Narrative A
Nvidia's outstanding earnings signal that the AI revolution is truly just beginning. With an impressive $46.7 billion in revenue — well above expectations — Nvidia has demonstrated a remarkable 56% growth despite facing trade restrictions. This is not just a one-off success; major tech companies are collectively investing over $325 billion in AI this year, and Nvidia's forecast for even greater revenue next quarter underscores the solid fundamentals of the company.
Narrative B
The AI bubble is real and Nvidia's results confirm that the hype is fading. Even with record revenue, the company's growth is slowing dramatically from previous triple-digit increases, while data center sales missed expectations. When a 56% revenue jump isn't enough to satisfy investors, it shows that valuations have become completely disconnected from reality. The MIT study should be a wake-up call.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that Nvidia's market capitalization will surpass $10 trillion by February 2043, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Kim Jong Un to Join Putin, Xi at Beijing Military Parade
According to announcements from both Chinese and North Korean state media on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit China to attend a military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3 — the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim will join Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Victory Day parade — the first time the three leaders have appeared together in public at a multilateral event.
The parade will feature 26 foreign heads of state and government, including leaders from Iran, Belarus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Serbia. Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, will be the only Western European leader attending the event.
Pro-China narrative
This parade highlights China's expanding global influence, as Xi unites world leaders who oppose Western dominance. It signals growing coordination among these nations outside the U.S.-led order. Simultaneously, the event underscores China's commitment to peaceful development, its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and its increasing capacity to contribute to global peace and stability.
Anti-China narrative
The Chinese military parade exposes a troubling alliance among heavily sanctioned regimes, posing a threat to global stability and Western interests. These authoritarian leaders are forming an "Axis of Upheaval," designed to challenge international law and democratic principles. Their public show of solidarity signals coordinated efforts to undermine the existing global order and established norms.
Nerd narrative
There's a 9% chance that China will operate at least one military base in a BRICS country before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Canadian Study Finds Animal Protein Not Linked to Higher Death Risk
McMaster University researchers analyzed data from nearly 16,000 adults aged 19 and older using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine protein consumption patterns and mortality risk.
Their study, published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, found no increased risk of death associated with higher intake of animal protein, contradicting some previous research that linked animal protein consumption to increased mortality risk.
Data showed a "modest but significant" reduction in cancer-related mortality among participants who consumed more animal protein, with a 5% lower risk of dying from cancer.
Narrative A
This groundbreaking research, which used gold-standard methods to analyze real data from thousands of diverse, healthy people, finally cuts through decades of anti-meat propaganda and shows what many have suspected all along. Animal protein doesn't kill people — it might actually protect them from cancer and chronic disease.
Narrative B
These findings contradict established health guidance from major organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society and the World Health Organization, which explicitly warn against consuming red and processed meat. The beef industry's funding of this study raises serious questions about potential bias, despite claims of independence.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that alternative protein will have a market share above 25% of that of meat before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Japan's Trade Envoy Cancels Washington Trip Over Tariff Deal
Japan's top trade negotiator, Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, canceled his scheduled trip to the United States on Thursday due to newly emerged technical issues in the trade negotiations between the two countries.
In a morning press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi claimed the visit was canceled after it became apparent that "some discussion points at the working-level" needed to be resolved beforehand.
Hayashi added that, in the meantime, the Japanese government would continue consultations with Washington to convince the U.S. government to issue executive orders amending the reciprocal tariffs against Japan and reducing U.S. auto tariffs.
Pro-government narrative
The cancellation shows Japan's commitment to getting the details right before finalizing this crucial trade deal. Technical discussions at the working level are essential to ensure both countries understand their obligations and benefits. This careful approach will prevent future misunderstandings and create a stronger foundation for the U.S.-Japan trading relationship.
Government-critical narrative
The cancellation of Akazawa's trip reveals poor preparation and coordination failures that could damage the Ishiba administration's credibility. Japanese companies are hemorrhaging money while bureaucratic delays prevent the implementation of agreed tariff reductions. This postponement only prolongs the economic pain for Japanese exporters who desperately need relief.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the effective U.S. tariff rate on goods being imported into the United States will be at least 9.96% at the end of 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
FDA Limits COVID Vaccine Access to Seniors, High-Risk Groups
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax for all seniors aged 65 and older, while restricting access for younger adults and children to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma or obesity.
The FDA revoked the emergency authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 5, leaving only Moderna's Spikevax vaccine available for this age group. However, it is approved only for children with at least one serious health condition.
The updated vaccines target the LP.8.1 coronavirus subtype and are set to begin shipping immediately, though access will depend on decisions by federal health advisers, private insurers, pharmacies and state authorities in the coming days or weeks.
Republican narrative
These new restrictions finally bring common sense to COVID vaccine policy after years of government overreach. The data clearly shows younger, healthy people face minimal risk from COVID, so why force unnecessary medical interventions on millions of Americans? Kennedy's approach prioritizes those who actually need protection while respecting individual choice and medical freedom.
Democratic narrative
Limiting vaccine access puts millions of lives at unnecessary risk and ignores established science about COVID prevention. Medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society strongly oppose these restrictions because vaccines remain crucial for protecting vulnerable populations, including young children and pregnant women who can pass protection to infants.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that an intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine will be approved by the U.S. by July 19, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Admin Threatens Sex Ed Funding Cuts Over Trans Content
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent letters Tuesday to 46 states and territories, and Washington, D.C., ordering the removal of all references to gender ideology from their Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) materials within 60 days.
The states and territories collectively stand to lose more than $81 million in federal grant funding if they fail to comply, with New York facing the largest potential loss of over $6 million followed by Pennsylvania at $4.6 million.
PREP is a federally funded initiative that was created in 2010 by the Affordable Care Act to help prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among at-risk youth, including those in foster care and homeless shelters.
Republican narrative
These states' PREP curriculums are pushing harmful gender ideology, including suggesting hormone therapy and surgical procedures, on vulnerable kids using taxpayer money. Taxpayer money can't be used to promote this dangerous content, which exceeds the program's purpose of preventing pregnancy and STIs.
Democratic narrative
Removing transgender inclusion from sex education programs will harm all students by creating unsafe environments for vulnerable youth. These evidence-based programs serve at-risk populations who need comprehensive, medically accurate information to make healthy choices and avoid dangerous situations.
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