Tensions escalated on multiple fronts as a U.S.-Russia arms treaty expired, Congress faced a looming shutdown showdown over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, and various controversies involving tech companies and political figures unfolded, according to multiple news sources. Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, demanded DHS funding beyond next week, pushing for policy changes to curb Trump-era immigration enforcement, CBS News reported.
The Democrats sought to implement "guardrails" on DHS, including rules about warrant requirements, use of force, and avoiding discriminatory practices, according to CBS News. Republicans, however, have already rejected some of these proposals. The current funding was set to expire soon, CBS News noted.
Geopolitical anxieties were further heightened by the expiration of a U.S.-Russia arms treaty, according to Hacker News. Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on a wide range of global events, including political outcomes and potential conflicts, experienced a surge in popularity, particularly since the Trump era, The Guardian reported. These platforms function similarly to stock markets, enabling individuals to profit from accurate predictions, but raise concerns about potential manipulation of media coverage and the blurring lines between forecasting and gambling, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, the tech world faced its own set of challenges. A study challenged TikTok censorship claims by attributing viewership drops to a data center outage, Vox reported. Pinterest fired engineers for privacy violations related to layoff tracking, according to Vox. Valve delayed its Steam Machine launch due to the RAM crisis impacting pricing and shipping schedules, Hacker News reported.
Beyond these events, Halle Berry criticized Governor Newsom, and investigations continued into figures like Savannah Guthrie's mother and Peter Mandelson, Vox reported. Concerns about AI-driven skill obsolescence also persisted, according to Vox.
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