Kyle Nowak

“You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action.”

–Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

🎰🏈 Yesterday, Penn Entertainment signed a $2 billion deal to create ESPN Bet, a sportsbook for audiences in the US. It’ll replace the Barstool Sportsbook; Penn also sold its stake in Barstool to Dave Portnoy.

🇺🇦🏛️ It’s been nearly 1.5 yrs since Russia first invaded Ukraine, and Americans’ views on their government’s role in the conflict are changing.

🏦📉 The US government isn’t the only one at the ratings downgrade party. This week, Moody’s downgraded the credit rating of 10 small and mid-sized US banks by one rung, and placed several big Wall Street names on negative review.

🌍 Around the world: The world’s largest Ferris wheel has been mysteriously dormant for over a year, humanity may be dumping significantly less plastic into oceans than previously thought, and more.

🔥 It’s Wednesday, August 9th – and here’s what’s hot, hot, hot.

📱📅 The iPhone 15 now has a public release date.

🏀⚾📺 Per multiple reports citing industry sources, Warner Bros. Discovery is targeting the beginning of the MLB Playoffs (Oct. 3) to debut its new paid sports tier for Max, the company’s flagship streaming service.

🖱📰 Click to see a list of bite-sized stories you should know for today.

“Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so intensely.”

–Percy Colson (1873-1952)

🌍 Around the world: A skull in China could belong to a never-before-uncovered early human ancestor, Ukraine says it captured a Russian informant involved in a June plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky, and more.

❓ Our question to you: As it stands today, would you feel comfortable taking a ride in a self-driving car?

⚛️⚡ On July 30, scientists at the US Department of Energy achieved a net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction – the holy grail of energy production – for the second time in history.

🔥 It’s Tuesday, August 8th – and here’s what’s hot, hot, hot.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

–Oprah Winfrey (b.1954)

🌏 The US women were eliminated from the World Cup by Sweden, Italy is planning to build the world’s largest suspension bridge, and more.

❓ Our question to you: How do you feel about Fitch’s decision to downgrade America’s credit rating to AA+?

🤖🚗 This week, a California regulatory board will vote on whether Waymo and Cruise can expand their fleets of driverless taxis in San Francisco and establish competing ride-hailing services. A battle royale between regulators and autonomous-vehicle operators is brewing.

What you can look forward to this upcoming week...

💊 On Friday, the FDA approved the first pill specifically intended to treat women with postpartum depression. The condition affects an estimated 10%–15% of women who give birth in the US.