Good morning. In today’s edition:

• ⚖️ The legal battle over banning noncompetes
• 💎 The Prince of Diamonds
• 🤝 Hollywood and AI can actually play nice

… and more.

🚀⏰ Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~4.62-minute read (1,229 words).

P.S. Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here for free.

"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."

–William James (1842-1910)

Football coaches will be both happy and confused to know there’s a whole lot of competing over noncompeting currently taking place.

This week, a federal judge blocked a landmark regulation that would have banned employers from using noncompete agreements, preventing the law from taking effect nationwide on September 4 as planned.

Some quick background: Noncompete agreements are contract clauses preventing workers from taking positions with competing companies for a period of time after leaving a job, typically ranging from six months to two years.

• In April, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to ban new noncompete agreements across the nation and break the proverbial chains of any workers currently bound by one – an estimated 30 million Americans, or ~18% of the workforce.
• The FTC’s new regulation carries one exception: senior execs who earn over $151,164 annually and are in policy-making roles.

But according to a judge, the agency has overstepped its bounds. In her ruling this week, US District Judge Ada Brown concluded that while the FTC has authority to police unfair methods of competition, it doesn’t have the authority to issue substantive regulations that ban an entire category of conduct without Congress’ approval.

• The ruling represents a legal victory for the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups who sued to block the FTC law, which they argue will ​​disincentivize employers from providing training and skill development, and also put trade secrets into jeopardy.
• On the flip side, the FTC claims noncompete agreements violate US antitrust law by unfairly limiting competition and worker mobility. According to previous agency estimates, its noncompete ban would lead to ~8,500 additional new startups/year, and enhance Americans’ wages by a collective ~$300 billion/year.

Looking ahead… An FTC spokesperson said the agency is disappointed with the ruling and “seriously considering a potential appeal” – an action that would put the case one level below the Supreme Court.

📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, should noncompete agreements be legal or illegal for US employees below the senior executive level?

• Legal
• Illegal
• Unsure/other

Did they do that? Yes they did, Game Show Network is premiering a new show, Flip Side, hosted by Jaleel White of Family Matters fame.

• 🔄️ Flip Side will see players tested on how two groups of people feel about the same issue
• 💰 The teams compete to win a cash prize of $10,000 by guessing the top answers based on anonymous surveys
• 🥳 The action starts on Game Show Network Monday, September 16

This isn’t Jaleel White’s first rodeo – he’s hosted two seasons of a game show before, and even set the record for most points scored in the bonus round on Celebrity Family Feud.

Whoa, Mama! Flip Side premieres on Game Show Network in September, catch the preview here.

🇧🇼 Botswana unearthed what’s believed to be the biggest diamond found in over a century. According to Botswana’s government, the recently discovered 2,492-carat (~1.1 pound) rough diamond is the second-biggest ever discovered in a mine, and the world’s biggest found since the Cullinan Diamond in 1905. Experts say it’s too early to estimate the value of the as-yet-unnamed diamond. But for context: the Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106 carats in rough form, and is now worth several billion dollars across nine cut diamonds.

🇬🇭 Ghana broke ground on its largest-ever oil refinery. The $12 billion project aims to produce 300,000 barrels of crude oil and 325 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2036, which would make Ghana a main petroleum hub of West Africa. Critics of the project say the proposed 20,000-acre site should be scaled back to 5,000 acres to reduce its carbon footprint.

🇲🇽 Court workers in Mexico are striking against a proposed judicial overhaul. Since Monday, judges and other court employees have gathered across Mexico to protest a recent proposal from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that would remove all federal judges and hold elections for their seats. The proposal has also drawn pushback from Morgan Stanley and other financial institutions, who warn it could pose serious market consequences and risks for investors in Mexico. Proponents of the plan, which analysts say will likely be approved next month, argue it would help clean up existing corruption in Mexico’s justice system.

Podcasts everywhere could soon be filled with robot Christopher Walken shucking Athletic Greens.

SAG-AFTRA, aka the screen actors union (160,000+ members), recently announced a partnership with Narrativ, an online marketplace where brands can use AI to create audio advertisements for use on the radio, podcasts, etc.

How it works:

• Actors must give informed consent for Narrativ to recreate their voice on audio ads using AI.
• The actor is then responsible for setting their individual working rate for use of their voice, with union minimums in place to ensure fair compensation. The actor also has to sign off on the product or service being offered, as well as the script.
• Actors have the option to leave the platform at any point. If they choose to leave, Narrativ is obligated to delete their voice replica and any recordings used to create it.

📸 Big picture: The announcement comes nearly a year after the actors’ and writers’ strikes of 2023, which both sought protections from AI taking over jobs in the entertainment industry. This partnership is part of the union’s effort to demonstrate how AI can be “ethically used by putting compensation, informed consent and control in the hands of individual performers.”

Many people make drastic changes to their exercise and diet to deal with high blood pressure – the #1 cause of mortality. But 120/Life makes a superfruit juice blend that harnesses natural ingredients that are science-backed to lower blood pressure.

• 120/Life also supports a balanced cholesterol profile, better liver health, and improved muscle recovery. And if you don’t see lower blood pressure numbers in two weeks, they’ll refund your money.

Save 15% on 120/Life with code DONUT.

“Our Super Bowl.”

February to NFL players is what back-to-school shopping season is to Crayola employees, according to CEO Pete Ruggiero. The period between Independence Day and Labor Day is Crayola’s busiest time of the year; almost half of the company’s annual sales come during those nine weeks, largely through Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other major retailers. And kids do a lot of coloring: the company’s flagship factory is churning out 13+ million crayons per day during the period, up more than 8% from the rest of the year.

🏫 Zoom out: Shoppers are projected to spend $31.3 billion on back-to-school shopping this year, a slight decrease from last year’s $31.9 billion, according to Deloitte.

• ☝️ You’re looking at some of the winners from the Black and White Photo Awards 2024, which featured thousands of global entries and $6,000+ in prize money.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

in partnership with Surfshark VPN

• 💰 US markets fell across the board (S&P: -0.9%; Dow: -0.4%; Nasdaq: -1.7%) | 🗣️ What to expect from Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech in Jackson Hole later today.
• 🏡 US home sales rose 1.3% in July from the prior month, the first increase in five months; the median home price in July was $422,600, slightly lower than June's record high of $426,900.
• 🚲 ​​Peloton reported its first sales increase in nine quarters as well as a reduction in overall losses; shares rose 35% on the day. (Peloton wants to help you get stronger)

*From our partners: 🐌 Some internet service providers throttle the traffic of users that stream… Surfshark VPN masks your activity from ISPs or anyone who might be snooping, including digital predators. Can help access region-locked content also. Save 86% on Surfshark VPN and get three extra months here.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• ⚽ The National Women’s Soccer League reached an agreement with the NWSL Players Association to eliminate the draft and make all players eligible for unrestricted free agency; the NWSL is the first major US professional sports league to eliminate their draft. | ⚾ Joey Votto, longtime Cincinnati Reds first-baseman and 2010 NL MVP, announced his retirement; analysts say Votto has a strong case for eventually joining the Hall of Fame (except for Mad Dog Russo, that is). | 🏈 The 2024 college football season kicks off tomorrow.
• 🤸🕺 Stephen Nedoroscik, aka “Pommel horse guy” from the US Olympic men’s gymnastics team, is taking his talents to Dancing with the Stars.
• 🐔🍿 Chick-fil-A is getting into Chick flicks: The fast-food chain has reportedly been working with a number of major production companies to create family-friendly shows, particularly in the unscripted space, that would live on the company’s yet-to-be-launched streaming service.

SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

in partnership with NoNetz

• 💉 The FDA yesterday approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, putting the shots on track to reach most Americans in the coming days.
• 🦠🎮 Scientists created a blob of squishy transparent gel that can not only play the video game Pong, but also improve its performance over time, per a new study. | 💧 Rainwater may have helped create a meshy wall around Earth’s first protocells 3.8 billion years ago – a transition which eventually led to the creation of every bacterium, plant, animal, and human that ever lived, per a new study.
• 🚰 A new US government report concluded the presence of fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children; the report said ~0.6% of the US population – or ~1.9 million people – are on water systems at or above that level of fluoride. | 🌊 A new Dartmouth-led study found it’s highly unlikely that the world’s oceans will rise up to 50 feet as the planet's polar ice sheets melt, which a UN climate panel recently put forth as a potential worst-case scenario.

*From our partners: ❄️🙌 Unleash the Triple Chill… NoNetz Cooling Polos offer unmatched comfort with cooling minerals to reduce skin temperature, advanced moisture-wick fabric to keep you fresh, and breathable fabric engineered to maximize airflow. Available in 5 fashionable colors. Save 15% on NoNetz with code DONUT15.

MISCELLANEOUS

• 🚂 Canada’s government ordered an end to a work stoppage at the country’s two main railroads; the order requires the rail companies and employees to enter binding arbitration over labor disagreements; freight traffic is expected to resume in the coming days
• 📬 The US Postal Service proposed new changes officials say would save $3 billion/year starting in 2025 while still retaining the same maximum delivery times.
• 🗳️ VP Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on the fourth and final night of the DNC. | ⚖️ The Supreme Court partially granted a request from the Republican National Committee to make Arizona enforce measures requiring residents to show proof of US citizenship when registering to vote.

CLICKBAIT

• 📸🐶 The Best All Time Images From The International Dog Photography Awards.

We bring you the most unusual, off-the-wall and occasionally laugh-out-loud headlines from this week.

• Fan gets onstage with Macklemore, had 'forgotten' she's wanted by police → (Newsweek)
• Switzerland dumped munitions in its lakes. Now it’s offering $57,000 for the best ideas to get them out → (CNN)
• FBI probes insect attack on Democratic breakfast in Chicago → (USA Today)
• Research AI model unexpectedly attempts to modify its own code to extend runtime → (Ars Technica)
• Museum exhibit explores mysterious 'Kentucky Meat Shower' of 1876 → (UPI)

After attending multiple weddings and funerals, Rebecca Shelly and Laura Ruth of Harrisburg, Virginia, realized how many flowers go to waste following the events. 

In an effort to curb floral waste and brighten the days of people in their community, the friends founded "Friendly City Flowers," a nonprofit organization that repurposes used flowers into bouquets for care homes, hospitals, and other people in need. 

🌸 Rebecca and Laura have donated thousands of flowers since founding the company earlier this year. “If our flowers give one person a few moments of happiness on a difficult day, then it’s all worthwhile," Rebecca told the Washington Post.

Our weekly news quiz is live. How well did you pay attention this week? Let’s find out.

Below are three lists of ingredients. Your job is give us the completed dish they make.

☝️ Recipe #1:

• Flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder & soda
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Ripe bananas
• Eggs
• Buttermilk
• Whole milk
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract

✌️ Recipe #2:

• Salt
• Pasta
• Olive oil
• Cherry tomatoes
• Black pepper
• Red wine vinegar
• Mozzarella cheese pearls
• Basil leaves

3️⃣ Recipe #3:

• Eggs
• Butter
• Full-fat cream cheese
• Heavy cream
• Sour cream
• Sugar
• Salt
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla extract
• Cake flour
• Powdered sugar
• Berries

Craving a coffee? Copy your referral link below and share The DONUT with your peeps. Once they subscribe, you’ll get an email to claim your gift card – even easier than ordering a coffee during the morning rush🥳.

Start referring👇

☝️ Recipe #1: Banana pancakes

✌️ Recipe #2: Caprese pasta

3️⃣ Recipe #3: Japanese cheesecake