Why Silicon Valley Is Turning to the Catholic Church
Silicon Valley’s top AI leaders have been meeting the Catholic Church in Rome’s Minerva Dialogues since 2016, seeking ethical guidance while the Vatican hopes to regain moral authority. The partnership has influenced AI developers, notably Anthropic’s Claude model, whose "constitution" incorporates Catholic thinkers. Both sides view the collaboration as a way to rebuild trust—tech firms by showing ethical commitment, and the Church by shaping AI’s impact on its 1.4 billion followers. The dialogue reflects broader tensions between secular tech optimism and religious concepts of human dignity.
The Big Question the Fed-Chair Hearing Leaves Open
Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor and Trump ally, testified before the Senate Banking Committee, insisting he would act as an independent Fed chair. The hearing highlighted intense scrutiny over his willingness to resist President Trump’s push for lower rates...
Eight of the Most Fascinating Biographies to Read
The article curates eight standout literary biographies, ranging from Hermione Lee’s exhaustive portrait of Virginia Woolf to Stacy Schiff’s vivid reconstruction of Cleopatra. Each work is praised for its blend of rigorous research, narrative flair, and the author’s personal devotion...
Brace for the Plastic-Price Hikes
The Iran‑Israel conflict has shut the Strait of Hormuz, choking the flow of naphtha and other oil‑derived feedstocks that feed Asia’s petrochemical complex. Shortages have forced force‑majeure notices and triggered price spikes of 30% or more for polyethylene, polypropylene and...
A Life Hack for the Ultra-Wealthy Is Going Mainstream
A growing niche of “house managers” is moving from ultra‑wealthy estates to affluent middle‑class families, offering a blend of personal assistance, household oversight, and concierge services. Companies such as Sage Haus and Personal Assistant for Mom connect families with managers...
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Endgame
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has asked U.S. regulators for permission to launch up to one million additional satellites, a move tied to his vision of orbital data centers that would harvest solar power for AI workloads. The plan coincides with a...
Why Justin Bieber Played YouTube Onstage for Thousands of People
Justin Bieber opened his first Coachella appearance in four years with a minimalist set that included a live YouTube browsing segment, prompting critics to call the performance lazy. The stage was stark, his wardrobe subdued, and he sang primarily from...
Peter Hujar’s Photos Are All the Rage. He’d Be Shocked.
Peter Hujar’s photography is experiencing a renaissance nearly four decades after his death, driven by high‑profile exhibitions and new publications. The Morgan Library will display over 110 of his contact sheets in the upcoming "Hujar: Contact" show, while a dual...
The New Age of Performance Anxiety
Propranolol, a beta‑blocker once prescribed for heart conditions, is seeing a surge in off‑label use to tame modern stage fright amplified by smartphones and social media. The article argues that ubiquitous personal broadcasting blurs the line between everyday life and...
The Problem With Hasan Piker’s Einstein Story
Hasan Piker appeared on the "Pod Save America" podcast and claimed Albert Einstein’s views on Zionism mirrored his own, asserting Einstein opposed the Israeli state. Historical records show Einstein actively supported the creation of Israel, fundraising for Hebrew University, and...
Is Hurry the Great Enemy of Spiritual Life?
John Mark Comer, a bestselling evangelical author, argues that hurry—an incessant sense of urgency amplified by technology—is the chief obstacle to spiritual life. His 2019 bestseller "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" and the 2024 follow‑up "Practicing the Way" outline nine...
The First Draft of Cultural History
The Atlantic’s Books Briefing spotlights Lena Dunham’s new memoir *Famesick*, arguing that gossip‑laden memoirs serve as the rough draft of cultural history. The review praises Dunham’s candid, humor‑filled recounting of her privileged Manhattan upbringing, early filmmaking struggles, and Hollywood’s transactional...
RFK Jr.’s New Normal
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., long known for anti‑vaccine rhetoric, faced a tense hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee, where he largely avoided repeating discredited claims. The White House has urged him to stay...
The Publishing Mystery That No One Wants to Talk About
Woody Brown, a non‑speaking autistic author, released his debut novel *Upward Bound* to bestseller status after a Today show feature. The book was written using a letter board and Rapid Prompting, a communication method criticized by ASHA for facilitator influence....
Is Anybody Actually Winning Trump’s Iran War?
In a recent episode of The David Frum Show, former Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger detailed the escalating “cold truce” between the United States and Iran, highlighting failed negotiations in Pakistan and the emergence of dueling blockades in the Strait...