Big week in AI. 🚀

xAI’s Grok expands, OpenAI eyes robotics, and Europe’s startups reach new heights.

Here’s your must-read recap of this week’s biggest stories: 🤖✨ 1. xAI is currently testing a standalone iOS app for Grok, an innovative AI-powered tool designed for X users.

The app is in beta testing across Australia and select countries, providing users with real-time access to data from the web and X. This expands the accessibility and functionality of Grok, which is already available to all X users. Stay tuned for more updates as the app evolves.

🚨🇩🇪 WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE ALLEGED GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET ATTACKER

Last night, a person drove through nearly 400 meters of Magdeburg’s Christmas Market, leaving two people dead and several others injured.

Here’s everything we’ve learned about the alleged so far.

A thread… 🧵 1. WHO IS THE ALLEGED ATTACKER?

His name: Taleb Al Abdulmohsen.

According to his passport, he was born on November 5, 1974, in Saudi Arabia.

He refers to himself as a “medical doctor, psychiatrist” and claims to work at a government hospital in Germany.

Source: @Mr_Fireside

🧵 THREAD: UNPACKING SPENDING CHOICES IN THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BUDGET BILL

The government just rolled out the updated 2025 Continuing Resolution, and while it keeps things running, some of the spending choices have us scratching our heads.

The 2025 CR is packed with spending that has us wondering: Is this really urgent?

Déjà vu, anyone?

Molasses inspections made it into the cut, and long-term submarine salaries and tree planting don’t feel like immediate crises.

Let’s dive into the most bizarre, questionable, and outright unnecessary expenses tucked into this “emergency” bill....

🧵 1.⁠ ⁠$3 MILLION FOR MOLASSES TESTING

It's baaaccckkk... Yep, molasses.

A whole $3 million is earmarked to verify inspection protocols for molasses at U.S. ports.

They want to ensure it’s the real deal—no additives, no funny business.

Sure, no one wants counterfeit syrup on their pancakes, but in a bill meant to keep the government functioning?

Emergency funds for molasses?

Sweet, but unnecessary.

🚨🧵THE PERSECUTION OF ANDREW TATE: THE 8 MOST POWERFUL CLAIMS

Andrew Tate has made a series of bold claims, revealing personal struggles, legal battles, and his views on pretty much everything else.

Here’s a thread covering his most explosive statements.👇

Source: @Cobratate

https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1869853090054320374

1/ ANDREW’S LEGAL FEES HIT $400K MONTHLY

“I’m paying $300K to $400K a month in legal fees across the UK, USA, and Romania.”

🧵 THREAD: THE 10 BIGGEST BLUNDERS IN THE 2025 SPENDING BILL

The 2025 Continuing Appropriations & Disaster Relief Act was drafted to avoid a shutdown, but it’s jam-packed with questionable spending that makes you wonder, “Wait, they’re paying for what?!”

Here are 10 of the wildest uses of taxpayer dollars in this bill. ⬇️ 1. $30.78 BILLION FOR CROP & LIVESTOCK LOSSES

Disaster relief for farmers is essential, but this massive allocation for “necessary expenses” is so loosely defined it feels like a blank check.

It includes $2B for livestock losses, block grants to states, and even compensation for timber and poultry.

Sounds good, right?

Here’s the problem: there’s little oversight or clarity on how states will use these funds.

With $30.78B on the line, shouldn’t we know where the money is going? Feels like a recipe for inefficiency.

🧵THE EVOLUTION OF GAMING

Video games were created in academic settings. They started as simple simulations in the 1950s and slowly changed until they were seen as a hobby.

Today, the gaming industry has evolved so much that it is larger than the film, television, and music industries combined!

Let's see how that happened.

From large pixels to VR Gaming: this is The Evolution of Gaming: a thread.

Media source: ryezyyy on YouTube 1. TENNIS FOR TWO: THE FIRST VIDEO GAME

Tennis for Two — the first video game created for the sake of entertainment — was developed in 1958 by physicist William Higinbotham.

Not long after, Spacewar! was created in 1962.

Media Source: StuffedRaccoon on YouTube

🧵🇸🇾 10 MOMENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED SYRIA'S MODERN HISTORY

As Syrian history is being written with the advancement of Damascus, let’s dive into the 10 defining events in Syrian history leading up to this pivotal chapter in the nations history.👇 1/ The Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916)

France and Britain secretly carved up Ottoman lands during WWI. Syria was handed to France, despite promises of Arab independence made to local leaders.

This betrayal planted the seeds of distrust toward Western powers and set the stage for borders that still fuel conflict today.

🧵SHOCK STUDY: DEI TRAINING MAY ACTUALLY INCREASE RACIAL HOSTILITY

A major study on DEI programs just revealed a disturbing trend:

Common anti-racism training might actually increase hostility and bias.

Here's what the data shows👇 1/ Perceiving Racism Where None Exists 🤨

People who went through popular DEI training were more likely to see racism in completely neutral situations.

The study found participants reading Kendi/DiAngelo materials jumped to conclusions about discrimination where none existed.

🧵🇺🇸WHAT IS THE FEDERAL RESERVE... AND WHY SOME WANT TO END IT

The Fed controls the U.S. money supply, interest rates, and monetary policy.

Created in 1913 as a central bank to stabilize the economy after repeated financial crises.

Now, some want to “End the Fed."

Why? 🧵


🇺🇸 FEDERAL RESERVE TODAY BY THE NUMBERS:

• The U.S. dollar’s purchasing power has dropped 96% since the Fed’s creation in 1913.

• In 1960, the national debt was $286 billion. Today, it exceeds $33 trillion, much of it tied to Fed-influenced policies.

• Critics argue the Fed inflates bubbles, fuels debt, and bails out banks at public expense.

• In 2024, the Fed plans to print 5.3–6.9 billion notes, valued at $180.5B–$204.4B.

🧵ELON AND VIVEK LAY OUT THEIR VISION FOR DOGE: A BOLD PLAN TO REFORM GOVERNMENT

In a thought-provoking WSJ op-ed, Elon and Vivek outline their ambitious agenda for the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

As the leaders of this unconventional initiative, they aim to cut costs, slash regulations, and streamline the federal bureaucracy.👇 1/ 🎯 DOGE's Mission: Cut Costs, Slash Regulations, Streamline Government

Elon and Vivek outline a three-pronged approach to reforming the federal government: regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings.

Their goal is to eliminate the need for DOGE's existence by July 4, 2026, delivering a leaner, more efficient government.

🧵NEW REPORT EXPOSES FTC'S WEAPONIZATION AGAINST ELON

1/ A damning new report from the House Judiciary Committee reveals how the Biden FTC, under Chair Lina Khan, engaged in a politically motivated campaign to harass @elonmusk and X following Elon's acquisition of the platform.

Source: The Weaponization of the Federal Trade Commission Part II, Page 1👇
2/ The report details how the FTC rushed to finalize a consent decree against Twitter within days of the announcement of Elon's pending acquisition, despite having sat on the decree for over a year.

Source: The Weaponization of the Federal Trade Commission Part II, Pages 1-2

🧵🇺🇸 TRUMP ROCKS HISTORIC RALLY AT ICONIC MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

1/ In a show of force just 9 days before Election Day, Trump took the stage at a packed Madison Square Garden for a homecoming rally that electrified the deep-blue heart of New York City👇 2/ The energy was palpable as 20,000 die-hard supporters erupted in cheers, rivaling the intensity typically reserved for pro athletes and rock stars.

Thousands more braved the cold for up to 48 hours to secure a spot inside the iconic venue.

🔥So much happened in AI this week

To keep things easy, here’s your complete AI update:

New tools, surprising discoveries, and trends you won’t want to miss 👇 1. Anthropic's "Computer Use" Feature in Claude 3.5 Sonnet

Anthropic has launched a new feature called "computer use" in its AI model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

This allows Claude to interact with computer applications just like a human would, enhancing its usability.

The feature was introduced on October 21, 2024, as part of a broader update that included various improvements to the model's capabilities, making it even more versatile and effective in assisting users.

🪑Hold onto your seat.

Technology is at its craziest yet. 💥

These 10 groundbreaking innovations will make you question everything you thought was possible👇 1. First Communication in Dreams

Researchers at REMspace have reached a groundbreaking milestone by showing that lucid dreams may open new avenues for communication. Using specially designed equipment, 2 individuals were able to induce lucid dreams and successfully exchange a simple message. This research could unlock new dimensions of human potential and interaction.

🧵🇬🇧THE "KILL MUSK'S TWITTER" FIASCO: A TANGLED WEB OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE, CENSORSHIP, AND ETHICS

1/ The leaked CCDH documents have exposed a disturbing pattern of foreign influence in U.S. politics, with a British group actively working to undermine American tech companies and shape online discourse ahead of the 2024 election.

Their top priority? "Kill Musk's Twitter."👇 2/ CCDH's founder, Morgan McSweeney, is a key figure in UK politics, credited with Labour Party leader Keir Starmer's rise to power.

Now, he's advising U.S. Democrats, including VP Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

🧵🇺🇸 THE EVOLUTION OF TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN STRATEGY: FROM COMMANDER IN TWEET TO PODCAST PRESIDENT

In 2016, Trump revolutionized presidential campaigns by mastering the art of going viral on social media.

Fast forward to 2024, and Trump has once again adapted to the latest influential medium: podcasts.

Throughout history, presidents have leveraged cutting-edge technologies to directly connect with the American people, from FDR's fireside chats to Obama's social media presence, think "Yes We Can".

Each leader utilized these platforms to bypass traditional media filters and showcase their unique strengths.

As Trump transitions from "commander in tweet" to "podcast president," let's take a look at some of his more major recent podcast/stream appearances and how he's harnessing this intimate medium to shape his 2024 campaign👇 1. Theo Von x Trump (8/20/24)

Elon's a genius, Barron's a fan, and they tackled substance abuse.

Just another casual chat for Trump.

Tired of the same search results?

🌐 Here are 10 HIDDEN search engines Google doesn’t show you - designed for deep research and untapped knowledge.

[ Bookmark Now 🔖] 1. Yacy

Yacy is an innovative decentralized search engine that you can host on your own server. Unlike traditional search engines that rely on centralized databases, Yacy uses a peer-to-peer network to index the web, allowing users to contribute to and benefit from a collective search experience.

This model enhances privacy and security, as your search queries aren't tracked. With Yacy, you can tailor your search results to fit your needs while maintaining control over your data, making it an excellent choice for those looking to break free from conventional search engines.

🧵THE EPIC EVOLUTION OF THE SPACE SUIT

Since Alan Shepard's historic 1961 flight, astronauts have relied on spacesuits for protection and work in space.

From the silver Mercury suits to the revolutionary SpaceX EVA Suit, these personal spacecraft have safeguarded explorers during launches, spacewalks, and moon landings. 1. PROJECT MERCURY

When NASA's Mercury program started, spacesuits evolved from earlier high-altitude flight suits, enhanced with Mylar for added strength and temperature resilience.

On February 20, 1962, astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. wore his silver Mercury spacesuit for his historic flight, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth.

After 3 orbits, Friendship 7 landed in the Atlantic Ocean, where Glenn was recovered by the Navy Destroyer Noa.

Glenn is unique for having flown in both a Mercury and a shuttle suit.

Source: ThoughtCo

🇺🇸🧵FACT-CHECKING THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN KAMALA AND TRUMP

ABC News hosted the first 2024 presidential debate between Kamala and Trump in Philadelphia. Here’s a breakdown of the key claims from both candidates and how they measure up to the facts. 1- TRUMP CLAIM: "We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation’s history."

FACT-CHECK: False. Inflation was high under Biden, peaking at 9%, but it has been worse historically, like during the 1980s oil crisis (14.5%).

🧵🇺🇸TRUMP VS KAMALA: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PREVIEW

Get ready for a historic night!

Kamala faces off against Trump in their first debate since becoming the Democratic nominee.

Here's what you need to know about tomorrow night's high-stakes event: 👇 THE RULES.

Debate rules remain largely unchanged, including muted mics when candidates aren't speaking.

This controversial measure, initially seen as a challenge for Trump, may now work in his favor.

Kamala's team voiced concerns but agreed to avoid a potential Trump withdrawal.

With no audience and strict rules against direct questioning and props, this debate promises to be a focused battle of ideas.

Let's break down where Trump and Kamala stand on 8 key issues.

🧵🇺🇸 TRUMP'S PENNSYLVANIA TOWN HALL: CRITICAL MOMENTS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND

Trump returned to Pennsylvania for a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity, addressing issues that could sway Keystone State voters in 2024.

From his ties to MIT to surprising endorsements, here are the key takeaways:👇 1. 🇺🇸 ON IMMIGRATION CRISIS

"Take a look at Aurora, Colorado, where Venezuelans are taking over the whole town...

We need to stop it with the largest deportation in history."