Google just lost its biggest buyer

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Alphabet (Google) stopped its long-running stock buybacks in 2026 to pour money into AI infrastructure. The company that used to be its own biggest buyer of shares is now issuing debt at higher coupons instead, including long bonds around 6.5%. https://x.com/StealthQE4/status/2089943019872997571

This is a sign the US could be heading toward YCC

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Treasury just doubled its bond buybacks. I don’t think this is YCC yet. But it could be a sign that we’re heading in that direction. QE is back! 🙌 https://t.co/S9a2BeT4pe — QE Infinity (@StealthQE4) August 19, 2026 First, what is YCC? Yield curve control means the government decides that a certain Treasury yield is too … Read more

It is quite radical to suggest jobs for high school kids should somehow pay enough to cover an adult’s costs.

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If every burger flipper needs a living wage for an adult household, the price of the burger has to rise or the job disappears. It is quite radical to suggest jobs for high school kids should somehow pay enough to cover an adult's costs. — DixieWoodsman (@dixiewoodsman) August 19, 2026 What is a living wage? … Read more

AI spending is now forcing higher yields and deeper losses

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When the biggest AI names start posting bigger losses and higher borrowing costs at the same time, the easy phase is over. https://twitter.com/StealthQE4/status/2089866065534763297 https://twitter.com/FinanceLancelot/status/2089877292277178391 https://twitter.com/kurtsaltrichter/status/2090011141875384731 https://twitter.com/amitisinvesting/status/2089869214257467808 https://twitter.com/GlobalMktObserv/status/2089760740190109901

China locks the exits tighter starting September 15th

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China issued new State Council regulations on exit and entry management on July 31, 2026. They take effect September 15. The rules tighten scrutiny of passport and travel applications, expand exit bans (especially for export-control or tech-security risks), and let authorities discourage trips to “high-risk” places. Official statements frame it as safety and standardization. Critics … Read more

Iran’s attacks on ships in Hormuz mount, testing US military restraint

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DUBAI—Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are piling up without an American military response, raising the risks of crossing the strategic waterway and frustrating some Arab allies who worry the U.S. doesn’t have a strategy to wind down the conflict. Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward the strait on Tuesday, triggering air … Read more

This is not cool, Comcast.

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Comcast Turns Millions Of Routers Into Motion Sensors – The Same WiFi Signals Can ID You With 99.5% Accuracy Dear Comcast customers: The internet gateway in your living room is now a motion sensor. It’s free of charge, and the data can go to law enforcement without further notice. What’s more, researchers have already shown … Read more

Woman, 52, fatally shot in Florida identified by sheriff’s officials

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The 52-year-old woman who was fatally shot Aug. 16 south of Vero Beach has been identified, said Indian River County sheriff’s officials. Dawn Kriskewic was identified as the woman, said officials via news release on Aug. 18. Officials had been locating and notifying her next of kin before they could release her identity. Sheriff’s deputies … Read more

FDA warns consumers about recalled deli meals sold at major retailers

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Consumers are being urged to check their refrigerators and freezers after Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods voluntarily recalled several ready-to-eat meals over possible metal contamination. The affected foods were distributed through major grocery retailers, including Kroger, Publix and Food Lion, as well as other stores. The recall was initiated after small pieces of aluminum were discovered during … Read more

AI dulls student brain power

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Teachers and researchers warn that heavy AI use for schoolwork is eroding students’ ability to think and write on their own. An MIT study showed lower brain activity, weaker memory of their own essays, and less ownership when students used AI tools. Big Tech is meanwhile racing to calm public backlash against AI with community … Read more

New Flock software goes much further than tracking plates.

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Vehicle surveillance giant Flock Safety has told the public for years that its technology “cannot recognize, identify, or track individuals.” It has now built a system that does both, an artificial intelligence tool for police that can identify drivers and track vehicles by their patterns of movement alone, WIRED has learned. Drawing on a network … Read more

American adult literacy keeps sinking — 28% of working-age adults now score at the lowest literacy level, up from 19% six years earlier.

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Basic reading ability among adults is getting worse, not better. The gap between high-skilled and low-skilled readers is widening and it hits daily life, jobs, and self-sufficiency hard. About 48 million adults read at or below third-grade equivalent according to some analyses. Over half of adults read below a sixth-grade level. Average literacy scores dropped … Read more

US takes control of Venezuela’s frozen gold funds

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BREAKING: 🇺🇸🇻🇪 The US is confiscating Venezuela’s gold from the UK bank All of Venezuela's gold reserves, totaling 31 tons, which are held at the Bank of England, will be transferred to the United States, per EL Nacional. The value amounts to $4 billion, resulting in the loss… pic.twitter.com/eXY0wwonkJ — Megatron (@Megatron_ron) August 18, 2026 … Read more

Adobe still traps users with steep exit fees

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Free trial converts and bills even after cancel attempts. Annual monthly plans hit you with half the leftover cost to leave. Fees can reach hundreds of dollars depending on months left. Company only backs down when complaints go public and loud. Policy has already cost Adobe a big government settlement this year. https://www.news18.com/viral/i-never-wanted-this-subscription-man-claims-adobe-charged-him-demanded-99-to-cancel-internet-reacts-ws-l-10281527.html A heartfelt … Read more