It takes a billionaire
It’s a big week for global diplomacy as international leaders meet in New York City. / Semafor
A shipment of secret stealth fighter tech was recently sent to Hong Kong by accident. Meanwhile, an AI-based false report of nuclear cargo almost started a war with China. / Politico, CNN
Ahmed Najar: “Amid its genocide in Gaza, Israel is facing a crisis not simply of public opinion, but of narrative control.” / Al Jazeera
Michelle Goldberg: “It’s hard to tell whether Israelis are enraged by ‘NAZA’ because they think it’s full of lies, or because they know or fear it’s true.” / The New York Times [$]
Unrelated: We missed this harrowing multimedia recreation of Sept. 11 media last week, but it’s pretty impressive. / 9/11 in Realtime
A federal appeals court says the US Constitution doesn’t guarantee Americans the right to clean and safe drinking water, or even “truthful information from officials.” / Grist
Despite the White House’s love for coal, it’s worth noting that “power-sector emissions have fallen substantially even without the enforcement of federal regulations.” / Canary Media
Six Nobel Prize-winning economists sign a letter supporting California’s potential tax on billionaires, hoping it will kick-start a movement to tax the ultra-rich. / The Financial Times
If you enjoy these headlines, please join us as a Sustaining Member to support what we do and unlock access to paywalled links.
Why a new iPhone costs so much more in Turkey or even France comes down to import duties. / rest of world
“If something works, do it again and again and again, post and post and post until the numbers stop rising.” How marketing today resembles “the meme mindset.” / The Trend Report
American visits to Europe are expected to increase another five percent by the end of 2026, boosting economies while pissing off locals. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
Unrelated: Pilots who have ejected out of jets join an elite group that has its own special necktie. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
A look inside the backpacks of 11 children across the country, ages 7 to 12. / yahoo! life
A ranking of the 10 best equestrian statues around the world. And a round-up of the walking men and women from pedestrian traffic signals. / Tony Bozanich’s Newsletter, Kottke
“A scientific eye elevated to a spiritual plane.” Remembering the great Annie Dillard. / Ridgeline
See also: Alexander Chee’s memories of taking Annie Dillard’s nonfiction class at Wesleyan. / The Morning News