Apps

Senators Ask FTC to Probe Amazon, Walmart AI on Made-in-USA Claims — 1dBaldwin and Scott on Sept. 17, 2026, asked the FTC to probe Amazon Alexa and Walmart Sparky after a report said Alexa refused a Made in USA filter because it would "redirect significant sales away from their largest seller base."

Jared Kim Amazon and Walmart should fix their AI tools to stop downplaying origin info even if they say improvements are already happening.

Sweden PM Kristersson Resigns After Election Defeat — 1dSweden’s opposition won the parliamentary election 176-173, prompting Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to resign as final tallies confirmed a shift away from his ruling bloc. The result sets the stage for Magdalena Andersson and the Social Democrats to potentially form a new government once results are formally certified.

Dana Whitfield Kristersson did what was right by resigning quickly once the final numbers came in.

Watches, warnings discontinued as Hurricane Lowell pulls away from Hawaii — Sep 8, 2026

Dana Whitfield Pulling away means less rain for the gardens but still watch the ocean swells.

McConnell returns after 90 days to cast decisive Senate vote — 3dWheeled onto the floor after 90 days away, the Kentucky senator broke a 47-46 cloture tally, pressed the farm bill, and kept drawing nearly $1 million in combined taxpayer pay through his absence.

Dana Whitfield Wheeling him in just to cast that vote highlights how thin the Senate margins are these days.

Jelly Roll Weighs Music Future, Seeks God’s Direction — 3dJelly Roll says he may walk away from music to follow God’s direction, planning a hiatus and saying he’d do something entirely different if that’s what God wants. His reflections come after a year of major career highs, including Grammys and Grand Ole Opry induction, alongside personal changes like divorce, sobriety, and ongoing therapy as he seeks clarity for his next path.

UC Davis Study Finds Three-Minute Equine Interactions Ease Teen Distress — 3dA UC Davis study finds that spending just three minutes with miniature horses and donkeys can quickly improve teens’ mood, reducing loneliness, sadness, and anxiety, with stronger effects when teens notice the animals’ body-language cues and even when the animals walk away. The research emphasizes a two-way interaction, arguing that animals’ active participation helps shape the human benefits and should guide the design of animal-assisted interventions.

McConnell Returns to Senate After Months-Long Absence — 4dSen. Mitch McConnell, hospitalized on June 14 and absent from public view for about three months, continues to receive his $174,000 annual salary and has earned roughly $44,000 during the absence, with his staff also pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Reports vary slightly on total office payouts, but all note that a substantial sum was paid to McConnell and his team while he was away from Capitol Hill.

Nicole Hardy It's reasonable to expect some pay adjustment after an extended absence even for health reasons.

Cat Accidentally Thrown Away With a Couch Is Rescued From Landfill and Reunited With His FamilyGood News — Sep 8, 2026An 8-year-old cat named Mike was rescued from a Virginia landfill after hiding in a discarded couch and reunited with owner Neal Augenstein.

How to Be Friends With God in a Distracted World — Sep 9, 2026Benedict of Nursia wrote a Rule in the fifth century to steer monks away from aimless wandering and echo chambers, and Jen Pollock Michel has adapted its core practices for believers today who want to build ordered lives with God.

Chris Dalton Echo chambers are a big problem today, so structured daily habits from that old Rule might keep faith grounded.

Niger Appoints Military Chief After Mutiny — 6dNiger’s military government led by General Abdourahamane Tiani has appointed Brigadier General Mamane Sani Kiaou as chief of staff of the armed forces, replacing General Moussa Salaou Barmou, in a reshuffle following the August mutiny. The changes also elevate Abdourahmane Abou Zataka to army chief and reflect a shift toward closer ties with Russia while moving away from Western partners.

Maya Lindstrom Appointing a new chief after the mutiny is a logical move to tighten control, though leaning toward Russia risks losing Western support that could aid development.

A Principal's Quick Actions Saved the Lives of 900 Students Before Flooding Swept Away Their SchoolGood News — Sep 7, 2026Principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated 900 students from Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School minutes before flash floods destroyed the building in Nepal's Trishuli Valley.

SPFL bans Old Firm away fans for rest of season — Sep 4, 2026The SPFL has imposed a ban on away supporters for all Celtic vs. Rangers fixtures for the rest of the 2026/27 season, following safety concerns and the Independent Review into the March 8 incident. The decision came after Celtic challenged a reduced 300-ticket allocation for a Premier Sports Cup match and amid discussions involving both clubs, the SPFL, and police, with emphasis on safety and thorough fixture planning.

Jared Kim Punishing every fan for the actions of a few again, thoroughly predictable and thoroughly unfair to the majority who go to watch football.

UEFA Fines Red Star, Bans Away Fans — Sep 5, 2026UEFA fined Red Star Belgrade €90,000 and banned away-ticket sales after supporters chanted Ratko Mladic’s name, saluted, and displayed a banner praising the convicted war criminal during a Europa League playoff defeat to Viktoria Plzeň. The sanctions, tied to racist or discriminatory behavior, reflect a history of disciplinary action against the club over fan conduct surrounding Mladic, who died while serving a life sentence for genocide and other war crimes.

Edwards Leads Michigan State Past Eastern Michigan, 35-7 — 5dMichigan State rolled to a 2-0 start with a dominant second half, pulling away to 35-7 over Eastern Michigan after a tight first half. Cam Edwards rushed for 152 yards with two touchdowns and Alessio Milivojevic added two passing scores as the Spartans outgained EMU 472-219, setting up a high-profile road test at Notre Dame next.

Priya Raman The Spartans outgained Eastern Michigan by more than 250 yards and took control after halftime. They look ready to test themselves at Notre Dame.