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CYBERSECURITYAre Mass Layoffs and Data Breaches Connected?
Layoffs create conditions where disgruntled employees face added stress or job insecurity, so they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that heighten the company’s vulnerability to data breaches.
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QUANTUM TECHNOLOGYIllinois DARPA Quantum Proving Ground
A new federal- and state-funded Quantum Proving Ground (QPG) promises to combine scientific rigor with industry and academic expertise to design the future of quantum computing
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DEMOCRACY WATCHHow AI Bots Spread Misinformation Online and Undermine Democratic Politics
As we navigate this era of digital discourse, awareness of blind spots in our social psychology is our best defense. Understanding how cues or triggers affect us can reduce their influence over time. The more aware we are of bots and how they work, the more able we are to protect ourselves from misleading rhetoric, ensuring our democratic processes remain robust and inclusive.
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CONSPIRACY THEORIESQ&A: If You’re Seeing This, Is It Meant for You?
Thanks to algorithms, social media platforms can generate content that feels like it’s made just for you. Some TikTok users acknowledge the technology underlying personalized content online but can’t deny sometimes feeling that a higher power is involved, according to Penn State researchers.
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OUR PICKSHow the Proud Boys Are Prepping for a Second Trump Term | What to Know About How Wildfires Form, Intensify and Spread | A North Korean Hacker Tricked a US Security Vendor, and more
· Trump White House Was Warned Sanctions on Venezuela Could Fuel Migration
The internal debate over the policy underscores how U.S. financial measures can sometimes lead to unintended consequences· What to Know About How Wildfires Form, Intensify and Spread
Wildfire season is flaring up in the West and will probably worsen in the months ahead· F.B.I. Examining Bullet Fragments Found at Trump Rally Site
The bureau is assessing what caused the former president’s wound during an assassination attempt. The question has turned political· How Some States Are Making It Harder to Register Voters
Florida and some other states have put restrictions on voter registration drives, often with stiff fines that are dissuading some civic groups from taking part· How the Proud Boys Are Prepping for a Second Trump Term
They led the charge on the Capitol. What next?· A North Korean Hacker Tricked a US Security Vendor into Hiring Him—and Immediately Tried to Hack Them
KnowBe4 detailed the incident in a recent blog post as a warning for other potential targets -
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WORLD ROUNDUPThe Kamala Harris Doctrine | Europe Is Pumping Billions into New Military Tech | Is Russia Trying to Poison Finland’s Water?, and more
· Marwan Barghouti, the World’s Most Important Prisoner
There’s one Palestinian who could help end the conflict. He’s in an Israeli jail· How to Ensure Africa Is Not Left Behind by the AI Revolution
Weak digital infrastructure is holding the continent back· Europe Is Pumping Billions into New Military Tech
The European Commission is allocating €7.3 billion for defense research over the next seven years. From drones and tanks of the future to battleships and space intelligence, here’s what it funds· The Kamala Harris Doctrine
Everything we know about the presumptive Democratic nominee’s foreign-policy views· Is Russia Trying to Poison Finland’s Water?
Break-ins at water treatment plants are a prime example of gray-zone aggression. The Finns may never know who did it, but they must resist succumbing to fear -
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PROTECTING THE PARIS OLYMPICSProtecting Major Sporting Events from Terrorism: Considerations for the Paris Olympics and Beyond
As France prepares to host the Summer Olympic Games next month, recent developments have highlighted the challenging threat environment that exists for the country’s security services. The scale of the events planned during the Paris Olympics, in a tense terrorist environment, presents a series of unique challenges for French security services under the scrutiny of an international audience.
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SECRET SERVICEGrassley, Cortez Masto Want Senate Confirmation of Secret Service Directors
Lawmakers filed a bill that would require Senate confirmation of Secret Service directors and impose a 10-year term limit. The heads of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement and Customs & Border Protection are already confirmed by the Senate.
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EXTREMISMFar-Right Influencers on X Promote Anti-Zionism, Hate and Conspiracy Theories
An analysis identified five influencers on X whose engagement spiked in the days and weeks after Hamas’s attack on Israel, with content that included virulent anti-Zionism alongside antisemitic tropes, disinformation and other forms of hateful or harmful rhetoric.
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ARCTIC STRATEGYNew U.S. Arctic Strategy Focused on Russian, Chinese Inroads
The United States is looking to boost intelligence collection in the Arctic and enhance cooperation with allies in the region, to prevent Russia and China from exploiting the cold and icy northern region at America’s expense.
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AI & PRIVACYStates Strike Out on Their Own on AI, Privacy Regulation
There’s been no shortage of AI tech regulation bills in Congress, but none has passed. In the absence of congressional action, states have stepped up their own regulatory action. States have been legislating about AI since at least 2019, but bills relating to AI have increased significantly in the last two years.
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CRITICAL MINERALSNot Just Beijing’s Doing: Market Factors Are Also Hitting Rare Earths Prices
Have depressed rare earths prices been engineered by the Chinese state to snuff out non-Chinese rivals before they get going? Or do they simply reflect a weak market, with demand rising more slowly than was expected by the promotors of a slew of new projects?
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FLOODSNationwide Flood Models Poorly Reflect Risks to Households and Properties, Study Finds
Government agencies, insurance companies and disaster planners rely on national flood risk models from the private sector that aren’t reliable at smaller levels such as neighborhoods and individual properties.
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OUR PICKSThe Thomas Crooks Conspiracy Theories Aren’t Going Anywhere | The ACLU Fights for Your Constitutional Right to Make Deepfakes | Defining Cyberterrorism, and more
· The Thomas Crooks Conspiracy Theories Aren’t Going Anywhere
The FBI says Donald Trump’s would-be assassin acted alone; the CIA denies any association with him. But experts say the complex reasons for belief in conspiracies will likely keep people believing· To See the Future of Urban Warfare, Look at Gaza
Western armies are studying the horrifying conflict for tactical lessons· The ACLU Fights for Your Constitutional Right to Make Deepfakes
States across the US are seeking to criminalize certain uses of AI-generated content. Civil rights groups are pushing back, arguing that some of these new laws conflict with the First Amendment· Defining Cyberterrorism: How Different Approaches Shape Data Collection
Amidst rising cyberattacks, there is a growing debate on whether these attacks should be deemed cyberterrorism· National Security Threats Loom Over American Wheat Power
What is our resiliency to food disruption in the context of strategic competition with great powers below the threshold of armed conflict? -
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IT INFRASTRUCTUREMassive IT Outage Spotlights Major Vulnerabilities in the Global Information Ecosystem
The global information technology outage on July 19, 2024, that paralyzed organizations ranging from airlines to hospitals and even the delivery of uniforms for the Olympic Games represents a growing concern for cybersecurity professionals, businesses and governments.
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CYBERSECURITYFrom Iron Dome to Cyber Dome: Defending Israel’s Cyberspace
In response to growing attacks against its infrastructure by formidable adversaries like Iran and its proxies, Israel recently announced that they are building a ‘cyber-dome’ or a digital ‘Iron Dome’ system to protect Israel’s cyberspace to defend against online attacks.
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EXPERTSWhy the Experts Should Answer to the Amateurs
Tension between experts and non-experts is an inevitable part of modern organizations and societies. Highly trained experts are necessary to keep things functioning smoothly —but accountability matters. We need specialists to solve hard problems, but they need to be accountable to non-experts.
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DEMOCRACY WATCHGermany Moves to Protect Top Court Against Far Right
Several authoritarian governments are trying to curb the clout of their countries’ supreme courts. As far-right populists gain ground in Germany, the government is also working to protect this bastion of democracy.
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BARRIERSS&T Deploys DETER at the Indy 500
The DHS S&T, CISA, and ERDC teamed up to deploy a new vehicle barrier at this year’s race. S&T is evaluating DETER in real-world environments like the Indy 500 and last year’s NFL Draft to identify operational requirements for law enforcement.
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CRITICAL MINERALSQuantifying Global Earthquake Risk to Mineral Supplies
Earthquakes could impact the supplies of mineral commodities like copper and rhenium around the world. A new scientific mechanism for assessing the potential risk to worldwide mineral commodity supplies from seismic activity has been developed by USGS scientists.
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MANAGED RETREATClimate Change Has Forced America’s Oldest Black Town to Higher Ground
Princeville, North Carolina, is relocating with help from a new federal grant. Hurricane Matthew, which submerged the town under more than 10 feet of water, was the final straw. The town has just received millions of dollars in new funding from FEMA to build a new site on higher ground.
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OUR PICKSSecret Service Director Resigns | The Pentagon Wants to Spend $141 Billion on a Doomsday Machine | American Fury, and more
· Secret Service Director Resigns After Trump Assassination Attempt
Kimberly A. Cheatle gave up her post Tuesday after security failures that allowed a gunman to shoot at former President Donald J. Trump at an open-air rally· American Fury
For years, experts have warned of a wave of political violence in America. We should prepare for things to get worse before they get better· How the Trump Rally Gunman Had an Edge Over the Countersnipers
The Times recreated, in 3-D, the lines of sight for three countersniper teams and the would-be assassin.· The Pentagon Wants to Spend $141 Billion on a Doomsday Machine
The DOD wants to refurbish ICBM silos that give it the ability to end civilization. But these missiles are useless as weapons, and their other main purpose—attracting an enemy’s nuclear strikes—serves no end· Seeking Answers, Lawmakers from Both Parties Ask Secret Service Chief to Quit
In a hearing on Capitol Hill, Director Kimberly A. Cheatle declined to answer questions about the lapses in protection that allowed a gunman to fire at former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa.· FBI Says Two Former WKU Students Were Terrorists
The university shared the emails with the FBI’s Louisville field office -
The long view
EXTREMISMHow Antisemites, Extremists and Conspiracy Theorists are Exploiting the Anti-Vax Movement
The days of lockdowns and social distancing are behind us, but anti-vaccine narratives remain prevalent on social media, and extremists continue to exploit these sentiments to recruit new members, raise money and mainstream their beliefs. Many extremists view anti-vaxxers as a massive pool of potential fresh recruits and followers primed for the “red pill.”
DOMESTIC TERRORISMModern-Day Outlaws, “Sovereign Citizens” Threaten the Rule of Law
By Christine Sarteschi
The FBI considers sovereign citizens a domestic terrorism threat. My research into sovereign citizens has found they have long been active in the U.S. and other countries. At the core of their beliefs is the denial of the government’s legitimacy. They commonly do not register their vehicles, acquire driver’s licenses or car insurance, or pay taxes. And they pose a significant threat to the public.
ARGUMENT: POLITICAL VIOLENCEA Uniquely Perilous Moment in U.S. Politics
Assassins believe that they can change the course of history. Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware write that the attempt om Donald Trump’s life is but the latest violent incident targeting an elected official or candidate in the United States in recent years. “The biggest question is whether this is, in fact, the beginning of what could be the most violent presidential race in the history of the country.”
TERRORISMNew Migration Patterns Could Fuel IS Plans for U.S.: Officials
By Jeff Seldin
Recent changes in global migration patterns and smuggling routes have created an opening for terror groups like the Islamic State to set their sights on the U.S. southern border.
BRAIN WORMSDid a Worm Really Eat Part of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Brain?
By Adam Taylor
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was found to have a pork tapeworm larva lodged in his brain. Cases in the US are reported to be in the hundreds per year. It is also an incredibly rare infection to encounter in Europe. Humans are the main host of mature tapeworms, but they need help from other intermediaries to spread.
NUCLEAR WEAPONSGlobal Annual Nuclear Weapons Spending in 2023: $91.4 Billion
In 2023, the nine nuclear-armed states spent a combined total of $91,393,404,739 on their arsenals – equivalent to $2,898 a second. A new report shows that $10.7 billion more was spent on nuclear weapons in 2023 than in 2022.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS‘Risks of Nuclear Terrorism Are High and Growing.’ New Tools, Alliances, Renewed Focus Needed, experts recommend
By Cyrus Moulton
For roughly 80 years, the United States has managed the threat of nuclear terrorism through nonproliferation treaties, agency programs, intelligence activities, international monitoring support and more, withstanding the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Union, and 9/11. A National Academies committee wants to ensure the U.S. remains prepared.
WMD PREPAREDNESSEvaluating U.S. Readiness to Prevent, Counter, and Respond to WMD
Two new reports review the adequacy of U.S. strategies to prevent, counter, and respond to the threat of nuclear and chemical terrorism and highlight the strengths and limitations of U.S. efforts to prevent and counter threats from weapons of mass destruction (WMD), particularly in a changing terrorism threat landscape.
CRITICAL MINERALSCritical Minerals: The Quiet Achievers Gallium and Germanium
By Asaesja Young
Australia produces 14 of the 31 critical minerals essential for modern technology and renewable energy. Gallium and germanium, critical for high-tech applications, are by-products of processing other minerals. Strategic mineral management and advanced processing can significantly boost Australia’s economic and global market position.
GRID RESILIENCEBringing GPT to the Grid
By Leah Burrows
Much has been discussed about the promise and limitations of large-language models in industries such as education, healthcare and even manufacturing. But what about energy? Could large-language models (LLMs), like those that power ChatGPT, help run and maintain the energy grid?
POWER-GRID RESILIENCEStartup Aims to Transform the Power Grid with Superconducting Transmission Lines
By Zach Winn
VEIR, founded by alumnus Tim Heidel, has developed technology that can move more power over long distances, with the same footprint as traditional lines.
DISATER RESPONSE'Hybrid’ Disaster Response Shows How Localization Saves Lives
By Josh Stowe
The earthquake that struck southwest Haiti in August 2021 killed thousands of people and left more than half a million seeking help. New research by a University of Notre Dame expert finds that the assessment of this disaster can serve as a model for evaluating future disasters and making life-saving improvements.
MANAGED RETREATTexas Flooding Brings New Urgency to Houston Home Buyout Program
By Jake Bittle
The San Jacinto River is a national hotspot for ‘managed retreat,’ but recent floods show how far local officials still have to go.
WATER SECURITYFor the Colorado River and Beyond, a New Market Could Save the Day
By Krysten Crawford
The Colorado River, “the lifeblood of the West,” is in trouble. Decades of overuse and drought have sharply reduced its water supply, threatening an ecosystem that supports 40 million people and 5.5 million acres of farmland. Stanford economist Paul Milgrom won a Nobel Prize in part for his role in enabling today’s mobile world. Now he’s tackling a different 21st century challenge: water scarcity.