Tootfinder

Sources: Thinking Machines lacks a clear product or business strategy and has been struggling over the last couple of months to raise a new round of financing (Alex Heath/Sources)
https://sources.news/p/thinking-machines-is-nothing-without

Thinking Machines is nothing without its people
More Thinking Machines employees are in talks to join OpenAI. Also: Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe on ACCESS and the Sources Live @ Davos lineup.

You may have come across the I-have-nothing-to-hide argument as a response to concerns about digital mass surveillance. It's a red herring; the real argument is about who gets to choose what to share.
https://theprivacydad.com/i-have-nothing-but-red-herring-to-hide/

FBI agents searched a Washington Post reporter’s home on Wednesday
as part of a leak investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of taking home classified information, the Justice Department said.
#Hannah #Natanson, who has been covering Donald Trump’s transformation of the federal government,
had…

FBI searches Washington Post reporter's home in leak probe
Attorney General Pam Bondi says the search of a Washington Post reporter’s home was done at the Pentagon’s request as part of a leak investigation. The Post says journalist Hannah Natanson had a phone, two laptops and a watch seized by agents at her Virginia home. An FBI affidavit says the search was related to an investigation into a system administrator in Maryland who authorities believe took home classified reports. Natanson covers the Trump administration’s transformation of the fede…

News flash: Billionaires are unpopular. But, the strength of the sentiment and how fast the needle has moved were both surprises to me. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/opinion/billionaires-politics-money.html

Opinion | The Billionaires Have Gone Full Louis XV
The first rule of dark money is to quit blabbing about it. Did they think people would thank them for it?

Sources: the US cyberattack that plunged Caracas into darkness during the Maduro mission shows its offensive capabilities; Senators plan to question officials (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/poli

Cyberattack in Venezuela Demonstrated Precision of U.S. Capabilities
Senators are expected to ask Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Cyber Command, about the mission in Caracas.

US volunteer fire departments are scrambling to find software amid shrinking options and higher costs, as companies backed by private equity dominate the market (Mike Baker/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/us/fire-department-software-priva…

Rural Fire Departments Squeezed By Software Prices As Investors Profit
Rural departments have long relied on cheap software solutions to keep their operations running. But fire chiefs report sharp price increases as investors have entered the market.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner reports social media platforms "removed access" to ~4.7M accounts under its ban for under-16s, which took effect in December (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/world/australia/social-media-ban-…

Nearly 5 Million Accounts Removed Under Australia’s New Social Media Ban
Governments around the world are watching the rollout of the landmark law, which made it illegal for those under 16 to have accounts.

Elizabeth Warren and two Democratic senators write to Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and more to investigate AI data centers' role in rising electricity costs (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/busines

Senators Investigate Role of A.I. Data Centers in Rising Electricity Costs
Three Democrats are seeking information from tech firms about the growing energy use of data centers and the utility bills of individuals and other businesses.

Polymarket and Kalshi count Donald Trump Jr. as an adviser, and Trump Media plans to launch Truth Predict, raising ethical questions during Trump's second term (Sharon LaFraniere/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/politics/donald-…

Leading Prediction Firms Share a Commonality: Donald Trump Jr.
Traders in companies with ties to the president’s eldest son can bet on the outcome of events the president affects.

Sources: the US has paused a tech trade deal with the UK, signed in September, over disagreements about the UK's digital regulations and food safety rules (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/business/economy/trump-uk-trade-deal-tariffs…

U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal Hits Stumbling Block
The U.S. government has paused a tech-focused trade pledge with Britain over broader disagreements about Britain’s digital regulations and food safety rules.