Researchers argue that wealth taxes, when combined with lower capital gains taxes, can improve capital market efficiency by reducing capital lock-in—the practice where wealthy investors delay selling appreciated assets to avoid taxes, even when better investment opportunities exist. The current capital gains tax system creates inefficiencies by giving investors incentive to hold low-return assets, but a properly designed wealth tax can eliminate this distortion and direct capital to more productive uses.
A Substack author discusses the decline of American power, referencing their Atlantic piece on the ending of the American Age. They address questions about US recovery, past errors, and how current challenges differ from the Vietnam War, while critiquing a Washington Post editorial for its dishonest framing of US-Canada-Europe relations.
Global Laser Enrichment announced in September 2025 that its SILEX laser-based uranium enrichment technology reached industrial scale, moving from concept toward commercial deployment. The technology promises to address growing uranium demand and reduce dependence on geopolitically sensitive suppliers, but poses significant nonproliferation challenges that require urgent policy adaptation of export controls and IAEA safeguards before widespread deployment undermines the global nonproliferation regime.
Sulfur prices have skyrocketed due to global supply disruptions from the Iran war and Russia sanctions, forcing fertilizer producers to cut production and threatening to raise food prices by 4.8% globally by 2027. Meanwhile, an oil crisis looms as Saudi Arabia's pipeline remains shut after drone attacks, with U.S. strategic reserves at their lowest since 1982 and refineries operating at maximum capacity.
UK police forces store highly sensitive data including criminal records and victim statements on Microsoft Azure cloud servers, which a 2017 security assessment deemed vulnerable to compromise by US government actors. The Guardian investigation reveals the risks identified then persist today, with Microsoft acknowledging data can leave the UK, contradicting police claims about data security and sovereignty.
Bitcoin surged above $81,000 on September 18, 2026, marking its highest level in two weeks. Analysts debated whether the rally signals the end of the bear market, with key indicators being whether Bitcoin closes above the 50-week moving average. The CFTC moved proposed crypto market rules to White House review, boosting sentiment in crypto-related stocks.
Bitcoin community discussions from September 18, 2026 highlight Coinbase's push for a U.S. Bitcoin reserve with Treasury and Commerce departments, commentary on Bitcoin's performance relative to Fed policy, and speculation about cryptocurrency's role in AI infrastructure. Multiple crypto influencers express bullish sentiment on Bitcoin and related assets.
X posts from September 18, 2026 discuss Bitcoin's rise to $81,000, Coinbase negotiations with US Treasury and Commerce Departments regarding a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and billionaire Tim Draper criticizing major tech companies for not holding Bitcoin. Posts also cover crypto giveaways, altcoin commentary, and technical analysis of Bitcoin price movements.
Coinbase is negotiating with the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments on a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve while Bitcoin breaks through technical resistance levels. Major banks are expected to offer Bitcoin services within a year, though the crypto market experienced $515 million in liquidations over 24 hours.
The Internet Phone Book is an annual publication featuring essays and a directory of personal websites for designers, developers, writers, and educators, published since 2025. Available at libraries and bookshops across Europe, North America, and Asia, it explores the poetic aspects of the web as an alternative to corporate social media platforms.
Bitcoin reaches $81,000 as Coinbase advocates for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in talks with U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments. Traders forecast Bitcoin hitting $85,000 this month amid bullish sentiment.
The New York Times and other media companies filed a court brief seeking billions in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement in AI training, citing internal emails and testimony from company executives who called the practice "astonishing theft" and acknowledged that AI products substitute for original journalism, undermining their fair use defense.
A researcher in Davos investigates why peanut allergy fatalities were unknown before 1980 but now affect roughly 1% of American children. The focus turns to peanut butter's unique prevalence in the US diet and whether food processing additives like emulsifiers might trigger allergic responses, though initial cell-culture tests show minimal harm.
The article profiles three common paths to wealth among ordinary American business owners: auto dealerships, beverage distribution, and construction contracting. It provides examples of wealthy entrepreneurs in each sector—Alan Wildstein (auto dealer with ~$500M net worth), John Nau (beverage distributor who sold his company for ~$1B), and Tommy Mello (garage door contractor worth over $1B)—demonstrating that tens of thousands build eight-figure fortunes outside tech and finance.
Mortgage rates have soared to 7.2%, their highest in 18 months, while home prices remain near record highs, making homeownership increasingly unaffordable for Americans. Rising Treasury yields driven by geopolitical tensions and oil prices, combined with Federal Reserve rate hikes to combat inflation, are expected to push rates even higher. The median first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old, and many young adults are delaying purchases or moving back with parents.
A revised CLARITY Act including stablecoin circuit breakers and ethics rules gained bipartisan support with over 120 Democratic demands included. The bill introduces guardrails for developers, exchanges, and politicians while providing regulatory clarity. Additional posts discuss stablecoin adoption in Korea-UAE partnerships and applications in agentic finance platforms.
AI infrastructure valuations are shifting focus from model narratives to tangible assets like data centers, power access, and GPU utilization. Supply-chain constraints are spreading across memory, optical interconnects, and infrastructure, with long-term contracts locking in capacity and creating opportunities for suppliers controlling scarce components. AI-equipped cameras on garbage trucks in four U.S. states now monitor properties for code violations, flagging over 6 million violations nationwide.
Diesel prices reached record highs of $6.43 per gallon as of Friday, driven by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine with intensified strikes on Russian oil facilities. The surge is raising concerns about increased costs across the economy, particularly for heating oil and winter energy bills expected to rise over 30% for some households.
Apple raised out-of-warranty battery replacement fees to $129 for iPhone 18 Pro models, up $10 from the $119 charged for iPhone 16 and 17 Pro models due to larger batteries. AppleCare+ customers can still get free replacements if battery capacity drops below 80%.
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 3.75%-4% to combat inflation, making borrowing more expensive for credit cards and loans while benefiting savers. The impact is uneven: financially stretched consumers with variable-rate debt face higher costs, while secure savers and those with fixed-rate mortgages may benefit from better returns.