July 3, 2025

What's Happening

US News

A Jury Held Diddy Accountable… Kind Of

What's going on: After seven long weeks of star testimonies and vigorous nods, a jury (of mostly men) found music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking — the most serious charges against him. But they did convict him on two lesser charges of transporting someone for prostitution. Prosecutors alleged the rapper led a criminal organization for over two decades, forced people around him into “freak-offs,” and used his status to “fulfill his sexual desires.” His defense team didn’t deny the drug use or domestic violence but argued the other allegations were overblown. In the end, the jurors said the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he forced anyone to engage in non-consensual acts. Combs, who maintained his innocence, pumped his fist in the air and thanked the jurors after hearing the verdict. He remains in jail and faces up to 20 years in prison.

What it means: The allegations against Combs are some of the most significant in the post-#MeToo era. The trial’s emotional and graphic testimony from survivors put a global spotlight on issues of consent and coercion, physical and mental trauma, and power dynamics. While women’s advocacy groups expressed disappointment with the verdict, they praised the women who testified — including Cassie Ventura Fine — for their courage in coming forward. Ventura's lawyer said they wanted a full conviction but felt Combs had “finally been held accountable.” If the jury had convicted him on the more serious charges, the rapper likely would’ve spent the rest of his life in prison.

Related: The Man Accused of Killing Four University of Idaho Students Plead Guilty (BBC)

Education

Summertime Sadness, Courtesy of the Dept. of Education

What's going on: The money has been allocated. The need is clear. But the Education Department froze nearly $7 billion in federal funds — including for summer and after-school programs — without warning. State education agencies expected the US Department of Education to release congressionally appropriated money on Tuesday, but were vexed when they got a notification that it wouldn’t come. The Trump administration gave little explanation, though Politico reports it told lawmakers the money won’t be released until a review is complete. Education officials are now scrambling to fill the gap left by billions in lost funding for teacher training, English classes, and other critical support.

What it means: The impact could be swift for low-income and rural communities. CBS reports the move could “ruin” summer for many families who now risk losing programs that experts say help close learning gaps and keep kids safe. Meanwhile, already-strapped districts may be forced to do more with less — which is all too common, as Abbott Elementary fans know. The Trump administration could face legal challenges. Critics argue the freeze is illegal since Congress already approved the funds — reigniting debate over a Nixon-era tactic known as “impoundment.” It’s no secret that the Trump administration has been chipping away at the federal government’s involvement in education across the country, and this is one more example.

Related: UPenn Agrees To Ban Transgender Athletes From Women’s Sports (ABC News)

Health

Paging Dr. Algorithm 

What's going on: If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office with more questions than answers, you’re not alone — and AI might be inching closer to changing that. In a recent test conducted by Microsoft, its AI health care tool nailed the correct diagnosis in 85.5% of complex medical cases — more than four times the accuracy rate of experienced doctors, who averaged just 20%. Both sides worked through 300+ real cases from the New England Journal of Medicine, simulating real-world decision-making. The catch? Doctors didn’t have access to their usual lifelines — no colleagues, no reference materials, and (ironically) no AI. Still, that kind of performance gap is hard to ignore.

What it means: Robots aren’t replacing your primary care doctor anytime soon — and that’s not the goal. Microsoft says the AI tool is meant to support clinicians, not swap them out. After all, humans still need to handle ambiguity, build trust, and catch the moment you start spiraling — things AI can’t do (yet). Meanwhile, it’s hard not to wonder what that kind of accuracy means for medicine’s future. AI is already used in hospitals and clinics, with over 70% of physicians relying on it in some form. These new results suggest it could play an even bigger one. Now, if it could just solve appointment delays, confusing bills, and the struggle to be taken seriously.

Related: Bill Could Force Planned Parenthood To Choose: Stop Abortions or Lose Funding (NYT Gift Link)

Settle This

A canned food empire has filed for bankruptcy after 138 years. Which is it?

Extra Credit

Read

Cross Crazy Rich Asians with Succession and Schitt’s Creek, and you get Renée Ahdieh’s Park Avenue. Her latest novel follows Jia, the daughter of Korean immigrants and an ambitious junior law firm partner who’s this close to making her lifelong dream of owning a gold-on-gold Birkin come true (relatable). So when her boss ropes her into a high-stakes case, she’s all in. But the clients are none other than Sora, Suzy, and Minsoo Park — the three squabbling children of one of the wealthiest (and pettiest) Korean families on the planet. United behind one goal, they’re trying to take down their father, convinced he’s hiding assets and cheating their terminally ill mother in a messy divorce. Jia’s job? Protect their fortune — and her future — in just 30 days. 

Game Time

Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.