Marc Andreessen 🇺🇸 (@pmarca)

Another fun/insane anecdote from the peak-woke era was when an employee of ours tried to get our terms of service amended such that any organization disliked by the SPLC would be banned from using our software. What a racket. All of it.

SCOOP: California is pressuring public utilities to award $633 million in special contracts to "LGBT-owned" firms. To qualify, residents must go through the state's official gay-certification program—and face up to a year in jail if they're not gay enough.

The NAACP of Mississippi is trying to shut down xAI’s data center that powers Grok under the guise of a Clean Air Act enforcement action. But the Executive Branch—not the NAACP—is responsible for enforcing federal law. The NAACP’s lawsuit threatens American national, energy, and economic security. Tonight, the Department of Justice moved to intervene and dismiss the suit.

Something miraculous is happening in the USA and the world thanks to the World Cup and the USA’s 250th. I’m not quite sure yet what it is, I have to give it more thought. I think it has something to do with the world realizing that managed decline is not necessary (with Trump’s America as the example), and I think it has something to do with more Americans not being afraid to be patriots about their nation and their culture. It’s more than that though—I have to ponder. Article coming when I figure it out. Any and all ideas welcome.

The Times's weekend read: * The Labour leadership contest has already begun. In No 10 Starmer is fighting for his political life, putting huge pressure on teh system to bolster his Premiership in face of existential threat posed by Andy Burnham * Expect a frenzy of activity in coming weeks - the defence investment plan, social media restrictions for under 16s, the Brexit reset. Announcements bogged down in months of bitter internal rows will finally come into public view * All the announcements are coming before or shortly after June 18th, the date of the Makerfield by-election. Starmer is trying to send a message to Labour MPs that he can deliver * He isn't the only one. Burnham has began issuing his own national leadership pledges - starting with a £300million cut in business rates for pubs and small businesses * His press release directly attacked Starmer and Reeves, accusing the government of 'undervaluing' their importance to local communities. This is a *Labour* candidate directly criticising a *Labour* government * The lines between the Labour Party and Burnham's campaign are increasingly blurred. Team Burnham now has a lot of the party machinery on his side - press officers, officials etc - and also has most of the cabinet out knocking doors in Makerfield. Power is already moving * Starmer thinks he can fight Burnham, but his allies are unconvinced. One said that he thinks Burnham has behaved 'appallingly'. 'His view is why should he make it easy for him?' * But there is an acknowledgement that Starmer is on borrowed time. That it is a case of when, not if he goes * There are divides in Team Burnham over when he should amke a move if he wins Makerfield. The 'go-now' camp say he must seize the opportunity or it could slip through his hands, using the momentum of the by-election to act decisively * But others think this could be disastrous - that he needs time to build up a proper plan for government and No 10. That if he doesn't he risks repeating Starmer's mistakes all over again * Then there's what's being billed as the 'battle for the soul of Burnham'. There are those on the left - Louise Haigh, Miatta Fahbulleh and others - who favour a radical break from Starmer. Then there are the centrists - Josh Simons, Jim O'Neill - are are said to be emphasising the importance of fiscal credibility. It is potentially a v unwieldy coalition

“@elonmusk is probably doing more for America than any other American.” “He's single-handedly bringing manufacturing back to America.” “He's revived defense tech.” “SpaceX is in some ways the most important defense contractor in America.” “What he's doing with Starlink is amazing for the world.” “He's creating all these blue collar manufacturing jobs. “He's done more than any living human to de-carbonize the world.” “And if you’re upset about data centers on Earth—here you go!” @GavinSBaker with @patrick_oshag on @InvestLikeBest

More capitalist countries have lower income inequality, not higher. High income inequality is caused by cronyism which goes hand in hand with highly regulated markets. Welfare states also lower inequality, but you need free markets wealth to have generous welfare states.