Today in unhelpful AI suggestions

An economy that is turning towards almost exclusively graft, speculation, fraud and gambling to obtain wealth, which is basically what we currently have, is going to only create more conditions that lead to social isolation and violence.

NEW: We broke down the anatomy of an ICE arrest at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, as seen through one image.

And we followed the story over two weeks to document the fallout... and a surprising reunion.

W/ Todd Heisler and Wes Parnell:

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/n...

In the course of sixty seconds, threats to violate the First Amendment three times over: prosecuting CNN for reporting about an app, prosecuting the maker of an anti-ICE app, and prosecuting CNN for reporting about the Iran bombing.

ICE just arrested Brad Lander, the NYC Comptroller and one of the leading candidates for Mayor, without grounds.

He was conducting routine immigration court work, escorting individuals from hearings.

He asked ICE for their warrant - well within his legal rights.

This is political intimidation.

Wait Reggie Miller is announcing the Knicks game? Come on

AI art really is the aesthetic of new fascism

Really wonderful observations from Chris Maag about Americans' complicated feelings about the war in Vietnam. Best 1,100 you'll read today.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/n...

When I left the Washington Post in 2023, my colleagues and I were worried AI would hoover up our work and enable "zombies" to churn out stories based on our reporting and writing styles.

Today WaPo announced a partnership with OpenAI. And here it is: Zombie Gillian Brockell. I DID NOT WRITE THIS.

I asked the one high ranking policeman I saw on 5th Ave why there were so few police. He said “We did not expect anything like this. Don’t tell anyone but I’ve only got 44 officers out here — and it’s a great crowd, great event, no incidents.”

Via New York Times: “The DOJ prosecutor who questioned the Trump administration’s decision to deport a Maryland man to El Salvador has been placed on indefinite paid leave for a “failure to zealously advocate” for the department — less than 24 hours after defending the gov’t in federal court.”

All I keep thinking about is how Pete Hegseth raised questions of the competency of a Black four-star general and Air Force fighter pilot who was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hegseth asked did he get the job “because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt.”

Am I the only one noting that after demonizing China for years, Trump seems to be letting them off lightly, while going full tilt against Canada? Is it Musk's business interests? Have Chinese players been buying Trumpcoin?

The Inspectors General refuse to leave until the action is taken legally, which they do not believe it was, and neither do senators like Chuck Grassley. This is what not backing down looks like.
static.politico.com/b3/3e/5baf92...

Maybe my second-favorite @nytimes.com feature is the daily The Great Read, which is typically a narrative that can come from any corner of the newsroom. Metro is lucky enough to have a city of 8.5M stories, so we do plenty of them. Almost four dozen of them in 2024. Here they are: 🧵

Skeptical at first but I think AI is getting better at hands. But the weirdly hyper-erect posture and dead-eyed expression gives this character away immediately. But it’s getting there!