Trump Still Better at Economics?

Hey there scroller 🤳

Ready for another day’s headstart with some fresh news?

If your pal sent this to you, then subscribe to stay the most informed person in the room😉

📈 August Core Inflation Surges: Excludes Food and Energy, Up 0.3%

In August, the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose by its largest margin in 2023, with a 0.6% monthly and 3.7% annual increase. Excluding volatile items, the core CPI saw a 0.3% monthly gain. Energy prices, especially a 10.6% surge in gasoline, drove this spike. Consequently, real average hourly earnings dropped by 0.5%. Lisa Sturtevant observed, “Housing continues to contribute an outsized share to the inflation measures.”

📊 Poll: Trump Gains Trust Over Biden on Economy

A Suffolk University-USA TODAY poll reveals 34% approval for Biden's economic leadership, with 59% disapproving. More Americans trust Trump over Biden on the economy (47%-36%). Despite Biden highlighting "Bidenomics" and job gains, 84% see rising living costs, and 76% of independents feel the economy is worsening. Food costs remain a top concern.

💳 Consumer Credit Surges by Almost $5 Trillion

U.S. consumer credit reached $4.98 trillion in July, with credit card rates at 20.68% in Q2 2023. Quicken's survey shows that 40% of Americans increasingly rely on cards amid high inflation, with 35% anticipating maxing out one by year-end. Quicken CEO, Eric Dunn, voiced concerns over the widening economic divide. Meanwhile, student loan debt stands at $1.76 trillion, prompting many to consider credit cards for repayments.

🌊 Libya's Derna Flooding: Mayor Warns Death Toll Could Reach 20,000

Storm Daniel devastated Derna, Libya, with thousands missing and a potential death toll reaching 18,000-20,000. As international rescue teams converge, political divides challenge relief efforts. Journalist Mabrooka Elmesmary depicts Derna as a "disaster on a massive scale," while the mayor defends claims that locals were adequately warned.

🤝 Kim pledges unwavering support to Moscow during Russia summit
Amidst Western isolation, Kim Jong Un pledged "full and unconditional support" to Putin. Their summit raises U.S. concerns about North Korea supplying ammunition for Russia's Ukraine conflict. Their talks hinted at military satellite collaboration, amidst international unease over sanctions adherence, with Kim emphasizing Russia's defense against "hegemonic forces."

🤖 Tech Titans Seek 'Balanced' AI Regulation in Exclusive Senate Meeting
At a closed Senate AI Insight Forum, tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and Jensen Huang discussed AI's future. Zuckerberg emphasized safety, and access, and praised Meta's "open sourcing" of its Llama 2 model. Musk advocated for a federal AI oversight agency while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted thoughtful rulemaking, amidst concerns over the forum's secrecy. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey also sought clarity on working conditions for those training AI models.

📱 TikTok Sneaks Wikipedia Snippets into Search Results

TikTok is subtly transforming into a search platform, integrating Wikipedia snippets into select search results. The feature links users straight to Wikipedia, though the inclusion criteria are unclear. TikTok has also monetized search results and partnered with IMDb for media content. Google recognizes this shift, noting that almost 40% of young users prefer TikTok over Google for certain queries.

👽 1,000-Year-Old Alien Fossils on Display in Mexico's Congress as UFO Expert Testifies
In the Mexican Congress, journalist Jaime Maussan presented fossilized "alien" bodies, encased in glass, found near Peru's Nazca Lines, believed to be 1,000 years old. Displaying the three-fingered specimens, he asserted, "These specimens are not part of the evolution of our world" and urged scientific institutions to investigate. Amid the intrigue, skepticism persists due to Maussan's previously discredited claims, prompting discussions on the authenticity of the evidence.

📺 2023 MTV VMAs Boost Viewership by 37%, Drawing 865K Viewers

The 2023 MTV VMAs, with stars like Taylor Swift and performances by Shakira and Doja Cat, saw a 37% viewer increase to 865,000. Ratings in the 18-49 and 18-34 demographics hit their best since 2020 and 2019. However, despite these impressive figures, the VMAs' ratings still haven't surpassed MTV's record Tuesday night primetime since 2014.

🎉 Marvel's VFX Workers Secure Historic Union Victory

Marvel Studios' VFX workers unanimously voted to unionize with IATSE, addressing issues like unpaid overtime and intense pressures. Sarah Kazuko Chow, VFX coordinator at Marvel emphasized workers shouldn't "choose between the job we love and having identities outside of our work." This significant move aligns with broader Hollywood trends, including potential unionization at Walt Disney Pictures and ongoing strikes by Hollywood unions.

🚢Luxury cruise ship charging $33K per person stranded in freezing ArcticAurora Expeditions' Ocean Explorer cruise, costing passengers up to $33,000, has run aground between two glaciers in Greenland's Arctic Park. With 206 passengers, including many elderly Australians, onboard COVID cases have emerged. "We do have a couple of cases of COVID, but there’s a doctor on board," noted passenger Steven Fraser. Rescue efforts could be days away, expected by Friday at the earliest.

📈 Drug overdose deaths surge 4-fold in 20 years.

The US faces a surge in drug overdoses, hitting its highest death rates in over a century. Florida Atlantic University found overdoses increased 4.4 times from 1999-2020, notably after OxyContin's introduction. Dr. Charles H. Hennekens stated, "Death is inevitable, but premature death is not." The study highlights fentanyl-related deaths and significant overdose rises among white Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Native Americans.

📱 French agency calls for iPhone 12 removal due to excessive radiation emissions.

French regulators have stopped iPhone 12 sales due to radiation levels surpassing EU standards. Apple disputes this, providing lab results as evidence. The National Frequency Agency recorded levels at 5.74 watts/kg against the EU's 4-watt limit. France's digital minister remarked, that while levels are "slightly higher," they're far from harmful, but "the rule is the rule."

On 14 September 1847, U.S. General Winfield Scott's relentless march toward Mexico City achieved a decisive victory, marking the end of the military phase of the Mexican-American War. The U.S. Navy's Pacific Squadron blockaded the lower Baja California Territory on the Pacific coast, while Major General Winfield Scott's U.S. Army invaded the Mexican heartland, ultimately capturing the capital, Mexico City.

Thanks for scrolling with us🤳

Want to share Daily Scroll with a Pal? Forward this email and invite them to join our community of savvy scroll-ers.

We'd love to hear your feedback on today's issue of Daily Scroll! Simply reply to this email and share your thoughts on how we can improve our content and format.

Have a great week and see you tomorrow🕺