🧠 Breaking News

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” Passes Just in Time for the Fireworks

In what might be the most aggressively patriotic deadline ever, Congress passed Trump’s nearly 900-page “One Big Beautiful Bill” just before July 4th. The mega-bill, part tax cuts, part spending spree, part social program demolition derby- was muscled through with a mix of phone calls, pressure, and pure political gravity.

• Adds $3.3 trillion to the national debt, but don’t worry - it’s beautiful debt, allegedly meant to spark growth. Fiscal conservatives once cried over numbers like this. Now they just vote and smile.

• Includes deep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and clean energy funding, even though Trump reportedly told lawmakers “don’t touch Medicaid.” They did. Hard.

• Most GOP lawmakers got no real concessions, just a 1 a.m. phone call from Trump and maybe a retweet. One aide bluntly summarized what holdouts received: “f---ing nothing.”

• Elon Musk absolutely despised it, vowing online to personally defeat every Republican who voted yes. Democracy with vengeance and Wi-Fi.

• Vice President JD Vance flew back from Ohio midweek to help twist arms and hand out snacks (figuratively). He even tweeted that one undecided congressman flipped to “yes” after watching Hakeem Jeffries’ speech. Democracy is wild.

• Democrats tried to stall the vote, with Hakeem Jeffries setting a record for the longest House floor speech- but the clock ran out before the bill did.

• Trump canceled public events to personally woo lawmakers, which apparently worked better than expected. Even the holdouts caved like folding chairs at a barbecue.

• The bill bundles almost every domestic priority Trump wanted, including tax cuts, deregulation, and a rollback of green energy initiatives. It’s less of a budget plan and more of a legislative kitchen sink.

Trump and his allies are calling it a monumental win. Skeptics are calling it a giant, glitter-wrapped gamble. Will it jumpstart the economy or just light a fuse under the debt ceiling? We'll find out… probably right around midterms.

📡 Week in AI & Tech

AI Overviews Complaints, Samsung leaks, & Threads DMs?

Google’s AI Overviews Face EU Antitrust Complaint from Independent Publishers

• Alphabet’s Google is under fire in the EU as a group of independent publishers filed an antitrust complaint over Google’s AI Overviews, which are those AI-generated summaries that pop up above regular search results.

• Publishers argue they can’t opt out from having their content used by Google’s AI to create these summaries, which they say steals traffic, readership, and revenue from the original sources.

• The complaint claims Google’s AI Overviews unfairly prioritize Google’s own AI summaries above traditional links, effectively pushing publishers’ original content further down the search results page.

• Google insists it sends billions of clicks to websites daily and claims that AI in search creates new discovery opportunities for content and businesses.

• The complaint also highlights that publishers face a catch-22: 

  • If they say “no” to Google using their content for AI summaries, their websites might stop showing up in Google search results.

  • But if they say “yes,” Google can use their content for AI without giving them any control or extra compensation.

• This challenge isn’t isolated- UK regulators have received a similar complaint, and it echoes a U.S. lawsuit accusing Google’s AI features of eroding demand for original journalism and content.

• Supporting the complaint are groups like the Independent Publishers Alliance, Movement for an Open Web, and Foxglove Legal, who warn that independent news is facing an existential threat from unchecked AI content use.

• Google pushes back that claims about traffic loss are often based on incomplete or skewed data and that website visits fluctuate for many reasons beyond AI Overviews.

• The European Commission and UK Competition Authority have acknowledged the complaints but are yet to take action. Meanwhile, the fight raises bigger questions about the balance between AI innovation and protecting original content creators in the digital age.

Samsung Seems to Have Leaked Its Own Trifold Phone Design

• Samsung’s upcoming “multifold” or “Galaxy G Fold” (also called “Multifold 7” in leaked UI files) has been sneakily revealed through animations in a recent One UI 8 update.

• The design shows a triple-panel phone with two hinges, folding in a way different from Huawei’s “Z-shaped” trifold, featuring a large triple-camera setup on the back right panel.

• The central panel doubles as a cover display with a front-facing camera visible when the device is folded shut. When fully open, the selfie cam is on the right side, matching the rear camera panel.

• Animations warn users not to fold the right panel first because the camera bump will stop it from folding flat and could damage the device if done wrong- so handle with care (and patience).

• The left panel is blank on the back to allow the right panel to fold over it smoothly, unlike Huawei’s design which leaves one panel exposed but offers more flexible multi-panel use.

• This leaked design might not be final, and Samsung could reveal official details (or surprises) at the Unpacked event on July 9th, alongside new Z Fold and Z Flip phones.

Threads’ New DM Feature Sparks Backlash Over Harassment and No Opt-Out

• Threads recently launched direct messages (DMs), its most requested feature- but many users, especially women, are unhappy about it.

• Users complain there’s no way to opt out of receiving DMs entirely, raising concerns about harassment and unwanted messages.

• Before DMs, Threads was seen as a “safe” space without private messages, now some feel it’s opened a new door for trolls and stalkers.

• DMs are only allowed if you follow someone, and unfollowing them cuts off their DM access; blocking also works but blocks on Instagram too.

• Critics argue that following someone to read their posts doesn’t mean you want them sliding into your DMs; a subtle but important distinction.

• Some believe Meta underestimated how adding this private messaging after launch would disrupt the platform’s original vibe and user expectations.

• On the bright side, tying DMs to followers offers some control, but the lack of an outright opt-out leaves many feeling stuck in an inbox they didn’t sign up for.

🌐 Around the Web

Wikipedia Rabbit Holes to fall down on

🌍 World Culture

Manga, Megathreads, and a Megaquake That Might Not Happen

• Japan experiences about 1,500 earthquakes a year, making it one of the most seismically active countries on Earth, so some quake anxiety is normal.

• The panic this week, however, is fueled by a manga called The Future I Saw, first published in 1999 by retired artist Ryo Tatsuki and reprinted in 2021.

• The manga predicts a megaquake and tsunami three times larger than the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, supposedly striking on July 5, 2025.

• The original manga eerily referenced the 2011 disaster years before it happened, which adds a creepy “prophecy” vibe to the new claim.

• Despite the hype, scientists and Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) strongly reject the idea that earthquakes can be predicted by manga, dates, or any specific prophecies.

• Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) director called the panic “regrettable” and urged the public to avoid irrational actions driven by anxiety and misinformation.

• The manga has sold over 1 million copies in Japan, and social media posts about the quake prediction have gone viral, racking up millions of views.

• As a real-world effect, two Hong Kong-based airlines reduced flights to southern Japan due to low passenger demand caused by fear of the supposed megaquake.

• The Japanese government has also officially warned that while a major quake along the Nankai Trough is overdue (with an 80% chance in the next 30 years), no exact timing or date predictions are possible.

• Japan’s disaster preparedness is top-notch after decades of experience, but manga-inspired panic shows how pop culture can still rattle nerves — even in a country used to earthquakes.

• So, if you’re planning to visit Japan anytime soon, maybe trust the earthquake experts… not the comic book prophets.

Shocking

⚡ 3 Life Hacks to Make Your Day Smoother

• [Freeze grapes for instant chill: Use frozen grapes as ice cubes for your wine or soda. This involves no watering down, just cool refreshment.

• Use a sticky note to clean your keyboard: Run a sticky note between keys to pick up crumbs and dust quickly.

• Wrap headphone cords with a binder clip: Keep your earbuds tangle-free by clipping them with a binder clip when not in use.

In case you missed it

Microsoft’s Latest Layoffs Affect 9,000 Employees, Including 830 in Washington

• Microsoft began its fiscal year with a major workforce reduction, cutting up to 4% of its staff- about 9,000 employees globally.

• In Washington state alone, 830 employees were laid off, continuing a trend from earlier cuts this year that totaled over 15,000 companywide and 3,100 in Washington.

• Layoffs hit multiple divisions, including gaming, sales, marketing, and engineering roles, although management cuts were fewer than expected.

• The company emphasizes these layoffs are not performance-based but aimed at “rightsizing” and increasing organizational agility amid heavy investment in AI infrastructure.

• Microsoft plans to spend over $80 billion on AI-related infrastructure this fiscal year, driving a shift from headcount to technology investment.

• Despite cuts, Microsoft reported record profits and growth earlier in the year, reflecting its evolving business priorities.

Pingkerly speaking

1% left…

🤣 Joke of the Week

⏩ Looking Forward

Weeks & Days of Deals

• Target Circle Week runs July 6-12. It’s basically a week-long temptation parade, so get ready to wrestle your impulse buys.

• Amazon Prime Day hits July 8-11, ready to overwhelm your (digital) shopping cart and your willpower simultaneously.

• Two big sales in a row means your wallet’s about to go on a rollercoaster.

• If you’re a Target Circle 360 member, you get to sneak in savings early on July 5. Fancy perks for the pros.

• Heads up, your phone (and Alexa smart speakers) will probably blow up with deal alerts all week - keep those notifications close, and maybe some snacks handy too.

So yeah, brace yourself. July shopping season is officially upon us.

😤 Breathe.

pause.

Okay, we get it. July is basically the stress Olympics for your brain and your wallet. Between back-to-back sales, social media deal FOMO, and that lingering “Did I really need this?” guilt, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

So here’s your reminder: Take a deep breath.

You don’t have to buy all the things. No deal is worth your sanity. Maybe walk away, do a little dance, or just stare at the ceiling for a minute instead.

🏢 Pingker Afterthoughts 7/25 Informational Block

We’d also like to shout out our Pingker Afterthoughts edition of July 2025. Pingker Afterthoughts is a supplement to the Pingker Newsletter where curiosity wanders off and finds something weird. View it here!

Pingker Afterthoughts are web-only and will not be emailed to subscribers.

🏢 Sponsorship Informational Block

Are you a brand, business, or brilliant creator just itching to reach our awesome community? Well guess what… now you can! 🎉

Pingker is offering affordable sponsorships that won’t drain you (or your company’s) budget or your will to live. Whether you're launching a new product, promoting your content, or just want people to know you exist (relatable), we’ve got you covered.

Slide into our inbox at [email protected] and let our Sponsorship Squad™ (it’s not trademarked) help you make some marketing magic. Let’s make beautiful brand moments together 💌

🏢 Referral Program Informational Block

Our Referral Program’s Better Than Deals Week (Seriously, We Checked)

Hey you! Want rewards cooler than that one time you found an extra fry at the bottom of the bag?

Just swing by pingker.com/login and sign in with your email. No passwords, no drama, just a quick one-time code. Boom, you’re in.

Now click your profile pic (top right corner, like a pro), tap “Referrals,” and snag your very own magic referral link.

Share it with your friends, family, heck, even your neighbor’s dog if they have a phone.

Every sign-up through your link bumps your referral count and unlocks rewards that make Black Friday look like amateur hour.

Start sharing. Start winning. Your cool stuff is just a click away.

Pingker Research Informational Block

1-Click Survey

We’d like to collect more information so that we can improve our services!

Did you enjoy reading this edition of the Pingker newsletter?

Your feedback will help us improve our services. Click on a link to vote:

• 👍 Yes, thanks!

• 😐 Meh... it was okay.

• 👎 Not interesting to me.

That’s it for this week!

Thanks for reading this week’s Pingker Newsletter.

-The Pingker Team

Questions, comments, or concerns? Our team is always ready to help. We’re proud to serve you. Email us:

P.S. Forward this to a friend, or recommend us to someone cooler than you. It helps. A lot.

📄 Disclaimers by Section

Pingker is committed to delivering accurate, timely, and engaging content that informs and inspires. We value your trust and strive to serve our community with integrity and care. Please read the disclaimers below to better understand the nature of the content in each section.

Legal made us do this… but we tried to keep it fun.

🧠 Breaking News
We report what we know, but politics is messy and unpredictable. If you get mad, remember: we just type stuff. No refunds on feelings.

📡 Week in AI & Tech
AI is cool but confusing. We double-checked (mostly). If a robot reads this and gets offended, that’s on them, not us.

🌐 Around the Web
We’ve sprinkled some humor here because, honestly, history and conspiracy theories can get pretty dense (and weird). Nothing here should be taken as serious advice, political commentary, or evidence of actual alien monarchs- unless proven otherwise. Reader discretion (and a sense of humor) is strongly advised. Tinfoil hats optional but encouraged.

🌍 World Culture
We trust our sources, but if a manga causes you to panic-buy bottled water, that’s your call. We’re not responsible for comic-induced chaos.

⚡ Shocking Life Hacks
Try at your own risk. We’re not liable if grapes escape your drink, keyboards reject sticky notes, or earbuds rebel violently.

⏪ In Case You Missed It
Layoffs and tough news are real. We deliver the facts, but emotional coffee spills and awkward water cooler moments are all on you.

💬 Pingkerly Speaking
These are our hot takes… not legal advice, medical advice, or instructions for building a spaceship. Don’t sue us if you try and fail spectacularly.

🤣 Joke of the Week
Humor guaranteed to make some laugh, others groan, and a few quietly question their life choices. No responsibility accepted for snort-laughs or eye-roll injuries.

⏩ Looking Forward
Future events may change without notice, like your weekend plans or that new diet you swore you’d start. Wallet emptiness is a known side effect.

😤 Breathe.
If stress hits max level, try actual breathing. If that doesn’t work, professional help is strongly recommended. Deep breaths are free; therapy is not.

🏢 Referral Program
Sharing is caring but spamming your neighbor’s cat with links is not. Rewards subject to actual sign-ups, cosmic luck, and occasionally, magic.