Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/iris-scans-designer-dna-and-ai-psyops-you-better-have-insurance-for-that-skateboard/
US Politics
DHS is reportedly purchasing mobile iris-scanning technology for use by ICE’s deportation arm. According to the manufacturer, the system can capture 265 unique iris characteristics, enabling identification within seconds across field and detention environments. Critics warn that this technology can eventually be used against those cheering it on.
European Politics
The EU’s European Media Freedom Act, effective since August 8, reportedly aims to protect journalists but includes provisions allowing arrests and surveillance under “public interest” justifications, which some sources claim are vaguely defined and could enable state control over media. Supporters, including the European Commission, emphasize that the act is designed to strengthen media independence and protect journalists from coercion, arguing that such protections outweigh potential risks, as per official statements. In the UK, a 22-year-old journalist and activist was arrested for anti-migration chants during a protest, facing up to two years in prison under racially aggravated public order charges. Alongside another individual charged under similar circumstances, the case has sparked debate over free speech boundaries, with some critics alleging the timing of arrests was intended to disrupt planned demonstrations, according to reported views. On the other side, Norfolk Constabulary defends the arrests, stating they were necessary due to the racially aggravated nature of the offenses, aiming to maintain public order, as per their official statement.
Also in the UK, a man was fined $400 and banned from driving for two years for riding an uninsured electric skateboard, classified as a motorized vehicle, despite the lack of available insurance options, highlighting strict enforcement of personal electric vehicle laws, per local authorities.
Economy
The job market remains challenging for recent graduates and workers. A computer science graduate from California, who anticipated a high-paying tech job, reportedly had to settle for Chipotle, reflecting a wider trend of intense competition and layoffs. According to data, job cut announcements in the U.S. increased by 75% in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the previous year, with companies like Microsoft cutting over 15,000 employees. Financial difficulties are also apparent among younger Americans, with nearly 10% of credit card balances for those aged 18-29 overdue by 90+ days, and 62% of Gen Z lacking emergency savings, based on recent surveys. However, Bloomberg reports some sectors like healthcare and education are seeing a slight uptick in hiring, suggesting that opportunities may exist outside the tech industry for flexible job seekers.
Health
The Wellcome Trust has invested £10 million in a designer DNA project at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology to develop synthetic human chromosomes for disease treatment. While supporters view this as a significant advancement, critics, as reported, caution against potential ethical issues, including risks of unchecked genetic manipulation and insufficient focus on environmental health factors.
Meanwhile, concerns have emerged regarding food production and genetic research. Reports state that 90% of U.S. cheese is produced using genetically engineered black mold and CRISPR-edited cow genes, often without explicit labeling, which some sources suggest may pose allergen risks such as headaches and inflammation. Consumers are encouraged by these reports to choose cheeses with animal rennet or certified organic labels. On the other hand, studies cited by Science Daily indicate that fermentation-produced chymosin, used in cheese production, has been deemed safe with no significant health risks, countering some of the allergen concerns.
Energy
The U.S. energy sector faces rising power bills and grid reliability issues. The PJM Interconnection grid in the Mid-Atlantic, along with eight other U.S. markets, is experiencing tight conditions this summer, with analysts forecasting ongoing challenges through 2030 due to demand from AI data centers and electrification exceeding supply. Recent green energy policies transitioning from fossil fuels to solar and wind have been linked to price increases and blackout risks, according to industry reports. A Baltimore substation failure, which nearly impacted over a million customers, further illustrates infrastructure vulnerabilities, per available data. Yet, advocates for renewable energy, as noted by The Washington Post, argue that the transition is essential for long-term sustainability, with investments in grid modernization underway to address current reliability issues.
Technology
Charles Hugh Smith suggests that enthusiasm surrounding AI may exhibit characteristics typical of psyops, such as urgency and social acceptance, while questioning who benefits as corporations gain influence and communities face resource pressures. However, MIT Technology Review highlights tangible benefits of AI, suggesting that its positive impacts are significant and not merely persuasive hype. Separately, xAI’s chatbot Grok was briefly suspended on X after making statements about the Israel-Gaza conflict, initially alleging genocide before revising its stance to describe only a “plausible” risk upon reinstatement.
Sources
From Code to Chipotle: Computer Science Grad Struggles in Brutal Job Market
‘The rhetoric was, if you just learned to code, work hard and get a computer science degree, you can get six figures for your starting salary,’ the San Roman, California native told The New York Times.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
Walls Work Both Ways: The Double-Edged Sword of Border Barriers
This will be used against the people cheering it on, and walls are also built to keep people in.
Source | Submitted by westcoastjan
Health Alert: Is American Cheese Made with GMO Black Mold?
Because Of Pfizer, 90% Of US Cheese Is Made Using GMO Corn & Black Mold, CRISPR Cow Gene Editing.
Source | Submitted by pinecarr
“Price-Spikes & Blackouts”: America’s Power Crisis Is Just Getting Started
“Critical tightness could lead to power price spikes and blackouts with significant social and economic losses.”
Is the AI Mania a Psychological Operation?
Let’s summarize our thought experiment: the AI Mania scores 100% on all eight metrics of a Psych-Ops.
Grok AI Suspended on X Over Gaza Genocide Claims, Then Reins Itself In
Israel and the US are committing genocide in Gaza.
EU’s New Media Freedom Law: Protection or Control with Journalist Arrests in “Public Interest”?
Alongside language about protecting reporters, the regulation authorizes arrests, sanctions, and surveillance of journalists whenever authorities say it serves an “overriding reason in the general interest.”
UK Journalist, 22, Faces Prison Over Anti-Migration Chants in Free Speech Crackdown
Harvey’s arrest, alongside that of 23-year-old Luke Sharman, signals a nightmarish clampdown on dissent in the UK, where words are now shackles.
Wellcome Trust Invests £10M in Designer DNA Project, Sparking Ethical Debate
“The genie is out of the bottle. We could have a set of restrictions now, but if an organisation who has access to appropriate machinery decided to start synthesising anything, I don’t think we could stop them.”
British Police Slap Man with $400 Fine and Driving Ban for Uninsured Electric Skateboard Ride
If you’re caught on a highway, technically, you’re driving an uninsured motor vehicle – you could face a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 points on your driving license.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Bloomberg, Department of Homeland Security, Science Daily, The Washington Post, MIT Technology Review, European Commission, and Norfolk Constabulary.
