People training new AI models admit they just get chatbots to do it

The next generation of AI models are meant to be trained by people paid to have conversations with them, but several of these workers have admitted to New Scientist that they simply get chatbots to do it instead. This “AI inbreeding” may reduce the power and usefulness of future models, warn experts

New Scientist

Transgressive Sexuality and The Cold War: A Look Back at Wicked City

From its earliest moments, it’s made apparent that there’s much more to what one sees on the surface. Opening narration in the original Japanese version by Renzaburō Taki, one of the film’s main characters, describes Tokyo. It’s a city wrapped in steel and concrete, brimming with technology. Yet, he also hints at a world that many of its citizens don’t see and are blissfully unaware of. 

Anime Herald

Happy 100th Birthday, Mel Brooks!

Here are 100 reasons to love the comedy writer, director and star who’s celebrating a milestone on Sunday.

The New York Times

How LGBTQ-affirming churches are confronting religious trauma 

Nearly half of Americans who left religion cite the mistreatment or rejection of LGBTQ+ people as an important reason. But how do the LGBTQ+ people who stay find healing?

Religion News Service

How Trump’s takeover fractured America’s birthday party

In seeking to put his stamp on the 250th, Trump has upended plans that had been years in the making, thrown agencies and federal funding behind his lavish, patriotic vision and drawn ire over what has become, in critics’ eyes, a partisan celebration more about the president than the country.

CNN

Nearly 400 local newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft over alleged copyright theft

Coalition represented by former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin’s law firm alleges AI companies used copyrighted local news reporting to train ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot without permission or compensation

New Jersey Globe

Beyond Denial

How Oil Execs Shaped a Landmark Climate Study

ProPublica

The Great American State Fair kicks off in Washington in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary

Crowds came in small numbers early Friday, spending little time at security. The entryway led straight to a 110-foot tall Ferris wheel, the lone ride at the fair, and a smaller arch, similar to the ones that the Republican president has used to adorn other events.

Chicago Tribune

The Great American State Fair Isn’t Very Great

A dizzying showcase on the National Mall has Abraham Lincoln holograms, free Frosties, and a lot of Donald Trump.

The Atlantic

Trump and Allies Are Working on Plan to ‘Expunge’ Impeachments

Republican-backed symbolic resolution would put lawmakers on record regarding the two impeachments during Trump’s first term

The Wall Street Journal

Corporate Democrats Are Mobilizing to Counter the Rise of Democratic Socialists

Fifteen centrist Democrats announced their support of a pro-capitalism and pro-law enforcement manifesto.

Truthout

NASA finds ‘puffiest’ planets so far: ‘Comparable to cotton candy’

The reason why these planets are described as being “puffy” is because their density is so light – despite being huge – that they’re comparable to cotton candy, according to NASA.

Fox6 Milwaukee

Federal health agency cancels most of its teen pregnancy prevention grants

Teen birth rates have fallen dramatically in the past 20 years.

Stateline

Trump says he is nominating former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that his new pick for the immigration enforcement agency is a former U.S. Marine and a “PATRIOT with real operational experience.” He called Schroyer a “proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.”

AP News

Inside the C.D.C.’s Mad Scramble to Meet Kennedy’s Demands

A cache of internal emails offers a look at the pressure the nation’s public health officials faced from the new health secretary in the early months of the Trump administration.

The New York Times

Who belongs in America? Five faith leaders on immigration, identity and America’s 250th

Watch the new RNS video series in which prominent faith leaders and thinkers weigh in on the questions at the heart of the American experiment.

Religion News Service

The Meltdown

One day that captures how Trump has gone from unpredictable to chaotic

The Atlantic

4 dead in Kentucky floods, governor declares state of emergency as search and rescue efforts underway

Widespread flooding across Kentucky has left at least four dead Saturday, prompting dozens of rescues after heavy rains wiped out bridges, inundated roads and flooded homes, with more significant rainfall on the way.

CNN

Serbian President Vucic says he will resign within weeks amid student-led protests

The announcement by Vucic, who has been in power as president or prime minister for 12 years, came amid persistent anti-corruption demonstrations led by students and triggered by the collapse of an awning at a railway station in the northern city of Novi Sad in November 2024, in which 16 people died.

CNN

Israelis See Their Friendship With the U.S. Slipping Away

Criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, anger over the Iran war and election results in New York all suggest Israel’s solid support from Washington may be on borrowed time.

The New York Times

Volkswagen may cut 100,000 jobs in brutal reset

The plan would roughly double an existing program to cut 50,000 jobs, and it would break a 2024 deal with unions that ruled out German plant closures until the end of 2030, according to CNBC.

Miami Herald

Tens of thousands march in the first Budapest Pride since Viktor Orbán was voted out

Tens of thousands of people gathered in soaring temperatures in Hungary’s capital on Saturday to celebrate the 31st annual Budapest Pride, the first such LGBTQ+ march since former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had sought to ban the event, was ousted in an April election.

PBS

Cape Verde’s dream run continues, becoming smallest country into World Cup knockout round

Cape Verde completed an improbable run through the group stage with a third straight World Cup draw, a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday night to advance in the tournament.

AP News

Germany records new all-time temperature high as Europe heatwave moves east

Several countries, including the UK and Germany, have posted record June temperatures, with deaths reported in France.

AlJazeera

Papyrus scroll burnt to a crisp during Vesuvius eruption deciphered with help of AI

The scroll — named PHerc. 1667 — is one of hundreds from the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, which was buried under volcanic debris when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, according to the Vesuvius Challenge, an initiative focused on decoding the texts of the Herculaneum scrolls without needing to physicallyunroll them.

CNN

Mexican Officials Have Become Informants for the Trump Administration

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has pushed back against U.S. investigations into Mexican politicians. Now some politicians want to cooperate.

The New York Times

Citing unpunished sex abuse, rights groups urge halt to Sri Lankan troops Haiti deployment

International human rights organizations are calling for an immediate halt to the deployment of 900 Sri Lankan soldiers and 140 police officers to Haiti, citing allegations of widespread child sexual abuse and exploitation during Sri Lanka’s previous mission in the Caribbean country and its failure to hold troops implicated in the abuse accountable.

Miami Herald

France Is Too Hot for Shutters and Ceiling Fans

Millions of people are suffering through the hottest days of their lives with few options.

The Atlantic

Hungary to reveal Cold War’s last big secret

Release of files will unlock some of country’s darkest secrets and may shed light on the fate of Raoul Wallenberg

The Sunday Times