Tuesday, August 4, 2026

• SpaceX reports its first-ever earnings today as Wall Street tries to price a company that's never opened its books before.
• Futures are firmly green (Nasdaq +1.12%, Dow +1.06%) while the VIX slips to 15.59 — a risk-on tape heading into the bell.
• Watch the jobs data drip this week: ADP (Wed), jobless claims (Thu), and Friday's nonfarm payrolls print (consensus 88K) will set the tone for rate-cut chatter.

• 504.96% — that's the overnight surge in penny stock RITR, now the most heavily traded name on the tape with over 1.5 billion shares changing hands. It's a reminder that speculative micro-caps are still absorbing enormous retail volume even as the S&P grinds higher — froth and blue-chip calm can coexist on the same morning.

1. 1

   Arson arrest made as Spokane wildfires rage — Authorities have arrested a suspect accused of setting fires now devastating the Spokane area, adding a criminal dimension to an already destructive wildfire season. Firefighting resources remain stretched thin regionally. Public anger is mounting over the suspect's motive. (AP News) link

2. 2

   DOJ drops remaining Reflecting Pool charges — The Justice Department dropped charges against the last defendants tied to the Reflecting Pool case despite reported anger from Trump. The move signals a shift in prosecutorial priorities on politically charged cases. Reaction is split along familiar partisan lines. (Forbes) link

3. 3

   Iran-US talks stall as ship struck in Hormuz — A vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, deepening uncertainty over the status of ongoing US-Iran negotiations. The incident raises the stakes for a critical global shipping lane. Markets are watching closely for oil-price spillover. (Reuters) link

4. 4

   Legal loophole could revive 'anti-weaponization' fund — NBC reports on a possible legal path to resurrect a Trump-era fund even after officials had signaled it was dead. The story details the mechanics behind the workaround. Watchdogs are raising oversight concerns. (NBC News) link

5. 5

   Michigan Democrats vote in fierce Senate primary — Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are facing off in a closely watched Michigan Senate primary that's become a proxy fight over the party's direction. Turnout and messaging will be scrutinized nationally. Progressive and establishment wings are both claiming momentum. (BBC) link

6. 6

   Idaho mass shooting victim identified — Ashley Garibay, an In-N-Out manager, has been identified as one of the victims of a mass shooting in Idaho. The community is grieving and details continue to emerge. Local outlets are covering the fallout closely. (KCRA) link

7. 7

   Brown University president to resign — Brown's president will step down following a tenure that included a controversial Trump-related deal. The resignation caps a turbulent period for the university's leadership. Faculty and alumni reaction is mixed. (The New York Times) link

8. 8

   Nauru renames itself Naoero — The world's third-smallest country has officially changed its name to Naoero, a symbolic move tied to reclaiming indigenous identity. It's a rare instance of a sovereign nation rebranding entirely. Reaction internationally has been curious more than critical. (NPR) link

9. 9

   Kyiv strikes hit warehouses, five killed — Ukraine's strikes on warehouse facilities, including one tied to Wildberries, killed five people as the war grinds on. The strikes underscore continued targeting of logistics infrastructure. Casualty reports remain fluid. (The Independent) link

10. 10

    SpaceX set for its first-ever earnings report — Wall Street is bracing to see SpaceX's financials for the first time as a reporting entity, a milestone that could reshape valuations across the space sector. Analysts have limited historical data to benchmark against. Anticipation is running high given the company's scale. (CNN) link

• This week — CLARITY Act crypto bill faces a 72-hour countdown to get a Senate vote before recess; it vanished from Monday's schedule, dimming its odds.
• This week — NIL college sports bill still lacks a guaranteed vote despite SEC/Big Ten backing, per Senate leadership.
• Wed, Aug 5 — ADP Nonfarm Employment Change (consensus 68K) and US Trade Balance (consensus -$73.0B) drop, early signals ahead of Friday's jobs report.
• Thu, Aug 6 — Initial Jobless Claims (consensus 205K) and S&P Global Services/Composite PMIs.
• Fri, Aug 7 — Nonfarm Productivity, Unit Labor Costs, and Wholesale Inventories.
• Sat, Aug 8 — Nonfarm Payrolls (consensus 88K) and Average Hourly Earnings — the week's marquee data point.
• Ongoing — Fed's Kevin Warsh reportedly weighing cutting FOMC meetings from eight to six per year, a structural shift worth tracking.

• S&P futures (ES): ⬆️ +0.34%
• Nasdaq futures (NQ): ⬆️ +1.12%
• Dow futures (YM): ⬆️ +1.06%
• VIX: ⬇️ -1.70% (15.59 — complacent territory)
• 10Y yield: ⬇️ -1.24% (4.686%)
• DXY: ⬆️ +0.04% (99.93) Futures are pointing to a broad risk-on open with yields easing and volatility subdued.

• 9:45am ET — S&P Global Manufacturing PMI: 53.9 actual vs. 53.8 consensus
• 10:00am ET — ISM Manufacturing PMI: 55.6 actual vs. 54.0 consensus (beat)
• 10:00am ET — ISM Manufacturing Employment: 52.8 vs. 50.0 consensus (strong beat)
• 10:00am ET — Construction Spending: -0.1% vs. 0.2% consensus (miss)
• 11:30am ET — 3-Month/6-Month Bill Auctions

• SPCX (SpaceX, $1.42T mkt cap) — AMC, EPS forecast ($0.26). First-ever public earnings report; a bellwether moment for space-sector valuation.
• AMD ($776.4B) — AMC, EPS forecast $1.35 vs. $0.27 last year — huge YoY growth expected.
• CAT ($375.3B) — BMO, EPS forecast $6.25 vs. $4.72 last year.
• MRK ($321.6B) — BMO, EPS forecast ($0.26) vs. $2.13 last year — a steep swing to watch.
• MCD ($192.3B) — BMO, EPS forecast $3.32 vs. $3.19 last year.

• RITR $0.3418 (+504.96%) — no catalyst in today's data.
• HYFM $2.15 (+298.15%) — no catalyst in today's data.
• NVNIW $0.0399 (+157.42%) — no catalyst in today's data.
• ANSCW $0.0048 (-97.18%) — no catalyst in today's data.
• MUA.RTWI $0.006 (-76%) — no catalyst in today's data.
• NVDA — among the day's most active names, trading around $206.72 (+2.98%).
• AMZN — heavy volume, up to $284.13 (+4.66%).
• SNAP — active with shares near $5.46 (+16.42%).

• INTC — Calls dominate 2:1 over puts (put/call 0.51); unusual near-term call buying at the $64-$68 strikes into Aug 5/7 expiries.
• AMZN — Put/call ratio 0.40 skews bullish; notable put volume at the $297.50 strike expiring Aug 5.
• MSFT — Elevated put activity at the $485 strike (11K+ volume) alongside call buying at $490, both expiring within days — a tight straddle bet around earnings-adjacent volatility.
• Confluence and congressional trading data: none flagged today.

• BTC $63,865 ⬆️ +2.19%
• ETH $1,871.21 ⬆️ +1.82%
• XRP $1.077 ⬆️ +1.31% Crypto is broadly green and tracking the risk-on move in equity futures this morning.

• 30-year fixed mortgage rate: 6.66% as of July 30 — holding steady near recent levels.
• Data center growth is reshaping the housing market in Johnstown, leaving longtime homeowners weighing their future. link
• A landmark housing bill passed Congress, but Houston researchers say the local impact may be minimal. link

r/mildlyinfuriating

Book I bought didn't edit out the AI prompt

YouTube

WE DON'T EVER STOP - LET'S WATCH SOME COP VIDEOS

r/mildlyinteresting

Michigan dispensary blocking a Flock camera that points directly into their parking lot

YouTube

New Gem Sprites Countdown!

r/Weird

paintings in a hospital waiting room…

YouTube

New Gem Sprites Countdown!

• Reddit
• r/mildlyinfuriating — A published book didn't edit out an AI prompt before printing. post
• r/mildlyinteresting — A Michigan dispensary is physically blocking a Flock surveillance camera pointed at its lot. post
• r/Unexpected — Passengers stepped in to notify a driver mid-incident, with a twist ending. post
• r/Weird — Unsettling paintings spotted in a hospital waiting room. post
• r/interestingasfuck — A mother dolphin is seen carrying her dead calf for days, a haunting display of grief. post
• YouTube
• Delete Lawz — "WE DON'T EVER STOP - LET'S WATCH SOME COP VIDEOS" (1,613 views) watch
• Nick Eh 30 Shorts — "New Gem Sprites Countdown!" (1,412 views) watch
• Nick Eh 30 — "New Gem Sprites Countdown!" (5,769 views) watch
• Sơn Dương Vlog — ESPN First Take live rebroadcast (3,099 views) watch
• Dialogue Works — Analysis on Yemeni blockade impact on Saudi oil exports (6,983 views) watch
• Instagram
• Coverage of an 80-year-old man seeing the ocean for the first time, a heartwarming reel winning hearts online. story
• Coverage of a broken trombone video accidentally becoming one of Instagram's biggest reels. story
• Coverage of a Nantucket shop's "No Influencers" sign going viral and sparking backlash. story
• X
• Adley (live)
• Dodgers (live)
• #WWERAW (live)
• Good Tuesday (live)
• Cashman (live)
• Google Trends
• kaylee goncalves (2000+) — tied to new reporting on Bryan Kohberger's alleged targeting of Idaho students. story
• strands hint (1000+) — daily NYT Strands puzzle hints. story
• s&p 500 futures (200+) — premarket futures climbing on names like Coherent and Applied Optoelectronics. story
• mcd stock (200+) — anticipation ahead of McDonald's earnings today. story
• A photo album with the Reddit/YouTube images lands right after this brief.

• "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" shatters box-office records — The latest Spider-Man film has broken multiple box-office records, cementing its status as a major event release. Deadline breaks down exactly which records fell. (Deadline) link
• Lollapalooza 2026 wraps with arrests and hospital trips — Chicago's Lollapalooza ended with several arrests and hospital visits, and the city now faces a Grant Park cleanup. Festival organizers face renewed scrutiny over crowd safety. (Chicago Tribune) link
• Dave Bautista eyed for Kratos in "God of War" TV series — Bautista may take on the role of Kratos in the upcoming God of War TV adaptation, a casting choice generating buzz among fans of the game franchise. (Gizmodo) link
• Ariana Grande sparks debate on health, privacy and celebrity — The New York Times examines the tension between public scrutiny of Grande's health and her right to privacy as a celebrity. The piece touches on broader media-ethics questions. (The New York Times) link
• Ranvir Shorey thanks Anupam Kher for viral reel milestone — Shorey publicly thanked co-star Anupam Kher after their "Khosla Ka Ghosla 2" reel crossed 100+ million views, joining a growing club of viral Bollywood content. (ndtv.com) link

• The top story: a widely-discussed HN essay, "LLMs reward expertise" (1,034 points), argues that large language models are most useful in the hands of people who already know the domain well — amplifying expert judgment rather than replacing it. link
• A new piece, "Prevent cognitive debt by manually retyping LLM-generated code" (502 points), makes the case for physically retyping AI-generated code to retain understanding rather than just pasting it in. link
• An arXiv paper, "Why Large Language Models Fail at Tabular Prediction," digs into structural reasons LLMs underperform on structured/tabular data tasks. link

• A Mississippi lab is reportedly changing cancer surgery outcomes thanks to new state legislation that enabled its research — a rare case of policy directly unlocking a medical advance. link

• "How Rogue Officers Turned a Nationwide Camera Network into a Tool for Stalking" — a deep investigation into how Flock's automated license-plate camera network has been misused by law enforcement for personal surveillance. It's a sobering look at the gap between surveillance infrastructure and accountability. read

• In 2007, NASA's Phoenix Mars lander was launched, eventually becoming the first mission to directly detect water ice on the Martian surface.

• Cole Sprouse & Dylan Sprouse (turn 34) — the twin actors who rose to fame as child stars and later as leads on "Riverdale" and beyond.

• Brazilian cheese bread (pão de queijo) — a light, chewy Brazilian side made with tapioca starch, parmesan, and eggs. Quick to whip up and a fun change of pace for tonight's dinner table. recipe

• Tonight, instead of asking "did you have a good day?" ask your kid to rate their day on a scale of 1-10 and explain the number — specific scales invite specific answers in a way yes/no questions never do. Works well for ages 6-14.

Which alternative rock band released the critically-acclaimed album "OK Computer"?

• Tell them: "I keep noticing how you handle the small stuff without ever asking for credit for it — that's the thing I'd brag about if you'd let me." Specific, unprompted appreciation always lands better than a generic compliment.