In partnership with

Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Thursday, 5:19 AM

June 26, 2025

Good morning news friend! Follow the unfolding events that define today and shape the world of tomorrow. 📰🌟

Click here to read the poll results and comments from our previous edition. Over 6,374 people gave their opinion about the Pentagon’s report regarding the US bombing of nuclear facilities, the current account deficit and more!

Can’t see all 6 articles in this email? The Gmail app sometimes crops our emails, click here to view full edition.

Zohran Mamdani’s Upset Victory

Zohran Mamdani, 33, won the NYC Democratic mayoral primary, defeating Andrew Cuomo by nine points.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, proposes raising taxes on millionaires, freezing rent-stabilized apartments, investing $70 billion in subsidized housing, free city buses, and government-run grocery stores.

Wall Street donors backed Cuomo, while Mamdani drew support from tech and finance workers. Some Wall Street executives threaten to leave NYC over Mamdani’s policies. The Democratic Party is split; progressives endorse him, moderates worry about his socialist stances and views on police and Israel.

Mamdani will face Mayor Eric Adams, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and possibly Cuomo in November. His win signals potential shifts ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Sources: AP News, Reuters, Bloomberg, WallStreetJournal.

Trump Pushes for Early Fed Chair Decision

President Trump may announce Jerome Powell’s successor as Federal Reserve Chair as early as summer or fall 2025, nearly a year before Powell’s term ends in May 2026.

Trump criticizes Powell for slow interest rate cuts and is considering candidates including Kevin Warsh, Christopher Waller, Scott Bessent, and David Malpass. The dollar recently fell to a three-year low amid speculation of earlier rate cuts, with markets pricing in about 66 basis points of easing by year-end.

However, changing the chair alone won’t ensure policy shifts without appointing more Fed governors. Powell emphasizes caution on rate cuts and inflation risks from tariffs while maintaining economic strength.

Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg, BS, WallStreetJournal.

Big Oil Shake-Up?

Shell denies talks to acquire BP in an $80 billion deal after rumors emerged. BP’s market cap is about $82 billion, down 17% in a year and 25% over a decade, while Shell’s exceeds $211 billion.

BP faces management turmoil, activist investor pressure, and plans a costly “hard reset” in 2025, scaling back renewables to focus on fossil fuels. BP is divesting wind and solar assets and reviewing Castrol lubricants and Austrian retail operations.

Shell plans share buybacks and may sell chemicals assets. A merger could boost competitiveness versus Exxon and Chevron but would be complex.

Sources: Fortune, Maritime-Executive, Lngprime, WallStreetJournal.

OpenAI and Microsoft Clash Over AGI

OpenAI and Microsoft’s partnership faces conflict over an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) clause in their contract. OpenAI claims it is near achieving AGI, while Microsoft disputes this, calling it unrealistic.

The contract grants Microsoft exclusive rights to OpenAI’s future technology unless AGI is declared, after which OpenAI could license its AI beyond Microsoft. Microsoft wants to remove this clause to maintain exclusivity.

OpenAI is shifting to a for-profit model, potentially unlocking tens of billions in funding, with Microsoft seeking about a 35% stake. Microsoft’s veto rights and AGI restrictions last through 2030.

Sources: Theinformation, Reuters, WallStreetJournal.

Scorpion Venom for Breast Cancer

Researchers identified BamazScplp1, a molecule from Amazonian scorpion venom, that kills breast cancer cells by inducing necrosis, similar to chemotherapy drug paclitaxel. Using genetic engineering, they produce the peptide in yeast for scalable lab manufacturing.

Breast cancer causes roughly 30% of new female cancer cases in the U.S., with an estimated 42,170 deaths projected in 2025. The venom-derived peptide is in early testing but offers a potential new treatment option if proven safe and effective.

Other venom-based products under development include a snake venom fibrin sealant in phase three trials for tissue repair and rattlesnake proteins to improve its production and efficacy.

Sources: Sciencealert, Newsweek, Phys.

Material Maze Halts Bacterial Growth

Researchers developed plastic surfaces with tiny grooves that prevent bacteria from forming biofilms by triggering lubricant production, which blocks bacterial attachment.

Testing over 2,000 patterns, machine learning identified the most effective design on polyurethane materials. This physical method reduces infection risks on medical devices like catheters and breathing tubes without using antibiotics, avoiding resistance issues.

Biofilm prevention exposes bacteria to the immune system for easier clearance. The approach could lower infection-related healthcare costs.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Phys.

“The academic collects facts like a librarian; the man of action curates a small arsenal of heuristics, witty sayings, and street-smart knowledge. He knows that a well-timed barb teaches more than a tedious lecture.”

Did you know we also write in-depth deep dives? They are long, packed with insights, and have received rave reviews. If you’re up for a detailed, action-packed read, check them out:

• The Stablecoin Trilemma - Bridging Digital Finance, Monetary Policy, and Systemic Risk

• Deconstructing the $66 Billion Citiadel Enigma

• The U.S. Debt Trajectory, Assessing the Risks of a $36 Trillion Liability

• Private Equity, Unpacking the Engine Room of Modern Capitalism

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️