Anna's Daybreak News

_{Just facts, you think for yourself}

Thursday, 5:23 AM

August 21, 2025

Good morning news friend! Follow the events of today as they set the stage for tomorrow. 📰🌟

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Texas Redistricting Approved

The Texas House approved new GOP-backed congressional maps aiming to create five Republican-leaning seats for the 2026 midterms, passing 88-52 along party lines.

Democrats fled to block the vote but returned under state trooper escort. Governor Greg Abbott plans to sign the map after Senate approval. Democrats and civil rights groups claim the plan dilutes minority voting power, preparing lawsuits. Republicans argue it adds majority-Hispanic districts and reflects shifting voter trends.

California Democrats are countering with a plan to flip five GOP seats, pending voter approval. Other states are also revisiting maps mid-decade, intensifying partisan battles ahead of the 2026 House elections.

Sources: AP News, Reuters, Bloomberg, Cbsnews.

U.S. Sends 3 Missile Destroyers to Venezuela’s Coast

The U.S. Navy deployed three Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers—USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson—to Caribbean waters near Venezuela to disrupt drug trafficking.

The ships have direct authority to stop cartel shipments, expanding beyond Coast Guard support. This move supports efforts against fentanyl and other illicit drugs entering the U.S. Venezuela’s President Maduro responded by mobilizing 4.5 million militia members and condemned the deployment.

The U.S. also offers a $50 million reward for Maduro, indicted on narco-terrorism charges, and has seized $700 million in his assets. The deployment aims to enhance cooperation with Colombia and Guyana.

Sources: Archive, Newsweek, Qcostarica, WallStreetJournal.

Meta Hits Pause on AI Hiring

Meta paused hiring in its AI division after recruiting 50+ AI experts recently and barred internal team switches. The AI division will split into four units: superintelligence lab, consumer AI products, AI infrastructure, and long-term AI research.

This is Meta’s fourth AI restructure in six months. CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to develop AI surpassing human intelligence. Meta hired aggressively from competitors, including over 20 from OpenAI and 13 from Google. Reported compensation packages up to $300 million are denied.

Q2 capital expenditures rose by $17 billion, with a full-year forecast up to $72 billion. Despite strong earnings and stock performance, investor concerns about AI costs persist amid warnings of an AI bubble.

Sources: Reuters, Businesstoday, WallStreetJournal.

US Housing Market Turns

James Hardie Industries’ shares dropped up to 37% in the US after reporting profit declines and weak demand for repairs and new construction.

In June 2025, new US home prices fell to a median $401,800, 2.9% below last year and now below existing home prices, which rose 2% to $435,300.

New home supply increased 8.5% to 511,000 units, about eight months’ inventory, double that of existing homes. Builders cut prices up to 20% and offer incentives, focusing on smaller, affordable homes.

Existing home sales fell over 25%, while new home sales remained near pre-pandemic levels. Experts expect existing home prices to decline to new home levels within 6-12 months amid regional market variations.

Sources: Bloomberg, Bloomberg, Newsweek, Businessinsider.

Process to Halt Tumors

Australian researchers found that blocking minor splicing, a process affecting 0.05% of human genes (~700 genes), slows tumor growth in liver, lung, and stomach cancers, especially those with KRAS mutations.

Reducing RNPC3 protein activity by 50% cut tumor burden in zebrafish, mice, and human cancer cells. Inhibition causes DNA damage in cancer cells, activating the p53 pathway to halt cell division and trigger cancer cell death, while sparing healthy cells.

Screening over 270,000 compounds identified potential inhibitors, opening pathways for drug development.

This method targets a fundamental cancer mechanism rather than specific mutations, offering a new approach for treating aggressive, hard-to-treat tumors with fewer side effects.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Sciencedaily, News-Medical.

Unlocking Brain Defenses

Research shows Alzheimer’s and stroke risks originate in blood-brain barrier cells, not neurons. Over 90% of genetic risk variants affect these vascular and immune cells.

Stroke risk weakens blood vessel structure; Alzheimer’s variants increase immune activity. A common Alzheimer’s variant near the PTK2B gene overactivates T cells around amyloid plaques; PTK2B is a potential drug target.

Microglia clear plaques and aid brain repair, with effectiveness linked to genes like TREM2 and APOE. Early amyloid clearance may prevent tau pathology and halt Alzheimer’s progression.

These findings shift focus to strengthening blood-brain barrier and immune cleanup as new treatment paths to stop neurodegeneration.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Newatlas, Northwestern.

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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:

• AI & the Future of White-Collar Work

• The Science of Longevity

• Metabolic Syndrome Nation

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️