REPORT: Sports Gambling App Allegedly Uses AI To Target Those Most Likely To Lose Money On Bets

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A popular betting company built artificial intelligence to hunt down the customers most likely to bleed money, then flooded them with incentives to keep wagering.

DraftKings created a machine learning system in 2023 that ranked online casino players by how much they were expected to lose after collecting a free bet or bonus, according to a New York Times investigation published Friday. The Times reviewed internal memos, presentations and betting records, and spoke with more than 40 former staffers.

The tool weighed each gambler’s playing frequency, daily balances and the ratio of losses to wagers, the Times reported. Workers referred to the resulting figure as an “elasticity” score, and a higher number meant a customer was worth chasing with more perks.

Jayden Butts, a former data analyst who tested the system on thousands of casino players, grew uneasy about who the math favored. “We are looking for traits and features that we can target that indicate a good investment,” Butts told the Times. “The best investment would be a problem gambler.”

The company could have pointed the same data the other way. A data scientist named Nestor Hernandez began building a model in 2024 to flag gamblers sliding toward crisis, but DraftKings shelved the project, according to the Times. Chief Responsible Gaming Officer Lori Kalani said leaders reached a “collective decision” against predictive tools because the approach was not “evidence-based.” (Read more from “REPORT: Sports Gambling App Allegedly Uses AI To Target Those Most Likely To Lose Money On Bets” HERE)

Trump Announces Creation of ‘AI Force’ — and Calls Fears of Artificial Superintelligence a ‘Hoax’

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President Trump announced he was creating a new “AI Force” and designating a new AI “czar” Saturday to keep the industry from engaging in bad practices – after doubling down that apocalyptic fears of AI superintelligence are just another “hoax.”

Trump insisted Saturday he would not “stand by” and let his political opponents take down an industry he views as paramount to US competitiveness, and likened those urging caution to his political enemies.

“Over the years, there have been many Hoaxes, all generated by the Radical Left Dumocrats, for purposes of destroying our Country. RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, Global Warming, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, and now, the decimation, or destruction, of AI, commonly known as Artificial Intelligence — And I, as President of the United States, will not stand by and let this happen,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account Saturday afternoon.

The president mentioned what he termed the “crazed Data Center attack” – swelling political opposition to infrastructure that fuels AI’s exponential growth – and compared it to an effort “going straight at AI” that must be countered.

“We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows! However, we will also be looking for BAD” through the existing criminal justice system, he wrote. (Read more from “Trump Announces Creation of ‘AI Force’ — and Calls Fears of Artificial Superintelligence a ‘Hoax’” HERE)

Walmart Customer, 77, Beaten to Death by Parents of Teen Employee after Shopping Cart Dispute, Widow Says

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An elderly Walmart customer was beaten to death by the parents of a teen employee who he had argued with after accusing her of nearly ramming his wife with a shopping cart, according to his grieving widow.

Bert Atienza died of blunt head trauma at a hospital on June 8, a day after two people attacked him inside a Walmart in Norfolk, Va., WTKR reported on Monday.

“My husband was still able to speak, he said, ‘Help me, get up,’ but I told him, ‘no you’re bleeding. Your mouth is bleeding. Ambulance is coming,” Atienza’s wife Josephine said.

“I look at him again. He has no more consciousness.”

The 77-year-old was grocery shopping with his wife of 42 years after a morning at church when a 17-year-old employee tore down the aisle the couple was in, almost clipping Josephine with a cart. (Read more from “Walmart Customer, 77, Beaten to Death by Parents of Teen Employee after Shopping Cart Dispute, Widow Says” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Trump Outright Bans ‘Fake News’ Media Outlets From The White House

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President Donald Trump announced Friday that he would be banning several mainstream media outlets from the White House.

Trump said CNN, MSNow, and Politico would be immediately banned from accessing the White House for writing “FICTION and LIES” about the administration. Trump also hinted that he would be banning several other media outlets in the future.

“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them ‘alive.’ Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump’s Truth Social post reads.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” Trump added. “Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Trump previously attempted to bar the Associated Press from certain White House events and presidential travel in February of 2025. Trump made the decision after the AP continued to use “Gulf of Mexico” in their reporting rather than the renamed “Gulf of America.” (Read more from “Trump Outright Bans ‘Fake News’ Media Outlets From The White House” HERE)

Report: Rep. Lauren Boebert Accused of Having Sexual Relationships with Three Staffers

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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) allegedly had sexual relationships with three of her staffers, a complaint filed with the House Ethics Committee claims, according to a report from American Muckrakers.

David B. Wheeler, the founder of American Muckrakers, claims in the report that in a “sworn ethics complaint” he filed, Boebert is alleged to have had sexual relationships with Clarice Navarro, Raven Finegan, and Jeffrey Small.

The report claims that the American Muckrakers’ “sources have direct knowledge of the relationship between Navarro and Boebert through text messages, bank records, court documents, and recorded conversations.”

According to the report, Navarro, who served as “Boebert’s District Director from January 2021 to January 2025,” and Boebert engaged in sexual relations “during and after office hours, in the district office itself, in a vehicle for which Navarro collected House mileage reimbursements, and in hotel rooms paid for by Boebert’s campaign.”

The report also claims that along with receiving roughly $449,391.63 “in total House pay” over the course of four years, Navarro also received “$30,650 in year-end bonuses, paid from taxpayer funds in the fourth quarter of every single year of her employment” and that the year-end bonuses Navarro received were for “the relationship, not for official work.” (Read more from “Report: Rep. Lauren Boebert Accused of Having Sexual Relationships with Three Staffers” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Police Respond To Clashing Protests Outside Bar That Kicked Out Patrons Wearing ‘XX-XY’ Shirts

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Two rival crowds squared off outside a Portland women’s sports bar Friday over the issue of men in women’s sports, and police got involved to break up the cat fight.

The confrontation erupted near The Sports Bra, a venue that shows only women’s sports, on Sept. 11, according to the Daily Tidings. Roughly seven demonstrators assembled across the street around 5:40 p.m. to object to the bar, and more than 30 counterprotesters gathered in response, KPTV reported. Members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization joined the larger group in support of transgender rights and LGBTQ+ spaces.

Both sides exchanged chants along the street before the standoff shifted into a nearby parking lot, according to KPTV. Conservative livestreamer Thomas Allen appeared at the scene and filmed the dispute, the Daily Tidings reported.

Transgender rights activists claimed Allen and people with him sprayed a chemical irritant at several individuals and walked into the grocery store carrying weapons, according to KPTV.

Portland Police Bureau officers arrvied around 5:45 p.m., directed the crowds away from traffic, and watched until everyone left, KPTV reported. Officers examined two complaints about irritant spray but arrested no one, pointing to insufficient probable cause, and logged no injuries. Activists faulted that response and pressed for accountability, arguing police stood by while attacks occurred. (Read more from “Police Respond To Clashing Protests Outside Bar That Kicked Out Patrons Wearing ‘XX-XY’ Shirts” HERE)

Denmark Leadership Expresses Optimism over Trump’s Greenland Deal

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Denmark’s government was cautiously optimistic on Saturday about Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal on Greenland to bolster U.S. military presence there but keep the island under Danish control, following months of threats by the U.S. president to seize the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally.

In Greenland, the Arctic island’s top leaders echoed that stance and said the deal had been long in coming.

Trump said on Friday that the agreement would give the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns.”

Denmark and the U.S. already have a long-standing security agreement that has allowed the U.S. to deploy forces in Greenland and it was not immediately clear how this deal was different from that. (Read more from “Denmark Leadership Expresses Optimism over Trump’s Greenland Deal” HERE)

Pilots who Crashed New Private Jet both Accused of Flying Drunk

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Two pilots were allegedly both flying drunk when they crashed a brand new private jet this week, causing it to burst into flames on the runway.

The Cessna Citation Latitude, a 2026-built jet operated by a Turkish company, was touching down at Misrata International Airport in Libya Monday when it veered off the runway and crashed, Arab News reported.

Photos and video obtained by Jam Press show dark smoke spewing from the charred and mangled wreckage.

Only three people were on board — a German pilot, a Turkish co-pilot and a Turkish flight attendant, according to Arab News, citing independent Libyan outlet Al-Ahrar TV, and no injuries were reported.

The pilot and copilot were arrested for pretrial detention after investigators discovered “evidence that (the pilots) had flown the aircraft while drunk,” according to state prosecutors in Libya. (Read more from “Pilots who Crashed New Private Jet both Accused of Flying Drunk” HERE)

Khanna, Massie Say They Can Force Another Epstein Vote

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Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced Thursday they’ve secured commitments for the 218 signatures needed to force another vote the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The big picture: Answers about the disgraced financier and his web of wealthy connections have continued to haunt the administration, with Attorney General Todd Blanche now facing the threat of contempt proceedings over the Epstein files.

This is the bipartisan duo’s second push in less than a year after they forced their first Epstein transparency bill through Congress, which the president signed after initially opposing the effort.

“Thomas Massie and I have defied history for a second time,” Khanna said in a video posted to social media late Thursday afternoon.

His post read that the pair had secured commitments for 218 votes on their discharge petition, including from three Republicans: Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). (Read more from “Khanna, Massie Say They Can Force Another Epstein Vote” HERE)

Surveillance Patent Shows Flock Spying Way Worse Than Advertised

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Flock Safety’s own patent reveals that its spying capabilities are far worse than advertised, undercutting the company’s and its defenders’ claims that Flock cameras are simply license plate readers.

The backlash against the Flock surveillance system has been swift and, in many cases, highly effective, with activists and citizens forcing states, counties, and law enforcement agencies to end their contracts with the company. As more and more counties cut ties, Flock has been forced to defend its technology on the grounds that it is a useful tool, not as intrusive as its critics make it out to be, and with new “safeguards” in place, they can crack down on police officers who abuse the system.

But Flock’s patent reveals a system more powerful than the company lets on in public statements.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Flock’s patent, “System and method for object based query of video content captured by a dynamic surveillance network,” in Aug. 2022. The patent names Flock’s current CEO, Garrett Langley, and Flock co-founder Matt Feury as the inventors.

Although Flock’s Frequently Asked Questions claim its technology is “not a live-tracking system” and that each image captured by cameras is a “standalone vehicle event,” the patent shows the system was built to do the opposite. (Read more from “Surveillance Patent Shows Flock Spying Way Worse Than Advertised” HERE)