Good Morning! Today’s edition is 937 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Free speech in the UK

• Amazon ends Prime benefits amongst friends

• Bungee jumping from the world’s highest bridge

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Stories

Florida Plans to Axe Vaccine Mandates

• Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday that the state will work to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including requirements for public schools. Ladapo emphasized the state won't ban vaccines but wants to allow individual choice.

• Ladapo has repeatedly challenged federal health guidance, telling Floridians under 65 to avoid mRNA Covid vaccines and advising parents during a 2024 measles outbreak that they could send unvaccinated children to school. Both positions contradicted CDC recommendations encouraging vaccination.

• The policy shift aligns with Florida's new 'Make America Healthy Again' commission, chaired by First Lady Casey DeSantis. The commission was created to integrate Trump and RFK Jr.'s health agenda at the state level.

UK Free Speech Arrest

• British comedy writer Graham Linehan was arrested Monday at London's Heathrow Airport over social media posts allegedly inciting violence against transgender people.

• Linehan posted on X, urging people to "punch" trans women using women's facilities and said "I hate them" about trans-rights protesters. He was released on bail with conditions not to post on X.

• The arrest is part of Britain's increasing prosecution of social media posts. Hundreds were charged after summer riots, including a woman sentenced to 31 months for tweeting about burning asylum-seeker hotels.

• Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said officers shouldn't police "toxic culture wars" and called for clearer online speech laws. Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggested revising legislation to better balance free expression and prevent harm.

Harvard Grants Restored

• A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, ending a funding freeze that stopped research across multiple projects. The administration cut funding after Harvard refused 10 demands, including auditing student viewpoints, restricting international students, and shuttering DEI programs.

• Judge Allison Burroughs ruled the administration used antisemitism as a "smokescreen" for targeting university policies it disagreed with. The court found most demands were ideological rather than related to combating antisemitism and had no evidence that cutting research grants would help Jewish students.

• The White House defied the ruling, saying Harvard "remains ineligible for grants" and plans to appeal. The decision sets a precedent for how the federal government can condition university funding and could affect other institutions facing similar pressure over campus policies.

The Key to a $1.3 Trillion Opportunity

A new real estate trend called co-ownership is revolutionizing a $1.3T market. Leading it? Pacaso. Created by the founder behind a $120M prior exit, they already have $110M+ in gross profits to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. And you can invest until September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

_{Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.}

Quick Stories

US News

• Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips said victims are considering publishing their own list of abusers if the Justice Department doesn't release more documents about the case. (More)

• Lightning sparked 22 wildfires that burned 12,000 acres near San Francisco, destroying historic buildings in Chinese Camp, a California Gold Rush-era ghost town. (More)

• A judge ruled that advanced DNA evidence using degraded hair fragments can be used against Rex Heuermann in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, a first for New York courts. (More)

World

• A UN report says Iran stockpiled enough near weapons-grade uranium for 10 nuclear bombs before the June Israeli air strikes, then blocked inspectors for two months. (More)

• Hurricane Lorena strengthened on Wednesday off Baja California Sur with 80 mph winds, threatening 5–15 inches of rain and life-threatening floods. It is currently tracking parallel to Mexico. (More)

• A Lisbon funicular crash killed 15 people and injured 18, including tourists. The historic hillside tram, linking downtown districts in Portugal’s capital, is one of the city’s most iconic forms of transport. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday (S&P +0.51%, Nasdaq +1.03%, Dow -0.05%). Soaring tech shares helped the S&P and Nasdaq finish in the green. (More)

• Oil giant ConocoPhillips will lay off up to 3,250 workers by late 2025, cutting a quarter of its global workforce to reduce costs. (More)

• Amazon will end Prime benefit sharing with friends on October 1, replacing it with Amazon Family, which only works for people living together. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• American Amanda Anisimova beat Iga Świątek 6-4, 6-3 to reach the US Open semifinals, bouncing back from a crushing 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final loss to Iga earlier this summer. (More)

• LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer allegedly paid Kawhi Leonard for a $28 million "no-show job" to dodge NBA salary caps, triggering a league investigation. (More)

• Drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen," pleaded guilty to charges in Matthew Perry's 2023 overdose death and faces 65 years in prison. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• A new Nature study found the world’s safe carbon storage capacity is 10 times smaller than thought, limiting potential warming reductions to 0.7°C instead of 5-6°C. (More)

• Phone scrolling on toilets increases hemorrhoid risk by 46%, doctors say, because sitting longer than five minutes strains rectal veins without pelvic floor support. (More)

• WhatsApp and Apple fixed security flaws that hackers used together to steal data from iPhone users over three months. (More)

Extra Credit

Fierljeppen: Watch Dutch athletes pole vault over canals.

Starbucks is launching protein coffee.

World’s highest bridge will offer bungee jumping.

Powerball jackpot reaches $1.4B.