What's Happening

Politics

Republicans Want To Party Like It's 2016 Again

What's going on: It may be President Donald Trump’s White House, but his administration is suddenly focused on former President Barack Obama's time in office. This week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused the Obama admin of crafting “false” intelligence that showed a Russian disinformation campaign to help Trump win the 2016 election. She also handed the FBI newly declassified documents that she says expose a “treasonous conspiracy.” The documents come from a 2017 House Intelligence Committee probe into Russian interference. Republicans drafted the report, and it offers no evidence of criminal behavior by Obama or his senior team. It also doesn’t dispute that Russia worked to damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Obama and his former officials dismissed the accusations as baseless and “bizarre.” 

What it means: Legal experts say the idea of prosecuting Obama is more political fantasy than legal reality — especially after the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity, which Trump himself has leaned on in his criminal cases. Still, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a new DOJ “strike force” on Wednesday to review Gabbard’s claims and consider potential charges. Analysts also point out the timing: MAGA’s fixation on “Russiagate” happens to flare up just as Trump faces scrutiny over his handling of the Epstein files — a scandal he hasn’t been able to shake. The pressure has only grown thanks to steady leaks and Thursday’s DOJ interview with Ghislaine Maxwell. One Democratic lawmaker put it bluntly: Trump’s team seems “willing to declassify anything and everything — except the Epstein files.”

Related: Trump and Powell Just Had a Very Public Clash — Hard Hats and All (CNN)

Business

Delta's AI Pricing Plan Might Come With Baggage 

What's going on: Ever checked a flight, stepped away for five minutes, and come back to a mysteriously higher price? Delta’s latest move isn’t easing those trust issues — even among its most loyal flyers. The airline is teaming up with an AI pricing firm to help set fares on 20% of its domestic routes by the end of the year. Delta says the system adjusts prices based on market demand, not personal data — and that it’s a faster, smarter version of the dynamic pricing airlines have used for years. But the change isn’t taking flight with critics. At least three Democratic senators are pressing Delta’s CEO for answers — specifically, how the algorithm works and whether it could lead to price discrimination.

What it means: Delta’s no stranger to fare drama — earlier this year, it and other airlines faced blowback for charging solo travelers more, then backtracked after public outcry. Some worry Delta could use customer specific data to boost profits — even though the airline says that’s not the case. Meanwhile, experts say dynamic pricing has always been a gamble: deals for some, markups for others. If Delta can pull off AI-driven pricing and boost profits without alienating flyers, it could set the standard for the entire industry. But if travelers feel manipulated or shut out of a fair price, it could draw the attention of regulators — who likely won’t let “just trust us” fly.

Related: The FCC Gives $8 Billion Paramount-Skydance Merger the Green Light (NPR)

Science

It Might Not Be As Simple as X and Y

What's going on: High school biology taught the masses that the odds of having a boy or a girl are supposed to be 50-50. However, that doesn’t explain how some families end up with six girls or four boys. One study looked into it. After analyzing data from more than 146,000 pregnancies, Harvard researchers found that a baby’s sex likely comes down to a “weighted coin toss” in families with at least three kids. That means if the first two children are girls, then it’s likely that their younger siblings will be too. Stats class didn’t prepare us for this one.

What it means: Researchers think several factors could be at play. Statistically, women who give birth before the age of 23 have a 40% chance of having a same-sex family, compared to 50% for those 28 and older. Another potential factor: vaginal acidity (something else biology class left out). As women age, their menstrual cycles tend to shorten — which increases acidity and may affect whether X- or Y-carrying sperm survive. More research needs to be done. The study focused mostly on white women and didn’t account for the father’s role. But if this holds up, gender reveal parties might lose some of their allure.

Related: Meanwhile, the US Fertility Rate Keeps Dropping (NBC)