AI Copyright Ruling

• On June 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California that training AI models on copyrighted books qualifies as fair use under U.S. copyright law, as the process is highly transformative and does not reproduce or compete with the original works. The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed in August 2024 by authors Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson against Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI model, who alleged unauthorized use of their works. The judge compared AI training to a reader studying texts to learn, concluding that it supports innovation without infringing copyright.
• However, the court also ruled that Anthropic’s use of over 7 million pirated books to build its training dataset violated copyright law, as it involved unauthorized copying and storage. A separate trial to determine damages for this infringement is scheduled for December 2025, with potential penalties of up to $150,000 per work. This ruling clarifies that while AI training on copyrighted material may be permissible, the method of obtaining those materials is critical, highlighting the balance between technological development and intellectual property rights in ongoing legal debates.

Crypto:

• On June 25, 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a directive requiring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop formal plans for including cryptocurrency holdings in their single-family mortgage risk assessments. Under this new policy, only crypto assets held on U.S.-regulated centralized exchanges—such as Coinbase or Kraken—will qualify for consideration. This move represents a significant policy shift, acknowledging digital assets as part of a borrower’s financial profile when evaluating mortgage applications.
• The change, led by FHFA Director William J. Pulte, reflects a broader federal initiative to modernize financial infrastructure by integrating cryptocurrency into traditional systems. Importantly, the new policy does not require applicants to convert their crypto into U.S. dollars to count toward loan eligibility. Instead, the value of eligible crypto holdings will be factored directly into risk calculations during the underwriting process. This represents a growing acceptance of cryptocurrency as a legitimate financial asset and could reshape how homebuyers leverage their digital wealth in the housing market.

Real Estate Development:

• SYSTEM 3E is a Polish construction technology company founded in 2018, recognized for its patented building system using blocks made from 99% perlite. These self-insulating blocks are designed to interlock without the need for mortar, glue, or additional insulation, allowing for faster and cleaner construction. The system enables walls to be built in a single day, reducing on-site waste by up to 80%, while also meeting high standards for fire resistance (REI 240) and thermal performance. With over 100 projects completed across Europe and plans to enter the U.S. and African markets, SYSTEM 3E aims to provide a scalable and environmentally conscious alternative to conventional building practices.
• The company is part of a broader trend in the construction industry that focuses on modular, energy-efficient, and low-waste building methods. Compared to traditional construction, which often involves more time, skilled labor, and material waste, newer systems like SYSTEM 3E, ICON (which uses 3D-printed concrete), and Mighty Buildings (with prefabricated polymer components) emphasize speed, resource efficiency, and reduced environmental impact. While traditional methods remain common due to established supply chains and familiarity, next-generation approaches are gaining interest for their potential to improve build times, safety standards, and long-term sustainability.

Social:

• On June 24, 2025, fitness influencer Brian “Liver King” Johnson was arrested in Austin, Texas, on a Class B misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat. The arrest came after he posted a series of erratic Instagram videos challenging podcaster Joe Rogan to a “man-to-man” fight. In one video, Johnson appeared wearing a wolf pelt, brandishing what looked like gold firearms, and proclaiming he was willing to die for his cause. The videos, posted while he was traveling to Rogan’s city, prompted authorities to issue an arrest warrant. Johnson was detained at the Four Seasons Hotel with bail set at $20,000 and remains in custody as the investigation continues.
• Johnson rose to prominence by promoting an “ancestral lifestyle” and raw-meat diet, building a $100 million supplement business through Heart & Soil and Ancestral Supplements. However, his reputation faltered in 2022 after leaked emails revealed he was secretly spending over $11,000 a month on steroids, contradicting his public image. He issued a public apology, but the damage to his credibility was significant. Now, with criminal charges tied to on-camera threats, Johnson’s fall from fitness icon to legal trouble underscores how influencer antics can spiral into real-world consequences when they cross the line.

Diddy Trial:

• The federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs began on May 5, 2025, with jury selection and opening arguments following on May 12. Combs faces serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting individuals for prostitution. Over a six-to-seven-week period, prosecutors called 34 witnesses—among them ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and “Jane,” staff members, male escorts, federal agents, and celebrities such as Kid Cudi. Evidence presented included flight logs, financial records, text messages, and surveillance footage from a 2016 hotel hallway assault, used to support claims of coercion, trafficking, and obstruction.
• On June 24, prosecutors rested their case. Combs’s defense followed suit the next day without calling any witnesses—including Combs himself—relying instead on exhibits like text messages to argue that his relationships were consensual. Prosecutors also dropped several charges, including kidnapping and alleged arson (such as the claimed firebombing of Kid Cudi’s car), narrowing the focus to trafficking and prostitution. Closing arguments are set for June 26, with jury deliberations expected soon after. The case, one of the most high-profile sex trafficking prosecutions in U.S. history, could result in life imprisonment if Combs is convicted. Legal analysts note the prosecution’s strong narrative and evidence, while also acknowledging the defense’s calculated legal strategy and its risks.

Weather:

• Yesterday, June 25, 2025, a small tornado struck Largo, Florida, causing significant damage to the Bay Ranch Manufactured Home Communities and Ranchero Village at 7000 Ulmerton Road, shortly after 7 p.m. The storm impacted the mobile home park, lifting one home off its foundation, destroying carports, and scattering debris across yards, with at least seven homes deemed uninhabitable and several others sustaining major or minor damage. 

• No serious injuries were reported, though one homeowner sustained minor scrapes and bruises, and emergency crews, including Largo Fire Rescue, responded promptly to assess and assist the affected residents. The small tornado was part of a weather system in Pinellas County, with the National Weather Service issuing a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that evening, noting 60 mph wind gusts and the potential for half-dollar-sized hail. The event underscores the vulnerability of mobile home communities to sudden storms in Florida.

Sports:

• From July 24 to 25, 2025, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. The 6’9” forward from Duke averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Dylan Harper was selected second by the San Antonio Spurs, and V.J. Edgecombe went third to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Phoenix Suns acquired center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in a draft-day trade. In Major League Baseball, the Texas Rangers extended their win streak to four games with a victory over the Chicago White Sox, improving to 50–52. The Houston Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics 8–1. The Tour de France held its final Alpine stage on July 25, covering 130 kilometers from Albertville to La Plagne. UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 finalized its championship matchup following the semifinals earlier in the week, with the final scheduled for July 27 in Basel.
• Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy officially stepped down on July 25. Liverpool completed the transfer of midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial fee of £100 million. WWE held Friday Night SmackDown in Cleveland on July 25 as part of its ongoing SummerSlam promotion. The most recent NHL trade occurred on July 25, when the Vancouver Canucks acquired forward Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers for a 2025 fourth-round pick. On July 25, the Utah Mammoth and Buffalo Sabres completed a trade sending forward JJ Peterka to Utah in exchange for Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring.

Thanks for reading!