📅 February 26, 2025
The news cycle doesn’t slow down, so neither do we. The House just pushed through a massive tax cut bill with all the details of a mystery novel, the White House is now personally choosing which journalists get access, and NASA’s killer asteroid threat? False alarm. Meanwhile, Diana Taurasi is leaving the game, an iPhone glitch is calling people names, and a silent album is making the loudest protest of the year.
We’ve got Elon Musk, Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump, and a half-billion festival-goers in India making headlines today.
☕ Grab your Summit Coffee and let’s get into it.
🔥 HEADLINES THAT MATTER 🔥
Congress’s Budget Games: Tax Cuts, Program Cuts, More Debt 💰
The House passed a $4.5 trillion tax cut bill with near-total Republican support. Details? Still vague. The bill slashes $2 trillion in spending over the next decade, likely hitting Medicaid and food assistance programs, while raising the debt ceiling to cover the rest. Oh, and it still adds $3 trillion to the deficit.
📌 Read More: AP | Fox News | NY Times
White House Press Pool: Now Invite-Only 📰
For over a century, the White House Correspondents’ Association picked the reporters covering the president. Not anymore. The Trump administration will now hand-select which media outlets get access, allowing more “new voices.” Traditional newsrooms, including Fox News, Politico, and The New York Times, are calling it an attack on press freedom.
📌 Read More: Politico | NY Times | AP
Zelensky’s White House Visit: Ukraine’s Resource Deal ⛏
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to announce a mineral deal with the U.S. in exchange for financial aid to fend off Russia. Neither side is sharing full details, but reports suggest Ukraine’s natural resources will bankroll some of the U.S. aid commitments.
📌 Read More: Washington Post | ABC News | BBC
NASA: That Asteroid Isn’t Hitting Us After All ☄
A few weeks ago, scientists warned that an asteroid had a 3% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. New calculations? Zero chance for the next 100 years. It might still hit the moon, but that’s a problem for another day.
📌 Read More: CNN | NPR | NBC News
Apple’s Dictation Glitch: “Racist” or “Trump”? 📱
iPhones have been autocorrecting “racist” to “Trump” before quickly fixing the mistake. Apple claims phonetics are to blame, but a former Siri engineer thinks it was an internal prank.
1,000 Musicians Release a Silent Album to Protest AI 🎵🤫
An album made up of silence is the latest protest against AI. Artists including Annie Lennox, The Clash, and Billy Ocean want to stop AI firms from using copyrighted music for free. Profits from the album will go to Help Musicians.
🏆 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: BALLANTYNE’S BEST BITES
Zinicola – Handmade Pasta, No Gimmicks 🍝
Chef Richard Cranmer keeps it simple and authentic at Zinicola, a Ballantyne favorite for Italian cuisine. Expect handmade pasta, seasonal flavors, and no shortcuts.
📍 14835 Ballantyne Village Way, Suite 140, Charlotte, NC
📞 (980) 299-2979
🌐 Website
🍽 Our Review
🚀 COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT
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☕ COFFEE CORNER
Brought to you by Summit Coffee, because news this sharp needs a caffeine boost. Try their Basecamp Blend—it’s as bold as today’s headlines.
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Until next time—stay sharp, stay caffeinated, and stroll on.
—Jack Beckett
Senior Writer, Strolling Ballantyne
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