The Pentagon is considering a range of escalatory military options against Iran after the country refused the US’s peace proposal, reigniting already inflamed tensions between the two nations.

The response comes after Iran dismissed the Trump administration’s 15-point ceasefire plan, which reportedly involved the rollback of US sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

What will the US do if talks stop? Officials have reportedly discussed scenarios ranging from intensified bombing campaigns to more aggressive actions like invading Kharg Island, a critical hub that controls roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports, which could weaken Iran economically and force it back to the negotiating table.

What else is happening in the war? Israel says it eliminated Iran’s navy chief, who oversaw operations relating to the Hormuz blockade, the US announced it would deploy thousands of soldiers to the Middle East, and an Iranian military official has said the minimum age for involvement in war-related support roles has been reduced to 12, per Iran’s state media.

On Wednesday, Meta and YouTube were found liable in a landmark social media addiction trial in California, just one day after Meta lost a separate child safety case in New Mexico.

In the first-of-its-kind trial, Meta and YouTube were accused of intentionally embedding their platforms with “addictive design” features, like infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations, and autoplay.

A jury found that both companies were negligent for:

However, both companies said they disagree with the ruling and plan to appeal.

Despite their conflicting opinions… Meta and YouTube were ordered to pay $4.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively, to a 20-year-old plaintiff who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child, worsening her depression and other mental health issues.

This case served as a bellwether trial, meaning it could influence a wave of thousands of similar lawsuits targeting social media giants and offer an early indication of how they might unfold.

Now, social media companies will have to be more cautious when going to court:

What about that New Mexico case? On Tuesday, a jury slapped Meta with a $375 million penalty for failing to safeguard minors from sexually explicit content, trafficking, and other online risks, following an undercover sting using decoy child accounts. The company, of course, plans to appeal.

As long security lines stretch across US airports during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, biometric ID company Clear has emerged as a major winner.

With fewer lanes open and wait times stretching into hours at some airports, travelers are increasingly turning to paid services like Clear, which allows users to skip ID checks using biometric verification and move faster through security lines.

Profiting off of frustrated travelers who want to avoid what they hate most about the airport has certainly paid off:

Who wouldn’t want to skip? As thousands of TSA officers are working without pay amid the DHS shutdown (see impact), the sick days and resignations have started to pile up. At Houston’s Bush Intercontinental, security lines stretched as long as four hours as about 40% of staff called out Tuesday, the highest absence rate nationwide.

When will the shutdown end? The House passed a bill yesterday to fund the DHS through September, but it still needs Senate approval before the agency can reopen and workers can be paid. As of now, lawmakers remain divided, particularly over ICE funding, which sits at the center of the bill. With Congress set to begin a two-week recess today, the legislation must be finalized within hours to avoid further delays.

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This week, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate to close a loophole that would prevent prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket from offering contracts tied to sports or casino games.

While traditional sportsbooks are regulated at the state level, prediction markets are subject to federal oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, since their event-based contracts are classified as “swaps” rather than bets.

That makes some states (and casinos) unhappy: Several states have taken legal action to block prediction markets from operating, with Nevada securing a temporary ban against them last week.

Prediction markets allow you to “bet” on just about anything, from presidential election results, snowfall in Miami, geopolitical conflicts, or even the price of the famous Costco hot dog.

Despite the wide array of wagers, sports contracts dominate the markets:

Even with controversies, prediction markets are still finding ways to get investors. Polymarket just teamed up with MLB, even as the league faces a gambling scandal, while Kalshi raised $1 billion at a $22 billion valuation. Not long after, both companies announced new efforts to crack down on insider trading (sus?).

It’s a good day for people who want more legroom… which is almost everyone. United Airlines unveiled upgrades for its new fleet of planes, including increased legroom, lie-flat seats, and enhanced amenities, continuing a shift toward higher-end offerings in the airline industry.

Over the next two years, United plans to vastly expand its flights geared toward premium travelers, offering a whole host of upscale offerings:

United isn’t alone in catering to premium customers: The announcement comes as airlines prioritize higher-margin premium customers over volume in economy seating, since premium travelers are more resilient to economic uncertainty and typically generate stronger profits.

> A 600-year-old grape seed found in a medieval hospital toilet in France has been genetically matched to modern pinot noir, showing the iconic wine grape has remained nearly unchanged since the 1400s.

> Astronomers have developed a new field called “extragalactic archaeology,” using shifts in gas patterns to map how a distant galaxy evolved over 12 billion years.

> Engineers have developed a wristband that tracks hand movements in real time, enabling users to remotely control robotic hands. The tech could revolutionize the virtual reality industry.

> A rare set of waterfalls in southwest Utah is flowing again (for only the fourth time in 15 years), after heavy rains pushed a reservoir past capacity.

> Scientists found that you can’t clone animals forever, as genetic errors build up over generations until the animals can no longer survive.

> Scientists at CERN successfully transported antimatter in a truck for the first time, moving fragile antiprotons without them annihilating on contact with ordinary matter.