🌎 Prison Break

Senate unanimously passes “No Tax On Tips Act”

If there’s one thing we can get both parties to agree on, it’s taxes. In a rare display of bipartisan agreement, the US Senate voted 100-0 to pass the “No Tax on Tips Act," greenlighting a policy that’s been gaining traction since Trump’s campaign trail last year.

Filling up the tip jar

Getting rid of taxes on tips has been a hot-button issue ever since Trump promised it during election season, garnering more bipartisan support than, well, literally anything else.

The policy initiative was brought to the floor by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in January, and co-sponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto (both D-NV).

Here are the details:

• It would create a tax deduction up to $25,000 in annual tip income from federal income taxes.

• The tax break would only apply to those working in traditionally tipped occupations who earn less than $160,000 per year.

Supporters say the bill would offer crucial financial support to tipped workers, like servers and bartenders, who rely on tips to make a living. Some experts, however, say the bill would have a small impact, since 37% of tipped workers already don’t pay federal income taxes.

Next stop: the House of Representatives. Should a vote pass there, the final step would be President Trump’s signature, then it will be signed into law.

New Orleans prison break was inside job, one employee arrested

Basically Shawshank Redemption but with a toilet. Following a massive manhunt for 10 inmates who escaped a New Orleans prison, three accomplices have been uncovered, one of whom worked at the facility.

Daring escape

In the early hours of Friday last week, 10 inmates executed a daring escape from Orelans Parish jail that you typically don’t see outside of the movie theatre.

• After peeling off a toilet and sink fixture from the wall, the inmates crammed through the hole, jumped a prison wall, and fled on foot (see surveillance footage).

• The escaped inmates, ranging in age from 19 to 42, were being held on serious charges, including murder and armed robbery.

Once news broke of their escape, Louisiana State Police started a what is now a week-long manhunt to put them back behind bars. As of writing, five have been recaptured, and a search for the others is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, a breakthrough in the investigation led authorities to find several accomplices. But there’s a catch…

It was an inside job

Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old jail maintenance worker, was arrested Monday for aiding the inmates escape. Williams shut off water to the jail cell, allowing inmates to remove the toilet and sink fixture, dig a hole, and flee.

• Before escaping, the inmates scribbled messages—“we innocent” and “to easy LOL”—on the cell wall (see photo).

Additionally, two women, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, have been charged with felony offenses for assisting the inmates after the escape, providing transportation and food. Both were in contact with the escapees before they broke out.

The jail isn’t off the hook either: Since 2013, Orleans Parish jail has been under federal oversight to address long-standing problems, including staff shortages and inmate overcrowding. In addition, the jail reportedly leaves some areas unmonitored for hours at a time.

23andMe’s archive of DNA data bought for $256 million

Who wouldn’t want a giant stockpile of DNA info? Regeneron, the biotech company behind the first Ebola drug, acquired 23andMe out of bankruptcy—a dramatic shift for the DNA-testing startup that was once worth billions.

Fall from grace

Founded in 2006, 23andMe was known for its at-home saliva tests that allowed customers to explore their ancestry and genetic profiles. The startup became extremely popular, even winning Time’s 2008 “Invention of the Year” and, at its peak, reaching a $6 billion valuation.

Then, things started to take a turn:

• While the business sold over 12 million DNA tests, it failed to find a reliable source of revenue, as most of its customers only ever needed a single test.

• 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, after years of declining kit sales and a massive 2023 data breach that compromised around 7 million user profiles.

Earlier this month, 23andMe’s market cap sat at a measly $13 million, a far cry from its multi-billion dollar peak just four years ago. However, things are looking up after Regeneron’s acquisition.

Turning the page

Regeneron’s $256 million acquisition has now made it the sole owner of one of the world’s largest genetic datasets, absorbing 23andMe’s consumer genetic testing division and its associated data, the latter of which is very valuable:

• Over 15 million customers’ DNA is stored in the company’s biobank of genetic material.

• Because the company owns so much DNA data, many, including public officials, have raised privacy concerns over the sale.

What will Regeneron do with it? The biotech company plans to use the massive genetic database to focus on large-scale research, improving its drug discovery and development efforts.

Your data should be safe: Regeneron executives said they’re “committed to protecting the 23andMe dataset,” and promise to honor existing privacy policies, including giving users the option to delete their data.

In partnership with Superhuman AI

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

In 2 years you will be working for AI

Or an AI will be working for you

Here's how you can future-proof yourself:

1. Join the Superhuman AI newsletter – read by 1M+ people at top companies

2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day

3. Become 10X more productive using AI

Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.

Sign up and start learning AI

Spain removes 65,000 Airbnb listings amid overtourism

Sorry to those who thought they got a nice deal on a house in Barcelona. Earlier this week, Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry instructed Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 listings across the country, in an effort to reduce overtourism, housing shortages, and soaring rent.

So long, foreigners

The ministry claimed the listings broke more than a few rental rules. Reportedly, some lacked proper license numbers or used fake ones, and many didn’t clarify who owned the property.

Though Airbnb appealed, a Madrid court upheld the government’s order:

• Airbnb said it would continue to appeal, arguing that the Ministry overstepped its authority.

• The company also said it had known of the alleged violations months prior and already initiated legal proceedings in response.

Spain’s first wave of enforcement targets 5,800 listings for removal, with more expected soon. In total, nearly 66,000 Airbnb properties—mostly in Valencia, Madrid, and Catalonia—could be affected.

Spain isn’t alone in its struggles: The situation mirrors a broader trend across Europe, as governments race to address housing shortages and surging rents in tourist-heavy cities while anti-tourism protests gain momentum.

Universal’s massive, multi-billion-dollar theme park just opened

Well, if you can’t go to Barcelona, this is a close second. After years of lagging behind Disney’s popular theme parks, Universal’s multi-billion-dollar Epic Universe might finally turn the tide, since customers already seem to love it.

A major upgrade

Spanning 750 acres and costing $7 billion, the park is Universal’s largest investment to date. Eight years in the making, it revolves around the astronomy-inspired Celestial Park, which serves as a hub to four immersive lands:

• Super Nintendo World features attractions like Bowser's Challenge and Donkey Kong's Mine-Cart Madness, using augmented reality and innovative ride technology.

• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk has animatronic dragons, interactive shows, and family-friendly rides.

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will take you right into the Harry Potter universe, with massive set pieces and a high-tech ride.

• Dark Universe features classic horror monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula, along with intense rides and themed dining experiences.

The park also introduces three new hotels, including the on-site Helios Grand Hotel with themed rooms and a rooftop bar.

When can you get in? Yesterday, actually (but only for guests with certain vacation packages or annual and Military Freedom passholders). For the rest of you, daily tickets will be available starting June 1 and start at $139.

A new challenger

Epic Universe marks the first major US theme park that has opened in over 20 years, and positions Universal as a formidable competitor to Disney's longstanding dominance in Orlando.

• The park boasts over 160 patented technologies to enhance “ride realism and interactivity” to captivate attendees and keep them coming back.

The park's opening has already generated a lot of buzz, with strong ticket demand reported since sales began in October. As Universal seeks to transform its resort from a few-hour getaway to a weeklong destination, it’ll need people to love the park. And they certainly do:

• Visitors have already praised the park’s immersive experiences and extreme attention to detail.

Disney’s new rival: Analysts claim that Epic Universe could draw around one million visitors away from Disney World between mid-2025 and 2026.

FAST FACTS
Catch up on this week’s weird news

Ginger Genetics: After decades of curiosity, scientists have found the genetic anomaly that gives ginger cats their iconic color. Now can they figure out why they’re so weird?

Chess Champion: In a record-setting online chess match, Magnus Carlsen faced 143,000 players worldwide over 42 days, with the game ending in a draw after Team World forced a threefold repetition.

Monkey Business: A mysterious and eerie ritual is unfolding in Panama, where young capuchins are abducting baby howler monkeys… and no one knows why.

Beatable Battery: Researchers at Linköping University have developed a flexible, stretchable battery that maintains performance even when bent or stretched. 

Flag Football: The NFL has approved participation of its players in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, allowing one player per team to join national squads.