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^POLITICS

The Trump administration has directed the military to prepare lethal strikes against cartel targets inside Mexico, three military sources revealed. Northern Command received Top Secret orders in late spring to develop attack plans ready by mid-September, potentially without Mexican government approval.

The unprecedented directive followed Trump's designation of cartels as terrorist organizations and came amid escalating fentanyl deaths exceeding 225,000 Americans over three years. Special Operations Command is preparing "target packages" against Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. See military operations here.

Military officials describe cartels as the "most immediate threat to America's security" and say current cooperation isn't reducing fentanyl flow. The planning represents a shift from traditional CIA operations to direct military action similar to Middle East counterterrorism strikes.

Will Congress block these actions?

^BUSINESS

BlackRock's $2.9 billion tokenized Treasury fund was accepted as collateral by major crypto exchanges this week, marking mainstream adoption of real-world assets. However, the fund relies on off-chain verification and traditional custody through BNY Mellon, revealing public blockchain limitations.

The tokenized asset market has grown from $100 million in early 2023 to over $7.3 billion by mid-2025, with Ethereum capturing 78 percent. Major institutions like JPMorgan and Franklin Templeton are experimenting with blockchain-based traditional assets despite infrastructure challenges.

Industry experts say current public blockchains can't meet institutional compliance standards, driving demand for purpose-built blockchain frameworks. More than $17 billion in real-world assets have been tokenized as institutions seek specialized infrastructure solutions.

See how blockchain technology works here.

Cybercriminals are using AI tools to create sophisticated fake websites that perfectly mimic legitimate businesses (WSJ). Scammers exploited Joann Fabrics' bankruptcy by creating impostor sites with stolen branding to capture credit card information and personal data from unsuspecting customers.

Netcraft identified nearly 100,000 domains created with illicit AI tools, impersonating 194 brands across 68 countries. These fake sites now account for 6-7% of all online phishing activity. The AI-powered tools allow criminals to clone legitimate websites in minutes without coding skills (fake college websites here).

Experts say smaller businesses are increasingly targeted as AI lowers technical barriers for scammers. The Better Business Bureau urges consumers to carefully examine web addresses and avoid clicking links in text messages or emails. How to spot fake websites here.

^BUSINESS

Most people think networking is about collecting business cards, but Jesse Itzler knows the truth: deals go to the most connected, not the most qualified. Here are his 7 proven strategies that separate real networkers from pretenders.

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Nearly $1.4 trillion sits forgotten in old 401(k)s from former employees — that's larger than many states' entire GDP. This massive amount of unclaimed retirement money could include your own forgotten accounts from previous jobs, sitting idle when it should be growing through compound interest. Track down those old accounts using Department of Labor Abandoned Plans, National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits, or Pension Benefit Guaranteed Corporation.

Read this post.

▲ Israel enters first assault stage on Gaza City after approving plan requiring 60,000 reservists for expanded operation.

▲ California Supreme Court rejects GOP petition to halt Newsom's redistricting plan for November special election.

▲ Target stock slumps after naming 20-year insider Michael Fiddelke as CEO replacing Brian Cornell in February.

▲ McDonald's slashes combo prices 15% starting September with franchise support through early next year.

▲ Hertz partners with Amazon to sell used rental cars online through automotive marketplace in four cities.

[Blog] The Sears catalog used to sell heroin.

[Video] Stan Lee says original Hulk was gray.

[Blog] Best cuts of leftover steak for sandwiches.

[Blog] “Skibidi” and “Tradwife” added to dictionary.

[Video] Brenden Fraser undercover in Blockbuster (2003).