Good morning. Nike's innovation chief has one mandate for designers: "Create epic shit." He's releasing shoes 12 months ahead of schedule to fix stalled sales (see trending stories).

Forwarded this email? Join 523k readers who get a little better every day.

Federal prosecutors charged Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on Thursday as part of a sweeping illegal gambling investigation. More than 30 people face charges related to rigged poker games and NBA match-fixing.

Billups allegedly provided insider information about game-fixing to gamblers, while Rozier was accused of manipulating his own performance to help bettors hit "under" totals. Both were immediately placed on leave by the NBA, which called the allegations serious.

The charges follow Toronto's Jontay Porter receiving a lifetime ban for a similar scheme last year. The scandal raises questions about sports integrity six years after leagues embraced legalized gambling (LeBron James, Anthony Davis injuries leaked to bettors).

▲ The 10 biggest sporting scandals in history.

Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bill Thursday to pay active-duty military and essential federal workers during the 23-day government shutdown. The Shutdown Fairness Act failed 54-45, needing 60 votes to advance.

The bill would have paid service members, Capitol Police, air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and other essential employees working during the shutdown. Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called it a "ruse" giving the White House authority to selectively reopen agencies.

Three Democrats—Sens. Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and John Fetterman—crossed party lines to support the measure. Democrats introduced an alternative bill to pay all federal employees and contractors during the shutdown.

Rivian announced layoffs affecting more than 600 employees Thursday, or 4.5% of its workforce. CEO RJ Scaringe said the cuts were necessary to "profitably scale" ahead of launching the R2 midsize SUV in 2026 (WSJ).

The electric-truck maker faces falling EV demand after federal tax credits ended. Rivian narrowed its 2025 delivery guidance and lost $1.1 billion in the second quarter, though it has sufficient cash for the R2 launch.

This follows smaller layoffs last month affecting 1.5% of the workforce. The more affordable R2 SUV, starting around $45,000, is expected to drive higher demand than current models.

▲ See Rivian in Ewan McGregor travel documentary.

Small Shift, Big Impact: Support Your Mind with BetterHelp.

You’re always optimizing your routine, your habits, and your goals. But what about your mental edge?

With BetterHelp, you can connect with a licensed therapist in about 24 hours—by video, phone, or message—on your schedule. Sessions are designed to flex with your life, so you can keep moving forward. More than 5 million people have used BetterHelp to feel clearer, stronger, and more in control. 

Right now, you can save 25% on your first month, and you can even use your HSA or FSA funds to help cover it.Make this the quarter you invest in what matters most: you.

Start Bettering Your Mind.

^{Thank you for supporting our sponsors!}

Stop stretching—you're making it worse. Physical therapist Patrick Suarez says smartphone users instinctively do the opposite of what helps.

Why It Hurts:

What Actually Works: Strengthening exercises tighten weakened muscles. Wall angels, thoracic rotations, rowing variations, and prone I-T-Y movements restore proper alignment where ears sit directly over shoulders (tutorial photos, videos here).

Start with 30-second intervals—consistency builds healthier posture over time.

Marc Andreessen calls liberal arts degrees "almost useless" without graduate school. The billionaire VC argues technical degrees—engineering, physics, economics—teach you to handle complexity and signal seriousness. His advice: be a "double threat" by pairing technical undergrad with business graduate work. Elite students risk never experiencing real failure—getting fired, launching products that tank, missing ship dates. That's the most valuable skill you'll ever learn.

Read article.

▲ Nike innovation chief pushes "epic" products 12 months ahead of schedule after $5 billion revenue loss

▲ Trump cancels federal troops for San Francisco after Nvidia, Salesforce CEOs urge him to stand down

▲ Binance founder Changpeng Zhao receives Trump pardon after money laundering guilty plea, coin rises 6%

▲ Google Earth integrates Gemini AI to connect weather, satellite, and population data for trusted testers

▲ Jimmy Kimmel reveals Disney CEO Bob Iger hired him over Jon Stewart because he was "cheaper"

Your Browser Is Slowing You Down.

Tabs upon tabs. Endless clicking. Switching windows just to get one thing done.

Enter Comet—Perplexity's AI browser that acts like a personal assistant. Ask it to research topics, draft emails, compare prices, or book reservations. It keeps context across your workflow, so you stay in flow.

Perplexity users who switched asked 6-18X more questions their first day. Getting answers became effortless.

Ready for a smarter way to browse? Ask Comet one question and get Perplexity Pro free for 30 days.

^{Thank you for supporting our sponsors!}

Starbucks grilled cheese copycat [Recipe]

Frankenstein pumpkin heads [Video]

Letters from John UpDike to Editor [Blog]

Tom Cruise most underrated stunt [Video]

Get Perplexity Pro for free* [Gear]