Friday☕️

10 Jan 2025 — 5 min read

Trending:

Today, January 10, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments to decide the future of TikTok in the United States. The case focuses on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which mandates that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, sell its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. TikTok argues that this law is unconstitutional, claiming it violates First Amendment and due process protections, while the government defends it as critical for addressing national security concerns. A decision from the Supreme Court is expected soon after today’s hearing, as the deadline is fast approaching.
TikTok has firmly opposed the forced sale, asserting that it would not resolve the security concerns raised and accusing the government of unfairly targeting the company. If TikTok does not comply with the law, TikTok has indicated it may shut down U.S. operations entirely. This would disrupt millions of users, including businesses and creators who rely on the platform, and potentially shift the social media landscape to favor competitors like Meta, YouTube, and X. The Supreme Court’s ruling will play a decisive role in determining whether TikTok can remain accessible to American users or if it will be forced out of the U.S. market.

Economics & Markets:

Yesterday, January 9, 2025, the U.S. stock markets were closed to honor former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. President Joe Biden declared the day a National Day of Mourning, leading to the closure of federal offices and the suspension of trading on major exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. This continues the tradition of closing financial markets to honor deceased presidents as a mark of respect for their service.
Yesterday’s commodity market:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Environment & Weather:

As of January 10, 2025, California continues experiencing catastrophic wildfires, particularly in Southern California. Major fires like the Palisades Fire near Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains have burned more than 29,000 acres, destroying thousands of homes and businesses. Over 300,000 people have been evacuated, and at least seven lives have been lost. The situation is made worse by strong Santa Ana winds, which are not only fueling these large fires but also causing new ones to ignite across the region. Counties such as Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange are among the hardest hit, with emergency crews battling multiple fires simultaneously.

President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster for California, ensuring that the federal government will cover all firefighting and recovery costs for the next six months. Federal resources, including military personnel and equipment, have been deployed to assist overwhelmed local firefighters. Additionally, SpaceX is providing free Starlink satellite internet in affected areas, helping residents stay connected and giving emergency teams better tools for coordination. Despite these efforts, the high winds and dry conditions continue to spark new fires and spread existing ones, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders and urge residents to remain vigilant.

Space:

Yesterday, SpaceX launched the NROL-153 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission sent up a new set of advanced military satellites designed to improve how the U.S. tracks and monitors activities around the world. These satellites are extremely powerful, capable of tracking enemy ships, military movements, other satellites, and even natural disasters like hurricanes or wildfires.

The Falcon 9 rocket used for the launch landed on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean, allowing it to be reused for future missions. The satellites were developed through a partnership between SpaceX and Northrop Grumman, combining private-sector innovation with government needs.

Science & Technology:

Anduril Industries, a U.S. defense tech company, is acquiring Numerica Corporation’s radar and command and control (C2) divisions to enhance its air and missile defense systems. This acquisition adds advanced radar systems and Numerica’s Mimir C2 software, which will integrate with Anduril’s Lattice AI platform. Lattice uses artificial intelligence to process large amounts of data in real time, helping detect and respond to threats like drones and missiles more effectively.
Anduril’s approach to defense is unique because they build their technology first instead of waiting for a contract. Traditional defense companies spend years pitching ideas and waiting for approval before they start development. Anduril skips that step by creating ready-to-use systems upfront, which they can deliver right away. This faster, more flexible method allows them to bring new technologies to market quickly, disrupting the slow, traditional defense industry.

Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, Anduril brings a Silicon Valley mindset to defense technology. The company has developed autonomous drones, counter-drone systems, and surveillance towers already in use by U.S. Border Patrol and allied militaries. Its recent focus includes integrating AI with cutting-edge hardware to create rapid, reliable solutions for national security. By investing in technology upfront and delivering ready-to-use systems, Anduril is reshaping the defense industry and challenging established industry giants.

Statistic: