Senate Confirms Schwartz as CDC Director Despite Rocky Confirmation Hearing

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Susan Schwartz has been confirmed as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite being considered well-qualified for the position, Schwartz struggled significantly during her Senate confirmation hearing. Her performance at the hearing was widely noted as poor, raising concerns among some senators. Nevertheless, the Senate ultimately voted to confirm her appointment to lead the public health agency.

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SoftBank gave $50M to Trump library months before scoring federal data center lease

SoftBank donated $50 million to the Trump Presidential Library in January, shortly before the company announced a deal to lease federal land in Portsmouth, Ohio, for a large data center. The Japanese tech conglomerate disclosed the timeline after Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, sent a letter in June raising concerns about potential bribery. The Ohio data center lease was announced by the Trump administration approximately two months after the library donation was made. Sen. Warren questioned whether the donation and the subsequent federal deal were truly unrelated. SoftBank has not publicly addressed the lawmakers' allegations of impropriety.

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eBay plans international expansion of live shopping after record quarter

eBay has reported a record quarter for its live shopping feature, eBay Live, highlighting significant growth in gross merchandise volume. The company is now planning to expand the platform to additional international markets in the coming weeks and months. The announcement signals eBay's continued commitment to live commerce as a key growth strategy. The move reflects a broader industry trend of e-commerce platforms investing heavily in live and interactive shopping experiences.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Last chance to preorder Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 with retailer gift cards

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 are set to officially launch on August 7th, with today being the final day to place a preorder. Amazon is offering the strongest incentive, bundling a $350 gift card with purchases of either the $1,899.99 Z Fold 8 or the $2,099.99 Z Fold 8 Ultra. Best Buy and Samsung's own website offer up to $200 in gift cards or store credit for the same foldable models. For the Z Flip 8, priced at $1,199.99, Amazon and Best Buy are including a $200 gift card, while Samsung's site offers up to $150 in credit. Shoppers buying directly from Samsung can also use the code PAYPAL100 at checkout to save an additional $100 on eligible foldable models.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Bipartisan Backlash Against AI Data Centers Unites Left and Right Voters

Communities across the United States are mounting bipartisan opposition to AI data center construction, with concerns ranging from groundwater contamination to local job losses. In Hernando County, Florida, the county commission unanimously approved a yearlong moratorium on new data center builds last month. A conservative grassroots group called Humans First organized protests there, drawing diehard Trump supporters into activism typically associated with left-leaning causes. The Verge policy reporter Gaby Del Valle found that local grievances vary by region — humidity in Florida, water scarcity in Arizona — but share a common thread of distrust toward the AI industry's rapid expansion. Analysts suggest data center construction is becoming a flashpoint in electoral politics ahead of the midterm elections.

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