Palantir Mafia Taking Over Tech World

Welcome back!

Here’s your must-read news this morning:

• U.S. fights EU’s Digital Services

• Palantir Mafia

• Oklahoma's America First teacher test

I’ve got all the details for you, so let’s dive in.

— Josh

MARKETS

💰 U.S. Fight Against EU’s Digital Services Act Delays Finalization of Trade Agreement

The Scoop: The United States is pushing back against the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), accusing it of promoting censorship that threatens free speech, as both sides struggle to finalize a joint statement for a transatlantic trade deal reached in July, according to the Financial Times.

The Details:

• The July agreement, announced by Trump and von der Leyen, cut tariffs on most EU goods to 15%, averting a broader trade war, but disagreements over the DSA as a non-tariff barrier have stalled the joint statement.

• The U.S. argues the DSA, which compels tech giants to aggressively remove illegal content like hate speech, infringes on free speech and imposes costly compliance burdens on American companies.

• EU negotiators insist the DSA is non-negotiable and reject claims of censorship.

• U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, have criticized the DSA as incompatible with American free speech traditions.

What’s Next: The U.S. is likely to intensify its diplomatic and economic push against the DSA, potentially leveraging tariffs to pressure the EU into concessions. The outcome of these talks could reshape transatlantic trade and digital policy, with the EU’s firm stance on its regulations possibly prompting retaliatory measures from Washington.

Markets Roundup

🏦 Economy & Policy

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries reached an all-time high of $9.13 trillion in June, up 10% from last year, driven by strong demand from Japan and the UK. (RTS)

• U.S. retail sales rose a robust 1.0% in July, driven by strong demand for motor vehicles, signaling resilient consumer spending. (INV)

• The Trump administration expanded its 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, adding hundreds of derivative products to the list, effective August 18. (BT)

• The Empire State Manufacturing Index surged to 11.9 in August, exceeding forecasts and signaling robust growth in New York’s manufacturing sector. (INV)

💵 Energy & Commodities

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: Clean Core Thorium Energy achieved a significant milestone by reaching a burnup level of over 45 gigawatt-days per metric ton with its thorium-based ANEEL fuel, paving the way for more efficient nuclear energy. (MIN)

• The Trump administration introduced tougher rules for wind and solar project subsidies, requiring ongoing physical work to qualify for 30% tax credits. (RTS)

• The USDA will invest up to $750 million in a new Texas facility to produce sterile flies, aiming to combat the spread of New World screwworm and protect the U.S. cattle industry. (YWP)

• U.S. liquefied natural gas exports have soared to record highs in 2025, up 22% from last year, driven by robust demand and new facilities. (OP)

🌕 Crypto

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, has filed for a Nasdaq IPO under the ticker GEMI. (DC)

• Japan will approve the nation's first yen-pegged stablecoin by JPYC, a Tokyo-based fintech company, as early as this fall. (NIK)

• Jason Zhao, co-founder of Story Protocol, is transitioning from his full-time role to launch a new AI startup named Poseidon. (X)
  

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TECH

💻 Palantir Mafia Behind Tech's Buzziest Startups

The Scoop: A powerful network of former Palantir employees, dubbed the “Palantir Mafia,” is driving a wave of high-value tech startups in Silicon Valley, using their experience at the data analysis firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, the Wall Street Journal reports. These alumni, known for their “forward-deployed engineering” approach, are founding and leading hundreds of companies, with venture capital firms increasingly betting on their expertise.

The Details:

• Palantir, a data analytics firm working with U.S. military and intelligence agencies, has spawned a network of alumni founding or leading over 350 tech startups, with at least 12 valued at over $1 billion.

• Trae Stephens, Matt Grimm, and Brian Schimpf, former Palantir engineers, founded Anduril Industries, now valued at $30.5B, landing major U.S. Defense Department contracts.

• Alumni like Barry McCardel (Hex Technologies) and Nick Noone (Peregrine) apply Palantir’s “forward-deployed engineering” model, embedding with clients in challenging environments like conflict zones or remote locales to solve complex problems.

• Venture firms like Palumni VC and XYZ Capital, founded by ex-Palantir employees, actively invest in startups led by Palantir alumni, with VC interest surging due to their track record in “hard industries.”

• The network stays connected through exclusive events, WhatsApp groups, and Signal chats, with high-profile alumni like co-founder Joe Lonsdale (8VC) and Garry Tan (Y Combinator).

What’s Next: The Palantir Mafia’s startup surge is poised to expand, with alumni launching ventures and drawing major venture capital investment, while Wall Street is eager for firms like Anduril to go public.

Tech Roundup

🧠 AI

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: Hackers and cybersecurity firms are locked in an AI arms race, with advanced language models accelerating the sophistication of cyberattacks and defenses alike. (NBC)

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has cautioned that the AI market is in a bubble, urging investors to temper expectations as hype outpaces the technology's current capabilities. (CNBC)

• OpenAI has assembled a heavily connected team of Democrat political operatives, including veterans from the Newsom and Harris campaigns, to navigate California’s regulatory landscape. (POL)

• Foxconn will partner with SoftBank to produce data center equipment at its former Ohio electric vehicle plant, advancing the $500 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project. (YF)

• A 57-year-old man returned to work after being declared legally blind, crediting Meta’s AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses as “life-changing” for improving his independence and quality of life. (BBC)

🤖 Hardware & Robotics

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: The 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games concluded in Beijing, where over 500 robots from 16 countries competed in multi-sport events, but frequent falls and human assistance underscored the limits of current robotic autonomy. (TCP)

• Aigen’s Element robot autonomously removes weeds from crop fields, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical herbicides. (TCD)

• Researchers developed CalBot, a nanobot that forms durable, cement-like plugs in dentinal tubules, offering a potential permanent solution for tooth hypersensitivity. (NA)

• UK-based QPT's MicroDyno, the first AI-ready motor drive for robots, uses GaN technology to improve motion, precision, and cut power loss by up to 80%. (TT)

🚀 Defense & Space

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: The U.S. Army marked a significant milestone with the first overseas deployment of its "Dark Eagle" Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon system to Australia to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. (JP)

• China is set to unveil an array of advanced autonomous combat drones at a major military parade in Beijing on September 3. (TWZ)

• China achieved a major milestone in its lunar ambitions, successfully conducting the first static fire test of the seven-engine first stage of its Long March 10 rocket. (SN)

• The U.S. Army is deploying the AI-powered smart rifle scope, enabling soldiers to precisely target and neutralize enemy drones with a single shot. (WM)

FREEDOM

🇺🇸 Oklahoma Mandates ‘America First’ Test for Out-of-State Teachers

The Scoop: Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has launched an “America First” certification test, crafted by PragerU, to ensure new teachers from states like New York and California align with the state’s focus on factual, patriotic education, the New York Post reports.

The Details:

• The required 50-question test for teaching licenses covers U.S. civics (e.g., the Constitution’s first three words: “We the People”), biological sex distinctions (XX for female), and the role of religious freedom in America’s identity.

• Walters emphasizes grounding education in facts, promoting patriotism and accurate historical teaching, including Christianity’s influence, while rejecting radical gender theories.

• A signing bonus program has attracted about 500 new teachers, boosting Oklahoma’s efforts to recruit top talent.

• The test currently applies to teachers from New York and California but may extend to eight other states to ensure alignment with Oklahoma’s educational standards.

What’s Next: Oklahoma’s bold approach could inspire other states to prioritize patriotic education, potentially attracting more educators through its bonus program. Critics, including teachers’ unions, question the test’s necessity, but Walters sees it as a vital step to protect students from ideological bias and foster national pride.

Freedom Roundup

🏛️ Policy, Free Speech & Woke Overreach

• ⭐ Editor’s Pick: The Federal Reserve terminated its specialized crypto bank supervision program, reflecting a streamlined approach to regulation. (TB)

• NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya unveiled budget cuts and grant terminations, targeting DEI programs to redirect funding toward chronic disease research and nutrition. (WFTV)

• The UK’s Online Safety Act led to the censorship of negative Labour Party headlines on X. (CAN)

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