Aisle be rich someday
A brief summary of why the United States finds itself “on the outside looking in” as China and Gulf states pursue African partners. / Council on Foreign Relations
Case in point: More than 75% of African countries currently lack a US ambassador. / The Africa Brief
With SpaceX’s public offering, Elon Musk appears to become the world’s first trillionaire (on paper). / The Washington Post [$]
About three dozen investors hold stakes in SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
A so-called Apocalypse Early Warning System tracks private jet activity, seemingly because in the event of nuclear strikes, rich people will take to the skies. / Kyle McDonald, Kottke
Unrelated: Los Angeles cult grocery store Erewhon introduces a membership tier for customers who spend more than $15,000 annually that includes “butler-like assistance.” / Eater
A tool models how long it takes for electric car sales to translate to cars on the road. / By the Numbers
For any World Cup fans visiting New York City, an explainer for why everything is falling apart. / Gothamist
For any World Cup fans visiting Southern California, a guide to official game-day events and a guide to parking. / Torched, LA Material
An illustrated essay about the value of fútbol to Uruguay. “Everything is forgiven in the stadium.” / Dandelion Seeds
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A link correction from yesterday: A study from Goldman Sachs says the World Cup doesn’t really benefit its host countries financially. / SGI Europe
See also: A sex worker explains why mega sporting events are dangerous for her and her colleagues—due to the intensified policing. / The LA Local
Brief stories behind four obscure songs used in Backrooms. / zensounds
David Hockney dies at age 88, with works described as “dazzling, alive, and eternal.” / The Guardian
Why do dogs often appear in paintings? “Because of the emotional work they do: they humanize humans.” / Literary Hub
See also: Pick up just about any novel and you’ll find a throwaway line about a dog “barking in the distance.” / Slate
Some highlights from Wednesday’s Giants-Nationals baseball game, aka the week’s other major sports comeback story. / yahoo! sports
Thank you to yesterday’s anonymous new supporter!