Ohmbudsman Digest

You’re listening to the Ohmbudsman Digest Podcast—your no-spin, signal-rich briefing for Tuesday, June eleventh, twenty twenty-five.

Today’s headlines span drone surveillance, economic anxiety, global unrest, and the tightening grip of technology on public life. Let’s get into the bulletin.

The Los Angeles school district has taken a bold stance against immigration enforcement, issuing directives to block ICE agents from campus access. This move, reinforcing sanctuary policies, comes as Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard troops to the city. Former advisor Stephen Miller characterized California's resistance as an "insurrection," highlighting escalating tensions between federal and state authorities. The situation has intensified with press restrictions, as journalists are now being barred from documenting federal raids in the city.

In the technology sector, AI infrastructure company Vast Data is pursuing a remarkable $25 billion valuation, positioning itself as a potential "AWS of the AI era." This development coincides with concerning revelations about data privacy, as airlines were found to have shared billions of passenger travel records with Homeland Security through a previously undisclosed database tracking over 15 billion annual trips. The surveillance state continues to expand, with DHS deploying Predator drones—typically reserved for overseas operations—to monitor Los Angeles protests.

Northern Ireland faces renewed unrest as Ballymena experiences its second night of riots, resulting in multiple arrests and vehicle fires. The violence marks a significant spike in Loyalist unrest, threatening regional stability. Across the Irish Sea, British citizens are withdrawing unprecedented amounts of cash from banks, driven by fears of digital banking instability and potential system outages, indicating growing distrust in financial institutions.

The situation in Los Angeles continues to deteriorate, with CNN journalists detained despite having proper credentials while covering City Hall protests. This incident highlights growing concerns about press freedom and law enforcement oversight. Meanwhile, Colombia's city of Cali suffered multiple coordinated explosions, resulting in at least seven deaths and numerous injuries, prompting terrorism investigations. The series of three coordinated blasts has left dozens injured, with officials examining possible organized terror connections.

On the cybersecurity front, ConnectWise implemented emergency certificate rotation to prevent potential widespread abuse of their systems. Users must update by June 13th to maintain service, highlighting the critical nature of digital security measures. A troubling security report revealed 40,000 surveillance cameras worldwide are streaming without proper security measures, potentially exposing sensitive infrastructure including U.S. facilities.

Leaked GitHub repositories exposed Trump administration plans for widespread AI integration across federal agencies, including surveillance tools and digital ID systems. Google's search division is offering buyouts, suggesting a strategic pivot toward generative AI technologies, marking a significant shift in the tech industry's approach to artificial intelligence.

Demographics research from Pew indicates Islam's position as the world's fastest-growing religion, attributed to population dynamics rather than conversion rates. In Europe, French President Macron is pushing for EU-wide social media restrictions for users under 15, demonstrating increasing government intervention in digital spaces.

The U.S. military is evolving its African strategy, emphasizing drone bases and proxy forces while moving away from traditional nation-building approaches. More alarmingly, experts confirm the deployment of autonomous AI drones capable of making lethal decisions without human intervention, raising ethical concerns about the future of warfare.

In administrative changes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the elimination of USAID positions abroad, transferring aid program management to the State Department. This significant shift in foreign aid administration comes as the retail sector faces disruption, with Whole Foods warning of product shortages following a cyberattack on distributor UNFI.

The World Bank has issued a sobering economic assessment, noting that current global growth rates, while avoiding recession, represent the slowest expansion since the 2008 financial crisis. This economic uncertainty adds to mounting concerns about technological surveillance, civil unrest, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

South Africa is grappling with severe weather conditions, including substantial snowfall reaching 25 centimeters in mountainous regions, causing widespread disruption to transportation infrastructure, homes, and flights. The extreme weather event has led to significant flooding and gale-force winds, impacting daily life across affected regions.

That’s the rundown for Tuesday, June tenth. For links and sources, visit ohmbudsman.com or check today’s show notes.

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Until then—stay sharp.