Carson Block on short-selling and what investors should watch out for when going long

Lisa Kudrow’s underrated gem The Comeback is making a surprise return to HBO next year. The network confirmed the revival of the cult-favorite comedy, which originally aired in 2005 and had a brief but acclaimed second season in 2014. Fans of Kudrow’s razor-sharp satire on Hollywood vanity can finally celebrate—Valerie Cherish is back.

Editor’s Note: For a show that was ahead of its time—mocking reality TV before it dominated pop culture—this revival feels like a long-overdue victory lap. It’s a win for fans who’ve kept the show alive through word-of-mouth praise, and a sign that HBO still values its niche-but-brilliant projects. Plus, in an era of endless reboots, The Comeback’s meta-humor might hit even harder now.

Rare earth elements—those obscure but vital minerals powering everything from smartphones to military tech—have suddenly become a geopolitical bargaining chip. China, which dominates global production, could use its control over these materials as leverage in its ongoing trade tensions with the US, turning an overlooked industrial resource into a strategic weapon.

Editor’s Note: Most of us don’t think about rare earths until supply chains hiccup, but this story highlights how something as niche as mineral exports can tilt the balance in a high-stakes economic showdown. If China restricts access, it could disrupt tech and defense industries worldwide, making this a hidden pressure point in the US-China rivalry. Suddenly, the periodic table just got political.

Big car companies are pushing the U.S. government to speed up regulations for self-driving vehicles, arguing that slow rulemaking is holding back innovation and leaving America behind in the global race for autonomous tech. They’re not asking for no rules—just clearer, faster ones.

Editor’s Note: If you’ve been waiting for self-driving cars to become mainstream, this fight over red tape could decide how soon that happens. Delays might mean fewer options or slower improvements, but rushing rules could raise safety concerns. It’s a classic tech vs. regulation tug-of-war—with your future commute in the balance.

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a set of executive orders aimed at accelerating U.S. AI development, framing it as a strategic move to stay ahead of China in the global tech race. The plan signals a push for deregulation and incentives to boost American innovation in artificial intelligence.

Editor’s Note: This isn't just about tech—it's a geopolitical chess move. AI dominance could shape everything from military power to economic influence, and the U.S. is clearly worried about losing ground. If these orders materialize, they could speed up AI advancements but also reignite debates about ethics, oversight, and how much control private companies should have over critical tech.

A Texas-based company is pushing forward with ambitious plans to construct the world's largest energy complex dedicated to powering data centers. The project will combine nuclear, natural gas, and solar energy to meet the massive electricity demands of the digital age. It’s a bold move that could reshape how tech infrastructure is powered—but also raises questions about sustainability and environmental trade-offs.

Editor’s Note: As data centers guzzle more electricity than ever, this project highlights the scramble to keep up with demand while balancing cleaner energy sources with reliable (but controversial) options like gas and nuclear. It’s a microcosm of the bigger debate: Can we power the future without frying the planet?