The internet lost its mind. Here's what happened.
297 stories · 2026-03-16 18:31 UTC
Top Story
95.0% — meltdown power moves 17 sources

Replacing 1m petrol cars with EVs could cut Australia’s reliance on foreign fuel by 1bn litres a year

President Trump made comments suggesting uncertainty about U.S. military presence in Iran, saying 'maybe we shouldn't even be there,' while simultaneously calling on other countries including NATO allies and China to help secure the Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes. Iran has vowed defiance against international pressure regarding the strategically important waterway. The comments have drawn criticism from various political observers.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, with tensions there affecting energy markets worldwide. Trump's seemingly contradictory stance of questioning U.S. involvement while demanding international intervention represents a significant shift in American foreign policy messaging regarding Middle East engagement.
Critics say

Trump's comments reveal confusion and inconsistency in U.S. foreign policy at a critical moment. The administration appears to be simultaneously retreating from regional commitments while expecting allies to step up, undermining America's credibility and leadership role.

Supporters say

Trump is correctly prioritizing burden-sharing and questioning costly overseas commitments that primarily benefit other nations' shipping interests. His approach reflects a pragmatic reassessment of American responsibilities and pushes allies to take greater ownership of regional security.

Sources: r/worldnews Bloomberg Reuters World Reuters World Reuters World Full story →
Drama Board
1 Replacing 1m petrol cars with EVs could cut Australia’s reliance on foreign fuel by 1bn litres a year
95.0%
power moves 2 Iran tells world to get ready for oil at $200 a barrel as it fires on merchant ships - Reuters new
95.0%
power moves 3 Meta and TikTok let harmful content rise after evidence outrage drove engagement, say whistleblowers
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corporate chaos 4 Judge temporarily halts Trump demand for race-based admissions data from universities new
90.0%
power moves 5 Apple announces the AirPods Max 2 with improved noise cancelation and H2 chip
85.0%
corporate chaos 6 Colleges and universities are failing students in today’s ‘post-literate’ era
79.0%
corporate chaos 7 Meta is killing end-to-end encryption in Instagram DMs
77.0%
corporate chaos 8 Encyclopedia Britannica is suing OpenAI for allegedly ‘memorizing’ its content with ChatGPT
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corporate chaos 9 Two Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders admit killing children and civilians in Ukraine
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culture clash 10 Trump is delaying Texas Senate endorsement to pressure GOP senators on SAVE America Act
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power moves 11 3,800 workers are set to strike Monday at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants
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science fights 12 Is this product 'human-made'? The race to establish an AI-free logo
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culture clash 13 Key Oscar moments: Paul Thomas Anderson and Amy Madigan wins, outstanding songs and sad goodbyes
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power moves 14 First-round of French local elections sees strong showing for National Rally and LFI
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power moves 15 Adobe agrees to pay settlement for making its subscriptions hard to cancel
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power moves 16 Lake Research Partners poll CD 48 March 2026
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power moves 17 Trump pick for State Department drops out after drawing heat for comments about ‘white culture’
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power moves 18 Khamenei had reservations about son, says US intelligence: Report
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power moves 19 'My mother cried out one last time': Palestinian boy, 12, describes how Israeli forces killed his family in car
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internet wars 20 Bessent says some ships are getting through the Strait of Hormuz
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power moves
Developing Stories
power moves 6 sources ★ new Mar 07

Iran tells world to get ready for oil at $200 a barrel as it fires on merchant ships - Reuters

Iran has warned the world to prepare for oil prices reaching $200 per barrel while reportedly firing on merchant ships, escalating tensions with the US and Israel. The conflict has prompted discussions of oil market disruption as Iran appears to be using energy leverage as a strategic weapon. Multiple major events including potential sports cancellations and diplomatic pressure are unfolding simultaneously.
via r/worldnews +5 more
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meltdown
corporate chaos 6 sources Mar 10

Meta and TikTok let harmful content rise after evidence outrage drove engagement, say whistleblowers

Meta is reportedly planning significant layoffs affecting up to 20% of its workforce, potentially one of the largest workforce reductions in the company's history. The cuts are attributed to mounting costs from AI investments and development. No final timeline or exact numbers have been confirmed by the company.
via Reuters World +5 more
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power moves 5 sources ★ new Mar 06

Judge temporarily halts Trump demand for race-based admissions data from universities

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's requirement for universities to report detailed race-based admissions data. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor ruled in favor of 17 states that challenged the new reporting requirements. The administration had demanded this data as part of broader efforts to scrutinize university admissions practices.
via The Hill +4 more
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corporate chaos 5 sources 5h ago

Apple announces the AirPods Max 2 with improved noise cancelation and H2 chip

Apple announced the AirPods Max 2, the first major update to its premium over-ear headphones in over five years. The new model costs $549 and features the H2 chip, improved active noise cancellation, better sound quality, and AI-powered live translation. Pre-orders begin March 25 with shipping in early April, and the design remains largely unchanged from the original.
via r/technology +4 more
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corporate chaos 4 sources Mar 11

Colleges and universities are failing students in today’s ‘post-literate’ era

Multiple stories are circulating about institutional failures and social dynamics in America. A study suggests Americans overestimate backlash from changing political views, leading to self-censorship. Meanwhile, reports highlight how PACER charges $150M annually for court records that are available free elsewhere, the FBI increased searches of Americans' data, and concerns are growing about 'AI psychosis' and declining literacy among college students.
via r/science +3 more
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corporate chaos 4 sources Mar 13

Meta is killing end-to-end encryption in Instagram DMs

Meta announced it's discontinuing end-to-end encryption for Instagram DMs after May 8, 2026, while simultaneously spending up to $27 billion on AI infrastructure deals and planning potential layoffs of up to 20% of its workforce. The company is also facing criticism over secretive data center construction and algorithm safety concerns raised by whistleblowers.
via r/wallstreetbets +3 more
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corporate chaos 4 sources Mar 13

Encyclopedia Britannica is suing OpenAI for allegedly ‘memorizing’ its content with ChatGPT

Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on Friday, alleging the company used their copyrighted content to train ChatGPT without permission. The publishers claim OpenAI violated copyright on nearly 100,000 articles and that ChatGPT generates responses "substantially similar" to their original content. This is the latest in a series of copyright lawsuits facing OpenAI from content creators and publishers.
via TechCrunch +3 more
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culture clash 3 sources Apr 18

Two Russians claiming to be former Wagner commanders admit killing children and civilians in Ukraine

Two Russian men claiming to be former Wagner Group commanders have told a human rights activist that they killed children and civilians during their deployment in Ukraine. The admissions were made to a human rights organization documenting war crimes. The men's identities and current status have not been independently verified by CNN.
via r/news +2 more
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power moves 3 sources Mar 09

Trump is delaying Texas Senate endorsement to pressure GOP senators on SAVE America Act

Trump allies are pushing to pass the SAVE America Act in the Senate, with Trump reportedly delaying his Texas Senate endorsement to pressure GOP senators for support. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called it one of the 'most despicable' bills he's ever seen. Critics are characterizing the legislation as equivalent to a poll tax and comparing it to Jim Crow-era voting restrictions.
via r/politics +2 more
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science fights 3 sources 9h ago

3,800 workers are set to strike Monday at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants

A strike in one of the country’s biggest beef packing plants poses the latest risk to the nation’s meat supply at a time when US consumers are already struggling with record beef prices.
via Bloomberg +2 more
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culture clash 3 sources 17h ago

Is this product 'human-made'? The race to establish an AI-free logo

submitted by /u/tides977 [link] [comments]
via r/technology +2 more
67.0%
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power moves 3 sources 19h ago

Key Oscar moments: Paul Thomas Anderson and Amy Madigan wins, outstanding songs and sad goodbyes

Paul Thomas Anderson accepts the award for directing for "One Battle After Another" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) 2026-03-16T07:01:11Z This Oscar cycle’s heavyweight battle is finally over. The politically charged action comedy “One Battle After Another” just managed to outmuscle Ryan Coogler’s musically driven vampire thriller “Sinners.” It was a 3 hour and 40 minute whirl through cinema and celebration, with Michael
via AP News +2 more
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power moves 2 sources Mar 13

First-round of French local elections sees strong showing for National Rally and LFI

Candidates look for deals with rivals to boost chances as major seats including Paris, Marseille and Lyon appear tight Political parties in France are hastily attempting to negotiate strategic alliances before the final round of local elections this weekend, after a strong showing by the far right and the radical left. This Sunday’s final-round vote for mayors and local councillors in major cities including Marseille, Lyon and Paris is expected to be close. Continue reading...
via Guardian World +1 more
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power moves 3 sources Mar 13

Adobe agrees to pay settlement for making its subscriptions hard to cancel

submitted by /u/QuantumWonderland [link] [comments]
via r/technology +2 more
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power moves 2 sources Mar 10

Lake Research Partners poll CD 48 March 2026

submitted by /u/Large_banana_hammock [link] [comments]
via r/politics +1 more
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