July 20, 2026
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Michael's Daily Notes
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I didn't recognize the impact of AI on societal disconnect until I read a terrific book this week. Dr. Joseph Turow joins me on the radio program today to discuss his new release, "The Problem with Personalization." Turow, professor emeritus at Penn's Annenberg School and the author of thirteen books, was once described by The New York Times Magazine as "probably the reigning academic expert on media fragmentation." Having read the book, I understand why.
Turow's starting point is that targeted marketing is nothing new. Two centuries ago, a French peddler named Jean Eymar kept notebooks on his customers' tastes and circumstances. Personalization has always been part of the DNA of business. What's new is what AI has done to it — a granularity Eymar couldn't have imagined.
Here was my biggest takeaway: for all the virtues of AI, and they are many, the tradeoff is not limited to surveillance and the surrender of our privacy. I assumed that was the whole bill. It isn't. The deeper cost is communal. When algorithms know each of us this intimately — our politics, our habits, our differences — our individuality becomes the focus of every marketing pitch, news feed, and political appeal we receive. Each of us is shown a different world. That, Turow argues, hinders the mingling on which community depends, and furthers antisocial behavior. He warns we are on an "AI discombobulation trajectory" that could leave the America of our grandchildren "communally dysfunctional — literally antisocial."
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DAILY POLL
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Which is more valuable to you: the benefits of AI, or your privacy?
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TOP STORY
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Spain captured its second World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina, as Ferran Torres' late winner ended Lionel Messi's final World Cup in a subdued defeat after Argentina failed to register a shot until the 115th minute.
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TODAY'S YOUTUBE
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SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
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IN OTHER NEWS
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The U.S. launched a ninth straight night of airstrikes on Iran as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz intensified, with both sides exchanging attacks and regional tensions continuing to escalate.
As President Donald Trump faces near-record-low approval ratings, a new Washington Post-Ipsos poll found that Democrats have a slim advantage over Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections, leading by just 3 percentage points.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey smashed expectations with a $124.5 million domestic debut and $264.1 million worldwide opening, marking the director's biggest global launch ever and the third-largest opening weekend of the year.
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A MESSAGE FROM INCOGNI
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Unknown Number Calling? It's Not Random
The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers. Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft.
That’s why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear.
Congress remains deeply unpopular as experts and lawmakers point to partisan gridlock, an increasingly powerful presidency, and a diminished legislative role as key reasons the institution struggles to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.
Republicans privately acknowledge a difficult midterm environment and hope voter dissatisfaction with Democrats can outweigh concerns about President Trump's approval ratings, inflation, and campaign messaging.
An Associated Press analysis found FIFA President Gianni Infantino traveled nearly 60,000 miles and logged more than 115 flight hours aboard a private jet during the 2026 World Cup, highlighting the tournament's vast geographic scale and raising questions about its environmental impact.
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MORE NEWS
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Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, physician Nirav Shah and brewer Dan Kleban all ended their Senate bids Sunday, leaving former state Senate President Troy Jackson as the overwhelming favorite for Maine Democrats' nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Sen. Jon Ossoff has emerged as one of the Democratic Party's sharpest critics of President Trump on election integrity, fueling 2028 presidential speculation even as he insists he's focused on his reelection in Georgia.
A judge is weighing whether to temporarily halt Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery as a coalition of states argues the merger would violate antitrust laws and delay could cost Paramount hundreds of millions in penalties.
For the Left
Boston police are investigating the discovery of a deceased person at a rental property owned by the husband of Rep. Ayanna Pressley, with the department's Homicide Unit leading the inquiry as officials have released few details and Pressley's office has not commented.
For the Right
Despite remaining registered to vote in Texas, Mike Lindell has launched his Minnesota gubernatorial campaign with Trump's endorsement, arguing the state's Election Day registration rules will not hinder his candidacy despite preventing him from voting for himself in the primary.
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