It’s no surprise to anyone who has seen the Oval Office lately, but it’s clear that Donald Trump no longer holds back, or is held back, like in the first term. In his first year back in office, the president has unabashedly adopted the trappings of royalty just as he has asserted virtually unbridled power to transform American government and society to his liking. In both pageantry and policy, Trump has established a new, more audacious version of the imperial presidency that goes far beyond even the one associated with Richard Nixon, for whom the term was popularized half a century ago.

The Conversation says Trump’s second administration has seen the imperial presidency reach its peak. He has wielded this power against his political enemies, whether other politicians, media organizations or foreign governments, more forcefully than at any point during his first presidency. They point out that every U.S. president has actions that can be undone by their successors. In Trump’s case, future Democratic presidents can change the renamed Gulf of America back to the Gulf of Mexico. But Trump’s second term has also seen him aim for seismic changes that cannot be easily reversed.

Of course, it makes sense he wants to the power and prestige because he doesn’t exactly have the support right now. Nearly half of Americans would describe President Trump as “corrupt, racist and cruel” in new polling full of midterm warning signs for Republicans. And his approval numbers are falling across the board. According to the most recent numbers, Trump’s net approval is lower now than former President Biden’s was at this point in his term and lower than Trump, himself, was at this point in his previous stint.

But now that Trump has reshaped the presidency to his liking, what happens next? Will his successors claim the same mantle of grandeur, the same infinite mandate, the same belief that the Constitution gives the president “the right to do whatever I want”? The answer will be hugely important in shaping the condition of America’s government and democracy in the decades ahead. The Intelligencer says the future of the presidency will likely be determined by the interplay of several key dynamics, working in different directions. And clearly, if Democrats gain control of one or both congressional chambers in the 2026 midterms, they will devote themselves to the task of reining in the president and his administration.

It seems like sentiment around widely used home surveillance tools is souring as high-profile cases reveal just how deeply law enforcement and companies (and even hackers) can tap the data they generate. What once felt like a personal security upgrade now feels to many like participation in a broader law enforcement apparatus they didn’t sign up for.

Amazon last week announced it has dropped plans to partner its Ring doorbell cameras with the police surveillance tech company Flock Safety. It was just days after Amazon aired a controversial ad for Ring that some viewed as depicting the technology as a threat to privacy. The deal would have given Ring customers the option to share video from their doorbell cameras with police in some instances through a program called Community Requests. It had yet to launch. As the ACLU points out, the Superbowl ad is also wakeup call reminding us that companies can access your video under most subscription arrangements and that your video is not necessarily under your control.

For years, consumers largely accepted the privacy tradeoffs that came with internet-connected cameras. But new AI advancements have made it easier to search, cross-reference and retain massive amounts of video and license plate data, raising the stakes of what once felt like localized neighborhood tools. But now some customers are posting about destroying their Ring doorbell cameras, while Reddit users claimed they were requesting refunds from Amazon.

We’re all feeling busy these days. But if you don’t have the time to wait for delivery and are too exhausted or overwhelmed to meal plan or prep, you might be interested in the growing number of meal-replacement companies promising nutrition—without all the effort of preparing (or even chewing) your food.

According to the New York Times, it’s “boom times for meal-replacement products that cater to the overwhelmed (and wellness-obsessed) millennial.” They’ve found that aspirationally branded meal replacements—like salads you can drink and futuristic dehydrated food pouches—are hitting algorithms and shelves in droves. Some of these products, such as Ka’Chava’s “all-in-one nutrition shake” powder, which costs $69.95 per bag, and Huel’s “ready-to-drink meals,” are spiritual descendants of Soylent, the coder-endorsed meal replacement made from soy protein isolate that conquered Silicon Valley more than a decade ago.

While many of these time-saving products look like protein shakes at first glance, WIRED says the key difference is the addition of vitamins, plant fiber, and other “proprietary nutrient blends” that will keep your body functioning while also making you un-hungry in the morning. “Enjoying a bowl of cereal or a slice of avocado toast is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor that is now obsolete, so you can get back to coding without the fear of malnutrition hanging over your head.” You’re welcome.

The economy isn’t clearly breaking. But who would say it’s fine? GDP says one thing. Sentiment says another. Markets bounce up and down. Even the pros can’t agree on what comes next.

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