Today’s Big Story

Sports Gambling Backlash

Critics warn it’s getting out of hand, but more and more want in on the action

Sports fans are already hyped up. But ever since the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting in 2018, the U.S. gambling industry has surged. Today, sports betting is legal in 39 states (and Washington DC) and online betting companies have spent billions of dollars in an effort to attract users in an increasingly competitive market.

Just how intense is it? Hockey fans are bombarded with gambling logos and advertisement sometimes as often as every 13 seconds during TV coverage of high-profile games, according to research shared with The Guardian. Viewers of June’s Stanley Cup finals encountered an average of 3.5 marketing messages from betting firms every minute. You don’t have to be a psychologist to understand the power of persuasion and how our defenses are naturally weakened the more we’re exposed to something.

As they invest heavily in ads, billboards and sponsorship deals, industry operators stand accused by critics of transforming high-profile sports games into a “second-by-second gambling opportunity”. And a recent audit by regulators found that sports betting ads were sent to both youths and people affected by addiction.

Of course, it likely won’t slow down any time soon (without some kind of interference) because this is big, big business. NFL bettors are expected to wager approximately $30 billion on the league this season with legal sportsbooks, according to an estimate released Thursday by the American Gaming Association. ESPN reports that the $30 billion figure is approximately an 8.5% increase from a revised estimate of $27.5 billion last year and is based on the national growth of wagering in 2025 and statistics from states that report football-specific betting data, according to the AGA, which represents the gaming industry in the U.S. The amount includes money bet on futures wagers, such as the odds to win the Super Bowl, and individual games from the preseason through Super Bowl LX, but only at traditional sportsbooks in the U.S.

According to The Dispatch, sports betting now the attention of nearly half of men ages 18 to 49, however there’s a simmer backlash brewing. In one recent poll, 58% wanted the federal government to “aggressively” regulate betting. Nearly two-thirds backed the SAFE Bet Act, a proposal from Democrats Rep. Paul Tonko and Sen. Richard Blumenthal that would impose stringent federal oversight. While a majority still favor legal sports betting, they also say that it should be illegal to bet on college sports, according to a recent AP-NORC poll. What’s the over under for if something will actually be done to change things?

De Minimis Exemption Ends

This rule made many online purchases dirt cheap for U.S. consumers … until now

The “de minimis” exemption for low-value packages sent to the United States ended this morning—wreaking havoc on international shipping as mail companies, businesses and consumers try to navigate the new rules. For instance, packages sent to America will be charged either the tariff rates the United States has on their countries of origin or flat fees of $80 to $200—the latter option available to postal carriers only in the first six months. The shipments may face additional tariffs and fees in some cases.

A little refresher: For nearly a century, this trade exemption let people skip import fees for shipping small stuff. But after the U.S. raised its limit to $800, that small stuff became big business, driven by online shopping. “We’re talking about 4 million de minimis packages being processed a day,” Courtney Griffin of the Consumer Federation of America tells NPR.

Now, experts believe it could take longer for some packages to arrive and that consumers and businesses in the United States could end up with significantly higher costs. The de minimis exemption streamlined processing of overseas shipments and allowed U.S. businesses and consumers to buy low-cost items from abroad without incurring massive charges. All sorts of low-value items have fallen under the exemption, including small kitchen appliances and utensils, beauty products and apparel from companies like Shein, Temu and Etsy. But now that’s over.

Erasing the Stars?

Satellite megaconstellations are a ‘mega’ problem for Earth and sky

We talked before in this newsletter about the growing number of satellites hovering above us at any given time. But did you realize that there are more than 12,000 active satellites currently circling Earth? And that number that has nearly doubled in less than three years. This recent boom in the satellite industry has been a major headache for astronomers, with bright satellites appearing as streaks in telescope images of the universe and tarnishing views of the night skies.

And new research reveals that satellite constellations are brighter than the recommended limits set forth by astronomers, with only one company adhering to the guidelines. The study compares the observed brightness magnitudes of satellite constellations in Earth orbit with brightness limits established by the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky (CPS). According to Gizmodo, nearly all the satellites were found to exceed the limit of +7 brightness magnitude, thereby interfering with observations of the cosmos. The brightest satellites belonged to Texas startup AST SpaceMobile, with its BlueWalker constellation exceeding a brightness magnitude of +2. Dimming stars are just one of many problems posed by satellites and especially megaconstellations, groups of hundreds or thousands of small satellites that work together to give us broadband internet and mobile connectivity.

It’s still not wall-to-wall satellites in low Earth orbit, but it seeming will be in the near future. Salon points out that these satellites perform valuable services to humans on Earth and even, in some respects, to other living things—for example, by helping us monitor planet-heating emissions. But weighing those benefits against the various harms of vast numbers of shiny bodies whirling around the earth is already enough to push dark sky lovers into action. Over the next ten years, our night sky may be irrevocably transformed by the projected legions of satellites.

A Weekend Pairing

‘Caught Stealing‘ + a Miller High Life

Huckberry’s Labor Day Sale Is Stacked With Deals

From quality clothing to home essentials, now’s the time to stock up

Huckberry is making it easy to upgrade your closet, gear up for fall adventures or finally snag that wishlist item you've been eyeing. For Labor Day, they're taking an extra 15% off all sale items—and we're talking already-marked-down goods here—through the end of the long holiday weekend. That means you can score deep discounts on everything from tailored outerwear and versatile footwear to outdoor-ready gear and wardrobe staples. But as always, popular sizes and colors move fast, so don't wait until Monday night to check out. This is your chance to save big while summer's still in full swing and set yourself up with gear you'll love all year long.

Start small.