Here’s what’s making waves today: Novig’s valuation quadruples, Hegseth’s Quantico speech sparks backlash over religion in the military, and more.
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**On this day in 2004, what free timed weekly run began in a London park? **(answer revealed below!)
(hint: Saturday mornings)
In today’s issue:
Novig’s valuation quadruplesto $2B. 💼Hegseth unveilsreligious affairs office. 🏛️FL county findsunclaimed surveillance cameras. 📜
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Novig, a sports-focused prediction market similar to Kalshi and Polymarket, has seen its valuation quadruple to about $2 billion in the months since an ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, up from roughly $500 million earlier this year.
The ad reportedly showed Sweeney barely covered, and critics said it pushed broadcast limits. Sweeney lost more than 200,000 Instagram followers, and some women in the sports industry said it reinforced outdated, misogynistic attitudes.
**The response:**Novig’s CEO said the ad simply reflected Sweeney’s acting role, not a statement about women’s sports. Most of the new investment reportedly came from existing backers, and the company says it’s still fielding interest that could push its valuation even higher.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a Quantico speech to announce a new Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs and criticize the military’s diversity initiatives. He also unveiled Project Meridian, led by Elon Musk, Newt Gingrich, and Palmer Luckey, to develop future-warfare technology.
The office will report directly to Hegseth, a move he tied to his Christian faith. Critics, including the Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s founder, say it blurs religion and government. Hegseth also accused war reporters of siding with adversaries.
**The friction:**Republicans like Rep. Don Bacon and Sen. Thom Tillis have criticized Hegseth’s leadership, while Sen. Ruben Gallego says the culture-war focus distracts from the ongoing conflict with Iran.
:📈
Today’s Poll:Faith ForceDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new Office of Religious Affairs will report directly to his office and expand chaplains’ access to military leadership. Critics, including the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, say the office blurs church and state in a way that favors one faith. Supporters argue the military should do more to support troops’ religious and spiritual needs.
Where should the military draw the line on religion’s role in its culture and leadership?
St. Lucie County, Florida, found 14 unpermitted Flock license plate cameras while removing its own 52, after local backlash over the surveillance technology. The county’s two police agencies claimed only three of the devices, leaving 11 unclaimed.
Flock typically handles permitting itself, but a Flock spokesperson said permitting requirements vary by location, though St. Lucie County requires permits. The county bagged the cameras and posted notices, but won’t contact Flock until the 30-day window expires.
**The bigger picture:**Unauthorized Flock cameras have surfaced before, including in Cambridge, Massachusetts, per a 2024 Forbes investigation. Sen. Josh Hawley has proposed the Stop Flock Abuse Act to add oversight, while Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez want Flock’s use stopped.
And another quick dopamine boost to end the week:
A Star Wars-themed charity ball in Dudley, England
raised more than £15,000 for kids facing hospital scans, funding an interactive MRI scanner designed to feel like a rocket ship so young patients feel like astronauts instead of patients. Stormtroopers for a good cause, we love to see it! 🚀✨The Santa Barbara Zoo just hit a major milestone:
more than 200 tiny, endangered snowy plovershave been raised and released back into the wild, with 11 more catching their first ocean breeze last week. Tiny bird, big comeback story! 🐦🌊A Baltimore librarian-turned-"radical street librarian" converted a trolley into a rolling library to bring free books straight to neighborhood kids who don't have any at home!
Ms. Mazesays she started after realizing local children had nowhere nearby to find something to read. 📚🚎
🐦 Sports: Noelle Kumpel holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest female dressed as a bird during a half marathon, finishing in 2:12:37 in London in 2025. Apparently, the secret to flying through 13.1 miles is wingspan. 😆
🗺️ Geography: The city of Istanbul is located on two continents, with the Bosporus Strait separating its European and Asian sides. Nothing like crossing a continent before lunch.
🪑 World Records: The largest game of musical chairs involved 8,238 participants. Suddenly, “save me a seat” became a high-stakes strategy.
🤯 WTF: Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs that can cause severe pain in humans. The platypus was clearly assembled by committee.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
parkrun
The event, then called the Bushy Park Time Trial, was organized by runner Paul Sinton-Hewitt in Bushy Park, London, as a free, timed 5K for local runners. It quickly grew into parkrun, a global movement of free, weekly, volunteer-run 5K events. Today parkrun takes place in thousands of parks across more than 20 countries every Saturday morning.
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