News Summary

• Americans plan to spend 5% less this holiday season compared to last year, the first pullback since 2020.
• American astronomers say that without more funding to support telescope construction and research operations, the US risks ceding the field to China.
• A mad rush of creators is using AI video tools to flood the internet — and turn a profit — with videos that can seem remarkably real.
• The defense against slop and brainrot: What I am doing to prevent myself from stagnating and rotting.summarize in 5 sentences: September 7, 2025 6:30am by Barry Ritholtz.