🔍 USAid in Chaos, Google Drops DEI, Crypto Shake-Up
Good morning. It’s Thursday, February 06. Today we are covering:
Doge v USAid: How Elon Musk helped his acolytes infiltrate world's biggest aid agency
Google Kills Diversity Hiring Targets
White House crypto czar David Sacks says first priority is stablecoin legislation
Reddit temporarily bans r/WhitePeopleTwitter after Elon Musk claimed it had 'broken the law'
From Quest To Horizon: How Meta's Shifting Priorities Are Affecting Developers
Let’s dive in
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Doge v USAid: How Elon Musk helped his acolytes infiltrate world's biggest aid agency
By Andrew Roth via The Guardian
Elon Musk’s influence led to a group of young engineers, known as Doge, infiltrating USAid, gaining access to classified systems and sidelining agency leadership, as part of a broader effort to reshape the federal government.
Doge operatives, many under 26 with no government experience, accessed sensitive data across multiple agencies, including the Treasury, Medicare, and USAid, with Musk personally pressuring officials to grant them unrestricted access.
Amid chaos and fear within USAid, Musk’s allies took control, forcing mass suspensions, locking out employees, and shutting down agency operations, while critics warn this takeover signals a dangerous national security risk.
𝕏: I dug in to Musk's dismantling of USAid because it shows his playbook for capturing the whole federal government. What surprised me was his direct involvement in the operation. For example, he demanded suspension of 57 career officers by phone last Monday. - Andrew Roth (@Andrew__Roth)
Google Kills Diversity Hiring Targets
By Miles Kruppa via Wall Street Journal
Google is eliminating its diversity hiring targets and reassessing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, aligning with a broader industry shift away from DEI initiatives.
In an internal email, the company confirmed it will no longer set goals to increase representation of historically underrepresented groups in its workforce.
The move follows similar actions by other tech giants, reflecting a growing reevaluation of corporate DEI commitments amid changing political and legal landscapes.
𝕏: If only Google had listened to @JamesADamore. But the ideological rot was too deep. They would have saved billions. Instead, they subjected Damore to witch-hunts and made his life hell. Google Kills Diversity Hiring Targets - Peter Boghossian (@peterboghossian)
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White House crypto czar David Sacks says first priority is stablecoin legislation
By MacKenzie Sigalos via CNBC
David Sacks, the White House's new crypto czar, announced that his top priority is passing stablecoin legislation within six months, aiming to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets in the U.S.
Sacks is working closely with Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. French Hill, to advance a bill that would promote U.S.-based stablecoin issuance, reinforcing the dollar’s dominance in digital finance.
The SEC, under new leadership, is shifting its approach to crypto regulation, launching a Crypto Task Force to create clearer rules while signaling openness to dialogue with industry players.
Reddit temporarily bans r/WhitePeopleTwitter after Elon Musk claimed it had 'broken the law'
By Karissa Bell via Engadget
Reddit temporarily banned r/WhitePeopleTwitter for 72 hours, citing a “prevalence of violent content”, after Elon Musk claimed users in the subreddit had “broken the law”
The ban followed a viral post by an X account, “Reddit Lies,” which shared screenshots of discussions about Musk’s allies, sparking accusations of doxxing and incitement; Reddit also permanently banned r/IsElonDeadYet for similar violations.
Musk’s increasing influence over federal agencies and online discourse has led to growing backlash on Reddit, with many communities banning X links after Musk’s controversial inauguration appearance alongside Trump.
From Quest To Horizon: How Meta's Shifting Priorities Are Affecting Developers
By Henry Stockdale via UploadVR
Meta’s shifting focus from the Quest Store to Horizon Worlds has left many VR developers struggling with declining sales, discoverability issues, and store curation changes, leading to frustration and financial uncertainty.
Developers report that Meta’s prioritization of free-to-play experiences, aggressive promotion of Horizon Worlds, and the removal of App Lab have made it harder for premium VR games to gain visibility and sustain profitability.
Amid these challenges, some studios are pivoting to Steam, PlayStation VR2, or even non-VR platforms, as industry-wide layoffs and funding struggles raise concerns about the future of the VR gaming market under Meta’s direction.
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