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From media shakeups to political controversy, here’s what’s happening today: a lawsuit claims ChatGPT helped plan the 2025 FSU campus shooting, Josh Shapiro is reportedly opposing a progressive rival’s primary campaign, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 59 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
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Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1777, what treat was first advertised in an American newspaper by a New York confectioner? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: early scoop)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Lawsuit alleges ChatGPT aided FSU campus attack. 🤖
Shapiro reportedly undermines rival in PA primary. 🏛️
Daily Wire cuts staff as viewership collapses. 💼
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
LAW & ORDER
⚖️ Widow Sues OpenAI, Alleging ChatGPT Helped Plan FSU Campus Shooting
A federal lawsuit filed by the widow of an FSU campus shooting victim alleges the suspected April 2025 attacker used ChatGPT for months to research crowd patterns, firearm operation, and mass shooting media coverage before the attack.
The case tests whether Section 230 liability protections that shield internet platforms from user content also apply to AI chatbots. Plaintiffs argue ChatGPT is a product OpenAI designed and controls, not a neutral platform.
The stakes: Florida’s attorney general separately opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI over the incident. A similar lawsuit followed a February 2026 school shooting in Canada that killed seven people, including six students. The FSU suspect’s trial is scheduled for October.
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POLITICS
🏛️ Shapiro Reportedly Undermines Progressive Rival in Pennsylvania Congressional Primary
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a widely discussed 2028 presidential contender, is reportedly working through Philadelphia building trades unions to steer a May 19 congressional primary away from progressive challenger Chris Rabb.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Rabb and is actively campaigning for him, while Rabb trails moderate candidate Ala Stanford by five points in recent polling.
The backdrop: Rabb has clashed with Shapiro over state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and staked out a sharper position on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Shapiro maintains public neutrality but is reportedly opposing Rabb through union intermediaries rather than direct campaigning.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Party Path
The Pennsylvania primary reflects a Democratic debate playing out nationally heading into 2028. Supporters of progressive candidates say the base demands bold policy commitments; moderates argue the path to victory runs through the center.
Which approach should Democratic candidates prioritize heading into 2028?
BUSINESS
📹 Daily Wire Cuts Staff as Viewership and Revenue Fall Sharply
The Daily Wire laid off staff in May 2026, with the company reporting a 13% reduction while outside estimates placed the cuts closer to 20%, as the conservative media outlet faces steep audience and revenue declines since its peak around 2020.
Ben Shapiro’s YouTube views have fallen 70 to 85% from their late-2023 high, and the outlet’s website traffic has roughly halved year-over-year.
The trend: Former personalities Candace Owens and Brett Cooper have since built audiences that now rival the company’s own. The pattern mirrors a recurring dynamic in conservative media: a disruptive outlet becomes establishment, then loses ground to the next wave of voices better aligned with where the audience has moved.
Fun Facts
🐪 Animals: Camels have three eyelids to protect their eyes from blowing desert sand. Built-in windshield wipers.
🌮 Cuisine: Tacos al pastor were inspired by Lebanese immigrants bringing shawarma cooking techniques to Mexico. Globalization tastes amazing.
🎨 Art History: Ancient Greek statues were originally painted in bright colors, not plain white marble. History used to be way louder visually.
🤯 WTF: Humans shed about 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells every minute. You are constantly becoming dust while still alive.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
Ice Cream
On May 12, 1777, confectioner Philip Lenzi placed the first known advertisement for ice cream in the New York Gazette. He announced that it would be available regularly at his shop in lower Manhattan. This marked one of the earliest recorded promotions for ice cream in America, long before refrigeration or modern ice cream production existed. The ad helped introduce the idea of ice cream as something you could actually buy on demand, not just an occasional luxury.
Poll Results From May 8, 2026
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Show Notes
Looking for more specific details on each story? Click here for the full show notes for yesterday’s PDS episode.
Over and Out...
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