Hey Dippers,
Here’s what’s in the news cycle that you need to know about: Rand Paul publishes Fauci’s pandemic diary, New York details its city-run grocery stores, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
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Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1958, President Eisenhower signed the law creating which U.S. agency? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: rockets)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Fauci faces fresh prosecution calls. 🏛️
NYC launches public grocery store experiment. 📉
Peacock joins YouTube Premium free. 💼
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
POLITICS
🏛️ Paul Releases Fauci’s Private Pandemic Diary Ahead of Senate Testimony
Senator Rand Paul published more than 1,100 pages from Anthony Fauci's private diary, spanning 2019 to 2022, as he presses his years-long case that Fauci lied to Congress about COVID-19's origins.
Paul and allies say the entries show Fauci privately entertained a lab-leak theory he publicly downplayed. Critics of Paul note the entries largely match Fauci’s public remarks and show scientists working with thin early evidence.
The fallout: RFK Jr., Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Ben Shapiro amplified the claims, with Greene stating that Fauci belongs in prison. Fauci is set to testify under subpoena before Paul’s committee.
ECONOMY
📉 Mamdani Details 30% Discount Plan for NYC City-Run Grocery Stores
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani detailed his planned city-run grocery stores, which will sell basic goods at 30% below typical retail prices. One will open in each borough, with the first two sites chosen in the Bronx and Manhattan.
The city estimates the stores could trim grocery bills by about 15%, roughly $1,000 a year, against a $70 million startup cost. Supporters call it a lifeline for struggling families. Critics warn it could undercut the city’s 13,000 bodegas or lead to shortages.
How it works: Private operators will bid to run the stores while the city covers rent and taxes. Discounts cover produce, meat, and staples. Hot prepared food, cigarettes, and lottery tickets will not be sold. A membership card would curb bulk resale.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Grocery Gamble
New York is about to test whether a government-run grocery store can lower prices without knocking out the corner shops around it. Backers see relief for tight budgets; skeptics see empty shelves.
Will New York’s city-run grocery stores lower costs without hurting local shops?
ENTERTAINMENT
💼 Peacock to Join YouTube Premium at No Extra Cost Next Year
Starting next year, YouTube Premium subscribers will get Peacock included at no extra cost, after YouTube and NBCUniversal reached a multiyear deal.
The agreement follows tense negotiations last year, when NBCUniversal warned it might pull its channels from YouTube TV. Now both sides benefit: Peacock gains distribution, while YouTube adds perks like more live sports and Universal movies.
The bigger picture: YouTube has over 125 million Premium subscribers; Peacock has around 48 million. Some observers see bundling like this as streaming slowly recreating the old cable model.
Fun Facts
⚔️ History: Despite its name, the Hundred Years’ War actually lasted 116 years, running from 1337 to 1453. Naming accuracy optional.
🌍 Geography: Africa is the only continent sitting in all four hemispheres, crossed by both the equator and the prime meridian. Geography’s ultimate overachiever.
🏛️ Architecture: : Sudan quietly holds more ancient pyramids than Egypt, roughly 255 to Egypt’s 118. Egypt gets all the credit.
🤯 WTF: House cats can’t taste sweetness at all, thanks to a broken sweet-receptor gene. Dessert is wasted on them.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
NASA
On July 29, 1958, Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA. The agency was a direct response to the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. NASA opened its doors that October and went on to lead the Apollo Moon landings.
Poll Results From July 28, 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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IN NOVEMBER VOTE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! BECAUSE IT DOES! TRUMP AND MAGA NAZIS ARE DESTROYING THIS COUNTRY TO ENRICH THEMSELVES AND THEIR CRONIES AND TAKING IT FROM THE WORKING RETIRED AND POOR! STRIPPING LAWFUL PROTECTIONS AND DOING AWAY WITH THE PROCEDURES TO REDRESS OUR VALID ISSUES! WHEN IT'S GONE IT'S GONE FOREVER!