Hi Dip Fam,
Here’s your Tuesday dip: backlash against Flock’s license-plate cameras boils over, hackers drain $100 million from “secure” Bitcoin wallets, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 53 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S SHOW AD-FREE BELOW
Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1958, Billboard launched what famous weekly music chart? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: top songs)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Flock cameras face bipartisan backlash. 💻
“Secure” Bitcoin wallets get drained. 💼
Abuse claims roil Ohio race. 🏛️
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
TECHNOLOGY
💻 Backlash Against Flock’s License-Plate Cameras Grows Into Vandalism and Bills
Flock Safety’s AI license-plate cameras, which log the plate, time, and location of passing cars for police, are facing growing U.S. backlash. The pushback spans vandalism, town-hall fights, and new legislation.
Critics like the ACLU call the network warrantless mass surveillance, noting cameras scan billions of plates monthly and can be searched by distant agencies. Reports allege misuse for stalking, immigration enforcement, and even an abortion probe, plus frequent misreads. Flock says the tools fight crime, not people.
The reaction: Some people are toppling or painting over cameras, and dozens of localities dropped Flock contracts this year. The anger is bipartisan, and Rep. Thomas Massie plans a bill to cut federal funds for such cameras.
BUSINESS
💼 Hackers Drain Over $100 Million From ‘Secure’ Coldcard Bitcoin Wallets
Hackers drained nearly $100 million in Bitcoin from more than 1,200 addresses in about 41 minutes, exploiting Coldcard, an offline hardware wallet long seen as the gold standard for security. As of Monday, researchers estimate the running total has climbed to nearly $116 million from more than 5,200 addresses.
A flaw in certain Coldcard firmware made the wallets’ recovery phrases predictable, so attackers could calculate the keys remotely, no physical access needed. Worse, updating firmware or moving funds won’t help if the seed phrase was created on affected software; users must generate a brand-new one.
The fallout: Coinkite’s CEO apologized and promised a technical report and help with police and insurance claims, but recovering the stolen funds is unlikely. The company partly blamed a bug that slipped past AI-assisted code review.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Cold Comfort
An offline wallet marketed as top-tier secure just lost over $100 million to hackers over a firmware flaw. It has crypto holders rethinking how they store their coins.
After a “secure” offline wallet lost over $100M to hackers, how much do you trust crypto self-custody?
POLITICS
🏛️ Rep. Max Miller Stays in Ohio Race Amid Abuse Allegations He Denies
Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller says he won’t drop his reelection bid despite domestic and child abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. Miller denies the claims and has sued her for defamation.
Moreno accuses Miller of assaulting her and injuring their 2-year-old daughter, which he denies. Notably, her father is Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, who called Miller unfit for office. Trump’s circle is reportedly frustrated, and many Republicans have stayed quiet.
The stakes: The once-safe seat is now a tossup with polling swinging from a dead heat in June to Miller trailing by 5 points in the latest survey. Calls for a House Ethics probe are growing.
Fun Facts
🔭 Astronomy: Neptune takes about 165 Earth years to circle the Sun, so it finished its first full orbit since its 1846 discovery only in 2011. One Neptune year, one lifetime.
🧫 Biology: A brainless slime mold can solve mazes and map efficient transit networks using nothing but goo. No brain, no problem.
🎈 Chemistry: Helium was first discovered on the Sun in 1868, nearly 30 years before anyone found it on Earth. Named after the Sun, obviously.
🤯 WTF: Tanzania’s Lake Natron is so caustic it calcifies the bodies of animals that die in it, leaving eerie stone-like mummies. Nature’s own taxidermist.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
The Hot 100
On August 4, 1958, Billboard published its first Hot 100, a single chart blending record sales, radio airplay, and jukebox plays. Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool” took the very first No. 1 spot. The Hot 100 has been the music industry’s main yardstick for hits ever since.
Poll Results From July 31, 2026
Did you take today’s poll?
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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