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Happy Friday, Dippers,
Here’s what’s making headlines today: the gaming industry hits turbulence with Roblox’s crash and EA’s buyout, a report finds more election deniers taking local election offices, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 35 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S SHOW AD-FREE BELOW
Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1888, Theophilus Van Kannel patented what common building entrance? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: spins)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Roblox crashes, EA goes private. 💼
Election deniers take local offices. 🏛️
Senate panel holds Fauci in contempt. ⚖️
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
BUSINESS
💼 A Rough Stretch for Gaming: Roblox Craters, EA Goes Private
The video game industry is going through a major shakeup. Roblox, the user-built gaming platform, has seen its stock fall about 70% this past year, shedding $9 billion in a single day as daily users fell from a 152 million peak.
Roblox says it deliberately tuned its algorithm to favor long-term engagement over squeezing quick purchases from players, and underestimated the hit. Frustrated users blame a run of unpopular updates, though some changes followed a child-safety scandal.
The bigger shift: Rivals are circling, with Xbox positioning Minecraft as a creator platform. Additionally, EA is ending its 36-year run as a public company in a $55 billion buyout led by Saudi Arabia and a fund run by Jared Kushner.
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POLITICS
🏛️ More Election Deniers Are Taking On Local Election Administration Roles
A New York Times report says a growing number of election deniers now hold local election administration jobs heading into the midterms, some overseeing the most competitive races.
Reviewing data from the nonprofit Voting Rights Lab, the Times identified at least 25 county officials aligned with election denial since 2024, on top of dozens already in place. Many can shape election policy and maintain voter rolls, including removing voters.
The wider push: Examples in Michigan and North Carolina show officials flagging or removing voters and challenging results. It comes as Jan. 6 prosecutors urge the Senate to stop confirming Trump’s election-denier judicial nominees, and as Trump questions the legitimacy of races, including the Michigan primary won by Abdul El-Sayed.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Polling Positions
A New York Times report finds a growing number of election deniers taking local election administration jobs ahead of the midterms, raising questions about who oversees the vote.
How concerned, if at all, are you about who runs local election administration heading into the midterms?
LAW & ORDER
⚖️ Senate Committee Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress
A Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment during a hearing about his handling of COVID-19.
The effort is led by Sen. Rand Paul, a longtime Fauci critic, who argues Fauci had no grounds to plead the Fifth because a preemptive pardon from President Biden shields his pandemic work. Fauci says Paul is trying to make good on threats to jail him.
What’s next: Contempt referrals usually go to the full Senate, which would likely reject it, but with the chamber in recess, Paul says he will send it straight to the Justice Department. Democrats, who were outvoted, call it a damaging precedent that undermines constitutional protections.
Sweet Dip
Ending the week with another round of heartwarming stories:
In California, a 16-year-old lifeguard charged into dangerous surf and pulled a drowning child to safety. Hero status, unlocked at 16! 🌊💪
Off Monterey Bay, whale-watchers’ snapshots of a tangled-up humpback helped a rescue team cut her free after months caught in crab-trap lines. Swim on, big girl! 🐋💙
A lucky tortoise got a second chance after good Samaritans found and rescued it from a dumpster behind a pet store. Slow, steady, and safe at last. 🐢💚
Fun Facts
🕰️ History: “Big Ben” is actually the nickname of the giant bell inside London’s clock tower, not the tower itself, which is the Elizabeth Tower. Everyone’s been wrong for years.
🐬 Animals: Dolphins call each other by name, using unique signature whistles they invent as calves. Group chats, but wetter.
🌻 Botany: Young sunflowers turn to follow the sun across the sky each day, then reset facing east overnight. Tiny sun-worshippers.
🤯 WTF: The yo-yo was reportedly used as a hunting weapon in the Philippines centuries ago. Playtime with consequences.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
The revolving door
On August 7, 1888, American inventor Theophilus Van Kannel patented the revolving door. He reportedly disliked holding doors open for others and wanted a design that kept out wind, rain, and street noise. His spinning doorway went on to become a fixture of hotels, offices, and department stores worldwide.
Poll Results From August 6, 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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