It’s Monday, Dip Fam,
Here's what you might have missed last week: Texas hits pause on new data centers, Japan asks the US government to stop using its anime characters, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is 2 minutes and 8 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Abbott orders data center audit. 📋
Japan protests US anime memes. 🌍
Streamer killed live in Sinaloa. ⚖️
LAW & POLICY
📋 Texas Pauses New Data Center Approvals Pending a Statewide Audit
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has paused approvals for all new data center projects while the state runs a sweeping audit of the industry.
The move follows a June order requiring data centers to generate some of their own power, ease local electricity bills, and use efficient water systems. When most companies ignored state surveys about those plans, the audit followed.
The reason: Texas runs its own power grid, which strains under heavy demand, and AI data centers account for about 90% of the 474 gigawatts of pending energy requests. Companies now must detail their power, water, and noise plans or lose grid access. The pause is broadly popular, though some Democrats want new laws to go further.
WORLD NEWS
🌍 Japan Presses the US to Stop Using Anime Characters in Government Posts
Japan has repeatedly warned the US government to stop using Japanese anime and game characters, including Pokémon, Naruto, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, in its social media posts.
Over the past year, official accounts like the White House and Homeland Security have featured those characters in political and immigration-themed memes. Japan’s Foreign Ministry says the unauthorized use infringes copyright, and rights holders like The Pokémon Company say they never gave permission.
The sticking point: Japan has no fair-use exception, so all such uses need permission, while the US allows fair use, though its protection here is uncertain. Tokyo is asking politely to avoid a lawsuit, but the administration hasn’t signaled if they will stop posting.
LAW & ORDER
⚖️ Mexican Streamer Killed Mid-Livestream, Raising Alarm Over Cartel Threats
A Mexican streamer, César Gastélum, was shot and killed while broadcasting live to thousands of viewers in Sinaloa, Mexico.
Gastélum was livestreaming with two friends when two men on a motorcycle opened fire outside a fast-food restaurant. Authorities believe the shooting was retaliation for his social media posts, though they haven't named the group involved.
The bigger concern: The case underscores a rising threat to online creators in the region, as cartels track public figures through real-time location data. Reporters estimate approximately a dozen social media personalities have been killed in Sinaloa in the past two years, most cases unsolved, amid a war between rival cartel factions.
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Over and Out...
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