Evening NOISE

Trump proposal threatens schools’ tax exemptions over race-conscious policies

The Treasury Department and IRS proposed ending tax-exempt status for private schools and colleges that consider race in admissions, scholarships, athletics or other policies, potentially affecting up to 18,000 institutions. The measure would allow race-neutral support based on factors such as income or hardship and could take effect in May after public comment. The Washington Post reports that education leaders see the proposal as an expansive, legally untested interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 2023 admissions ruling, potentially forcing schools to weigh their missions against federal tax benefits.

Two Palestinian teenagers killed during West Bank settler attack, officials say

BBC reports that village officials say Omar al-Nassan, 19, and Khalil Abu Alia, 16, were killed in al-Mughayyir while confronting Israeli settlers allegedly taking sheep. The Israeli military said its forces entered to protect an Israeli civilian and retrieve livestock, then fired on what it called key instigators during a disturbance involving stone throwing. The deaths come amid a reported surge in West Bank settler violence, with the UN recording at least 81 Palestinian deaths this year.

Stocks rise as Waller eases rate-hike bets and markets weigh Fed pressure

US stocks rose, with the S&P 500 gaining 1.1%, after Fed Governor Christopher Waller said easing inflation could support holding rates steady; markets pared the odds of a September hike. Bloomberg highlighted Waller’s data-dependent stance, while CNBC reported Vice President JD Vance urging the Fed to cut rates to improve housing affordability. The contrasting messages underscored uncertainty over the Fed’s policy direction as investors awaited inflation and jobs data.

Follow-up to European stocks gain as Elliott Management stake boosts Deutsche Telekom · 20260903

OpenAI unveils GPT-6 Astra amid race with Anthropic and safety concerns

OpenAI has released GPT-6 Astra, which it describes as its most intelligent model and a leader in software engineering, science and cybersecurity. The Financial Times emphasizes the company’s claim that Astra has regained the lead from Anthropic, while also reporting Greg Brockman’s view that it may qualify as artificial general intelligence. TechCrunch focuses on Astra’s cyber and coding capabilities, as well as concerns that its opaque reasoning could make monitoring and oversight more difficult.

Follow-up to Anthropic faces challenges as AI model distillation becomes competitive battleground with China concerns · 20260903

Cam Skattebo considered retirement after severe ankle injury

Giants running back Cam Skattebo told ESPN he briefly considered retiring after suffering an open fracture of his right ankle during his rookie season. The months of recovery helped him reassess his identity and motivation, and he now plans to continue playing in 2026. Skattebo finished his rookie year with 617 total yards and seven touchdowns.