Five for Fighting 9/18/08

A federal contracting database lists an ICE payment for $61,218 with the payment code for “guided missile warheads and explosive components.” But it appears ICE simply entered the wrong code.

A Turning Point USA official inaccurately claimed a high school's math department wore Halloween costumes that mocked Charlie Kirk. Those teachers are now facing a flood of online attacks and death threats.

“The fabric of what binds America together at this point is basically on its final thread,” one source tells WIRED.

A new US law enforcement initiative is aimed at crypto fraudsters targeting Americans—and now seeks to seize infrastructure it claims is crucial to notorious scam compounds.

A Trump administration pilot program aims for three nuclear startups to reach a key milestone by July 4, 2026. Valar Atomics says it’s the first to do so—but it had some help.

This week on Uncanny Valley, we break down how one of the most common card shufflers could be altered to cheat, and why that matters—even for those who don’t frequent the poker table.

Unusually warm ocean temperatures fueled one of the worst hurricanes on record. New research finds climate change increased the storm’s likelihood.

At an airport in South Carolina on Thursday, US representative Nancy Mace called police officers “fucking incompetent” and berated them repeatedly, according to an incident report.

Pluribus, The Morning Show, and Slow Horses are among the best shows on Apple TV this month.

Two mathematicians have proved that a straightforward question—how hard is it to untie a knot?—has a complicated answer.

In OpenAI’s new Atlas browser, the Ask ChatGPT sidebar is moderately helpful at best. Sometimes, it’s confusingly wrong.

Stream your favorite shows for up to $80 off this November, and save on subscription plans with the latest Peacock TV coupons from WIRED.