I Knew I Would Die Here

Russia's most prominent opposition leader had long accepted that fighting Putin's regime would cost him everything. Navalny's prison diaries, collected by his widow, Yulia, after his death, take us through his last days in chilling detail. From his haunting reflections on his children's birthdays, graduations, and never-seen grandchildren to his determination to fight corruption, Navalny's voice echoes louder than ever.

In Patriot, Navalny's defiant humor and unwavering beliefs are evident. During "disciplinary activity," he writes candidly about the absurdities of prison life, including sitting under Putin's portrait daily and smuggling out his handwritten notes to preserve his legacy.

In 2021, Navalny returned to Russia fully aware that he would likely sign his death sentence. But his widow reminds us that this memoir is not just a chronicle of his imprisonment-it is a reminder of the courage it takes to stand up to power, no matter the cost.

The Quiet AI Giant

Apple appears to be pushing AI groundbreakingly in its latest iPad mini announcement. Yet, if you take a closer look, it's clear that the company is still playing catch-up with AI powerhouses like OpenAI and Google. In Apple's internal research, ChatGPT is 25% more accurate than Siri and can answer 30% more questions.

So why does Apple keep touting AI? The answer lies in their ecosystem. Apple's secret weapon is its ability to seamlessly update millions of iPhones, iPads, and Macs with new features. It might be underwhelming today, but Apple Intelligence's integrated approach means that it can rapidly scale up once the technology is ready.

Currently, Apple is focusing on features like notification summaries, but don't expect AI to be the big draw. Camera improvements and photo features continue to win hearts (and wallets). Apple's real AI revolution will arrive in a few years, but it will make waves when it does.

Buffett’s Endgame

Warren Buffett has quietly reduced his stake in Bank of America, dropping just under 10%. We might not know what he's up to for months because he can keep future trades under wraps. It's classic Buffett—making a move behind the scenes, and now he doesn't have to disclose his sales or purchases immediately.

But here’s the exciting part: despite all this selling, Bank of America’s stock is holding up pretty well. It just bounced back 5%. Does this mean Buffett is abandoning his long-term investment in banking? His recent sales of shares could indicate a more significant shift in how he views the industry. Either way, it’s a story to watch.

Buffett has always exhibited a knack for timing, but now that trades are so secretive, it's impossible to predict what will happen next. I know I’ll be watching it—what about you?

The Trump Doctrines

So, let’s talk about Trump’s foreign policy. Is he the “isolationist” some say he is? Well, not quite. Sure, Trump loves the phrase “America First,” and he’s all about cutting military aid to places like Ukraine. If you look closer, his tenure as president shows a mix of bold moves that aren't isolationist.

China is a good example. In terms of trade, Trump went harder against China than any U.S. president in decades. And in the Middle East? He didn’t exactly sit on the sidelines. Remember the “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran? Or when he ordered a missile strike against an Iranian general? That's not exactly the behavior of someone trying to pull the U.S. out of global affairs.

But Trump’s real foreign policy style? He prefers to deal with countries one-on-one rather than in multilateral alliances or deals like NATO. His unpredictable and sometimes erratic behavior kept world leaders on their toes. While no major wars broke out under his administration, we must ask: was that due to strength or sheer unpredictability? It’s tough, but a second Trump term would shake up the world order again.

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

New York City vintage photos depict the 1980s boombox craze.

🧮 Core Count: 265,000,000

The cost of Grand Theft Auto V in dollars.

🗓️ Flashback:

1944 - U.S. troops captured Aachen, the first German city to fall during World War II.

1950 - Chinese forces occupied Tibet.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran