The Lucid Observer
Pro-AI Super PAC to Spend $100M in Midterms — Silicon Valley Goes All-In on Deregulation
Innovation Council Action, led by former Trump aide Taylor Budowich and backed by AI advisor David Sacks, plans to drop $100 million in the 2026 midterms to support deregulation candidates. Meta is funding a separate $65M PAC, and Leading the Future has raised $50M from Greg Brockman and Marc Andreessen. Total: $215M+ to ensure AI policy stays permissive.
UFC Calendar Loaded Through June — White House Card Gets Topuria vs. Gaethje, Pereira vs. Gane
Dana White filled the 2026 schedule: Chimaev vs. Strickland headlines UFC 328 on May 9. The White House card (UFC Freedom Fights 250, June 14) features Topuria vs. Gaethje for the lightweight title and Pereira vs. Gane for interim heavyweight. O'Malley vs. Zahabi and Chandler vs. Ruffy round it out. Moicano vs. Duncan kicks off April 4. The combat calendar is stacked.
March 2026 Music Bonanza — Black Label Society, Van Halen Reissue, Squeeze, and 30+ Releases
March closed out with a stacked release calendar: Black Label Society's 'Engines of Demolition,' Black Crowes' 'A Pound of Feathers' (recorded in a week with Jay Joyce), Lou Gramm's first major release since 1989, Squeeze's 'Trixies' (first Difford-Tilbrook co-writes), Tedeschi Trucks Band's 'Future Soul,' and Van Halen's '5150' expanded reissue with unreleased live recordings. Harry Styles and Charlie Puth rounded out the pop side.
Goldman Says AI Isn't Boosting Productivity — Despite $667B in 2026 Tech Capex
Goldman Sachs found 'no meaningful link' between massive AI investments and actual productivity gains, even as projected 2026 tech capital expenditure hits $667 billion. Core PCE inflation sits at 3.0%, the Fed holds at 3.50-3.75%, and oil prices from the Hormuz crisis are adding fuel to stagflation fears. 53% of Americans now actively budget — up from 46% — and 51% expect prices to keep rising.
Iran Strait Standoff Enters Month Two — Oil at 2008 Highs, 700+ Tankers Queued
The Hormuz crisis is structural now. Iran's filter system allows select Asian vessels while blocking Western ships. Over 700 tankers are queued, daily transits dropped below five, and Dubai crude hit $166. Maersk suspended all transits. On March 25, Iran allowed non-hostile ships through, briefly easing prices, but the strait remains contested. Fuel rationing hit a dozen countries. Schools shifted to 4-day weeks in some areas. The API called it a 'profound crisis.'
Trump's UAP File Release Order Enters Execution Phase — AARO Logs 750+ New Sightings
Defense Secretary Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon is complying with Trump's February order to release UAP files. AARO has logged 750+ new sightings in its latest reporting period. The alien.gov and aliens.gov domains remain registered but empty. Polymarket bets on confirmed alien contact before 2027 sit at 16% with $17M in volume. The disclosure drip continues, but so far: no files, no websites, no revelations.