Today is Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
It is the 182nd day of the year.
183 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
REMINDER: Tomorrow will be the final Lite edition of the week, with an Independence Day special edition on Thursday and no newsletter on Friday.
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WHAT’S ON TAP
NOTABLE & NOTEWORTHY: Canada backpedals on a new tech tax.
Even JEFF BEZOS gets sticker shock. Find out over what in SHOWBIZ.
Bond producers are looking for a specific kind of man to be the next 007. Details in CASTING CALL.
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LAST WEEK: PRESIDENT TRUMP abruptly cut off all trade negotiations with Canada to stop the implementation of the northern neighbor’s Digital Services Tax, which levies fees on tech companies with hundreds of millions in revenue.
NOW: Canada says it’s suspending the tax, which were set to be collected on Monday. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta would have paid a 3% tax on gross revenue from Canadian customers – retroactive to 2022. The nation’s minister of finance said in a statement, “Rescinding the digital services tax will allow the negotiations of a new economic and security relationship with the United States to make vital progress and reinforce our work to create jobs and build prosperity for all Canadians.” [via CNBC]
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If you’re renting a car as part of your summer travels, beware of new A.I.-inspection systems that automatically flag minor dings, dents, and dirt that could cost you hundreds of dollars.
Hertz has begun using an automated scanner system built by UVeye. Before departing the rental facility, customers drive underneath an arch that takes a 360-degree “before” picture of the vehicle. Upon return, drivers pass back through for the “after,” and the system automatically detects any damage.
Users have taken to social media to bemoan massive bills for minor damage, in one case $440 for a one-itch scratch on a wheel, usually scuffed when brushing a curb. The bill was $250 for repairs but, despite being fully automated, cost $125 for processing and a $65 administrative fee.
BUT WAIT: Hertz says 97% of its cars pass through without any detectable, billable damages. [via DailyMail]
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UPDATE: The ninth of ten escaped inmates from a New Orleans-area jail has been captured, more than a month after the incident.
Police rounded up #9, 33-year-old Antoine Massey, at a private residence in the area and was taken into custody without incident. He’s headed to a different, state-run facility.
Authorities continue to offer a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Derrick Groves, the last missing inmate. [via CBS News]
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Crypto exchange site ChicksX analyzed 7.3 million TripAdvisor reviews of 244 restaurant brands to find the worst-rated fast food chain in the country.
Topping the list, with an average score of 2.89 out of 5 is KFC, followed by McDonald’s with an average score of 2.99.
Rounding out the top ten worst-rated chains were, Burger King (3.00); Church’s Texas Chicken (3.08); Long John Silver’s (3.16); Taco Bueno (3.24); Taco Bell (3.25); Wendy’s (3.27); Hardee’s (3.27); and Pizza Hut (3.28).
WORTH NOTING: In order to qualify for the list, the restaurant had to have at least 150 reviews on TripAdvisor. [via NY Post]
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