AGP Executive Report

Tech & Kids Privacy/First Amendment: A federal judge rejected Meta and TikTok’s bid to block California’s rule limiting algorithmic recommendations to minors under 18 without parental consent, saying the platforms didn’t show their feeds are protected “expressive” speech. Courts & Teen Access: The 6th Circuit refused to reconsider Ohio’s parental notification law for minors under 16, keeping limits on social-media account creation in place. Publishing & Free Speech: A major publishing controversy over Simon & Schuster’s handling of a Palestinian American author’s work and backlash against Jewish writers is reigniting calls for consistent free-expression standards across the industry. AI Search & Publisher Revenue: A new analysis argues “zero-click” AI search is siphoning traffic from publishers—AI tools may absorb huge web visits while sending back only a small share. Labor Market Watch: The U.S. economy shed 23,000 jobs in July and revisions lowered prior gains, adding uncertainty to Fed rate-hike expectations. Meta Teen Mental Health: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million and change teen platform practices after finding harm to children’s wellbeing. Energy/Infrastructure: Wisconsin regulators sent ATC back to redesign a data-center grid connection plan after concerns about cost and clarity. Books/Religion: Liturgical publishing continues with newly revised Catholic texts, including updates tied to recent rites.

Meta Youth Safety Ruling: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567M into a teen mental health fund and overhaul youth-facing platform features after finding the company created a public nuisance harming children. Publishing & Culture Spotlight: A new Plume release, “What We Ask Google,” turns Google search behavior into a hopeful look at how people learn and seek meaning. Local Community Reads: In St. Paul, WOW Wash Laundry and the LaundryCares Foundation plan a Free Laundry and Literacy Day with a new Read, Play & Learn space and free books for kids. Conservation Lens: A study argues that protecting primate habitat could safeguard most other species in a region—an approach conservation groups may rethink. Tech Hiring Shift: New data suggests AI is reducing entry-level software hiring by changing what junior roles actually do, not by eliminating the need for engineers. Indie Game Release: “The Skin Stapler,” a VHS-style horror game, launches on Steam from U.S. indie Tainted Pact and German publisher Assemble Entertainment. Elections Watch: Minnesota primary turnout could decide which candidates benefit most, with analysts pointing to turnout levels as the key variable.

Early Literacy Push: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library hit its 5 millionth free-book milestone in Illinois, mailing monthly books to kids from birth to age 5 across 95 of the state’s 102 counties. School Transportation Crunch: Fox C-6 in Missouri is scrambling to hire bus drivers after expanding “no-transportation zones,” leaving some students without rides for the 2026-2027 school year. Food Safety Alert: The CDC is investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños, with recalls already issued by Chipotle and Qdoba and Wisconsin among the hardest-hit states. Back-to-School Cost Relief: Texas’ sales tax holiday runs Aug. 7–9, aiming to cut costs on clothing and supplies for families heading back to class. Publishing & Culture: Apple’s Cosmere push gets a major fantasy-media boost as it partners with Brandon Sanderson on a Mistborn screen adaptation. Public Health Innovation: The FDA approved the first mRNA-based flu shot for people over 50, a faster-manufacturing approach despite political controversy.

AI & Publishing Visibility: A “Media Briefing” debate is heating up over whether publishers should create markdown versions of their sites so AI bots can read and cite content more accurately—some argue it’s the next SEO, others say it’s a short-term fix that could just make content easier to scrape. Publishing Industry & Partnerships: Springer Nature struck a subscription deal with OpenEvidence to bring peer-reviewed Springer content into the clinical platform where doctors can retrieve and cite it at the point of care. Book Culture & Authorship Trust: A Substack post popularized “Claudefishing,” warning that AI summaries can invent fake citations and pushing new tools to help readers spot AI-written material. Local Library Life: Burnham Memorial Library in Colchester, Vermont is running a summer reading push for kids and adults, including “Unearth a Story” programming and adult events like henna and crafts. Education Tech: A separate report looks at how AI education software is quietly reshaping PreK-12 learning, raising new questions about what teachers and districts need to prepare for next.

AI Music Rights Clash: A Munich court ruled that Suno infringed copyrights represented by GEMA, finding the AI music platform could reproduce songs “almost note for note” on demand—another major legal hit for generative audio. Streaming Romance Deal: Netflix is developing a feature adaptation of Ali Hazelwood’s New Adult hit Deep End (Berkley/PRH), with Laura Kosann writing and Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps plus Unwell Productions producing. Prediction Markets Pushback: Connecticut comptroller flagged a “dark side” as prediction markets spread, citing gambling-addiction risks, under-21 marketing, and insider-trading concerns—while regulators consider new rules. Tech & Consumer Law: A federal appeals court lifted an injunction blocking Perplexity’s Amazon shopping agent, saying it would impair consumer choice and that the legal theory was unlikely to hold. Publishing & Culture: The New York Film Festival set its main slate, including Chris Rock’s Misty Green, while The Odyssey keeps fueling book-to-screen buzz.

Trade Show Display Supply Chain: QuicklyShow’s SEG silicone-edge lightbox and dye-sublimation fabric printing push tool-free, modular booth setups for brands shipping worldwide—plus guidance on buying vs renting portable 10x10 systems and how to source them from China. Publishing & Books in Pop Culture: “The Odyssey” surges after the FX film adaptation, with Circana BookScan reporting U.S. sales up 76% and major international spikes, while audio streams also jump. Local Media Ownership: Chattanooga Times Free Press returns to local, family ownership after a deal that brings the paper back under the Fuller family, aiming to stabilize the legacy-news business model. Legal Pressure on Digital Ads: Teads sues Google/Alphabet over alleged anticompetitive ad tech practices, adding to a growing pile of publisher and industry challenges. Book Industry Business: Bjooks pre-orders BEAT GEMS: Drum Machines in Modern Music, a 336-page hardcover history backed by Kickstarter. Media/Tech Hiring Signal: Sony ramps PlayStation advertising ambitions with new ad-tech and client partnership roles.

Book Publishing & Distribution: RBmedia acquired UK indie fiction publisher Boldwood Books, bringing 2,000 titles into RBmedia’s multi-format, international catalog. Digital Publishing Tech: Zentrovia launched ZenPub, a white-label digital publishing platform aimed at academic publishers and aggregators. AI & Media Business: Teads sued Google in federal court, alleging anticompetitive ad-tech practices that it says cost it 6.88T ad impressions (2017–2023). Cultural Books & Exhibitions: A new Emmett Till companion exhibit and book imagines “If Emmett Till Lived,” with curator Sarah Elizabeth Lewis. Author/Publishing Spotlight: Naima Coster’s “Take What You Can” was named GMA Book Club pick for August. Education Access: UA Little Rock expanded open educational resources, recognized as a high-impact practice by AAC&U. Publishing Industry Events: ASIFA-Hollywood opened submissions for the 54th Annie Awards, adding a new category for international anime TV/media. Markets & Publishing Context: Big oil profits surged as Iran-related disruptions pushed energy prices higher, while stocks hit fresh highs—an environment that can shape ad budgets and consumer demand.

Veterans Care Expansion: Sen. Bernie Sanders announced new VA outpatient clinics in South Burlington, VT and West Chesterfield, NH, with spring 2029 openings and added dental services in Vermont. Travel Rewards Watch: U.S. News & World Report released its 2026-2027 Best Travel Rewards Programs, with American Airlines AAdvantage taking the top airline spot. Publishing & Accessibility: Hawaii’s PUC expanded the Universal Service Fund for print disability assistance, requiring telecom providers to fund no-cost access to newspapers and magazines for blind and low-vision readers. Book Culture & Media: A new memoir, A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to Protect the President, debuts from Secret Service technical security veteran Gabriel R. Palazzi. Local Voting Help: Spokane County election officials outlined replacement-ballot options for wildfire-impacted voters ahead of Aug. 4 primaries. Performing Arts Spotlight: The Kennedy Center’s JFK naming dispute continues, with a tarp still covering Trump’s name despite a judge’s order.

Publishing & Books: A new children’s book, “Four Bears In A Box: Birthday Bash,” is set for Aug. 18 release, adding to the steady stream of family titles hitting U.S. shelves. Faith & Accessibility: Deaf Pathway Global is starting a new Deaf Bible translation approach with the Book of Esther, aiming to make Scripture accessible through sign-based “sign roots.” Film & Adaptations: Crunchyroll’s Anime Nights will screen the WEBTOON-based Korean-animated film “Your Letter” in the U.S. and Canada on Aug. 17, with a Japan release/dub planned for Sept. 25. Education Policy: The Trump administration is reportedly planning a major Head Start overhaul that would gut quality standards and push details to states and localities. Local Culture: Boulder filmmakers are producing “No Hands,” a documentary tied to the book about Schwinn’s rise and fall—an American nostalgia hit for readers who love publishing-adjacent history. Travel/Community: A Fairchild Air Force Base wildfire evacuation is underway near Spokane, underscoring how disruptions can ripple into local events and schedules.

Middle East & Markets: Gold edged higher as Trump delayed a fresh Iran attack, easing oil pressure and inflation worries, though traders stayed cautious ahead of major U.S. jobs data. Publishing & History: A new Tolkien piece revisits the atomic bomb’s moral shock, while a Chicago consulate speech spotlights a newly released Shanghai citywalk book tied to China-U.S. history. Book Culture & Censorship: A Vietnamese writers’ crackdown shows how publishing can trigger social-media denunciations, distribution bans, and legal punishment over historical narratives. Religion & Print Legacy: Coverage of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s mission work underscores how radio, TV, and print helped spread Catholic messaging worldwide. Sports Media: WWE SummerSlam Night 2 delivered major title changes and returns, while a Kochikame 50th-anniversary one-shot and new anime/game keep manga momentum rolling. Local Readers & Access: Spokane fire impacts prompted replacement-ballot options via libraries and online printing. Food Insecurity: Indiana’s latest Feeding America estimates put hunger at 1.09M residents, with many above federal eligibility limits.

Press Freedom: DOJ withdrew subpoenas for New York Times reporters after a judge signaled they’d likely be quashed, reigniting the fight over leak investigations and First Amendment limits. Publishing & Media Business: Star Troopers Holding says it’s expanding exxtra24.com into the U.S., adding a Los Angeles office and a U.S. operating company ahead of an October relaunch. Books & Culture: A new Heritage Malta publication spotlights trailblazing artist Josef Kalleya, while multiple book reviews and excerpts keep the week’s reading conversation moving. Local Tech & Privacy: Philadelphia’s license-plate reader network has scanned 25 million plates, and the city is adding speed cameras along Route 13 with a warning period expected mid-August. Travel Perks Crackdown: U.S. CBP revoked a traveler’s Global Entry after confiscating more than $21,000 in unreported cash at Philadelphia International Airport. STEM Funding: NSF announced $108M for quantum-materials research centers, even as broader NSF funding faces proposed cuts. Entertainment Tie-In: Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” roared to a $355M North American opening and $927M worldwide.

Publishing & Books in the News: Crown (Penguin Random House) is set to publish Brett McGurk’s “Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7 Hostages” on Oct. 6, with the former hostage negotiator describing his behind-the-scenes push to secure a deal. Local Libraries & Literacy: Blount County Friends of the Library and the DAR shipped 160 paperback books to U.S. troops worldwide through Operation Paperback. Student Publishing: The University of Utah’s Seven Canyons Review is back in print, giving students hands-on experience in literary publishing. Book Culture & Access: Kinokuniya reopened in Little Tokyo with a reception highlighting expanded manga and Japanese pop-culture offerings. Book Industry & Rights: A University of Tampa professor argues Trump’s anti-trans messaging is fueling public anti-trans views, tying it to broader debates over culture and speech. Immigration & Media: A Venezuelan journalist seeking asylum was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Miami Beach, raising fresh concerns for press freedom and due process.

AI & Books: ISBNdb quietly reversed course after a 404 Media investigation exposed how AI firms could legally buy physical books for training and then scan and destroy them—no regulator stepped in, but the market pitch is now gone. Publishing & Media: Prime Video’s “Reacher” keeps climbing on streaming charts ahead of season 4 (Aug. 12), a reminder that TV momentum can drive broader book-and-story interest. Tech & Consumer Policy: Trump expanded a voluntary “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” aimed at data centers covering their own power costs—critics point to forecasts that residential rates could still rise. Climate & Coverage: A National Academies-backed report highlights how climate change can be linked to specific extreme events, but major U.S. outlets are criticized for not making that connection on air. Education & Curriculum: Minnesota social studies standards roll out this fall, but some teachers say approvals and guidance are arriving too late. Local Culture: A long-running Wa-Hi alumni history project shows how schools preserve community stories—often with help from JROTC cadets.

Publishing & Books: Colson Whitehead’s “Cool Machine” caps his Harlem trilogy, with the author saying goodbye to Ray Carney as he heads into a new launch cycle. Book Culture & Community: A MoCP exhibition and companion book, “If Emmett Till Lived,” imagines an alternate life for Emmett Till using photographs—an unusual, photo-driven approach to history. Libraries & Literacy: A Festus Public Library “Touch-A-Truck” event drew about 400 attendees and ties vehicles to summer reading log prizes. Media Law: Massachusetts lawmakers advanced a press-shield amendment to block government demands that journalists reveal confidential sources. Higher Ed Trust: A Gallup-linked commentary argues public confidence in colleges keeps sliding as people see political agendas in classrooms. Publishing Industry Watch: A Reuters report highlights Citadel’s rescue of hedge fund Situational Awareness after AI-stock turmoil—another reminder of how fast markets can reshape publishing-adjacent tech funding. Travel/Books Tie-In: Amex’s targeted Air France/KLM points offer and guidance on diverted flights keep showing up alongside book-and-media coverage, reflecting how readers plan culture trips.

Publishing Labor Wins: The NewsGuild-CWA keeps stacking victories: Hachette Book Group and University of Chicago Press workers voted to unionize this week, adding 730 new members and signaling momentum across major and academic presses. Book Censorship Fight: An appeals court let Arkansas’ 2023 library-materials restriction move forward, reviving criminal liability and local control questions that libraries and bookstores say chill the freedom to read. Book Culture & Community Reading: Ohio’s Morrison-related “Bench by the Road” program spotlights Toni Morrison’s legacy with a community read-in, tying physical memorials to active reading. New Degree Pathways: UNH launched faster, lower-credit online applied bachelor’s options aimed at transfer and working students, a reminder that education access is still a publishing-adjacent story. Tech & Media: TSA leaned into a quirkier social voice while handling a “cannonball” airport incident; meanwhile, AI news and AI training practices keep raising concerns about accuracy and how content gets reused.

Space & Publishing Tech: NASA’s draft plan for private low-Earth-orbit “tenant” stations aims to keep humans in orbit after the ISS, but critics warn bureaucracy could slow investment. Local Journalism: A new op-ed argues America won’t save local reporting by ignoring newspapers, while another piece highlights how a newsroom leadership change at Flatwater could ripple into new U.S. local coverage. Libraries & Community: Queens Library breaks ground on a $40.2M Douglaston-Little Neck rebuild, and a DC Public Library “Commuter Picks” column spotlights how readers discover books through local catalogs. AI & Media Infrastructure: Europe launches AI “gigafactory” bidding with most funding not yet locked and chips tied to U.S. firms—another reminder that publishing-adjacent tech supply chains still run through America. Card & IP Ecosystems: CardSight AI adds language detection for Pokémon, One Piece, and Magic scans, helping marketplaces avoid mismatches. Culture & Books: A memoir from Stanford labor law professor William B. Gould IV ties family history to major U.S. moments, including the baseball strike.