Trending News Right Now
The most-read stories on Alto from the past 24 hours, ranked by how many readers opened them.
Broken feet, ripped-out hair and now a death sentence: the fate of twin sisters jailed over Iran protests
Taraneh Rahimi was told prison guards would rape her sister, Romina, if she did not sign a confession The twins were 19 and still in high school when they were taken from their beds in the dead of night by masked men later identified as being sent by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. After four months of desperately seeking news from hospitals and state institutions, their mother, Marzieh Nourmohammadi, finally learned their fate. Taraneh and Romina Rahimi had been seized over their decision to join millions on the streets of Iranian cities during the January protests against the regime. The twins were unrecognisable by the time of their mother’s prison visit in May. Continue reading...
The Guardian — World25 readsYou Don't Have a Right to Safe Drinking Water, US Court Rules
Article URL: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/drinking-water-mississippi-lawsuit/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49584637 Points: 15 # Comments: 0
Hacker News20 readsTime lords prepare to kick leap seconds into the next millennium
Risk of an unprecedented negative adjustment prompts plan to let UTC drift by as much as an hour
The Register8 readsThe Real Elites Vs. The Ruling Elites
The Real Elites Vs. The Ruling Elites Authored by Ryan McMaken via The Mises Institute, Always and everywhere, political institutions are controlled by elites. It doesn't matter if the regime type is democratic or monarchical. It doesn't matter if there is a written constitution or not. All political institutions - and certainly every sovereign state - are run by a group of elites who control the means of coercion.The myth of "rule by the people" is precisely that: a myth. But this leaves a big question open: who are the elites? Wilfredo Pareto, that pioneer of Italian elite theory, convincingly suggests that elites are simply those people who are most skilled in their respective fields. Being skilled does not suggest any sort of virtue or beauty, of course, and we cannot assume that any member of the elite will be more moral or refined than any, say, middle-class mechanic. In the case of political elites, to be "elite" simply means to be the most effective at organizing and commanding political action. This can be done toward both virtuous ends or evil ends. The political elites excel at the gaining and wielding of political power. Nothing more. In hereditary monarchies, for example, the monarch is a monarch because his ancestors were more effective at using violence - and at stealing and killing - than were their competitors. Their descendants are able to remain in the elite through effective political scheming to maintain their positions. In democracies, those who gain and maintain power are effective at deceiving the voting public and at currying favor with the ruling coalitions of various interest groups. They're not "the elite" because they are especially virtuous or well educated. They simply excel at cultivating the knowledge necessary to wield the power of the state against their enemies and against potential rivals. Economic Elites vs. Political Elites There is, however, often confusion as to the difference between economic elites and political elites. One could say that economic elites are those who are most skilled at the management of property. Yet, the nature of the economic elites depends largely on what type of regime exists within society. In a society that has a mostly market system, the economic elites are those who are most productive in the free marketplace. These are the people who are skilled at entrepreneurship, sales, logistics, investing, and all other aspects of a freely functioning market. In a mostly free society, the economic elites are free to spend most of their time on their activities in the marketplace, and they are thus rewarded for spending their efforts in improving their own productivity. Moreover, all of society benefits from these sorts of economic elites. This is because rewards in the marketplace stem from delivering more goods and services to more people at a price that a growing number of people can afford. Things are different in a society where the economy is dominated by the state - and thus by the political elite. In such a society, the economic elites are those who are most skilled at using the power of the state to achieve success in the state-regulated marketplace. In this case, the economic elites are those who are able to partner with the regime to obtain policies that benefit the elites through the manipulation and regulation of the market. These policies include bailouts, state-backed monopolies, and an easy-money-fueled financial system. In this system, the economic elites are able to maintain and enhance their positions and their wealth through effective political action, and by serving the political elites instead of customers in the marketplace. When this happens, we cannot assume that the economic elites are there because they add value to society. Rather, the economic elites in this latter system are parasitical. They rely on the exploitation of others to maintain their positions and to expand their market share. One of the most dramatic examples of this can be seen in the response to the financial crisis that began in 2008. Had the marketplace been allowed to function, many large banks and other firms would have been bankrupted, and their property repurposed by other, more efficient owners and managers. Those new owners could have become a new economic elite. But thanks to the intervention of the incumbent political elites, failing firms were saved through the redistribution of wealth from the productive classes to hand-picked, politically connected incumbent firms and owners. Thus, firms like Citicorp and AIG were bailed out, new regulations imposed, and firms like JP Morgan greatly expanded their market share. The Federal Reserve's mass purchasing of mortgage-backed securities rescued a large portion of the financial sector from insolvency. As a result, most of the economic "elite" we find in the financial sector owe their positions to political action rather than any actual skill in the marketplace. Sure, these people are fond of telling themselves that they are rich because "the market" values them so highly. In reality, they are successful because lobbyists have succeeded in propping up their firms and ensuring, through constant monetary inflation, growth in their portfolios. But this is just one example. In any society where the political elites are prolific spenders, or engage in widespread regulation of the economy, the economy is continually distorted in a way as to favor the politically well connected at the expense of everyone else. For example, the economic "elites" who rely heavily on government contracts - e.g., Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, the founder of Flock Safety, et al - are not in the elite because they are especially productive in a free market. They are in the elite because they are adept at seizing the property of taxpayers through the tax-and-spend mechanism. Note that in this interventionist system, the real economic elites - the people who would have risen to the top of an actually free economy - are crowded out and kept down by government action that favors certain firms. Who are these would-be elites? We'll never know, and instead we are left with our counterfeit billionaire class which is "elite" only in their skill at exploiting people who do real work in the private sector. Conclusion Thus we have a merging of the economic and the political elite. Both types of elites generally rely on some sort of deception to buttress their claims. The political elite, for example, claim their positions by virtue of some sort of mandate from heaven, or moral virtue, or because they allegedly reflect the "will of the people." These are all lies, of course, but have nonetheless worked to fool and pacify the public for many centuries. Under a regime of economic interventionism, the economic elites rely on lies as well. They claim they are elites because they are efficient or hard-working, or "serve the customer." These are lies as well since, in the absence of a free - or even mostly free - market, the elites are, in fact, in their positions due to political maneuvering. They are, in effect, merely an extension of the political elite. The more interventionist the regime is, the more this is true. The real elites have always been those who receive the voluntary and free support of others through the private sector, or through other non-violent means of interaction: through families, religious institutions, and other institutions of the private sector. On the other hand, those who become "elites" through the initiation of violence, and through the looting of others, have always been frauds and imposters. Tyler Durden Sat, 09/05/2026 - 23:20
ZeroHedge8 readsThe Fairphone 6 Plus is the midrange phone we desperately needed
Repairability rules. The Fairphone 6 Plus feels like an extremely average midrange Android phone and I couldn't be more thrilled. The mission has always been admirable. Fairphone seeks out ethically sourced materials and offers a high degree of repairability for its devices. But the phones themselves required a lot of sacrifices, like putting up with underpowered processors and bad cameras, in order to embrace the sustainability mission. The latest generations of Fairphone have inched toward closing that gap, and the 6 Plus achieves two huge milestones: It feels very much like using a middling Android phone, and it's actually on sale in the US. The 6 Plus is a … Read the full story at The Verge.
The Verge7 readsVancouver strip club's Instagram taken down over sign featuring lake joke
Article URL: https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-strip-club-instagram-taken-down-sign-calls-out-trump-12725993 Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49583232 Points: 4 # Comments: 1
Hacker News7 readsSimon and Schuster Is Right to Publish Arday’s Memoir
The public has an interest in the late professor’s confabulations. The post Simon and Schuster Is Right to Publish Arday’s Memoir appeared first on The American Conservative.
The American Conservative7 readsGermany, Kosovo unite against ticks carrying deadly virus
Germany has high-security labs while Kosovo has Hyalomma ticks and experience with the deadly Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Working together, German and Kosovar scientists are fighting the disease and its vectors.
DW News6 readsI Changed My License
Article URL: https://bergie.iki.fi/blog/eupl/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49585161 Points: 7 # Comments: 2
Hacker News6 reads‘Nobody will win’: Zelenskyy adviser warns of mutual destruction if war with Russia continues
Serhii Beskrestnov says deadlock on frontline and increasing use of deep strikes is placing civilians and infrastructure at greater risk Russia and Ukraine are locked in an escalating war of long-range strikes with a growing risk to civilians in which neither side can entirely prevail, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s defence technology adviser. Serhii Beskrestnov, widely known by his call sign, Flash, said he was worried about the prospects for Kyiv this winter, and suggested elderly people should be evacuated in case Russian bombing were to knock out the capital’s energy supply. Continue reading...
The Guardian — World6 readsDetective says cruelty of woman's murder will "stay with me forever"
Lt. Dakota Black of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office in Shawnee, Oklahoma, says the case of Makayla Meave, a missing teacher's aide, was one of the most heart-wrenching cases of her career.
CBS News6 readsThe ‘Burnham Bounce’ Is Real But Fragile
Despite the new prime minister’s polling bump, Labour remains vulnerable on immigration. The post The ‘Burnham Bounce’ Is Real But Fragile appeared first on The American Conservative.
The American Conservative5 readsCalifornia pizza joint allegedly used as meth distribution hub as illegal immigrant charged
Kawal Preet Singh allegedly used a Round Table Pizza in Dinuba to distribute over 40 pounds of methamphetamine as part of an organized crime network.
Fox News5 readsFirst round of September Social Security payments goes out in three days
The first round of September Social Security payments for retirees, now capped at $5,181, will be issued in three days. When will payments arrive? Retirees born on or before the 10th of a month will receive this payment on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The second round will go out on Sept. 16 to those born between […]
Washington Examiner4 readsRobert Pattinson responds to Chris Hansen’s Primetime backlash - The Independent
Robert Pattinson responds to Chris Hansen’s Primetime backlash The Independent 'Primetime' Review: Robert Pattinson's Uncanny Portrait of Predation Variety In ‘Primetime,’ Robert Pattinson takes on the ‘irresistible’ role of Chris Hansen AP News Primetime review: Robert Pattinson is extraordinary as controversial paedophile-hunter Chris Hansen ★★★★★ BBC ‘Primetime’ Review: Robert Pattinson Is Monomaniacal, Magnetic & Completely Unhinged In Lance Oppenheim’s Terrific Drama The Playlist
Google News4 readsPentagon Generals Revolt Against Hegseth Over Iran War
Several of the U.S. military’s most senior commanders privately warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonged operations against Iran could weaken America’s ability to respond to threats elsewhere, including dangers to the homeland, according to a classified Pentagon assessment. Commanders responsible for U.S. forces in Europe, Asia and Latin America, along with the Navy’s top […] The post Pentagon Generals Revolt Against Hegseth Over Iran War appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
Resist the Mainstream4 readsMichigan-Western Michigan clock controversy leaves players, fans and a rules analyst puzzled
Bryce Underwood's failed Hail Mary seemed to seal a Western Michigan upset before officials put one second back on the clock at the Big House.
Fox News3 readsOnly This Would Happen in Portland
A gay veteran’s Pride flag vandalized in Portland highlights divisions within the LGBTQ+ community.
Townhall3 readsThe Best Gaming Chairs (2026): Are They Worth It?
The best gaming chair is actually an office chair. Here are our top picks from our real-life testing so far.
Wired3 readsIn Ukraine, Fraud and Waste Are Rewarded With More Weapons Contracts - The New York Times
In Ukraine, Fraud and Waste Are Rewarded With More Weapons Contracts The New York Times What Secret Audits Tell Us About How Ukraine’s Military Is Spending Its Money The New York Times
Google News3 readsOnline bookies accused of UK privacy breaches with use of cookie banners
Most gambling websites nudge users towards accepting tracking data and harvest it before consent is given, study shows Online bookmakers and casinos have been accused of widespread non-compliance of information privacy requirements, including “data surveillance” of customers, according to a study. Nearly nine out of 10 (86%) licensed British gambling websites appear to be flouting the general data protection regulation (GDPR), the strict rules governing how organisations can collect, store and process personal data, according to the research. Continue reading...
The Guardian — World3 readsIsraeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says ‘Qatar is a hostile state’
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed accusations about his government’s alleged ties to Qatar as ‘one big bluff’
Al Jazeera3 readsThis new reveal suggests MacBook Ultra might cost more than we think
As soon as next month, Apple is expected to introduce its next MacBook Pro redesign. We’ll be seeing OLED, the first touchscreen on a Mac, a thinner chassis, Dynamic Island, and much more. This upgrade was rumored to be called MacBook Ultra, though it wasn’t necessarily clear where that’d leave the MacBook Pro brand. Now, it’s a lot more clear. more…
9to5Mac3 readsHegseth's Polygraphs Return To Pentagon In 'Major Leak Hunt' Over Iran War
Hegseth's Polygraphs Return To Pentagon In 'Major Leak Hunt' Over Iran War The polygraphs have returned to the Pentagon, after the Trump administration has been furious over what the president calls 'leaks' by US officials to the press, particularly regarding alleged diminished munitions stocks and missile shortages. The New York Times reports Saturday that Pentagon investigators have questioned roughly 50 personnel on the Joint Staff whether they had disclosed classified information to journalists. File image, Anadolu Agency The publication calls it a "major leak hunt" - with the widespread polygraph tests having taken place in August, and possibly with more rounds to come. "Between 1,500 and 2,000 officers and officials work for the Joint Staff, which coordinates operations, policy and war plans with combatant commanders around the world," the NY Times notes. Dozens of other officials, including under US Central Command (CENTCOM), were also polygraph tested earlier this summer. An avalanche of media reports in August, and from earlier in the summer, have said the US exhausted much of its stock of long-range Tomahawk missiles on the Iran war, along with Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors. US officials have stated to CBS that no one failed the tests, but it has had a chilling effect, given that sources have also described the scope of the dragnet as "extraordinary". All of this seems not only geared toward preventing leaks to the press, but comes amid a climate of perceived 'disloyalty' and dissent against War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Polygraphs are typically used in the military or intelligence community in cases of suspected foreign espionage or instances of suspicion of handing off classified information. Hegseth has already greatly narrowed his trusted inner-circle. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has only said that the Department of War "takes all leaks of classified national security information extremely seriously and investigates accordingly." This isn't the first wave of polygraphs at the Pentagon under Trump. Hegseth had previewed these actions all the way back in Fall 2025. There's also been widespread signings of NDAs. Now they gotta do it again to find out who leaked this https://t.co/t0P837nvoq September 5, 2026 While there already exist laws and policies covering unauthorized disclosure of classified, restricted, or sensitive information, this is clearly part of a broader push to tighten up leaks. The reality too is that leaks to the media are a fairly standard part of any administration, going back through American history. Trump likely knows this, but is naturally leery of any further efforts to undermine his policies - especially in this sensitive moment ahead of the November midterm elections. Tyler Durden Sat, 09/05/2026 - 22:45
ZeroHedge3 readsAngry locals block famous beach as mass tourism protests escalate at vacation hot spot
Around 100 residents occupied Cala Saladeta beach in Ibiza to protest tourist overcrowding, demanding that locals reclaim the island's public spaces from visitors.
Fox News2 readsMamdani Taken to Court by Immigrant Businesses Over City-Run Grocery Store Scheme
A coalition of immigrant business owners filed a lawsuit over New York City Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to launch government grocery stores. The Multicultural Business Coalition, which represents 50 […] The post Mamdani Taken to Court by Immigrant Businesses Over City-Run Grocery Store Scheme appeared first on The Western Journal.
The Western Journal2 readsPolitics chat: First-ever Republican midterm convention or Trump rally?
A first-ever Republican midterm convention is taking place this week in Dallas, but are candidates interested in attending? Plus, Michigan's Democratic senate candidate apologizes to Jewish voters.
NPR2 readsAmerica's biggest beer-loving states revealed — see where yours ranks
America's beer capital runs through Wisconsin for the second straight year, with the Midwest dubbed the nation's "beer belt." Regional loyalty remains strong, experts say.
Fox News2 readsMidterm Countdown: Republicans find their boogeymen
This story is part of a series of monthly snapshots from the Washington Examiner, titled Midterm Countdown, gauging the state of the 2026 election cycle. Scroll down to the bottom of the story for the latest prediction market odds of who is going to win. The GOP is in final preparations for the Republican Midterm Convention […]
Washington Examiner2 readsIt’s usually $60 to get a BJ’s club card, but now it’s only $15
BJ's wholesale store now has a 1-year membership on sale for $15.
Mashable2 reads
How Alto ranks trending stories
This page ranks the stories Alto readers are actually opening, not the ones an engagement algorithm has decided to amplify. Every headline published in the last 24 hours is scored by how many readers opened it here, and the list re-sorts throughout the day as attention moves.
Because Alto aggregates across the political spectrum, the trending list is a snapshot of what a mixed audience is reading rather than what a single newsroom is promoting. Each entry links to the story page, where you will find the publisher, the original link, and — on many stories — AI analysis adding context.
Trending News — Frequently Asked Questions
- How is trending calculated on Alto?
- Alto counts how many readers open each story page and ranks stories published in the last 24 hours by that count. There is no editorial weighting, no paid placement, and no personalization — every visitor sees the same ranking.
- How often does the trending list update?
- The ranking is recomputed every few minutes, so a story that starts moving will climb within one refresh cycle. Stories drop off automatically once they pass 24 hours old.
- What is the difference between trending and breaking news?
- Trending ranks by readership, so it surfaces the stories getting the most attention. Breaking News is ordered purely by publication time, so it shows the newest headlines regardless of how many people have read them yet.
- Does Alto track me to build this list?
- No. Alto counts page opens in aggregate and requires no account. There is no per-reader profile behind the ranking.