*** Ross Rant ***
The origin story
In 2013, I put 8 entrepreneurs in one house at Sundance Mountain Resort.
No agenda. No PowerPoint. Just conversation.
Thirteen years later, Brigadoon has become something I never imagined: a gathering to which people return year after year—not for what they learn, but for who they meet and how those relationships reshape their thinking.
February 22-24, 2026, marks our eighth Sundance gathering. We've grown to 100 participants, but the principle remains: quality over scale, connection over content.
If you're building something that matters, this might be your year.
More @ brigadoon.live/utah.
-Marc
*** Caracal Daily ***
The West’s last chance: How to build a new global order before it’s too late. Alexander Stubb
AP: Talks between Russia and US end after almost five hours
AP: US-Russia talks on Ukraine were productive but work remains, Russian adviser says
US delegation meets with Putin in latest bid to end Ukraine war: WP reports ahead of the key meeting, Russia professed fresh military victories, hammering home its claim that it can succeed in the war without negotiations if it wants.
Marathon Russia-US meeting yields no Ukraine peace deal: A senior Kremlin official called the talks useful and constructive, but Ukrainian territory that Moscow covets remains a sticking point. WSJ
Russia says talks with US on Ukraine ‘useful’ but no deal reached: FT reports Vladimir Putin holds meeting with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
Putin underscores Russia’s upper hand in Ukraine ahead of Witkoff meeting: NYT reports in Moscow, Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, were expected to discuss a revised peace proposal.
Zelenskiy says he is ‘ready for a meeting with president Trump’ after Moscow talks: Irish Times reports Zelenskiy tells Oireachtas of ‘great honour to stand in a country that understands the price of freedom’ during first official visit.
Zelensky urged to reform his leadership amid ongoing peace talks: The resignation of his trusted aide and two of his ministers over corruption allegations has ignited debate over the Ukrainian president's leadership style, as calls grow for greater openness and transparency. Le Monde
Macron: No ‘finalized’ peace plan on Ukraine: Politico reports the Europeans are worried that Kyiv will be forced into accepting a bad deal.
Ukraine targets Russia’s shadow fleet: FT reports Kyiv admits striking ships to squeeze Moscow’s war revenues as peace talks enter new phase.
Ukrainian authorities arrested a British man on suspicion of spying for Russia: Economist reports Ross David Cutmore, a former British army soldier, had been volunteering as a military instructor in Ukraine. The state security service accused him of offering to carry out assassinations for money, and revealing Ukrainian troop positions.
Vladimir Putin accuses Europeans of sabotaging Ukraine peace push: FT reports Russian president hosts Witkoff and Kushner for negotiations as military claims battlefield advances in Donetsk.
+ @AFP: #BREAKING If Europe wants war with Russia, 'we are ready': Putin
Clearly the Ukraine 'peace plan' was drafted at the Kremlin: Even if not implemented as is, Trump's proposal sends another signal: by echoing war aims expressed by Putin, it reveals Russia's ambitions, argues the specialist of Russia. Françoise Thom
Bloomberg: US peace talks with Russia will not exclude NATO, Rutte says
+ US negotiations with Russia over a plan to end its war in Ukraine will not make unilateral decisions about NATO’s future, Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
+ Rutte told reporters that NATO elements of a deal to end the war against Ukraine will be dealt with separately and will include NATO.
+ NATO leaders are wary that Washington will ignore the military alliance and pressure Ukraine to accept Russia-friendly concessions, and Rutte has been in frequent contact with the US to represent Europe’s views.
NATO allies ‘punching below their weight’ face pressure to buy arms for Ukraine: Politico reports some non-NATO countries like Australia and New Zealand plan to chip in to the PURL scheme, while other allies are doing much less.
Steve Witkoff, neophyte diplomat turned Trump's global fixe: AFP reports the American at the forefront of negotiating an end to the Ukraine war is not a veteran diplomat or the US secretary of state but a billionaire real estate developer, Steve Witkoff.
A newly confident China is jockeying for more global clout as Trump pulls back: Feeling empowered after a clash over trade, Beijing looks to exploit America’s inward turn. WSJ
Macron travels to China with slim hopes of swaying Beijing on Ukraine and trade: The French president is set to make a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday, as disputes between Beijing and Paris continue to mount. China, which maintains its support for Moscow in the war in Ukraine, now accounts for nearly half of France's trade deficit. Le Monde
QOTD: “The Chinese will not pause. They will take over.” -- Michael Lohscheller, chief executive of Swedish electric car maker Polestar, tells the Guardian why Europe should stick to its plan to ban the production of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
Moreno says United States, allies 'dumb' to compete with China on EVs: Detroit News reports the United States should quit trying to compete with China on electric vehicles, US Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said Tuesday, sparking renewed debate over what direction the nation's auto industry should take amid shifting federal policies on trade, tailpipe emissions and fuel efficiency standards.
How foreign carmakers can stay the course in China Juliana Liu
Chinese embassy decision delayed until Starmer visits Beijing next year: The Times reports the super-embassy in London has been given the green light by MI5 and MI6, but the final decision will not be taken until January 20.
China's quantum leap will eclipse US aircraft carriers, analysts say: Next-generation computers could render traditional weapons obsolete. Nikkei
America is foolishly waving goodbye to thousands of Chinese boffins: Hostile policies and attacks on science are driving them back into China’s arms. Economist
Will the next blockbuster drug come from China? The biopharma industry is booming following record investment and improved supply chains. FT
Japan hotel bookings by Chinese tourists plunge by half: Nikkei reports fallout from Taiwan dispute spills over into tourism industry.
Bottlenecks in data center construction threaten Japan's AI ambitions: Labor shortages, rising costs, and outdated building processes delay construction. Nikkei
India demands installation of government app on all smartphones: FT reports privacy advocates raise concerns about potential snooping. India’s telecoms ministry has said Apple and other smartphone makers must ensure that new handsets come installed with a government cybersecurity app, raising concerns about privacy. The ministry-developed app, called Sanchar Saathi, will have access to the phone’s call log, memory, and camera, according to the app’s privacy statement.
H-1B to plan B: India’s top tech talent looks beyond the US: ROW reports India’s tech talent is increasingly opting for opportunities at home and in other countries, as the lure of the US fades.
Giorgia Meloni’s party pushes to declare Italy’s gold ‘property of the people’: FT reports country’s central bank says it owns the reserves to ‘boost confidence’ in its financial system and in the euro.
Marseille grapples with drug trafficking: 'They are so many and they have so much money': After the murder of Mehdi Kessaci, the brother of an activist against drug trafficking, Le Monde spoke with residents of housing projects, social workers, judges, and police officers. They described a growing sense of powerlessness and danger. Le Monde
Police detain Federica Mogherini in EU fraud probe: EU’s former diplomatic chief and top Brussels official in custody over suspicions of wrongdoing in contract award. FT
Reproached by Trump, Netanyahu is open to a Syria-Israel deal—with caveats: WSJ reports Israeli leader demands large buffer zone after Trump warned against actions that could destabilize the new government in Damascus.
Former president of Honduras is freed from prison after Trump pardon: NYT reports Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted of flooding the United States with cocaine and had been sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Latin America accelerates minerals shift as Trump pushes for regional sourcing: Leaders agree on need to mine and process key metals in the Americas, says IDB president Ilan Goldfajn. FT
The hardliner who wants to make Chile great again: José Antonio Kast would be the most rightwing president in 35 years of democracy. FT
Chinese investment in Argentina tops US$23 billion, defying Milei’s alignment with Trump: BAT reports an X-ray of the Asian country’s investments in Argentina. Beijing not only financed but also constructed and purchased assets in the sectors which today are the motor of Argentina’s recovery, from Vaca Muerta shale to lithium in the north.
The tectonic fracture of Argentina’s economy: This is a game-changer for Argentina’s economy, anticipated for years and slowly happening. Milei has contributed to this outcome, but it is not solely the result of his actions. He is, however, the President that – if he does things right – will benefit from it. Marcelo J. García
Rotating beds and cellphones, Maduro plans to outlast Trump: President Trump’s threat of military action has confronted President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela with the gravest challenge of his crisis-ridden reign. NYT
The Times: Trump says US will begin land strikes on Venezuela ‘very soon’
Reuters: Pope Leo urges US not to attempt military ouster of Venezuela's Maduro
Trump-style regime change in Venezuela: Conducting foreign policy, let alone war, by meme is dangerous and foolish. Edward Luce
AP: Hegseth cites ‘fog of war’ in defending follow-on strike on alleged drug boat
Hegseth says he didn’t see strike on alleged drug boat that killed survivors: Defense Secretary backed decision to hit the vessel for a second time during September attack, but says he left the room when the order was given. WSJ
Hegseth says he did not see survivors of boat attack clinging to wreckage: NYT reports he defense secretary supported the admiral he said called for the second strike on Sept. 2 against a boat the administration says was smuggling drugs.
Top Republicans turn against Hegseth, semand video of boat strike: Trump’s defense secretary is slowly losing the support of leading Republicans in Congress. TNR
Concerns grow that Hegseth, White House aim to scapegoat admiral in deadly boat strike: WSJ reports as Congress vows accountability, the Trump administration emphasized it was a top military commander — not Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — who directed the engagement.
The Hill: Adm. Frank Bradley to brief lawmakers Thursday on Venezuelan boat strikes
After decades in combat, a SEAL suddenly comes under scrutiny: Adm. Frank M. Bradley will soon face questions from lawmakers, as Republicans and Democrats express concerns about a Sept. 2 attack on a boat in the Caribbean. NYT
A sickening moral slum of an administration: Regarding Venezuela, Ukraine, and much more, Trump and his acolytes are worse than simply incompetent. George F. Will
Trump calls Somalis ‘garbage’ he doesn’t want in the country: NYT reports the president delivered xenophobic comments during a publicly broadcast cabinet meeting.
WP: Trump rails against Somali migrants: ‘I don’t want them in our country’
Trump says he doesn’t want Somali immigrants in US as ICE plans operation: WSJ reports enforcement effort would focus on Minneapolis; president has been feuding with Minnesota’s Democratic governor over immigration.
PBS: Trump says the word ‘affordability’ is a ‘con job’ by the Democrats
Donald Trump says he will nominate Federal Reserve chair in ‘early’ 2026: FT reports president touts frontrunner Kevin Hassett as ‘potential’ new head of the US central bank.
Trump hints economic adviser Hassett may be Fed chair pick: AFP reports Trump on Tuesday hinted that he wants to nominate his chief economic adviser Kevin Hassett to replace outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell next year.
Trump vows to overhaul Dulles. An early target: its ‘people movers.’ WP reports the announcement comes after two crashes involving mobile lounges used to transport passengers. The airport is already undergoing a massive renovation.
USA Today: 'Sorry, darling.' Melania Trump not a fan of ballroom construction noise
TN-07: Republican Matt Van Epps wins special election to US House in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District.
San Francisco sues ultraprocessed food companies: NYT reports the city attorney accuses large manufacturers of causing diseases that have burdened governments with public health costs.
Bloomberg: Michael Dell gives $6.25 billion to launch ‘Trump Accounts’ for 25 million kids
+ Michael and Susan Dell will give 25 million American children $250 each to jumpstart an investment account for their futures.
+ The $6.25 billion gift builds on the Invest America initiative and will fund accounts for children 10 and under who aren’t already eligible for the government money.
+ The money will be invested in diversified, low-cost index funds and won’t be accessible until the child turns 18, at which point it can be withdrawn for expenses such as a college education, home deposit or startup costs.
CNN has stuck a partnership with Kalshi, the world's largest global prediction market company, bringing Kalshi's data to its journalism across its television, digital, and social channels, executives tell Axios.
Bloomberg: Comcast’s bid seeks to merge NBCUniversal with Warner Bros.
+ Comcast Corp. is looking to merge its NBCUniversal division with Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., and has made a renewed offer for part of Warner Bros.
+ The proposed merger would create a larger entertainment entity, combining NBC TV network, film and TV studios, and theme parks with Warner Bros., and boost NBC's Peacock streaming service with Warner Bros.' HBO Max.
+ Warner Bros. shareholders would receive a combination of cash and stock in the new entity, and Warner Bros. Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav has been offered a management role with the new entity.
Americans’ social media use 2025: Growing shares of US adults say they are using Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Reddit, but YouTube still rises to the top. Pew
The new, in-demand job skill: Being a TikTok influencer for your company: Employers used to hate it. Now, Starbucks, Delta, and others are recruiting staffers to create social-media content about life at work. WSJ
OFSTED chief backs Australia-style social media ban for under-16s: The Times reports Sir Martyn Oliver says the platforms are driving a surge in disruptive behaviour and school exclusions, and severe absence is also on the rise.
Bloomberg: Tech industry drive to block state AI laws hits wall in Congress
+ A coalition of tech companies backed by the White House's artificial intelligence chief appears to have failed to persuade lawmakers to use a defense bill to block state governments from regulating artificial intelligence.
+ House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the defense bill "wasn't the best place" for a provision preempting state AI laws, but added that there is still interest in finding another place for it.
+ The defeat is a letdown for large AI companies including Meta Platforms Inc., OpenAI, Alphabet Inc.'s Google and venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, which had argued in favor of a federal standard that would preempt state AI regulations.
AI may discriminate against you at work. Some states are making it illegal. WP reports workers in California have more power to fight against the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
Welcome to fandom’s AI clout economy: AI gives fans a sense of control over their favorite celebrity’s likenesses, whether the stars like it or not. The Verge
Variety: Guillermo del Toro says ‘F— AI’ while accepting ‘Frankenstein’ Gotham
Anthropic taps IPO lawyers as it races OpenAI to go public: AI start-up picks law firm Wilson Sonsini for what could be one of the largest public offerings ever. FT
The next frontier in AI isn’t just more data: Reinforcement learning environments prepare AI for messy reality. IEEE
China’s DeepSeek challenges Google DeepMind and OpenAI with new AI model: SCMP reports DeepSeek’s V3.2-Speciale equals Google’s Gemini 3 Pro in reasoning capabilities, the Chinese start-up says.
Bloomberg: DeepSeek debuts new AI models to rival Google and OpenAI
+ China's DeepSeek unveiled two new versions of an experimental artificial-intelligence model, adding fresh capabilities to help with combining reasoning and executing certain actions autonomously.
+ The new version, DeepSeek-V3.2, matches the performance of OpenAI Inc.'s flagship GPT-5 across multiple reasoning benchmarks and combines human-like reasoning with the capability to use tools like search engines and calculators.
+ DeepSeek also released DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale, which focuses on mathematical computations and matches the performance of Google's latest Gemini-3 Pro, and performed at gold medal levels on standardized tests like the International Math Olympiad.
An AI startup looks toward the post-transformer era: The architecture underlying large language models revolutionized AI. Pathway’s Dragon Hatchling is designed to do more. WSJ
The Information: OpenAI CEO declares ‘code red’ to combat threats to ChatGPT, delays ads effort
OpenAI’s Sam Altman declares ‘code red’ after rivals make advances: FT reports $500bn start-up to refocus efforts to improve ChatGPT as Google and Anthropic narrow its early lead.
OpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google threatens AI lead: WSJ reports a companywide memo is most decisive indication yet of pressure OpenAI faces from competitors.
OpenAI ready to roll out ads in ChatGPT responses.
OpenAI confronts signs of delusions among ChatGPT users Bloomberg
Mistral unveils new models in race to gain edge in ‘open’ AI: Release of French start-up’s latest system comes amid growing concern that Europe is falling behind US and China. FT
AIs could turn opinion polls into gibberish: Large language models can answer surveys and pass the tests to check that a respondent is human. Economist
How to spot a bubble bursting: Forget valuations. Look out for search-engine hits and fund managers getting fired. Economist
The question isn’t whether the AI bubble will burst – but what the fallout will be: Will the bubble ravage the economy when it bursts? What will it leave of value once it pops? Eduardo Porter
AI bubble is fuelled by debt, Bank of England warns: The Times reports Andrew Bailey, the central bank governor, says an asset price correction for tech firms investing $5trn in artificial intelligence could upend the credit markets.
Amazon unveils new AI chip in battle against Nvidia: AFP reports Amazon Web Services launched its in-house-built Trainium3 AI chip on Tuesday, marking a significant push to compete with Nvidia in the lucrative market for artificial intelligence computing power.
Kalshi co-founder Luana Lopes Lara passes Taylor Swift to become youngest self-made female billionaire at age of 29.
Bloomberg: Samsung debuts first trifold phone ahead of folding iPhone
Reuters: Samsung unveils first multi-folding phone as competition set to heat up
+ The model, priced at about 3.59 million won ($2,440.17), unfolds into a 253.1 millimetre (10-inch) display, using three panels, and it is nearly 25% larger than Samsung's latest foldable Galaxy Z Fold 7 model.
Can Arizona miners unleash an American copper boom? Rio Tinto’s Nuton venture is using microbes to remove copper from ores that are otherwise uneconomical to mine. WSJ
How Blue Origin plans to beat SpaceX to the Moon: Successful launches are helping Jeff Bezos’ company set up missions to ferry cargo and, eventually, astronauts to the lunar surface. WSJ
Jaguar ‘ditches designer’ behind its pink brand relaunch: The Times reports Gerry McGovern, the chief creative officer involved in a widely mocked advert that featured no cars, was asked to leave JLR on Monday, Autocar reported.
Mitsubishi Motors explores joint US production with Nissan and Honda: CEO: Nikkei reports the Outlander maker imports all cars it sells in market, leaving it exposed to tariffs.
How an $11 billion beauty company built a suburban empire: Ulta found success by acting more like Home Depot than like Sephora. Bloomberg
Prada completed its €1.25bn ($1.4bn) purchase of Versace. The price was reportedly snipped by $200 million after Versace faced a big hit from Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The end of the lunch bowl era: Diners have bowl fatigue, with some deriding them as ‘slop.’ Even Chipotle’s founder has moved on by starting a sandwich chain. Bloomberg
The single trait that successful entrepreneurs share David C. Baker
The John le Carré series “Legacy of Spies” has been picked up at the BBC in the UK and MGM+ in the US, Variety has learned exclusively.
The dark secrets of the writer behind ‘Train Dreams’: An adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella arrives at the same time as a new biography, unlocking one of his best-loved and least-understood books. NYT Mag
Bonnaroo 2026: Skrillex, the Strokes, and Noah Kahan are slated to headline the music festival, taking place from June 11-14 in Manchester, TN.
The Cleveland Browns are officially moving to Brook Park: Cleveland's city council has approved a settlement that clears the way for the Browns to leave downtown for a $2.4B stadium in suburban Brook Park. The Browns will pay up to $103M to the city over the next 15 years. The city of Cleveland will drop all lawsuits challenging the move.
Serena Williams comeback? Tennis great denies she’s planning to return. WP reports the greatest women’s tennis player of all-time has reentered the sport’s drug testing pool, a mandatory step in a potential return to competition.
Red Bull promote rookie Hadjar to partner Verstappen: AFP reports French rookie Isack Hadjar will step up to the main Red Bull car next season to partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen, the Austrian Formula One team announced on Tuesday.
Detroit News: Michigan State sets $1 billion fundraising goal to upgrade athletic facilities
JMU makes the cut and ACC’s disaster scenario surfaces in CFP rankings: Even without Lane Kiffin, Mississippi is No. 6 after Texas A&M’s loss to Texas. Alabama inched ahead of Notre Dame. North Texas and James Madison debuted. WP
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Daily | December 3
