{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Hunchline: The Morning Line","title":"Monday, August 3rd 2026 — AXTI Rips, Reddit Craters, and the Conspiracy Corner Goes Full Surveillance State","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/f6f75a1f\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1697,"description":"Show Notes — 2026-08-03\nMarkets kicked off Monday, August third with a wild pre-market: AXT Inc exploded nearly thirty percent on a semiconductor contract, Amazon surged sixteen percent on blowout earnings, and Reddit cratered twenty percent as AI threatens its entire data licensing business model. Meanwhile Trump called off a planned Iran strike and proposed new talks, oil dropped five percent, and New York state filed a thirty-six billion dollar lawsuit against Kalshi for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation.\n**In This Episode**\n- **AXT Inc +29.5%** — Semiconductor substrate maker rips on domestic chip production contract; Nigel breaks down the options action\n- **Amazon +16.4%** — Massive earnings beat across AWS, advertising, and revenue; the glow-up quarter\n- **Reddit -20.4%** — Slowing user growth and stalled AI licensing deals hammer the stock; existential questions about its data business\n- **Trump / Iran Talks** — Trump calls off planned strike, proposes talks begin Monday; Tehran hasn't confirmed; oil drops 5%\n- **New York Sues Kalshi** — $36 billion lawsuit alleges prediction market platform is running an illegal gambling operation\n- **Zuckerberg AI Pivot** — Widely shared report claims Meta's AI push is underperforming; Hannah breaks down why it threatens the ad model\n- **OnlyMarms** — California wildlife researchers launch an OnlyFans for a chubby marmot named Carl after funding dries up\n- **Artist AI Surveillance Boycott** — Rage Against the Machine members and hundreds of artists sign pledge to boycott facial recognition venues\n- **Rep. Massie Flock Camera Bill** — Federal legislation announced to defund license plate reader network funding streams\n- **Joniah Walker Found** — Teen missing since 2022 recovered alive in Virginia after being held captive\n**Market Board**\n- **S&P 500** — $750.15 (+1.14%)\n- **NASDAQ** — $691.30 (+1.13%)\n- **Russell 2000** — $293.09 (+0.17%)\n- **Bitcoin** — $62,537 (-1.43%)\n- **Ethereum** — $1,841.23 (-1.77%)\n-...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/VTclNSNN5T2qVCHAGT4x9ZWkY97K0FSA60flBDOQCJM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wY2Q1/ZWFiMDkzYWNhYjQ4/ZTIxZDBmM2VmZmZh/NjA5ZS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}