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  • 🌊 Don-ton Abbey: Trump's UK Visit

🌊 Don-ton Abbey: Trump's UK Visit

Plus: Nvidia's investment, pastor's emotional support gator banned, & 20 Questions

September 19, 2025

There’s a fish in the SF aquarium that’s older than the Golden Gate Bridge.

The fish — fittingly named Methuselah — arrived in the US in 1938. Scientists believe Methuselah is 93 years old now, though they slapped on a ± 9-year margin of error. In fairness to the scientists, the fish looks OLD and in desperate need of a new skincare routine. To put her age into context, 93 years is 3,500 lifespans of my fourth grade class’s goldfish. Crazy, huh?

What’s not crazy, though, is subscribing to The RocaNews Show on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify. The first 10 minutes or so of today’s episode is news, and after that we do a deep-dive discussion of Kimmel’s suspension. Enjoy!

🇬🇧 Trump and Starmer chop it up in the UK

💰 Nvidia makes huge investment in Intel

🐊 Pastor's emotional support gator banned

–Max and Max

KEY STORY

Trump-Starmer Meeting

President Trump concluded his two-day state visit to Britain on Thursday with a joint news conference alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

  • British officials hoped to secure favorable trade deals, coordinate responses to global conflicts, and preserve the countries’ relationship despite growing policy disagreements

  • The two leaders disagreed on Britain's planned recognition of a Palestinian state, with Trump emphasizing his focus on hostage releases, stating he wanted all remaining hostages freed immediately

  • On Russia-Ukraine, Trump expressed frustration with Putin regarding the lack of progress in peace negotiations, and Starmer urged Trump to increase pressure on Russia

Dig Deeper 

  • The visit produced significant business agreements, with companies including Microsoft, OpenAI, and Blackstone pledging more than $200B in investment in Britain over the next decade. Trump and Starmer signed a technology partnership agreement focused on artificial intelligence and nuclear energy cooperation

  • However, Britain failed to secure the reduced US tariffs on steel that it had sought

KEY STORY

Nvidia to Invest in Rival Intel

Nvidia agreed to invest $5B in Intel, becoming one of Intel’s largest shareholders after buying more than 4% of the company

  • Intel dominated the computer chip industry for decades, but has struggled in recent years as artificial intelligence transformed the tech landscape, losing its position as the world's most valuable chipmaker to Nvidia in 2020

  • The two Silicon Valley rivals announced the deal on Wednesday and said they will work together to develop chips that combine Intel’s general-purpose processors with Nvidia’s graphics technology

  • The investment comes just weeks after the US government took a 10% stake in Intel and follows Japan’s SoftBank’s $2B investment in Intel last month

Dig Deeper

  • Despite the partnership, the deal stops short of having Intel manufacture Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips, which are currently produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company

  • Industry analysts say Intel needs a major customer like Nvidia to survive, but a manufacturing arrangement is not part of the current deal

  • With Thursday’s stock surge following the announcement, the government's stake in Intel has already increased in value by more than 50%, or about $4.9B

KEY STORY

Kimmel Off the Air

ABC announced that it had suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after the host made controversial comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk

  • During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel had accused conservatives of trying to score political points from Kirk’s death, saying, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them”

  • The Disney-owned ABC network pulled Kimmel's show off the air starting Wednesday evening, following mounting pressure from the Federal Communications Commission and affiliate stations, including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair, which operate dozens of ABC affiliates

Dig Deeper 

  • The FCC chairman criticized Kimmel's remarks, suggesting the commission could take action against ABC's broadcast licenses: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way
These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead”

  • President Trump praised ABC's decision on Truth Social, calling it “Great News for America,” while Democrats criticized the suspension as censorship, with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) calling it “outrageous” and comparing it to autocratic tactics

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

Kurt Cobain

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KEY STORY

Trump Targets Antifa

President Trump announced his intention to designate Antifa as a “major terrorist organization”

  • Antifa – the decentralized political movement whose name is short for anti-fascist – gained prominence after Trump’s 2017 inauguration and expanded after the Charlottesville confrontations

  • Trump previously considered this designation in 2020 during the George Floyd protests

  • The president described Antifa as a “SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER” and said he would recommend investigating those funding the movement

  • The announcement followed conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination, where bullet casings contained anti-fascist slogans, though no evidence connects the suspect to any organized group

Dig Deeper

  • The mechanics of designating Antifa as a terrorist organization remain uncertain, as the movement lacks a unified structure or leadership and rather comprises a multitude of autonomous groups

  • Unlike foreign terrorist organizations on the State Department's list, Antifa operates domestically and enjoys First Amendment protections

  • In 2020, the former FBI Director testified that Antifa represents an ideology rather than an organization, which could complicate any formal designation

RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office

👓 Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the company’s first smart glasses with a built-in display screen, positioning wearable technology as essential to achieving what Zuckerberg called “superintelligence.”

👼 Three police officers were killed and two others critically injured during a domestic violence investigation in rural Pennsylvania, with the gunman fatally shot by police.

đŸ‡ș🇾 A House resolution to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death failed in a 214-213 vote on Wednesday.

đŸȘŠ The board of Turning Point USA appointed Erika Kirk as CEO following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, who co-founded and led the conservative organization from 2012 until his death.

đŸ•”ïž UK authorities arrested three people in Essex on suspicion of spying for Russia, including two men aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old woman. Counter terrorism police detained them on charges of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

What does Roca Nation think?

🍿 Today’s Question: Thoughts on the Jimmy Kimmel suspension?

I AM ALARMED. I get that the First Amendment is often cited, rarely understood. I get that the First Amendment stops the government from punishing you for your words. Post or say political stuff? Employers can impose consequences. BUT there is always a loophole when the government pressures a private corporation to punish you. I think it's called State Action. Anywho- the government cannot do indirectly what it isn't allowed to do directly. So Kimmel has a hell of a case, and if this is the rabbit hole we are going down, it's going to be a war of words - at the expense of the people.

Elisha from PA

It was time for him to go. He didn't have a single monologue that was apolitical. I used to watch late night talk shows because they were funny and entertaining. Once Kimmel and Colbert emerged it was all about politics, even the guests were political. It's funny how money always proceeds these departures. Abc was.probably losing money and just looking for an opportunity to bar him and others. Now the view should be next.

Joe from Philly

Overall, I am really grateful that so many companies are standing up to the asinine comments their employees are making about Charlie Kirk, which are incredibly inappropriate after the broad daylight assassination of someone who was simply trying to bring people together.

In Jimmy Kimmel's case, and as a conservative, what he said absolutely enraged me. It was inappropriate and uncalled for, but I feel that it would make more of an impact if he were to go on his show and sincerely apologize and open up a conversation for how your words can have meaning and lead to violent actions. Hopefully more people will start to see that after their anger subsides regarding his suspension.

Julie from MA

20 Questions!

From “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse!” to “You can’t handle the truth!” Hollywood has gifted us some magnificent quotes over the years. But it has also punished us with some absolute low-grade, dog-s**t lines that we would like to recognize in today’s 20 Questions. In today’s 20 questions, we will give you 20 awful movie quotes, and you have to rate them on how terrible they are. 1 being “not that bad” and 10 being “I will never recover from this bad.” We look forward to seeing the results.

Last Week’s Responses

Featured responses from last week’s Word Association edition of 20 Questions.

Actor - Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds
School food - Pizza, Grilled cheese, Chicken nuggets
YouTube - Mr Beast, Shorts, Videos
Lazy - Sloth, Couch, Dog
Energy - Drink, Coffee, Low
Eminem - Rapper, Mom's spaghetti, Brent Musberger
Almond Joy - Yum, Gross, Candy
Infestation - Bugs, Rats, Cockroaches
Football - Boring, Game, Fall
Airplane - Travel, Crash, In the night sky like shooting stars
California - Sun, Beach, Liberal
Texas - Big, Cowboy, Jerry Jones 😂
Gas station - Snacks, Expensive, Junk food
Juice - Orange, Apple, Sugar
Mitochondria - Powerhouse, Cell, Powerhouse of the cell
Hard-to-pronounce words - Worcestershire, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Onomatopoeia
Conspiracy - Theory, JFK, Moon landing
Annoying fanbase - Taylor Swift, Cowboys, CNN
Inspirational leader - MLK, Jesus, Charlie Kirk
Cult - Scientology, Trump, Manson

POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour

⚟ No More Dodging: Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ legendary left-handed ace, announced his retirement after 18 seasons that include two World Series championships.

⚖ Lawyers Gone Goofy: Personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan is suing Disney for the right to use 1928’s “Steamboat Willie” in their advertisements, claiming the copyright expired last year.

đŸŽ™ïž Bouncing Into Podcasting: Basketball brothers, LiAngelo and Lonzo Ball, have signed with Jake Paul’s Betr Media as equity partners to relaunch their podcast, “What An Experience.”

đŸ€ż The Wet Bandit: A scuba gear-wearing robber struck a restaurant at Disney Springs in Orlando after hours, making off with cash before swimming away.

🐊 Snappy Shopping Ban: A Pennsylvania pastor and his 5-foot emotional support alligator named Jinseioshi have been banned from Walmart after years of supposedly problem-free shopping cart rides.

ROCA WRAP
American Emperor

Joshua Abraham Norton

A delusional businessman declared himself emperor and convinced an entire city to play along for two decades.

Joshua Abraham Norton arrived in San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush as a successful commodities trader. By 1852, he had become one of the city's most prosperous citizens. Then he attempted to corner the rice market in a disastrous gambit that wiped out his fortune and forced him into bankruptcy by 1856.

Three years later, the broken businessman made an extraordinary declaration. On September 17, 1859, Norton proclaimed himself “Emperor of these United States” in a letter to the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin. The newspaper printed it for comedic effect, unknowingly launching Norton's 20-year “reign.”

Norton took his imperial role seriously, issuing decrees from his modest quarters. He formally abolished Congress, ordered the Army to clear government halls, and banned the word “Frisco” under penalty of a $25 fine. He also called for a suspension bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland – a vision that would become the Bay Bridge.

The self-styled emperor wore an elaborate blue military uniform with gold epaulettes, gifted by Army officers. He completed his look with a feathered beaver hat, walking stick, and umbrella, spending his days inspecting city infrastructure and holding court with citizens.

What made Norton extraordinary wasn't his delusion, but San Francisco's embrace of it. Restaurants accepted his handwritten currency, theaters reserved seats for him, and the 1870 census listed his occupation as “Emperor” (though it also noted he was insane). When police arrested Norton in 1867 for mental treatment, public outrage forced his release and an official apology. Police officers saluted him thereafter.

Norton attempted international diplomacy, writing marriage proposals to Queen Victoria and expanding his title to “Protector of Mexico.” His letters went unanswered, but local newspapers continued publishing his proclamations.

On January 8, 1880, Norton collapsed on a San Francisco street corner and died before help arrived, ending his 21-year reign. Despite rumors of wealth, searchers found only $5 in his pockets.

Initially planned as a pauper’s burial, San Francisco businessmen provided Norton with a handsome casket and dignified funeral. An estimated 10,000 people paid respects to the man who had entertained their city for two decades.

Sometimes the best way to rule a country is to let people believe you’re completely harmless.

EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts

Phew, we made it through yet another brutal week of news. Unlike other news companies that want to keep you sucked into their vortex of doom and gloom, we hope you shut your laptops, close out that X tab, and enjoy a beautiful day wherever you live. That is, of course, after you do 20 Questions.

Thank you, as always, for reading Roca.

–Max and Max