Would you return lost cash?

ALISTER: I’m not thrilled that an AI cowboy just boot-scooted its way to #1, but this was inevitable. The real question is how we make sure actual musicians don’t get steamrolled!

MERIDYTH: Unacceptable. If a robot wants to cosplay as a country singer, fine. But it needs to be labelled as such… everywhere. Not like this Breaking Rust “artist” with socials pretending to be a real person. Say “AI-made” loudly like it’s an allergy warning.

ALISTER: Technology has always disrupted music. Synths, drum machines, EDM… computers have been making music for decades. Focus on protections so humans still get paid, not throw a fit every time AI is used.

MERIDYTH: Except EDM producers aren’t ripping copyrighted songs, remixing them, and calling its output as their own. AI models train on real artists’ work without permission. And then Billboard rewards it by putting it in its chart?

ALISTER: Banning AI music from charts won’t work. People are already listening. It’s like people waiting to ban Netflix movies from the Oscars. The industry just needs regulation, transparency, and maybe a giant flashing badge.

MERIDYTH: Transparency is the bare minimum. I want provenance tags, watermarking, audit trails, and a giant neon sign saying “⚠️ AI-CREATED MUSIC.” If we don’t draw the line now, the robots won’t just walk the walk, they’ll steal the whole damn stage.

A restaurant in Thailand that was flooded by a nearby river has become an internet sensation by staying open, allowing diners to eat while fish swim around their feet. We're not asking you to wade through water, just to share The AM Squabble!

📉 Tax rise scrapped. Rachel Reeves has abandoned plans to raise income tax after fears of angry voters and a Labour MP revolt. The U-turn rattled markets, pushing gilt yields and the pound down. She’ll now chase filling the £30bn budget gap through smaller targeted taxes instead.

🛂 Toughest asylum overhaul yet. The Home Secretary will propose Denmark-style rules for asylum seekers (e.g. stricter reviews to speed removals, tighter family-reunion limits, and courts prioritising public safety), all to deter “asylum shopping.” Critics say it harms families fleeing violence.

🏠 No-fault evictions finally banned. From 1 May, renters will get huge protections - i.e. no-fault evictions scrapped, rent hikes capped once a year, bidding wars banned, and landlords barred from discriminating against families or benefit claimants. Ministers call it “fairness”; landlords warn chaos ahead.

🏆 The capital of capitals. It’s official. London is the world’s best city to live, work and visit for the 11th year running. Rankings blend liveability, culture, economic strength and digital buzz, but it conveniently ignored the increasing price of a pint. Sigh.

🚗 Bots not allowed. To stop bots hoarding slots and reselling driving test bookings for £500, only learners will be allowed to reserve them. Swaps will be limited, instructors banned from booking, and MoD examiners drafted in to shrink the 22-week backlog.

GOOD NEWS… for Americans, after the longest US govt shutdown in history ended after 43 days, temporarily. The budget was only approved through January. BAD NEWS… for Trump after Democrats released pointed emails by Epstein, which has led to a House vote this week to decide whether more Epstein files should be released.

😱 Italy’s Most Dangerous Game. Milan prosecutors are investigating claims that wealthy Italian extremists paid up to €100k in the 90s to travel to Sarajevo and shoot civilians for sport. Witnesses, intelligence officials and survivors say dozens may have taken part in the grotesque “weekend sniper” trips.

🥶 A new ice age? Iceland has declared a potential collapse of a key Atlantic ocean current, the AMOC, as a national security risk. Scientists warn it could trigger ice-age winters, disrupt food supplies and devastate global weather. Iceland is drafting disaster plans now.

🤫 A hush falls over South Korea. Last week, while half a million students sat the ultra-high-stakes university test, the country halted all flights for 35 minutes so English listening wouldn’t be disrupted. Markets even opened late and even the police helped ensure students make it to test centres on time.

🇧🇷 The 'COP of truth'. At COP30 in Belém, Brazil’s president urged the world to “defeat” fake-news-fuelled climate denial (a clear swipe at Trump). With the U.S. absent, talks seemed tense as vulnerable nations demand action to keep 1.5°C alive.

❤️‍🔥 It's not you, it's my cortisol. A study finds that moment-to-moment stress lowers sexual desire and arousal, but especially for women, whose cortisol spikes dampen libido more strongly. Sex itself lowers stress later, but stress in the moment shuts things down fast.

🦠 A gut feeling. Kids with autism, ADHD, and anorexia may share similar gut microbe imbalances (fewer beneficial bacteria and disrupted appetite hormones), hinting that gut-brain glitches may play a bigger role across these conditions than once thought.

🤖 Serious remote working. In the world’s first transatlantic remote surgery, a Florida surgeon removed a blood clot on a “patient” (a cadaver) 4k miles away in Scotland via robot assistance. The tech could bring lifesaving thrombectomies to rural patients who currently can’t reach specialists in time.

💔 Fining the “other woman.” In North Carolina, a TikTok creator, who seduced her manager and destroyed his marriage, was ordered to pay $1.75M under the state’s rare “alienation of affection” law. Best not to cheat and certainly not in the North Carolina!

📈 Climbing the ladder with AI. High-earners are getting a tech boost, with a study revealing those on six figures are the most frequent users of AI tools. Unsurprisingly, they are most likely to be using it on the job.

💒 Groom in a hurry. Forget the 'desperate bride' trope, new data suggests men are actually more likely to rush down the aisle. A survey found men were almost twice as likely as women to say "I do" within a year of meeting someone.

By Meridyth

For years, I was a devout Android phone user, but I gave in 10 years ago to an iPhone and haven’t looked back ever since. I love its user friendly interface and its seamless integration across my MacBook and iPad. Yes, I’m that person now.

But I have to draw the line at the most ridiculous Apple accessory just announced, the iPhone Pocket, designed for when your clothes are pocketless.

A collab with Issey Miyake, it looks like a colourful sock puppet swallowed a phone. And priced at a whopping £139.95 to £219.95, it’s absolutely mind boggling.

The sad thing is, I’m sure there are hundreds (if not thousands) who have already purchased these overpriced tube socks, turned handbag. 🤯

By Meridyth

Not a meme, but I can’t help but sharing… even if it’s 6 months until the premiere. If you’re a fan Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, I’m sure you’ll be just as excited to see this.

May 2026 cannot come soon enough!!! I can hear the clickety-clackers now…

This Sunday is Stir-Up Sunday, the traditional day to get that Christmas pudding mix ready. Time to find the brandy, make a wish, and try not to lose a coin in the mixture... Join us next week for another Squabble!

Alister & Meridyth