# Morning Briefing

Thursday, May 1, 2026
📰 Top Stories

## Claude Code refuses requests or charges extra if your commits mention "OpenClaw"

Hacker News · 1229 points · 676 comments
Anthropic's Claude Code CLI tool is reportedly refusing requests or charging extra credits when commit messages mention OpenClaw — a competing AI coding tool. The HN discussion is roaring with takes on vendor lock-in and AI tool competition.
aianthropiccompetition

## Trump signs bill funding DHS, ending record shutdown

Ground News · 294 sources · Left 26% · Center 52% · Right 20%
Congress ended the record-breaking Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The signing comes after weeks of disruption to border security, TSA, and cybersecurity operations.
politicsdhsshutdown

## CopyFail: the most severe Linux threat in years catches the world flat-footed

Ars Technica + Hacker News + The Register · Multi-source
A now-patched Linux vulnerability called CopyFail lets unprivileged users gain root access. Many distributions have yet to apply the fix, and it threatens multi-tenant servers, CI/CD pipelines, and Kubernetes containers.
linuxsecurityinfra

## US falls below Ukraine in press freedom as global autocracy takes hold

Ars Technica
The latest press freedom index shows the US dropping below Ukraine. The global average score has never been lower in 25 years of tracking.
press-freedomdemocracy

## Elon Musk's 7 biggest stumbles on the stand at OpenAI trial

Ars Technica
Musk spent three days testifying as the first witness in his own lawsuit against OpenAI. The cross-examination did not go smoothly for him.
openaimusklegal
💻 Tech

## For Linux kernel vulnerabilities, there is no heads-up to distributions

Hacker News · 556 points · 464 comments · oss-security
An openwall post sparks a massive HN discussion about the broken disclosure pipeline between kernel developers and distribution maintainers. Distros are left scrambling with zero advance notice.
linuxsecurityopen-source

## cPanel auth bypass CVE-2026-41940 now actively exploited — CISA adds to known-exploited list

The Register + Hacker News · Multi-source
Attackers were exploiting this critical authentication bypass before patches landed. At least one victim has reported a ransomware demand. Millions of sites potentially exposed.
securitycpanelinfra

## OpenAI locks GPT-5.5-Cyber behind velvet rope despite slamming Anthropic for doing exactly that

The Register + TechCrunch
After publicly criticizing Anthropic for restricting access to its "Mythos" model, OpenAI is now doing the same thing with GPT-5.5-Cyber, limiting it to a handpicked group of "cyber defenders."
aiopenaihypocrisy

## Google's fix for critical Gemini CLI bug (CVSS 10.0) might break your CI/CD pipelines

The Register
A CVSS 10.0 remote code execution vulnerability in Google's Gemini CLI tool has been patched, but the automatic update process could break headless workflows and GitHub Actions.
securitygoogleai

## Shai-Hulud themed malware found in PyTorch Lightning AI training library

Hacker News · 426 points · Semgrep
A malicious dependency in the PyTorch Lightning ecosystem — the latest in a wave of supply chain attacks targeting developer tools, including SAP npm packages and the lightning PyPI package.
securitysupply-chainpython
🌍 Wider Lens

## Medicaid work requirements kick in for Nebraska starting May 1

NPR
Starting today, many Nebraska Medicaid recipients must prove they're working. It's a preview of what most states will face under Trump's budget law beginning in January.
healthcarepolicymedicaid

## Big Tech is moving data through Iraqi oil pipelines to bypass vulnerable subsea cables

Rest of World
US hyperscalers are securing "dark fiber" capacity along Iraqi land routes to reduce latency and create backup paths for data that normally travels through vulnerable undersea cables in the Gulf.
infrastructuregeopoliticsnetworking

## Nationwide May Day protests expected to pick up the "No Kings" mantle

NPR
Organizers are calling for boycotts of work, school, and shopping today to protest Trump administration policies and what they describe as a billionaire takeover of government.
protestspolitics
🔥 HN Deep Reads

## Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

Hacker News · 663 points · 283 comments · Rivian
Rivian's own support page says you can't fully opt out of vehicle data collection. The HN thread is a deep dive into car telemetry, privacy, and the erosion of ownership.
privacyvehiclesdata

## How Mark Klein told the EFF about Room 641A — the NSA whistleblower story

Hacker News · 649 points · 217 comments · MIT Press
A book excerpt about the AT&T technician who discovered the NSA's secret wiretap room in San Francisco. The HN discussion covers surveillance, whistleblowing, and how little has changed.
privacynsahistory

## Opus 4.7 knows the real Kelsey — on AI de-anonymization

Hacker News · 391 points · 209 comments · The Argument Mag
An essay on how Anthropic's Opus 4.7 can identify people from supposedly anonymized conversations. The HN thread digs into the implications for privacy, AI safety, and the illusion of online anonymity.
aiprivacyde-anonymization
🎮 Gaming

## Final Fantasy XIV sweeping changes have fans buzzing about the future again

Kotaku
Major announcements from FF14 Fan Fest 2026 are reigniting enthusiasm after a rough stretch. Players are calling the changes a genuine course correction.
ff14mmosquare-enix

## Morrowind turns 24 — celebrate with a huge OpenMW quest mod about being a tax collector

Rock Paper Shotgun
May 1, 2002 was the original release date. The community marked the occasion with "Death and Taxes," a major new quest mod for OpenMW that lets you roleplay as an Imperial tax collector. Peak Morrowind.
retromorrowindmods

## Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era hits early access today

Rock Paper Shotgun
The revival of the HoMM franchise launches into early access with a narrative campaign, six factions, a map editor, and multiplayer. A promising start for fans of the classic strategy series.
strategyearly-accesshomam
⚖️ Bias Check

## DHS shutdown ends — covered by 294 sources with divergent framing

Ground News · Left 26% · Center 52% · Right 20%
The record DHS shutdown is over, but how it's framed depends on where you read. Left outlets emphasize the damage caused by the shutdown; center outlets focus on the bipartisan deal; right outlets highlight border security provisions in the final bill.
bias-checkshutdowndhs

## Trump pulls Casey Means' nomination, names Fox News doctor Nicole Saphier as replacement

Ground News · 191 sources · Left 34% · Center 47% · Right 18%
Left outlets frame this as a shift from a wellness advocate to a media pundit with no public health experience. Right outlets emphasize Saphier's medical credentials and Means' controversial positions on chronic disease.
bias-checkhealthpolitics