Good Tuesday morning! Apple's first big move in AI, what it means for iPhones and Macs; and understanding why European far-right parties surged in election.

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Good morning,

An investment we wish we made: A Trader Joe’s $3.99 mini cooler tote bag. Why? They are reselling for over $500 online.

• 🛍️ The limited-time Mini Insulated Tote Bags came out June 4 and sold out at many locations, forcing some some people to pay big bucks online.

• What’s so unique about the bags? Nothing really. There’s just a lot of excitement on TikTok. They’re kind of like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton— famous for being famous.

• The retailer said not to worry, another batch of the totes will be available later this summer.

🛒 Have a good one!

Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren

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🇪🇺 EUROPEAN FEARS OF IMMIGRATION DRIVE FAR-RIGHT WINS

Many of you have been messaging about the European elections. This is what we know: Far-right parties made major gains in the European Union parliamentary elections this weekend in several countries, but it appears the center will hold in the 720-seat EU parliament…for now.

• WHAT IT MEANS: The center-right European People’s Party (EPP) held on to the most seats in voting, and will look to build a coalition with moderate and leftist parties (everyone from maroon to orange-labeled parties above). However, the surge in nationalist far-right parties (ECR and ID) will make it slightly harder for EU leadership to pursue goals related to climate change, agriculture policy and immigration over the next five years.

  • The European Parliament approves EU laws, international treaties and plays an important role in scrutinizing spending.

Many Europeans are increasingly concerned about a surge of migrants and the impact that climate legislation is having on their countries’ economies.

THE RESULTS
Roughly 360 million eligible voters chose 720 parliamentary members from 27 EU member states — it’s the single largest democratic election outside of India.

• Where the far-right made gains: France, Germany, and Italy — where they won around 150 of the 720 seats.

  • Germany and Italy have become hub countries in Europe for migrants and refugees, where nearly two-thirds of voters view immigration as a threat to the public order. A similar sentiment is seen in France, where the anti-immigrant National Rally party dominated.

• What’s changed: Since the last elections in 2019, once-fringe parties have entered the mainstream. Over the last five years, the EU has dealt with the pandemic, a migrant surge, an economic slump and an energy crisis fueled by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

MAJOR ISSUE: IMMIGRATION
Over the past decade, migration has become an increasingly pressing concern for many Europeans.

• In 2008, 153,000 migrants crossed into Europe, and grew to more than 1 million a year by 2015. Then, after a slight seven year dip, it’s back up to over a million asylum seekers a year in 2023. That is on top of more than 4 million Ukrainians who have escaped the Russian invasion for EU countries.

  • Many people came from Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and Eritrea, fleeing war, ethnic conflict or economic hardship.

• A Politico survey found immigration to be the second most important issue to European voters ahead of the election, with the economy/affordability #1.

  • The fear is that immigrants will not join in countries’ traditions, culture, language, and religion. European countries tend to perceive themselves as totally formed and not requiring further cultural contribution.

• THE MAPS // BY AREA
  In Germany, the far-right party, AfD, gained about 16% of the vote — concentrated in the former Communist East German side of the country (blue area above). It is an outcast, even among far-right European parties, as its leader recently said not all Nazi SS were criminals, among other controversial opinions.

• In France, support for the far-right is concentrated basically everywhere outside of the cities.

  • French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved his parliament and called snap legislative elections, set to begin later this month and finish on July 7, following the surge in far-right support.

  • The move is extremely risky, but Macron is rolling the dice to see if voters push back on what he sees as a ‘xenophobic threat’ or double-down domestically.

📲 APPLE JUMPS INTO AI RACE, INTEGRATES TECH ACROSS PLATFORMS

Apple unveiled its plans for AI technology yesterday, launching what it is calling its AI version— dubbed “Apple Intelligence” (of course). It includes a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into the tech giant’s products, including Siri.

The new AI features could help calm investor concerns that Apple had slipped behind its biggest rivals in the tech industry’s embrace of AI — nearly two years after the rollout of ChatGPT.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Say goodbye to reading rambling emails or scrolling through 72 notifications about an upcoming trip. The new Apple system prioritizes messages, emails, and notifications; offers writing tools that are capable of proofreading, summarizing, and suggesting improvements; and when that trip comes, can edit unwanted people out of images.

• AI assistant: Apple showed how the system would be able to automatically determine if a rescheduled meeting time would complicate plans to attend a child’s theater performance 20 minutes before rush-hour.

• ChatGPT integration will be coming to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and MacOS upgrades later this year.

  • It will offer ChatGPT functions for free, without the need to create an account. However, paid subscribers to ChatGPT will be able to access premium functions within Apple products.

MORE NEW UPDATES  
Apple also said that it would be making improvements to its iPhone software system.

• Text: This fall, users can schedule messages and respond with AI generated emojis.

• Siri: Apple says Siri is getting a major update after being around for more than a decade. Siri will be able to understand multiple, complex requests and even jump across apps.

  • Generative AI could improve Siri because it has been trained on spoken conversations pulled from podcasts and videos, sounding more human than robot.

• Photos: A redesigned Photos app will make it easier to browse images by allowing you to request to see specific topics like “my dog wearing a vest in San Jose.” Also, meet ‘Clean Up,’ which will help remove people in the background or objects in the foreground.

  • That might sound familiar to Android users — the feature appears to function similarly to Magic Eraser, widely available on Google Photos.

• Speaking of Android users, iPhone users will finally be able to send high-resolution images to Android smartphones — a complaint in the US Justice Department’s antitrust suit against the giant. Messages will still be green though.

FROM MAIN ST. TO WALL ST.
Apple’s push into generative AI was in part a response to Wall Street investors.

• The technology has lifted the values of Microsoft, a big player in generative AI, and Nvidia, which sells AI chips. Earlier this year, Microsoft dethroned Apple as the most valuable technology company in the world.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Jury begins deliberating in Hunter Biden gun trial (AXIOS)

📌 Stranded kite surfer's "HELP" message on Santa Cruz County beach leads to rescue (CBS NEWS)

📌 Main channel to Port of Baltimore fully restored 11 weeks after Key Bridge collapse (AP)

📌 Pharmacists cite highest number of drug shortages since 2001 (WASHINGTON POST)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 UN Security Council adopts a ceasefire resolution aimed at ending Israel-Hamas war in Gaza (AP)

📌 Inside the Israeli rescue mission and how it almost failed (WSJ)

📌 Gaza Hamas chief calculates more dead Palestinian civilians will help him (WSJ)

📌 UN halts food distribution from US-built Gaza pier due to security concerns (FOX NEWS)

📌 Singapore offers $10,000 to each passenger on turbulence flight (NBC)

📌 Canada's capital rocked by treason allegations (VOA)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 African elephants call each other by unique names, new study shows (AP)

📌 FDA warns consumers against eating ‘microdose chocolate’ bars after six people hospitalized (CNN)

📌 Lilly Alzheimer's drug gets unanimous backing from FDA advisory panel (REUTERS)

📌 Number of US millionaires grew by 500K last year (THE HILL)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Julia Louis-Dreyfus says criticism of political correctness by people like Jerry Seinfeld s a 'red flag' (NBC NEWS)

📌 Teresa Giudice breaks silence on Real Housewives of New Jersey's canceled season 14 reunion (E!)

📌 Carrie Underwood falls off stage at rainy South Carolina concert: 'Won't let a little rain stop us!' (PEOPLE)

📌 ‘Practical Magic 2’: Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in talks to return for sequel (VARIETY)

Mo News Podcast: A daily conversation about the news that matters.

🗓 ON THIS DAY: JUNE 11

• 1939: British ruler King George VI and Queen Elizabeth taste their first "hot dogs" at a party at FDR's Hyde Park residence during their US visit.

• 1962: Three prisoners at Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay escaped on a makeshift raft and were never found.

• Steven Spielberg films open: 1982: ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial;’ 1993: ‘Jurassic Park.’

• 2002: TV series American Idol debuted on Fox, becoming one of the most-watched shows in the US. Kelly Clarkson wins the first season.