The news thread

[Psy-Fi]

Blackwater founder Erik Prince joins security operation in Ecuador

[Mindy]

Discord co-founder and CEO Jason Citron is stepping down and will be replaced by former Activision Blizzard and King exec Humam Sakhnini, according to a press release. Sakhnini takes over on April 28th. Citron will stay on the board of directors and serve as an advisor to the CEO.

"As we enter our next phase, I've been reflecting on how I can best contribute to Discord's long-term success," Citron says in a message shared with employees and posted to Discord's website. "The job of a CEO is constantly evolving, and over the years I have continuously 'hired myself out of a job.' Usually that means delegating work and then taking on different leadership challenges. However, as I look at what is needed of Discord's CEO over the next few years, I realize that it's time for me to literally 'hire myself out of a job.'"

When we interviewed Citron on the Decoder podcast last year, he said the company had grown to about 870 employees and over 200 million monthly active users.

Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord's other co-founder, will remain at the company as chief technology officer.

"I look forward to working with Stan and Discord's talented team to scale our business while staying true to the company's core mission and the special connection it has with player communities," Sakhnini says in a statement. "We're still at the beginning of gaming's impact on entertainment and culture, and Discord is perfectly positioned to play a central role in that future."

The leadership shift is happening as Discord is reportedly exploring an IPO. In an interview with GamesBeat, Citron said that Discord didn't have plans to announce about potentially going public, but noted that "as you can imagine, hiring someone like Humam is a step in that direction."

https://www.theverge.com/news/654594/discord-new-ceo-jason-citron-humam-sakhnini

[Psy-Fi]

If the drugs don't kill you, the lead poisoning will...

New Orleans police officer dragged by car after responding to overdose call

[Trollheart]

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0503/1510941-survivors-plane-crash-alligators/

Five people survive for 36 hours in alligator-infested swamp after plane crash

[Psy-Fi]

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0503/1510941-survivors-plane-crash-alligators/

Five people survive for 36 hours in alligator-infested swamp after plane crash

Incredible luck on top of incredible luck on top of incredible luck.

[Trollheart]

Absolutely. I would have had them drawing lots to see who got fed to the gators so that the rest of us survived. Rigged, of course. 
But seriously, great to hear such a story. Could so easily have been "Five people die gruesome death in swamp after plane went down."

[Buck_Mulligan]

Self-driving tractor trailer trucks have hit the road between Dallas and Houston. Also Austin and Phoenix before years end.

https://ir.aurora.tech/news-events/press-releases/detail/119/aurora-begins-commercial-driverless-trucking-in-texas

I recently sold some AUR stock under a stop loss order. Maybe I'll have to look again.

[Mindy]

WPLG Local 10
Apr 28, 2025

In South Florida, the struggle to balance human development with the protection of sensitive animal species continues — and in Broward County's Broadview Park, it's dirt bikes and ATVs versus burrowing owls.

[Psy-Fi]

How French police freed a cryptocurrency hostage whose finger was severed for ransom

[Trollheart]

Given that burrowing owls can't ride dirt bikes or ATVs, my money's on the former.

[Trollheart]

The new pope is American for the first time in history. Don't you know Trump is gonna crow over this one? 


News Alert: The new pope is Cardinal Robert Prevost


The new pope is revealed as Robert Prevost of the US, the first American pontiff in history.

[SGR]

The new pope is American for the first time in history. Don't you know Trump is gonna crow over this one? 


News Alert: The new pope is Cardinal Robert Prevost


The new pope is revealed as Robert Prevost of the US, the first American pontiff in history.

Chicago got a pope before they got a 4000 yd passer for the Bears. Just shameful.

[Mindy]

[Trollheart]

How the fuck is it a great deal? Trump leaves the 10% tariff which he was threatening, and Starmer reduces the tariffs in return! Trump gets everything and Starmer gets nothing except avoids further punishment. Doesn't seem a great deal to me. Trump gives nothing, gets everything.

Reminds me of this song...