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Happy Friday!

Ever thought you'd see the day when Sriracha would cost $124 a bottle?

Maybe it's been aged in a French oak barrel or comes with a side of gourmet, gold-dusted fries.

Either way, we're spicing up your day with the hottest news.

In today’s Morning Mashup:

Read time: 4 minutes

🏦 Crypto Clash: Calls for Gensler's Recusal

It seems that the SEC's Chair, Gary Gensler, is under fire from the Blockchain Association.

They're really stirring the pot, suggesting that he's taking a step too far over his congressionally-granted boundary line.

The bone of contention?

His unwillingness to whip up some clear guidelines that let investors and entrepreneurs know if they're playing ball within the securities laws for their products or services. The Association is firm in its belief that Gensler's been painting the entire crypto space with a broad brush, minus Bitcoin, as securities, and this "one-size-fits-all" approach isn't cutting it.

This isn't the first time Gensler's found himself in the crypto community's crosshairs.

Back in March, Ripple and LBRY - two token issuers with a history of butting heads with the SEC - argued that Gensler's public declarations could taint future legal proceedings. He had voiced the opinion that, Bitcoin aside, all digital assets were securities.

Now, the Blockchain Association's chief policy officer, Jake Chervinsky, is calling time on Gensler's involvement in crypto enforcement matters.

Chervinsky's prediction?

If Gensler doesn't step back, we could see the issue of his recusal popping up in SEC proceedings and federal district courts.

In the world of crypto, it's always a game of wait and see.

🤖 AI's Groundbreaking Leap: Drug Discovery

An incredible breakthrough that's happening right now in the world of medicine.

Picture this: a drug, from concept to clinical trials, entirely generated by artificial intelligence.

Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right?

But it's happening today.

Insilico Medicine, a biotech startup on the cutting edge of AI and medicine, has just launched human clinical trials for the first fully AI-generated drug - INS018_055. This isn't just a drug with a fancy AI-designed coat, it's the first drug with both an AI-discovered target and an AI-generated design. That's like creating a key from scratch to fit a lock no one knew existed before!

This drug is designed to tackle idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that's been giving doctors a hard time for years.

And here's the cherry on top - this isn't Insilico's only trick. They're also working on two other drugs partially generated by AI. One's a Covid-19 drug, and the other's a cancer drug - both are in different stages of clinical trials.

But back to - INS018_055. It's currently in a rigorous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in China, and they're planning to expand to the US soon.

Results?

We're expecting them next year, and if all goes well, the drug could be on the market in the next few years.

🌶 Feeling the Burn: The $120 Sriracha Saga

So I came across a story today that I found so wild, I simply had to share it with you.

You know that fiery red condiment we all love, Sriracha?

Well, it turns out there's a massive shortage going on, and it's been happening for the past THREE years. Huy Fong, the company that produces this spicy sauce, has been facing a consistent shortage of chili peppers, the key ingredient. The situation got so tight that they had to halt orders last year, which also affected their other products like Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek.

Now, you're probably wondering what this means for us, the consumers.

Well, it's been causing quite a stir in the market. Sriracha sauce, which typically costs around $5 for a 17-ounce bottle, is selling for as high as $70 on eBay and $124 on Amazon. But I have to say, it takes a special kind of Sriracha love to pay those prices!

Despite the shortage, Huy Fong is still up and running, albeit with limited supply. They're doing their best to prevent such shortages in the future, but right now, they can't predict when the supply will increase.

The next time you reach for that bottle of Sriracha, know that it's a hot commodity in more ways than one.

Now, whether you're looking to spice up your meals or your investment portfolio, remember to take this story with a grain of salt (or should I say, a dash of hot sauce?).

📖 Admissions Upheaval: Supreme Court Reconsiders Race

Big news from the Supreme Court.

They've ruled against affirmative action programs at Harvard and UNC, marking a shift in the admissions landscape that's been a long time coming. The court found these programs in violation of the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause - a decision that's shaking up perspectives across the nation.

For some, it's a victory for a "colorblind" Constitution; for others, it's a significant setback for efforts to redress historic race discrimination.

The Supreme Court's decision overturns a 2003 ruling that allowed race to be a factor in admissions, an effort aimed at fostering diverse campuses. Now, universities like Yale, Brown, Columbia, UPenn, UChicago, and Dartmouth, which have considered race in admissions, are going to feel the impact.

But let's remember - the vast majority of colleges, which tend to accept almost all applicants, won't be as affected.

While this is a game-changer, it's not an absolute roadblock. Chief Justice John Roberts left the door open for colleges to consider an individual student's experiences with racial discrimination in their applications.

The objective here?

Treat students based on their individual experiences, not on the basis of race. Meanwhile, the ruling doesn't touch military academies, leaving some room for maintaining diversity in those spaces.

This is a big shift. Universities will have to get creative with race-neutral plans to maintain diversity.

Let's see how this unfolds.

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🐦 Tweet of the day

Disruption is often met with resistance.

That’s all for now!

If you have any interesting projects or ideas please reach out to us by responding to this email or by sending us a DM on Twitter: @DerikVasquez & @MorningMillionaire

As always, thank you for your time, and see you soon.