Hi, {{first_name|friend}}. 👋
Welcome to Issue #173 of Loop WP!
Last week, I shared resources on following WCUS 2025, including a breakdown of the FAIR Package Manager, a new hosting partnership, and a special code for the new Event Koi plugin.
This week, we conclude our summer series with a review of WCUS 2025 and legal updates from Automattic and WP Engine. There’s also an additional note on last week’s FAIR Package Manager discussion.
Let’s go! 👇
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WordCamp US 2025 in Review
Aside from one announcement, there was no drama this year on the levels that WordCamp US saw last year. 😮💨
WordPress has an official review of the WordCamp, with highlights, videos, and The Repository offers some additional commentary and highlights.
WordCamp US 2026 - Venue Shock
There was a shock announcement for the venue of WCUS 2026 to be in the middle of summer in Phoenix.
🥵 It wasn’t the heat that had a lot of people in the community sweating (although there were a lot of comments about that), but there was shock from the Phoenix WordPress community itself.
The Repository provides a more detailed account of how the team in Phoenix felt blindsided.
💡 The choice of Phoenix also impacts the home of PressConf, and with the announcement of WordCamp Asia's 2026 dates, some people will have to choose which event to attend.
WordPress Legal Updates
🚨 Whilst WordCamp US was happening, there was also something else transpiring related to WordCamp US 2024.
Sam Sidler wrote in The Delta, a “Transcript of the Motion to Dismiss Hearing.”
(An unofficial transcript of the motion to dismiss hearing in WP Engine v Automattic & Matt Mullenweg on August 28, 2025.)
Sam followed this up with “Thoughts on the motion to dismiss hearing.”
Various thoughts about the hearing for Automattic’s motion to dismiss claims in the WP Engine case on August 28, 2025.
⚡️ Both articles are worth reading, but if you only read one, read Sam’s second. Combine this (if you wish) with some reporting from The Repository and a further devaluation of shares (more on that below), it’s a rocky time ahead for Automattic.
🤔 We are getting one more major WordPress release this year, but I wonder if the projected outcome of the next two months will impact that release or releases in 2026?
Before You Go
Last week, my newsletter included a section from Kaspars Dambis about the FAIR Package. Tim Nash kindly brought some additional commentary from Ryan McCue over on BlueSky that is worth reading if you found Kaspars’ breakdown insightful.
🧠 There is a lot to unpack, but it’s worth the read.
Sponsorship Opportunities
🚨 The Google Doc contains all the details if you’re interested in sponsoring the Loop WP Newsletter.
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That’s It For This Week 👋
Our “Summer Series” is now complete, and next week we’ll return to our regular newsletter format, focusing on a single topic.
See you next week! 😀
Weekly WordPress News & Tips
This week's excellent and insightful WordPress News & Tips:
😎 WooCommerce 10.2- Pre-release updates - this is looking like a great release! (WooCommerce)
Trademark Rejection - USPTO Rejects WordPress Foundation’s Bid to Trademark “Managed WordPress” and “Hosted WordPress”. (The Repository)
A Bigger Toolkit? - Why WordPress Core needs more blocks. (Gutenberg Times)
Apply Now - For the WordCamp Europe 2025 Diversity Scholarship! (WordCamp Europe)
🚀 What’s Next? - Ben Gabler and Jessica Frick elaborate more on the Rocket[dot]net big announcement last week. (Christian Taylor)
Media Partner - LoopConf 2025, the Premier WordPress Developer Conference. (OpenChannels FM)
Dev Misunderstanding - A complete guide to HTTP caching. (Jono Alderson)
🤯 Agreed…Wild! - A real-time webcam demo using SmolVLM from and llama.cpp! (Charly Wargnier)
Congratulations - Weston Ruter joins WP Engine! (Weston Ruter)
US Tariff & Shipping Policy Changes - Navigating the end of the de minimis exemption (WooCommerce)
🤔 Make Your Website Conversational - Transform your website's search experience. (Cloudflare)
Introducing Telex - Got a block in mind? Describe your idea, and Telex will build a WordPress block for you - powered by AI. (Automattic)
A Hub For Plugin Update Notifications? - The #1 resource for changelogs within the WordPress ecosystem. A new venture from Ryan Logan & Derek Ashauer. (ChangelogWP)
😬 Oh Dear - I Tested WordPress AI Telex So You Don’t Have To! (WPTuts)
Blogs & Articles That Rank - 87.8% of vulnerability exploits bypassed hosting defenses. (Harry Clarkson-Bennet)
Focus On What Machines Can’t Do - 5 ways to adapt your content strategy for LLMs. (Kevin Indig & Wix Studio)
Tag Someone You Know - The faces of WordCamp 2025. (Blue Ivory Creative)
Expansion - WordPress Credits Expands to Costa Rica as Program Enters Beta Phase. (The Repository)
B2B SaaS - Optimizing WordPress for Speed, security, and scale. (Kinsta)
Developer Advisory - Product Collection block’s Cross-Sells replaces the Cart Cross-Sells. (WooCommerce)
If you have a question about this email or WordPress, please reply, and I will respond as soon as possible.
👋 Until next time,
The WordPress logo is a trademark of the WordPress Foundation. Used here for illustrative purposes only. This image is not officially endorsed by or affiliated with WordPress, WordCamp US, or the WordPress Foundation.