Monday, June 17, 2019

Reading archive 2019-06-17

U.S. Escalates Online Attacks on Russia’s Power Grid - "Two administration officials said they believed Mr. Trump had not been briefed in any detail about the steps to place “implants” — software code that can be used for surveillance or attack — inside the Russian grid.

"Pentagon and intelligence officials described broad hesitation to go into detail with Mr. Trump about operations against Russia for concern over his reaction — and the possibility that he might countermand it or discuss it with foreign officials, as he did in 2017 when he mentioned a sensitive operation in Syria to the Russian foreign minister."

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Reading archive 2019-06-15

Concord Massacre Plot Foiled

To protect and slur: Inside hate groups on Facebook, police officers trade racist memes, conspiracy theories and Islamophobia

The Illiberal Right Throws a Tantrum: A faction of the religious right has concluded that if liberal democracy does not guarantee victory, then it must be abandoned. - "The state of emergency occurred when, and only when, liberal democracy ceased to guarantee victory in the culture war. The indignity of fighting for one’s rights within a democratic framework is fine for others, but it is beneath them.
...
"The American creed has no more devoted adherents than those who have been historically denied its promises, and no more fair-weather friends than those who have taken them for granted."

Meet one of India’s most divisive new legislators: A Hindu nun charged with terrorism

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Reading archive 2019-06-12

Trump’s latest rage-threat gives Democrats a big opening. One just took it.

Some U.S. embassies still hoisting rainbow flags, despite advisory from Washington

An activist faced 20 years in prison for helping migrants. But jurors wouldn’t convict him.

Why is the USDA downplaying good news about this Obama-era school nutrition program?

Clarence Thomas Says His African-American History Museum Exhibit Is Wrong, Doesn’t Want To Talk About It: I'm willing to talk about why Thomas hates affirmative-action, even if he's not.

Protesters storm Hong Kong’s streets over extradition bill; police respond with tear gas, rubber bullets

Reading archive 2019-06-09 through 2019-06-11

Elon Musk’s satellites threaten to disrupt the night sky for all of us

For the ‘Stonewall Generation,’ turning to others for care could make them uniquely vulnerable

How the battle of bra-baring waitresses and ultrareligious protesters explains Israel’s political crisis

‘The migration problem is a coffee problem’: In western Guatemala, cultivating coffee was once a way out of poverty. As prices fall, growers are abandoning their farms for the United States.

A newborn was left to die 26 years ago. A mother’s arrest has led to baffling new questions.