Reading archive 2024-05-30

Experts say Israel used U.S.-made bomb in deadly Rafah strike: Weapons experts identified the fragments as an SDB GBU-39, a 250-pound small-diameter precision bomb.

U.S. concerned about Ukraine strikes on Russian nuclear radar stations: Washington conveyed to Kyiv that attacks on Russian early-warning systems could be destabilizing.

As Ukraine stumbles in war, Kyiv and Western powers struggle to coordinate: Infighting and strategic disagreements are clouding Ukraine’s path to regain the battlefield edge. - "'Americans think that they should avoid escalation with Russia by creating zones of ambiguity, but it provokes Russia. Russia needs to have very clear lines. A gray zone is just an invitation to try,' Lytvynenko said."

Ukraine setbacks nudge Biden toward allowing use of U.S. weapons in Russia: Washington’s reassessment of its policy follows the Kremlin’s assault on the city of Kharkiv and a chorus of pressure from European allies.

Opinion What’s the best way to fight viral disinformation? Look to South Florida.: Latinos are using personal credibility to fight online rumors. - "A national survey conducted late last year showed that Hispanics around the country see open borders and immigration as the nation’s No. 1 security threat — over terrorism, access to guns, cyberattacks, war, China or Russia. Eduardo Gamarra, a political scientist at Florida International University who conducted that public polling, says rampant disinformation contributes to the perception in immigrant communities that the next wave of migrants poses dangers that their own wave did not. Meanwhile, online accounts tied to the Kremlin and Russian state media have been actively spreading lies about immigrants in the United States this year in an apparent attempt to undermine public support for aid to Ukraine.

...

"The local influencers began by listening for questions and narratives taking hold in the community. They ranged from how safe it was to get the shingles vaccine to whether President Biden had a body double, from how to get a mammogram if underinsured to whether the 2024 presidential election had been canceled — a notion now circulating among Latinos in swing states thanks to a social media post translated into Spanish featuring the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones."

Judge stunned as man with suspended license joins Zoom hearing while driving: 'Mr. Harris, are you driving?' asked the bemused judge as Corey Harris asked for time to park his vehicle.

HOW GRIEVANCE SPLINTERED AMERICAN SPORTS: Our games have changed from a unifying bond to a platform for division. Is there any going back? - "The most prominent leagues didn’t become lucrative entertainment giants because they kept the nation’s problems and politics from eating away at them. They succeeded precisely because they swallowed politics whole, turning the public craving for diversion into negotiating tactics to receive government subsidies and influence lawmakers to champion their most ambitious profit-boosting ideas, all under the guise of bringing people together."

MYTH BUSTER: Debunking Road Diet Myths

Reading archive 2024-05-29

If convicted in his hush money trial, here’s what Trump could face next: A guilty verdict for Trump in the New York trial would mean a mix of routine court processing and extraordinary logistical considerations, legal experts say.

Opinion In closing, Trump’s team takes the jurors for idiots: Trump lawyer Todd Blanche treated jurors as if they were deaf or slow. “THAT. IS. A. LIE!” he bellowed at them.

TikTok offered an extraordinary deal. The U.S. government took a pass: The app’s executives proposed giving the Biden administration control over its U.S. operations and a kill switch if things went south. The administration declined, setting up an existential legal fight. - "Some critics of TikTok’s plan label it a 'catch me if you can' proposal that would require the government to sniff out risks. In March, the co-sponsors of the House legislation, Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who resigned last month, said in a resolution that Project Texas would have allowed the app’s algorithm and source code to 'remain in China under ByteDance’s control' and potentially expose U.S. users to 'malicious code, backdoor vulnerabilities, surreptitious surveillance, and other problematic activities.'"

Lawsuit says American Airlines kicked 8 Black men off plane, citing body odor: Three of the men sued American Airlines in federal court Wednesday morning.

Why a Trump lawyer’s prison reference was so ‘outrageous’: Not only are such arguments generally not allowed, but the judge had explicitly barred them.

Amid roadkill epidemic, California builds world’s largest wildlife bridge: The construction is meant to give threatened animals a path over a 10-lane freeway instead of through it, hopefully extending their lives and their habitat.

Another N.C. beach house just fell into the ocean. Others may follow.: Rising seas and eroding shorelines have now claimed a half-dozen houses in Rodanthe in the past four years.

‘In the name of God’: For decades, Catholic priests, brothers and sisters raped or molested Native American children who were taken from their homes by the U.S. government and forced to live at remote boarding schools, a Post investigation found.

Grocers in D.C. deploy bag bans, receipt scanners in shoplifting battle: Retailers such as Giant, Safeway and Harris Teeter have escalated anti-theft efforts in recent months as businesses nationwide struggle to thwart stealing.

Project 2025 sparks fear of dictatorship and oppression

Reading archive 2024-05-28

“The Only Moral Abortion is My Abortion”: When the Anti-Choice Choose

THE DROWNING SOUTH: A HIDDEN THREAT: Fast-rising seas could swamp septic systems in parts of the South

Mexico City and millions of its residents could run out of water in weeks: The metropolitan area of 22 million gets about a quarter of its water from a system that is running dry. Some say it could be unable to provide water by June 26.

The battle for the patio of College Court

Opinion The media and sullen nonvoters should listen to Ken Burns: The historian knows something about civil war — and moral responsibility in politics.

Opinion Nearly everything Americans believe about the economy is wrong: But it’s not just journalists’ fault.

Louisiana’s coast is sinking. Advocates say the governor is undermining efforts to save it.: A new Republican governor is taking aim at the state’s coastal protection agency.

What’s to become of the keepsakes left at Arlington Cemetery?: Thousands of mementos have been placed on the graves of those lost to America’s post-9/11 wars. The collection needs a new home.

How a simple fix could double the size of the U.S. electricity grid: Rewiring miles of power lines could make space for data centers, AI and a boom in renewables.

D.C. Council chair’s budget proposal further hikes taxes, staves off cuts: D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said he sought to raise more revenue rather than greenlight the austerity of the mayor’s budget proposal.

Reading archive 2024-05-27

Opinion  What more need Alito do before Durbin gets off the stick? Passivity in the face of Supreme Court corruption is unacceptable.

Debunking misinformation failed. Welcome to ‘pre-bunking’: Election officials around the world are adopting “prebunking” campaigns, as AI and other threats jeopardize voting.

HOW FLORIDA IS GETTING ITS PINK BACK

Trump loudly heckled at Libertarian National Convention: “Maybe you don’t want to win,” Trump said to a loud chorus of boos from the crowd. “Keep getting your 3 percent every four years.”

Service fees have upended D.C. restaurants. Here’s how workers really feel.: The Post spoke to restaurant owners and staff about how the fees have changed their work — and whether they actually help.

The Unlikely Women Fighting for Abortion Rights: The end of Roe has turned women who terminated pregnancies for medical reasons into a political force. - "'All these things we never even knew before, because before all of this it was never spoken about,' said Kimberly Manzano, who flew from Texas for an abortion in New Mexico at 18 weeks after scans showed her fetus was missing limbs, organs and genitalia. 

"Ms. Manzano describes herself and her husband as 'big Christians,' who thought abortion was something 'promiscuous women' did to end unwanted pregnancies. Their pastor assumed they would qualify as a medical exception to Texas’ ban. They did not. 

"'We feel it’s our calling to our child that we lost that we do need to talk about it, to educate people, because I feel that we were so uneducated,' she said."

[ed. note: these stupid fucking bitches]

Reading archive 2024-05-24

Opinion  Trump’s fascist talk is what’s ‘poisoning the blood of our country’: No, Trump isn’t Hitler. But his copycat words lead nowhere good. - "Trump has said that his (false) election fraud claims justify 'the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.' He said he wouldn’t be a dictator, 'other than day one,' when he would use absolute power to seal the border and drill for oil. He has proposed that those shoplifting from stores should 'fully expect to be shot.' He said he would round up as many as 20 million illegal immigrants and, perhaps, put them in mass deportation camps, taking money from the military if necessary."

Reading archive 2024-05-23

Grocers are finally lowering prices as consumers pull back: Retailers like Target, Walmart and Aldi have begun rolling back costs in their food aisles and on other household staples.

The flags were redundant: Samuel Alito’s predilections were obvious before the most recent controversy.

Opinion  Take it from conservative national security experts: Trump is unfit - "You think Biden has been insufficiently attentive to Palestinians’ aspirations? Trump has supported the most extreme aspects of the Netanyahu government’s policies. You think Biden pulled out precipitously from Afghanistan? He never considered inviting the Taliban to Camp David or set the date for withdrawal of U.S. troops."

Veterans became eligible for billions. These firms saw a chance to profit.: Despite a federal law that prohibits charging veterans for help in applying for disability benefits, for-profit companies are making millions. - "The overwhelmed veterans agency says the government is all but powerless to stop the practice, particularly since Congress years ago stripped criminal penalties from the law. And now a cadre of mostly Republican lawmakers is pushing to do away with the restrictions altogether, a plan bankrolled by a well-funded industry group led by a former high-ranking Trump administration VA official."

Reading archive 2024-05-22

Heart checkups you should have and those you can probably skip: Some tests have been found to be used far too often, at little benefit.

Oman to expel dozens of ex-Guantánamo detainees: As the Biden administration considers the transfer of Guantánamo detainees to Oman, 28 Yemenis who were taken in years ago say they now are being forced out.

Unsealed motions in Trump’s Fla. case suggest new evidence of possible obstruction: The long-shot motions, which were strongly opposed by prosecutors, claim the indictment should be dismissed because of improper investigatory tactics.

Montana’s real estate bonanza turns political as property taxes soar: The downside of the pandemic-powered boom has gripped state legislatures across the West and is a hot campaign issue in Montana’s gubernatorial race.

A Taliban revenge killing prompts questions, removal of an acclaimed documentary: National Geographic has pulled the Emmy-winning film “Retrograde” from its streaming platforms after criticism from veterans and inquiries from The Washington Post.

Reading archive 2024-05-21

Is Biodegradable Plastic Really a Thing?: Technically, it exists. But here’s what to think about when shopping.

Scientists reveal mysterious origin of Baobab trees, Rafiki's home in 'The Lion King'

How a Small Herd of Romanian Bison Is Locking Away Thousands of Tons of Carbon

For each public charger, here’s how many EVs are looking to plug in: Once, America had 7 EVs for every public charger. Now, there are over 20 seeking to plug in at each charging station.

THE DROWNING SOUTH: THE NEW FACE OF FLOODING

We taste-tested 9 fake bacons. Here’s how they compare to the real thing.: A pork-free version of bacon could change the game, unlocking methods to make all plant-based meats rival the real thing and put a much bigger dent in emissions.

Opinion  Republicans discover a secret elixir that cures dementia with one dose: There is a shot that cures incoherence? How can I get some?

D.C. attorney general targets youth services agency in new legislation: Attorney General Brian Schwalb said he is “not satisfied” with the performance of the city’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.

16-year-old shot Saturday in Northwest D.C. has died, police say: Devon Sharp was shot in the 1200 block of V Street NW, police said, near where he lived with his grandmother.

Backed by rival GOP factions, vets in Va. primary look similar on paper: The front-runners in the six-way Republican primary to replace Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) represent dueling wings of their party. But some voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District are having trouble seeing the differences.

Metro used faulty cars and ignored worker safety measures, audit finds: Metro has deployed rail cars that failed operations tests and neglected to follow occupational safety guidelines, according to an audit released Tuesday.

Reading archive 2024-05-20

DCPS chancellor slams Mendelson plan to shift central office funds to schools: The proposal would threaten the district’s ability to run important programs, he said.

Weight-loss promoters are reeling after TikTok crackdown: The social platform announced new rules in April, banning marketing and promotion of obesity medications.

Trump’s immigration plans could deal a major blow to the job market: Immigration is a big reason the employment picture rebounded so strongly from the pandemic. That could be in jeopardy, economists say.

Opinion  How to save the Supreme Court from Alito’s ethical malfeasance: The justice’s unconscionable violations of ethics demand the court be reformed.

Boy Scouts love this scenic Va. river. Locals say they’re ruining it.: Three hours southwest of the District, the Maury River suffers as sediment flows from a dam at a reservation owned by a Scouting organization based in Bethesda.

These invasive moths are poised to proliferate across North America: Much of the continent’s climate is “very suitable” for box tree moths, researchers say.

She backed Israel; her son led a protest. Could they withstand war?: When her son joined protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, Emily Strong began examining her own convictions. That led to deep, often uncomfortable conversations.

In D.C.’s Ward 8, election centers on experience versus new leadership: The three-way battle for the future of the ward has centered on many of its intractable issues, such as poverty and fears about gentrification.

In a place with a history of hate, an unlikely fight against GOP extremism: North Idaho has beaten the far right before. Now renegade Republicans are seeking to root it out of their own party, with a crucial test in Tuesday’s primary.

Opinion  How Biden’s debate performance could blow open the race: He needs to goad Trump to be Trump, while reassuring voters about his own fitness for another term.

Ancient Chesapeake site challenges timeline of humans in the Americas: An island eroding into the bay offers tantalizing clues about when and how humans first made their way into North America.

Reading archvie 2024-05-18

Johnson says personal attacks at committee meeting ‘not a good look’: A House Oversight Committee meeting devolved into a partisan shouting match between members, filled with personal attacks about intelligence and appearance.

Riders give Metro high marks in poll but still worry about crime: Metro riders give the system its highest ratings in the past decade, including for reliability and value, though many remain wary of crime on the rail service. - "But more than a third of Metrorail riders rate the system negatively for safety from crime — about the same as a year ago. Metro riders under 50 years old, as well as Black and Hispanic riders, are more concerned about crime on Metro than riders who are older or White.

...

"The poll finds 68 percent of D.C. residents support increasing enforcement of fare rules, including majorities across all demographic groups and parts of the city. Support is slightly lower among D.C. residents under 40, with 56 percent in support and 38 percent opposed."

D.C. clears major homeless encampment, but critical housing problems linger More than 60 people living in tents and other shelters in the Foggy Bottom area were forcibly evicted by the city and the National Park Service. - "Shelley Byars, 46, has lived in the Foggy Bottom encampment since last summer and was previously pushed out from half a dozen sites despite having been approved for a housing subsidy in 2022. As the morning sun shone through the blue-and-green tent in which she has lived for the past several months, Byars unzipped the nylon flap and stepped outside, wiping sleep from her eyes. She was already packed."

A water war is brewing between the U.S. and Mexico. Here’s why.: In south Texas, a water shortage killed the sugar industry and could slow growth in booming border towns.

What Israel’s strategic corridor in Gaza reveals about its postwar plans: Analysts say the buildup of the Netzarim Corridor is part of a large-scale project by the Israeli military to reshape Gaza and entrench its presence there.

Reading archive 2024-05-17

Opinion  J.D. Vance wasn’t just some hillbilly after all: His journey from author to Trumpist senator is a fable for the GOP’s devolution.

Reading archive 2024-05-16

D.C. scrapped plan for Connecticut Ave. bike lane. Lawmakers want it back.: D.C. Council’s transportation committee criticized the mayor’s office for ditching the plan.

A congressman spared prison as a teen tells D.C. to be tough on youth: Rep. Byron Donalds sponsored a bill to prohibit the District’s council from legislating crime sentencing. - "After getting a second chance on the drug charge thanks to a pretrial diversion program, he caught a bribery charge three years later. He got both records expunged and proved flexible sentencing can open doors to young people who make mistakes."

US stats show violent crime dramatically falling, so why is there a rising clash with perception?: "I don't believe the statistics," said Auriol Sonia Morris, a Trump supporter. - "But a Stanford University study published in July titled "The mythical tie between immigration and crime," found immigrants are 30% less likely to be incarcerated than are U.S.-born white individuals. When expanded to include Black Americans -- whose incarceration rate is estimated to be five times higher than whites -- the likelihood of an immigrant being incarcerated is 60% lower than of people born in the United States, according to the study."

Reading archive 2024-05-15

Angela Alsobrooks wins Maryland’s hotly contested U.S. Senate primary The Prince George’s County executive defeated a three-term congressman and now shoulders the responsibility of holding the deep-blue state’s seat against popular two-term former governor Larry Hogan (R).

How to Prevent a Lost Phone From Ruining Your Life - 

Duo Mobile: The best two-factor authentication app. Duo Mobile is free, available on both Android and iPhone, and easy to use, and its security features are better than those of other two-factor authentication apps.

1Password: The best password manager. Newbies will appreciate 1Password’s plain-language security recommendations and colorful interface, while the technically inclined will appreciate its advanced features and security.

D.C.’s secret garden: A vacant lot in Temperance Alley has been transformed into a thriving garden, farm and community gathering space — for now.

Who is Angela Alsobrooks, winner of Md.’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary?: The projected winner of Maryland’s high stakes Democratic U.S. Senate contest will take on popular former governor Larry Hogan (R) in November.

Woman who plotted to destroy power grid with neo-Nazi leader pleads guilty: Sarah Beth Clendaniel faces up to 35 years in prison on conspiracy and firearm possession charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Japan, famously polite, struggles to cope with influx of tourists: Huge numbers of visitors are causing chaos at popular spots like Mount Fuji and Kyoto, leading to some extreme measures to tamp down the crowds.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico shot and gravely injured: Robert Fico was shot five times, an act of violence that left Slovakia’s populist leader “fighting for his life” and the country reeling.

As Hamas returns to the north, Israel’s Gaza endgame is nowhere in sight: American and Israeli officials are offering increasingly blunt assessments about Hamas’s resilience and Netanyahu’s failure to plan for postwar Gaza.

Reading archive 2024-05-14

Should our future food be genetically engineered?: Genetically modified crops can help cut carbon emissions, research shows — but they still face major hurdles.

Orcas again sink yacht near Strait of Gibraltar as high-risk season looms: Two people were rescued after orcas hit the roughly 50-foot Alboran Cognac 14 miles off the coast of Morocco, the 26th orca encounter in the region this year.

Why you should embrace using cold water, almost all the time: Heating water gobbles energy, leading to higher utility bills and more planet-warming emissions.

Hammerhead Sharks Are Back in the Caribbean: “I Could Not Believe It”

Biden once nearly died of an aneurysm. Risky surgery changed his life.: Decades ago, Biden’s condition was misdiagnosed as a pinched nerve. His survival helps explain the 81-year-old’s motivations today.

‘Spacey Unmasked’ surfaces new allegations: Kevin Spacey has battled a number of accusations, but a two-part docuseries on Max features more accounts of alleged assault.

The wacky, grueling bike race that captivates a Midwest college town: The Little 500 has been a mainstay at Indiana University for decades, inspiring a movie and the entire campus. Here’s how this year’s dramatic race unfolded.

Opinion  What cellphone data tells us is really happening in cities: People aren’t eager to return to offices, but they’re venturing downtown after hours and on weekends.

The next global crisis could come from the sun. We should prepare now.

U.S. threats led to rupture of vital military ties, Nigerien leader says: In an exclusive interview, Prime Minister Zeine blamed the U.S. for the breakdown in bilateral relations, culminating with the planned ouster of American troops.

Why Clouds Are the Key to New Troubling Projections on Warming

Second Russian invasion is worse than the first, Kharkiv region evacuees say: Thousands of Ukrainians have fled border towns and villages in the northeast Kharkiv region as Russian troops advance in a new attack.

Why you should become a volunteer urban biodiversity scientist: Next time you pick up your phone to snap a seflie, try grabbing a photo of the life around you.

Senator will block RFK site bill unless team honors family of logo creator: Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is calling for Commanders officials “to properly honor the history of the logo and heritage of our tribal nations.”

Gallery Place Chinatown Presentation

Reading archive 2024-05-13

We reported for months on changes sweeping Russia. Here’s what we found.: “Russia, Remastered” reveals how Vladimir Putin is harnessing the war in Ukraine to transform his own country and fulfill his vision of a restored superpower.

Under Putin, a militarized new Russia rises to challenge U.S. and the West

Opinion  Wake up, Mr. Seinfeld. Mean-spirited humor isn’t cool anymore.: Some of what was once funny is now in poor taste. Jerry Seinfeld should understand that.

Joel Embiid and the Burden of Dominance Where does yet another early playoff exit leave the Philadelphia 76ers’ star big man?

Stormy Daniels’s voluble specificity: Daniels’s testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial didn’t drift into the weeds. It expanded into a wide-open field where Trump was wholly exposed.

Switzerland wins politically charged 2024 Eurovision Song Contest: Singer Nemo is the first nonbinary person to win Eurovision. This year’s contest was dominated by political tensions over Israel’s participation.

Opinion  Cannon plays ‘catch and kill’ with the Trump classified documents case

Bishop vanished. His species can still be saved. - "To cut down on entanglements, engineers have made remote-controlled fishing gear that doesn’t require any rope. But deploying that 'ropeless' gear is proving to be a bigger challenge than developing it. Lobster harvesters don’t want to pay for expensive equipment with which they are less familiar. 

"A bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers recently inserted a provision in a federal funding bill making it harder for regulators to issue any new rope regulations until 2029."

In top races, Republicans try to stay quiet on Trump’s false 2020 claims: Unlike in 2022, many GOP candidates running in tight races are choosing to steer away from one of the former president’s favorite talking points.

A mystery illness stole their kids’ personalities. These moms fought for answers.: Their children’s decline was precipitous and dramatic, with patients losing function in days or weeks, including the ability to talk, move or take care of themselves.

Biden and oil companies like this climate tech. Many Americans do not.: Carbon dioxide pipelines and underground injection can cut greenhouse gas, but community opposition is fierce.

Malaysia’s appetite for oil and gas puts it on collision course with China: As reserves closer to shore run dry, Malaysia is venturing farther into disputed waters of the South China Sea claimed and patrolled by China.

Pete Buttigieg’s view from the middle seat: The transportation secretary sees an airline industry that isn’t doing enough for passengers.

Opinion  Time is up for neoliberals Democracy requires a new, progressive capitalism.

It’s always sunny at Mar-a-Lago: In Trump’s happy place, he gets to do what he wants, his public approval is through the roof and nobody is out to get him.

Deaf baby hears for the first time after ‘groundbreaking’ gene therapy trial: Opal Sandy, an 18-month-old from England, is the youngest child to come close to “normal hearing levels” in a gene therapy trial to aid her genetic deafness.

Reading archive 2024-05-09

Deputy fatally shot Black airman after entering wrong apartment, lawyer says: Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23, was alone in his apartment when Florida authorities looking into a disturbance burst in, according to a witness cited by the lawyer.

RFK Jr. revealed he had a parasitic brain worm. Here’s what to know.: The presidential candidate disclosed cognitive problems after contracting a parasitic worm and was diagnosed with mercury poisoning more than a decade ago.

RFK Jr. says he had parasitic brain worm and undisclosed memory loss: Kennedy’s campaign spokeswoman said he contracted a parasite years ago while traveling “extensively in Africa, South America and Asia in his work as an environmental advocate.”

RFK Jr’s ‘history lesson’ on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine flunks the fact test: A line-by-line dissection shows he’s often echoing Russian talking points.

Stormy Daniels’s testimony got heated. Here were the most intense exchanges.: Stormy Daniels and Trump lawyer Susan Necheles engaged in a heated back-and-forth for more than two hours Thursday during the hush money trial in New York.

A beloved alley cat now lives in the Watergate. Was she kidnapped, or rescued?: This is the saga of Kitty Snows, street queen of Foggy Bottom, and the neighbors who are fighting over her. - "The neighbors mined social media for information. They posted 'Missing Kitty Snows' signs. They set up a phone line for tips." [ed. note: jfc]

What Trump promised oil CEOs as he asked them to steer $1 billion to his campaign: Donald Trump has pledged to scrap President Biden’s policies on electric vehicles and wind energy, as well as other initiatives opposed by the fossil fuel industry.

Reading archive 2024-05-08

Student who raised $400K for D.C. homeless man refunds money to donor:s In a series of TikTok videos, Sanai Graden says she lost touch with Alonzo Douglas Hebron, who became evasive and stopped returning her calls.

A TikToker raised $400K for an unhoused man. Then things got messy.: A viral fundraiser has become tangled in a crossfire of internet backlash and questions about who deserves help - "'No progress has been made, and that’s because of GoFundMe,' she said. 'I feel as though I am being targeted because I am African American and he’s African American, as well, and his criminal history,' she said."

Life boomed on Earth half a billion years ago. You can thank magnets.: The near collapse of Earth’s magnetic field coincided with a spike in oxygen levels and a boom in biodiversity, according to a new study.

How to avoid a contractor nightmare when electrifying your home: Seven steps to cut your energy bill, upgrade your home and bid farewell to fossil fuels.

Trump’s classified documents trial blown apart by Cannon: Judge Aileen Cannon, the Trump appointee in charge of the Florida prosecution, has repeatedly given Trump’s team exactly what it wants. His fans have noticed.

Opinion  In court, Stormy Daniels pulled a Trump on Trump: As Stormy Daniels testified in the hush money case, Trump’s angry response was unmistakable.

Opinion  GOP talking points are out of date. Border crossings have plummeted.: As it turns out, having good relationships with allies matters for immigration control.

Biden to tout Microsoft AI center on site of Trump’s failed Foxconn deal: The investment is expected to create 2,000 permanent jobs and 2,300 temporary union construction jobs.

In Arizona, election workers trained with deepfakes to prepare for 2024 “By the end of the second day, you’re like: Trust no one,” said one county recorder who completed the training.

D.C. Council overrides Mayor Bowser’s veto over housing program rules: The issue was another example of the power clashes between the lawmakers and executive that tend to surface in debates over housing.

Reading archive 2024-05-07

US Army sergeant arrested in Russia accused of theft [ed. note: this fucking idiot]

Reading archive 2024-05-05

How ancient Amazonians transformed a toxic crop into a diet staple Indigenous people devised a complex, multistep process of detoxification.

DEI is getting a new name. Can it dump the political baggage?: Under mounting legal and political pressure, companies’ DEI tactics are evolving.

Opinion  U.S. productivity is popping. And it’s not because of AI.: The country is seeing a surge in small business creation.

Opinion  The ideal number of kids in a family: Four (at a minimum) [ed. note: yikes]

Opinion  The surprising reason few Americans are getting chips jobs now - "Already, the companies have struggled to hire enough construction workers, especially welders and pipe fitters. Factory openings are being delayed until 2025 or later. And the industry needs up to 70,000 new workers to run the fabrication plants, known as 'fabs.' These are not your grandparents’ manufacturing jobs. Many will be engineers and computer scientists. About 28,000 will be technicians who don’t need a four-year degree but do need specialized skills. Think of them as digital tool belt jobs: Technicians program the machines that churn out the tiny chips that are so critical to smartphones, cars and missiles."

How Pope Francis opened the Vatican to transgender sex workers: The outreach, reflecting the most radical stage of his papacy, has prompted backlash while also altering the lives of the nearly 100 people he has met.

Reading archive 2024-05-04

5 Reasons for Environmentalists to Stop Blaming "Doom & Gloom" Narratives

Why We Have Lawns

In year of budget cuts, Mayor Muriel Bowser bets big on downtown D.C.: Bowser says reviving downtown will ultimately pay dividends to all D.C. — returning the city to a period of growth that shaped the early years of her tenure. - "Bowser’s pledge that the downtown investments will uplift all neighborhoods largely stems from the fact that the city’s core has long been its economic engine. Economic activity downtown brings about $2.3 billion to the District’s coffers each year, comprising about one-fourth of D.C.’s annual local fund revenue, according to the Downtown Action Plan released by her administration and downtown business leaders in February."

He was almost off probation in a murder case. Then a judge saw his videos.: Citing social media posts in which a teenager rapped about drugs and violence, a Maryland judge declined to end his juvenile court supervision

U.S. tells Qatar to evict Hamas if it obstructs Israeli hostage deal: Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered the message to Qatar’s prime minister, a U.S. official said, signaling Washington’s impatience as cease-fire talks have languished.

Toddler fatally shot in Southeast, D.C. police say: Preliminary information indicated the girl may have been accidentally struck in an exchange of gunfire, police said.

A 3-year-old is shot to death, and D.C. reels again: ‘Everyone loved her’: Ty’ah Settles was riding in a car that got caught in the crossfire of a gun battle, police said. She was the city’s youngest homicide victim this year.

Confident of victory over Ukraine, Russia exhibits Western war trophies: The exhibition comes just ahead of a May 9 Victory Day celebration that is very different from last year’s, when Russia was facing battlefield setbacks.

University endowments show few signs of direct Israel, defense holdings: School investments are targets of Pro-Palestinian groups calling for “divestment,” even if the ties aren’t always clear.

Survivors of Oct. 7 attack sue pro-Palestinian groups in U.S.: They allege that American Muslims for Palestine and National Students for Justice in Palestine spread terrorist propaganda from Hamas at U.S. colleges.

Young mothers at risk of homelessness after D.C. program is denied funding: Program leaders have until July 1 to raise enough money to keep the homes open, or else five mothers and their babies will be displaced. - "A program is ranked by how often it is used, the rate at which people leave it for permanent housing, and how often those who leave return to another program within two years, said Tom Fredericksen, the chief of policy and programs at the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, which coordinates the local Continuum of Care program on behalf of the city. Olaiya’s Cradle was ranked 41 out of 43 projects, documents show."

Opinion  The New York Times, alone in its outrage over access to Biden: The White House is helping set a new norm, and a dubious one at that.

Opinion  To the Gaza protesters helping to elect Trump: Give it a rest: You must have been doing for the past eight years what Trump has been doing in court the past three weeks: napping.

The children who remember their past lives: What happens when your toddler is haunted by memories that aren’t hers?

Reading archive 2024-05-02

Opinion  China already manufactures too much. Now it wants to make more. - "China confronts an economic dilemma of lagging growth, low consumption and an elevated savings rate. This is partly the result of its highly unequal economy, in which workers are paid a smaller share of what they produce than in most maturing economies. A shift toward policies that support domestic demand, such as expanding the social safety net or even direct payments to households alongside more progressive taxation, could reduce inequality, increase consumption and support more sustainable economic growth. But instead, Beijing announced at its National Party Congress last month that it would ramp up investment in advanced manufacturing to export products overseas.

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"Chinese manufacturing is more carbon-intensive than that of the United States and other nations. According to a 2021 study, solar panels manufactured in China produce 30 percent more emissions than those manufactured in the United States. And, as Matthew C. Klein recently explained, those who cheer the disparity between Chinese production and consumption of clean energy technologies tend to assume that 'the green transition requires that Chinese workers be exploited.'"

Reading archive 2024-05-01

Brave Little Hunter is free: Baby orca escapes lagoon for open seas

Finding space for wind farms might be easier than we thought - "But the huge structures topped with massive rotating blades only take up five percent of the land where they’ve been built, new research shows

"The rest of the space can be used for other purposes, such as agriculture, according to a study published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene launches her plan to oust Speaker Johnson: But Democrats have promised to ride to the House speaker’s rescue, at least for now

Two teens arrested in shooting during school ‘skip day’ at Md. park: Greenbelt police announced arrests after five teens were shot and wounded at Schrom Hills Park on April 19.

An assassination plot on American soil reveals a darker side of Modi’s India

Opinion  How the right U.S. chip strategy can keep Taiwan free

Journalism professors call on New York Times to review Oct. 7 report: A major investigative report into sexual violence in the Hamas attack on Israel has drawn criticism inside and outside

Bill Barr doesn’t mind a little autocracy if your politics are right

Tensions grow between Trump and Lake in Arizona race for Senate: The former president fears that GOP candidate Kari Lake might not win and will drag down his own prospects in the battleground state

America’s appetite for McMansions is devouring modern architecture: Chris Pratt demolishing a mid-century treasure is part of a larger, disturbing trend

Trump admits he told Secret Service to take him to Capitol on Jan 6 in rambling campaign rally: ‘It’s not my deal. I’m a lover, not a fighter,’ Mr Trump told a crowd of supporters in Wisconsin about his actions on January 6

How an inclusive gym brand became a battlefield over LGBTQ+ rights: At least 54 threats have been received by Planet Fitness locations following attacks by far-right influencer Chaya Raichik

Reading archive 2024-04-30

The threat: In a time of rising anger, what happened to one man who threatened Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

In war-battered Gaza, residents grow angry with Hamas - "The attack, a terrifying rampage through southern Israeli communities, initially boosted the group’s support in both Gaza and the West Bank, according the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, which carried out polling in late November and early December.

"Even recently, in a poll conducted over five days in March, a majority of respondents in both places say Hamas’s decision to carry out the attack was 'correct.'"

Six people wounded by gunfire outside Dupont-area club

Opinion  Is the sun slowly setting on U.S. power? That depends on us.

Chiropractor works on giraffe, is nuzzled: ‘Giraffes are just giant dogs?’: Three quick videos of Joren Whitley adjusting Gerry the giraffe’s neck and jaw have been together viewed more than 48 million times on TikTok

5,000 miles away, a Michigan mayor at the center of the Gaza storm: Navigating between residents’ rage over Gaza and Democrats’ fears of Trump, Abdullah Hammoud must decide whether to back Biden in the fall - "Hammoud has also distanced himself on occasion from the more hard-hitting rhetoric coming from his community. When video emerged earlier this month of protesters in Dearborn chanting 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America,' Hammoud publicly condemned it.

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"Until the Gaza war, Hammoud considered Biden one of the best American presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt. His city has won tens of millions of dollars in grants under Biden’s infrastructure law. His residents have benefited from the president’s health reforms, including a $35 cap on insulin prices."

Biden roasts Trump (in a serious way) at annual press dinner: At the White House correspondents’ dinner, the president chuckled at his opponent’s expense but made it clear Donald Trump is no joke - "Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) gave a report on his own encounter with the protesters outside: 'I asked them about what was happening in Sudan. And they yelled louder. And then I asked them about the concentration camps full of Uyghurs. And they yelled louder. And then I went inside.'"

With U.S. aid resumed, Ukraine will try to dig itself out of trouble: Washington says Kyiv must address critical manpower shortages and shore up its defenses to enable major offensives in the future