Reading archive 2024-10-31

The Unfair Typecasting of Second Empire Style: How did Second Empire architecture — elegant and innovative — become the de facto style for haunted houses and creepy attractions?

Is this the ‘most haunted’ building in Washington? The EEOB’s spooky history.: A locked case in which items somehow moved. Spectral figures in the halls. Ex-White House staffers share Eisenhower Executive Office Building ghost stories.

The passive house trend is booming: These green homes are designed to be as energy efficient as possible. New incentives aim to make them more budget-friendly.

Work Advice: How far should I go to accommodate a neurodivergent colleague?: It’s important to start by asking them what would help them succeed. The results may surprise you.

China built a $50 billion military stronghold in the South China Sea

Congress tried to fix presidential transitions. Trump is testing the changes.: The first test of a little-known change to the presidential transition process is causing anxiety as Trump is potentially poised to return to power.

Guns. Knives. Bats. Hammers. Hatchets. Spears.: As incidents of road rage escalate across the country, aggressive drivers in Texas try to understand what triggers anger.

Two Theories of Immaculate Disinflation, and Their Implications: Paul Krugman

"It is so disastrous": MAGA men are freaking out that wives may be secretly voting for Kamala Harris: "That’s the same thing as having an affair,” Fox News host argues as women fuel early vote in key states

Reading archive 2024-10-30

The Worst of Crypto Is Yet to Come: No matter who wins in November, the digital-asset market could be on the brink of a deregulation-fueled bonanza. - "Dennis Kelleher, the CEO of the nonprofit Better Markets, told me the real reason the crypto industry doesn’t want tokens to be classified as securities is that disclosure rules would expose them as financially dangerous. 'If you had to fully and truthfully disclose the risks associated with crypto, the people who would engage in crypto would be near none,' he said."

North Korea’s elite troops are in Russia to fight Ukraine: What we know: The North Korean Special Forces sent to Russia are the state’s best trained troops but they will face challenges with modern warfare technology, experts say.

Stung by the backlash, Ted Leonsis is trying to win back: Washington The Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO says he wants to unite the region, but a failed arena deal in Virginia turned him into a polarizing figure.

She said she had a miscarriage — then got arrested under an abortion law

Who is the mystery poop and tiki torch artist?: The Washington Post set out to find out who was behind two new eye-catching art installations in the city. We couldn’t quite do it.

Against mayor’s wishes, D.C. will use bus sales to help Circulator workers: The mayor chose to end Circulator service this year, saying the city could no longer afford the red buses.

D.C. Council restricts amplified noise, projectiles at residential protests: An emergency measure to temper First Amendment activity in residential neighborhoods was by turns lauded and derided by District residents, as the D.C. Council voted 9-2 to pass the bill.

What Trump could do to Metro if he wins a second term: While in office, Trump repeatedly tried to slash infrastructure budgets and pull back funding for public transit.

Opinion So, what did you think of Harris’s October surprise? Across the country, the vice president’s field operation dwarfs Trump’s. - "Democrat Josh Stein will almost certainly win the governor’s race, and Democrats will likely take a couple more statewide races. But the congressional delegation 'will either be 71 percent Republican or 79 percent, in a state Kamala Harris may very well win,' Nickel said."

Opinion Donald Trump wants you to be afraid of me: His anti-trans TV ads are a cunning, cynical program to encourage us to fear what we do not understand.

Companies ready price hikes to offset Trump’s global tariff plans: Executives say Americans, not foreign countries, will pay the tariffs. - "In fact, American importers pay all tariffs to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency at the time their products enter the country."

Mike Johnson vows major changes to Affordable Care Act if Trump wins election: The House speaker said Republicans would seek to overhaul the law, which provides health coverage to tens of millions and has been a frequent target of GOP repeal efforts.

For Jeff Bezos and his businesses, Washington has become more important: Executives at companies founded by the billionaire Post owner have sought contact with Trump. He argues he didn’t end presidential endorsements out of self-interest.

They thought they found their dream home — so did thousands of bats: For a millennial couple buying their first home, on an island in the Puget Sound, the cost of humanely resolving the bat problem was more than they expected.

Musk’s plan to cut $2 trillion in U.S. spending could bring economic turmoil: Deep budget cuts would be required to meet the billionaire Trump supporter’s goal. He appeared to acknowledge some risks on Tuesday.

China cracks down on Halloween, wary of subversion lurking in costumes: Halloween is new to China, but many young professionals embrace costumes as a way to express themselves – and sometimes to send subtle political messages.

These women are all in for abortion rights — and for Donald Trump: Harris is making abortion part of her closing argument. But some voters say they aren’t worried about what a Trump presidency would mean for abortion. - "Republican and independent voters who plan to split their ticket on abortion — voting for an abortion referendum and for Trump — said they were willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt on the issue, with some feeling reassured by his recent promises not to crack down further on abortion. Despite Trump’s decision to appoint the three conservative Supreme Court justices who helped revoke the constitutional right to abortion, a few voters said they believed Trump was secretly 'pro-choice.'" [ed. note: everyone is about to get everything they deserve]

LGBTQ activists canvassed in a red state. The conversations surprised them.: The group spread out across Missouri in the final days before the election. Residents had viewpoints that did not fit in neat partisan boxes.

Reading archive 2024-10-29

Opinion There’s a better term for Trump than ‘fascist’: He’s a demagogue. - "Originally, demagogue (dēmagōgós, literally “leader of the people”), signified a political type in Greek democracy who rallied nonelite voters to the support of causes by appealing to class prejudices and resentments. Only after decades of observation did political philosophers begin to catalogue the extraordinary dangers posed by this type.

...

"Modern academics have refined the term. In his 1954 book 'American Demagogues,' historian Reinhard Luthin defined a demagogue as 'a politician skilled in oratory, flattery and invective; evasive in discussing vital issues; promising everything to everybody; appealing to the passions rather than the reason of the public; and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices — a man whose lust for power without recourse to principle leads him to seek to become a master of the masses.'"

The AI boom may unleash a global surge in electronic waste: Most e-waste is never recycled. Data center upgrades for AI projects could significantly add to the problem, researchers say.

fall in love with moths

Can apple cider vinegar really do wonders for your health?: Several studies have shown apple cider vinegar can lower blood sugar levels and slightly improve cholesterol, but there are caveats.

CNN bans guest over ‘beeper’ comment aimed at pro-Palestinian panelist: The network said Ryan Girdusky would not be welcome back after he told Mehdi Hasan “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” referencing Israel’s operation against Hezbollah.

On Elon Musk’s X, Republicans go viral as Democrats disappear: A Washington Post analysis found that Republicans are posting more, getting followed more and going viral more now that the world’s richest Trump supporter is running the show.

Reading archive 2024-10-28

How would Trump and Harris supporters handle defeat? Here’s what they say.: We asked dozens of backers of each candidate how they would feel and what they would do if the election didn’t go their way. The contrasts were illuminating.

For The Post, more outrage from readers who say they’ve canceled: After Friday’s announcement that The Washington Post was no longer going to endorse a presidential candidate, subscribers and journalists are responding with anger and dismay.

The pop star endorsement that could really swing the election? Bad Bunny.: The Puerto Rican superstar has a huge voice and a ton of influence — especially among Latinos and young voters.

Trump nearly took over the D.C. police force. City leaders pushed back.: D.C. leaders fear a second Trump administration would bring renewed threats to the city’s independence.

How America’s youngest voters feel about casting their first ballots: Teens say activities and classes they’re taking have influenced how they will cast their first ever vote.

Trump rally speakers lob racist insults, call Puerto Rico ‘island of garbage’: Later, Trump took the stage at Madison Square Garden and called the GOP “the party of inclusion.” His campaign issued a statement disavowing the “garbage” comment.

Chinese hackers said to have collected audio of American calls: The hackers are said to be part of a Chinese government-affiliated group that American researchers have dubbed Salt Typhoon.

Some billionaires, CEOs hedge bets as Trump vows retribution: With the race tight, some business elites are toning down past criticism of the former president.

On a Deep South housing board, a clash over seats reserved for minorities: Alabama’s real estate appraisal panel has emerged as a key battleground in a growing fight over the racial makeup of public boards and commissions.

Ukraine boosting its defense industries, with a little help from friends: With Europe unable to supply all the weapons and ammunition Ukraine needs, the E.U. is investing in the country’s rapidly expanding arms industry.

How Soviet farm planning gave Ukrainian troops vital battlefield real estate: On the Ukrainian steppe, where it is nearly impossible to hide from drone surveillance, windbreaks are fought over by Russian and Ukrainian troops.

New housing construction slowed as campaigns focus on affordability: Fresh data from the Census Bureau underscores the difficulty in finding federal solutions to housing problems at the local level. - "Trump’s plan doesn’t tackle new construction. Instead, the focus is on freeing up existing homes that he claims are occupied by undocumented immigrants, whom he wants to deport by the millions. Economists have widely debunked this claim, saying other forces play a much bigger role in driving up prices and that undocumented immigrants are more likely to live in lower-income rental units than owner-occupied houses. They also note that new immigrants make up about a third of the construction workforce, which would be a crucial part of the push to build new homes and fix years-long shortages."

This town has no cell service, so the ‘electrosensitive’ have made it home: A few dozen people, in and around Green Bank, W.Va., have retreated from the signals of modern life, and found each other.

'What Did It Achieve?': Documentary Examines Largest Immigration Raid In U.S. History [ed. note: from 2018, about 2008] - '"The demographic impact was huge. The town lost almost half of its population after the raid. It was also devastating economically. The plant that was the main economic motor of the town went bankrupt and later reopened under a foreign owner. Many workers didn't get paid for months and eventually lost their jobs. A lot of local businesses closed down. The whole county, not only the towns, suffered, immigrants and nonimmigrants alike.

"'I think this documentary can really shed light on the efficiency of these worksite enforcement operations when we think about are they really efficient? This raid in 2008 cost over $5 million that came out of taxpayer pockets, and what did it achieve? Those jobs did not go back to Americans. They went to Somali refugees.'"

Reading archive 2024-10-27

 Russian economy overheating, but still powering the war against Ukraine: Putin’s massive spending on the war is overheating the economy, but he has the resources to keep doing it. - "The failure of sanctions is closely watched by autocrats, he said.

"'The big message it sends to the Kremlin and to Beijing and any other autocratic potential troublemaker is that the West isn’t serious. The West is more interested in making money in the short term than in confronting autocrats. That’s the number one message, and that is deeply harmful,' he said."

Anti-Puerto Rico comments at Trump rally spur outrage as Bad Bunny supports Harris: The artist’s gesture of support came as a number of speakers at a Trump event in New York made racist and disparaging comments about Puerto Ricans and other Latinos.

Inside the fight for every vote in Montana

Trump says domestic foes worse than Kim Jong Un during meandering Joe Rogan interview: “We have a bigger problem, in my opinion, with the enemy from within,” Trump said after mentioning the oppressive North Korean leader, reprising a phrase that has drawn criticism.

Elon Musk, enemy of ‘open borders,’ launched his career working illegally: Investors in Musk’s first company worried about “our founder being deported” and gave him a deadline for obtaining a work visa.

Elon Musk claims student visa permitted him to work in U.S.: After a Washington Post report and remarks from President Joe Biden, Musk denied working in the U.S. illegally.

Reading archive 2024-10-25

D.C. AG sues major construction company, alleging pollution of waterways: Fort Myer Construction operates two asphalt plants in the District and is a preferred contractor with the city, with tens of millions of dollars in contracts over the years.

DC Council Passes Bill That Would Bring Thousands Of New EV Stations To The City

Satellite images show major expansion at Russian site with secret bioweapons past: New construction at a military research site near Moscow reveals a specialized laboratory complex designed to research and handle deadly pathogens, experts say. - "State Department officials have ridiculed Russian allegations that the United States is working on biological weapons, alone or with partners. But U.S. officials and experts say Russian scientists may legitimately believe that the threat exists, and thus feel justified in creating and testing new weapons."

Families sue D.C. for ending housing aid in unprecedented case: The city has sought to remove thousands of families from its rapid rehousing program. Officials have blamed years of extensions for creating an unsustainable financial burden.

Jill Biden has upgraded your next White House tour: ‘They weren’t dynamic,’ the first lady says of the old tours. So she helped reimagine the ritual.

Opinion On political endorsement A note from the publisher: [ed. note: "We are returning to our roots, which is to not endorse candidates, except when we do, which is whenever we want, which is not now, because I, William Lewis, am a Rupert Murdoch crony and wide-spectrum dirtbag."]

The Washington Post says it will not endorse a candidate for president Publisher William Lewis explained the decision as a return to the newspaper’s roots. - "The decision not to publish was made by The Post’s owner — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — according to the same sources." [ed. note: bracing gutlessness from a billionaire afraid of what a Trump win could do to his fortunes]

Jill Biden has upgraded your next White House tour: ‘They weren’t dynamic,’ the first lady says of the old tours. So she helped reimagine the ritual.

Poop statue appears on the National Mall to ‘honor’ Jan. 6 rioters: Visitors swarmed the controversial installation, which will be on the Mall until Oct. 30.

Does Ghost-Hunting Gear Work? We Tested Some in a Haunted Place to Find Out.

Why Fleetwood Mac is forever: “Dreams,” by Mark Blake, delves into Fleetwood Mac’s storied past and the enduring appeal of the band’s music.

Finally, a fresh argument against ‘wokeness’: In “We Have Never Been Woke,” Musa al-Gharbi argues that claims to support marginalized people are often little more than elite status competitions.

Meet Ukraine’s top fighting unit — at least that’s what its ad says: Ukraine’s brigades can recruit their own soldiers, and they compete with one another to craft the best advertising campaigns to sell the war.

Canada alleges much wider campaign by Modi government against Sikhs: Canada on Monday ordered six Indian diplomats to leave the country, including India’s top diplomat in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, officials said.

In D.C. election, Initiative 83 push for voting changes is biggest wild card: I-83 would allow independents to vote in primaries and change D.C.’s voting method to ranked-choice. The D.C. Democratic Party has emerged as a chief opponent.

Opinion By electing Trump, America would break its closest allies’ hearts: Anxiety levels in Europe over the U.S. election are very high. - "Jørn Brøndal, chair of USD’s Center for American Studies, offered a view that turns 'America First' rhetoric on its head. 'I always saw Trump as an import from Europe,' Brøndal said. 'He’s outside the American mainstream and comes from a right-wing populist tradition in Europe that shows some of the same tendencies.' Brøndal said this before Trump, in the style of 1930s autocrats, spoke of immigrants bringing 'a lot of bad genes in our country right now.'"

North Carolina authorities arrest armed man after threats against FEMA workers: Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office confirms it made the arrest Saturday after learning of threat to Federal Emergency Management Agency employees working on hurricane relief.

Opinion Why Harris’s pitch to Muslim and Arab American voters is failing: Caught in the bind of the Gaza war, the VP failed to cement herself as the choice for this bloc. - "There’s a tendency in liberal circles to accuse these voters of betraying their own interests by supporting Trump or voting third-party. But Muslim and Arab voters aren’t abandoning Harris because they don’t understand what’s at stake. They’re abandoning her because they do." [lol let's see how that goes]

The Most Opinionated Man in America: Mike Solana, a Peter Thiel protégé, has made his Pirate Wires newsletter a must-read among the anti-woke investor class—and a window into what the most powerful people in tech really think.

Reading archive 2024-10-24

Fox News edited Trump’s rambling answers and false claims in barbershop interview, full video shows

Trump says gas should be $1.87 a gallon. Here’s what that would mean.: Experts say that the former president’s campaign promise of cheap gasoline could have severe economic consequences. - "Companies generally can’t break even on oil production when the price of a barrel falls below $45, according to Ed Hirs, an energy economist at the University of Houston. If crude prices plummeted to $20 a barrel, Hirs said, top U.S. oil producers would probably pull back on major investments.

"In this scenario, spending on drilling could screech to a halt. Refineries could shutter. The impacts could be especially acute in energy-rich states such as New Mexico, Colorado and others, where taxes on oil and gas production help fund schools and local governments."

GOP candidates embrace Trump’s call to abolish Education Department: Republican candidates in tight races speak out on the issue, an on-and-off GOP goal since the agency was created

GOP Rep. Kiggans’s lead evaporates in Virginia’s 2nd District, poll finds: Incumbent Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia) is nearly tied with Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal in the closely watched congressional race in Hampton Roads.

A week before election, Harris to speak at the Ellipse in Washington: The vice president is slated to present her final case to the American people in D.C., in the same area where Donald Trump spoke just before the Jan. 6 riot.

D.C.’s glass buildings can be deadly for birds. Volunteers track them.: Every year, Lights Out DC volunteers find hundreds of dead birds during peak migration seasons.

Michigan Arabs and Muslims deeply split over supporting Harris: Many say they will skip the presidential election out of anger over Gaza and Lebanon. Others see Kamala Harris as clearly better than Donald Trump.

We Wanted to Find the Best Red Light Therapy Device to Help With Pain. Here’s Why We Can’t Recommend Any.

The Blowout No One Sees Coming

Reading archive 2024-10-23

‘Gate lice’ beware: American Airlines is catching early boarders: Group 7? Wait your turn.

At 81, she just voted for the first time: ‘Made me feel like I was American’: Betty Cartledge, who has lived in Georgia her whole life, can’t read or write and thought her vote wouldn’t count.

&Pizza draws backlash for hinting at Marion Barry cocaine use in ads: The pizza chain said its “Marion Berry knots” would “blow you away” and posted an image on X that had small bags of white powder.

Trying to become vegan? This is the easiest way to do it.: Veganism doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Adopting a mostly plant-based diet but maintaining flexibility with friends and family can help make a climate impact. [ed. note: the present moment requires that everyone change as best they can, not a few people to change perfectly]

Trump meets definition of ‘fascist,’ says John Kelly, his former chief of staff: Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, who is a former general, warned of his former boss’s dictator tendencies in an interview with the New York Times.

Trump attacks Harris with racist stereotype, eyes ‘extreme power’ as president: An event with Latino supporters quickly swerved off topic as Trump bashed solar farms as a threat to rabbits and pushed falsehoods about electric vehicles.

Donald Trump fixates on Harris aide Ian Sams, who goads him on Fox News: Trump and his aides have repeatedly publicly attacked Sams for his criticism of the former president during Fox interviews.

Opinion If demography is destiny, bring on immigration. We’re going to need it.: A political economist outlines the upheavals that await a shrinking world.

Opinion Colin Allred tries to shift Texas from Cruz control: The real reason Democrats can’t break their 30-year shutout in Texas. - "Conservatism and political tribalism explain only part of why Texas has remained so solidly in the Republican column. A bigger reason is that the Lone Star State’s electorate doesn’t look like its population; it has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country. As Rodney Ellis, a former state senator and current Harris County commissioner, puts it: 'Texas is not a red state. It’s a blue state that doesn’t vote.'"

Her billionaire marriage broke up. Her VP campaign fizzled. Now she’s a Trump-world star.: With a massive divorce settlement from Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nicole Shanahan is remaking herself as a pro-Trump wellness guru — raising alarm in Silicon Valley.

How a conspiracy-fueled group got a foothold in this hurricane-battered town: Over the course of 11 days, a supermarket parking lot became a snapshot of the chaos that can unfold in some corners of post disaster-America.

In a Michigan city, Harris has failed to catch fire with Black men: In December, Black men in Pontiac told The Post they were unenthused about Biden. Now, some feel the same about Harris. - "As for Democrats, Byas said, 'it’s the disconnect — the [lack of] acknowledgment of the Black community. Because now it’s like, 'Hey, we need you — we need these votes.''" [ed. note: there is no demographic more acknowledged in Democratic politics than the Black community]

Reading archive 2024-10-22

Richmond mayor takes aim at billboard atop a historic Black cemetery: Mayor Levar Stoney has asked the Richmond City Council to re-designate Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground as a cemetery, making the billboard illegal.

Jury in Virginia convicts MS-13 ringleader in string of brutal slayings: A leader of the violent MS-13 gang was convicted of killing six people from 2018 to 2022.

The hidden NIL economy of college sports: Yes, college athletes are getting paid. But how? And how much? A Post analysis of $125 million in payments reveals the patterns and disparities of a murky NIL market.

Can the tire industry be sustainable? Guayule farmers say yes. - "'There’s not much weed pressure, pretty much no disease pressure, no insect pressure,' Newell said. 'From a sustainability standpoint, it makes a lot of sense.'" [ed. note: Parthenium argentatum, same genus as wild quinine]

What to do about one of America's last wild places - "Lampe rejected the idea that drilling on the refuge would imperil the animals there: 'If there was any possibility of development imperiling our way of life, we wouldn’t allow that,' he said as he oversaw the distribution of the next course." [ed. note: ... said the human being]

Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had’: The Republican nominee’s preoccupation with dictators, and his disdain for the American military, is deepening.

Reading archive 2024-10-21

Opinion  Are Americans ready to give up on Ukraine?: All the talk about a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine? It’s designed mostly to appeal to Americans.

Opinion We take our dogs everywhere. Maybe we shouldn’t.: I’m a dog owner. But even I think we should leave them at home more often. - "And even that one park is under siege. I know because of a large sign posted there. It explains that, yes, they really do mean no dogs. Why? Because dogs can damage the area set aside for sensitive native plants and animals and spread disease. The sign goes on to say that birds and other animals think of dogs as predators — “(even the friendliest ones)” — and the presence of one dog, even leashed, will disrupt their normal behavior. Multiple scientific studies back this up."

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser proposes legislation to buy Capital One Arena: Under the proposal, the city, which already owns the land under the arena, would buy the building for $87.5 million.

Russia’s opposition abroad is tearing itself apart, but clings to hope: Many Russians who want to see change in their country are increasingly doubtful that the opposition in its current form can lead the fight to transform the country.

BRICS is key to Putin’s fight against the U.S. Not all members agree.: With Putin confident of a Russian victory in Ukraine, the summit is designed to send a message that Russia is back as a powerful global player with many friends.

Opinion Harris’s innovative media strategy shouldn’t end on Election Day: Kamala Harris has dramatically broadened the range of outlets for airing her views.

A Pennsylvania road trip finds voters full of doubt, anger and unease

10 apple baking recipes for fall, including cake, pie and muffins: These apple baking recipes celebrate the belle of the fall.

Maryland detectives nabbed gold bar thief using fake UPS package from Kentucky: Montgomery County prosecutors secure first conviction this year in schemes totaling more than $6 million.

Heat pumps were supposed to transform the world. But it’s not going as planned.: Heat pump sales, critical to the transition to clean energy, have slowed in the U.S. and stalled in Europe.

The Perverse Consequences of Tuition-Free Medical School: The latest philanthropic trend, no matter how well intended, might be making health-care inequality worse.

Opinion As hurricane seasons worsen, taxpayers subsidize people to live in risky areas: Helene and Milton spotlight a federal flood insurance program drowning in debt.

Opinion Shoplifting is a real problem. Denying it doesn’t help.: The costs of shoplifting at supermarkets and pharmacies add up.

Reading archive 2024-10-18 pt 2

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/10/15/us-weapons-israel-gaza-aid/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/opinion/seasons-nature-fall.html?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/15/trump-campaign-music-festival/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/15/kamala-harris-black-men-pontiac-michigan/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/15/ukraine-stalemate-putin-pompeo-peacetalks-negotiations/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/10/11/dreams-fleetwood-mac-biography-review

https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/10/14/never-been-woke-review/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/14/ukraine-advertisements-recruitment-ad-campaigns

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/14/canada-modi-sikhs-violence-india/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/14/dogs-parks-leash-wildlife/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/14/trump-fact-checks-interviews-debates/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/10/13/dc-initiative-83-ranked-choice-primaries-democratic-party/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/10/13/federal-officials-nc-temporarily-relocated-amid-report-armed-militia-email-shows/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/13/europe-trump-harris-election-anxiety/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/13/ukraine-defense-industry-denmark/

How Davante Adams finally became a New York Jet

Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini: The former president has brought dehumanizing language into American presidential politics.

FEMA maps missed parts of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene, Post analysis shows - "Many experts say that the entire system needs an overhaul to account for a new reality. 'These strategies to protect us from flooding are based in the past,' Weber said. 'All these systems that we rely on in our everyday lives were created for a climate that no longer exists.'"

Where climate change poses the most and least risk to American homeowners [ed. note: the satellite view of Cape Coral is fucking bonkers]

Republicans face backlash for lawsuits targeting overseas and military voting: House Democrats have asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to guarantee that overseas Americans, including those serving in the armed forces, retain their right to participate in U.S. elections.

Reading archive 2024-10-18 pt 1

Yahya Sinwar, architect of Hamas massacre in Israel, is killed: After years in Israeli prisons, he used his hard-line influence in Gaza to build Hamas into a powerful militia force against Israel.

A novel path to affordable housing in D.C.: Lawsuit, then settlement: The city’s Office of Attorney General announced a settlement that requires the owner of a troubled building in Shaw to keep apartment building affordable — or pay millions more.

Artificial nests can help endangered penguins breed, but design matters: Researchers assessed artificial nests made from four different materials to see which would help boost the population of endangered African penguins the most. - "Natural African penguin nests were historically created using burrows dug into accumulated bird droppings known as guano, Pichegru said. However, the nests were largely removed by humans in the 1800s and 1900s due to the practice of harvesting guano, which was used for fertilizer."

Man arrested for threatening FEMA workers speaks out: William Jacob Parsons, 44, defended his alleged actions at a Federal Emergency Management Agency site in storm-battered Lake Lure, N.C. - "Parsons said he was motivated by social media reports claiming that FEMA was withholding supplies from hurricane victims in western North Carolina. Such false claims are part of a wave of misinformation that has hampered hurricane recovery efforts across the Southeast.

...

"On Facebook, Parsons expressed support for Trump and espoused far-right, anti-government and anti-vaccination views and conspiracy theories, according to The Post’s review of dozens of publicly available posts made between 2018 and 2022." [ed. note: there's a fucking shock]

Between the Border and the Wall: Expanding the border wall in South Texas would leave more U.S. land in limbo - "At some locations, the wall has been placed as far as two miles away from the Rio Grande, leaving thousands of acres in the liminal space between the border and the barrier.

"The land is mostly farms and fields, but there are homes, historic churches and entire neighborhoods essentially cut off from the rest of the United States. A Washington Post analysis of U.S. Customs and Border Protection planning documents shows that the completion of the wall in the lower Rio Grande Valley would leave more than 100 square miles of U.S. territory — an area five times the size of Manhattan — on the wrong side of the divide.

...

"The project in Texas was different. The Rio Grande forms roughly two-thirds of the 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico border. The land along the river has long been valuable — unlike most of the borderland farther west — because it has water access. Many parcels in Texas consist of narrow slivers of land running perpendicular to the river, allowing owners to draw water for cattle or crops."

Opinion Harris ought to send Bret Baier flowers for that Fox News interview: Harris’s combative interview with the Fox News anchor displayed her qualities -- and facts

This American fruit could outcompete apples and peaches on a hotter planet: The resilient, native fruit has a cult following and could be small farms’ hedge against climate change in a fast-warming world

Here’s how the Smithsonian Zoo grows bamboo for its pandas: At a 3,200-acre facility in rural Virginia, the zoo harvests over 13,000 bamboo stalks a year. The process is now ramping up for the new pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao.

Can Trump and Harris turn out the voters they need? A key county has clues.: Northampton County, Pa., which went for Obama, then Trump, then Biden as part of a 100-year track record of almost always voting for the winner, shows the challenges both candidates are confronting.

Va.’s AG accused an election worker of corruption. She’s suing him back.: The office of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

Plan for more housing exposes a schism in a deep-blue Maryland county: Montgomery County officials want to allow denser housing in single-family zones. Opponents call it a “betrayal.”

Amazon doubles down on nuclear energy with deal for small reactors: The cloud computing and retail giant signed a deal to buy electricity generated by small modular nuclear reactors.

Montana ranger comes forward with account of Sheehy gun incident: Candidate says he was shot in Afghanistan; ranger witness to gun incident questions that account

Obama’s fears about Trump drive his stepped-up campaigning: Associates say the rallies are cathartic for the former president as he joins a Harris-Trump battle that could reflect on his own legacy.

Reading archive 2024-10-17

U.S. approves mega geothermal energy project in Utah: The Interior Department gave the green light to Fervo Energy’s Cape Geothermal Power Project in Beaver County, Utah, the White House confirmed to The Washington Post. - "The advanced geothermal technology that Fervo is trying to scale up is an attractive option for tech firms. Enhanced geothermal plants do not pose all the safety concerns that come with nuclear power, but they have the potential to provide the round-the-clock energy that data centers need."

Trump asks for delayed release of appendix in Jan. 6 prosecution: Trump’s legal team asked a judge to delay releasing the appendix until after the November election, when Trump is due to file a response to the special counsel.

Maryland mom acquitted in death of teen who wasted away to 79 pounds: Cynthia Moore, 41, was found guilty of six counts of neglect of her surviving minor children.

Israeli siege plan for Gaza under scrutiny as U.S. demands urgent change: The so-called “General’s Plan” is being pushed by some members of Netanyahu’s far-right government, despite pushback from the Israeli military and the White House.

Reading archive 2024-10-16

Fired D.C. government whistleblower wins $3.4 million judgment against city: The whistleblower alleged instances of contract splitting involving Department of Health contracts for amounts less than the $1 million threshold that triggers D.C. Council scrutiny.

Teen charged in fatal crash that killed 19-year-old in Arlington: Police identified the victim as Nicholas Rados, 19. Online records show he graduated from Washington-Liberty High School this year.

Harris releases agenda for Black men as she ramps up effort to court them: Obama and other Democrats have signaled concern that Black men are showing hesitancy to rally behind Harris.

How choosing solitude can free your mind and lift your mood: Being alone is not the same thing as being lonely. In fact, it’s associated with positive feelings.

‘Off the charts’: How Trump tariffs would shock U.S., world economies: If implemented, the former president’s tariff plans would lead to higher costs, stock market volatility and feuds with the rest of the world.

Son writes hilarious, loving obituary for his dad: ‘He is God’s problem now’: “There are some people who might think it was irreverent and offensive, but I think it sounds about perfect,” Charles Boehm said of his father’s obituary.

Everyone loves rooftop solar panels. But there’s a problem.: One of the most popular methods to cut your household’s carbon footprint may be a mixed bag.

Zelensky reveals ‘victory plan,’ calls for urgent NATO membership: The plan includes permission for strikes inside Russia and assistance with air defenses, but Western reaction to it has been muted so far.

Opinion Democrats thought their Senate hopes were dead. They were just in Nebraska.: Dan Osborn, an independent, could win the state’s Senate race — and determine control of the chamber.

Teen girl sentenced to 3 years in fatal beating of Reggie Brown in D.C.: In pleading guilty, the 15-year-old girl is the first of five teenage co-defendants convicted in the 2023 fatal beating and stomping of an unarmed, elderly disabled man who was taking a late-night walk in Northwest Washington.

Teen said she and 4 friends sought random victim before fatal beating: The 15-year-old, who pleaded guilty to assault in the 2023 death of Reginald “Reggie” Brown, testified against two of her friends at trial Tuesday, saying they were “bored” and were “looking for someone to beat up” when they noticed the disabled District native.

Five are arrested after months of ATM break-ins, officials say: String of D.C.-area crimes involved millions in losses, officials say.

Opinion What Hamas hoped would happen after Oct. 7: The group wanted its terrorist attack to spark a wider war. That should give Israel pause.

Opinion Democracy woes: When getting indicted wins votes: Voters in D.C.’s poorest ward will re-elect council member Trayon White Sr. despite his indictment on bribery charges. Why?

Reading archive 2024-10-15

Russia’s illicit Starlink terminals help power its advance in Ukraine: Ukraine’s outgunned and outmanned army had one major advantage over its enemy: internet through Starlink terminals. Now the Russians have it, too.

Inside Elon Musk’s plan to trigger a ‘red wave’ for Trump: The billionaire’s super PAC is using an old-school strategy heavy on door-knocking and mail shots — but Musk’s erratic management style has caused problems.

Reading archive 2024-10-11

Montgomery elementary teacher accused of selling fentanyl indicted: Sarah Magid, 34, also suffered a drug overdose after her recent release from jail.

Harris warns of the danger of Trump’s dictator vow in appeal to Latino voters: In a town hall with Univision, the vice president called Trump a “sore loser” who came up short in 2020 but has repeatedly claimed the election was rigged.

Obama admonishes Black men for hesitancy in supporting Harris: Former president suggests some in the Black community are uncomfortable voting for a woman and are coming up with excuses.

Eight years ago, Trump vowed to ‘drain the swamp.’ Now he swims in it.: The former president’s inner circle includes a range of people who also advocate for corporate interests.

Vance suggests the left stole 2020 … by doing what his own campaign did: Vance revived the old, false claim that briefly limiting the Hunter Biden story on social media made Trump lose. Meanwhile, his campaign pushed X to do just that. - "In 2020, Twitter blocked the New York Post story after warnings from the federal government — then run by Donald Trump! — that foreign actors might disseminate stolen information. They soon lifted that limit. In 2024, X blocked Klippenstein’s story in coordination with the Trump campaign."

Reading archive 2024-10-10

This Caribbean nation is preparing for the ravages of climate change by selling citizenship: Dominica is using revenue from its citizenship-by-investment program to fund its ambitious plans to become more resilient against hurricanes in the Caribbean. - [ed. note: it's a corrupt fund and allows Russians, Chinese, Belarusians, and other assorted bad guys to sneak around visa-free]

Inside the bro-ification of Mark Zuckerberg: Meta’s founder is remaking his brand, raising his stock among start-up founders as Silicon Valley shifts to the right

Ex-fraternity leaders receive prison time for Penn State pledge’s death: The sentences in Timothy Piazza’s hazing death follow a trend of fraternity members facing prison time for such incidents. His parents seek federal oversight next.

Opinion Larry Hogan made the wrong choice: The former Maryland governor should have left the Republican Party and run as an independent for Senate. - "Contrary to what a lot of mindless pundits would have you believe, it takes pretty much zero courage to criticize your fellow Republicans when you’re the governor of a state such as Maryland. That’s just rudimentary politics; Hogan actually couldn’t have won two statewide elections any other way. What takes real courage is to break with that party entirely, because you just can’t be in league with these people and still manage to sleep at night."

Trump allies threaten Deloitte contracts after employee shares Vance chats: Republicans are targeting $3 billion in federal contracts after a consultant disclosed messages unconnected to his work. - "Ethics experts said the episode is a potentially ominous preview of how a second Trump administration might use the enormous power the federal government wields over private industry to punish political acts by individual workers. Although federal contracting laws prohibit cutting off a business because of its workers’ private political views, such threats could have a chilling effect, they said."

Earth’s wildlife populations have disappeared at a ‘catastrophic’ rate in the past half-century, new analysis says: The Living Planet Index tracks thousands of vertebrate species globally and found the worst declines were in Latin America and the Caribbean. - "Earth’s wildlife populations have fallen on average by a 'catastrophic' rate of 73 percent in the past half-century, according to a new analysis the World Wildlife Fund released Wednesday.

...

"The worst declines were in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a 95 percent average drop, followed by Africa, 76 percent, and Asia and the Pacific, 60 percent. But the report said that is at least partly because in Europe, Central Asia and North America — whose animal populations declined by more than a third — people living there had already wiped out nature on a wide scale by 1970."

Boris Johnson just published his political memoir. It’s unbelievable.: The former British prime minister’s book “Unleashed” has made minor news. But British readers seem to be viewing it more as entertainment than history. - "In the Times of London, reviewer Tom Peck cautioned, 'The reason Johnson, a biographer of notoriously dubious merit, has turned to autobiography significantly earlier than he would have liked is because his party correctly calculated that the country could no longer believe a word he had to say.'"

How hurricane falsehoods are dividing the Republican Party: As the country digs out, Republicans in storm-battered states appear torn between the need to curb dangerous conspiracy theories and fear of drawing a rebuke from Trump just weeks before the election. - "On Tuesday, Edwards issued a lengthy fact sheet dispelling multiple falsehoods about Helene and FEMA. The fact sheet noted that FEMA 'has NOT diverted disaster response funding to the border or foreign aid,' and that NOAA official Charles Konrad has “confirmed that no one has the technology or ability to geoengineer a hurricane.”"

Ohio voters dismiss false claims about Haitians, but Trump has slight lead, Post poll finds: Key Senate race is essentially tied between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Bernie Moreno. [ed. note: a six-point lead is not slight]

How China is using antisemitic conspiracies to influence down-ballot races: China is increasingly targeting down-ballot races in America, spreading divisive and antisemitic claims about politicians on the social media platform X. - "The Spamouflage accounts analyzed by The Post are increasingly posting about the Israel-Gaza war, and spread divisive and sometimes hateful rhetoric about Jews on X in July and August, furthering the rise in antisemitic content on social media since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel."

A lost Trump interview comes back to life: The yet-to-be-president holds forth on strength, friendship, dealmaking, public service and building violations.

D.C. audit of police ranks for links to white supremacy nears completion: Officers at the Jan. 6 riot, and a D.C. lieutenant supporting the Proud Boys, led council to call for audit of D.C. police.

What Went Wrong at Blizzard Entertainment

The Most Dramatic Shift in U.S. Public Opinion: The size and speed of the immigration backlash over the past four years are nearly unheard-of.

What I Learned Serving on a January 6 Jury: He’s guilty. So why do I feel so bad after voting to convict? - "The feminist thought did occur to me at this moment that one way to see some of these J6 cases is that the men were out enacting their 1776 fantasy while the women were home putting away the Legos. And there was plenty of evidence of that in this case.

...

"Taylor didn’t explicitly choose his ideals over his family, but that was kind of the end result. Like, he could have pled guilty, which would have probably cut his sentence in half. Or he could have gotten a lawyer, instead of representing himself. But he took none of those roads, and now she had seven years of: Okay. It’s just me.

...

"And this was the beautiful, terrible exchange that brought me to human empathy and then deposited me at a dead end—because the couple had doubled down on their doubts about the election watching Dinesh D’Souza’s movie 2000 Mules, a garbage film full of conspiracies and lies. And that had prompted them to think everything involving the government was rigged, including his trial, which is why he went about it in the weird, self-defeating way he did."

Reading archive 2024-10-09

Helene response hampered by misinformation, conspiracy theories: False claims are adding to the chaos and confusion in many storm-battered communities. Social media platforms such as X have allowed the falsehoods to spread. - "In western North Carolina this week, some residents shared false information that a dam was about to burst, prompting hundreds of people to unnecessarily evacuate and diverting the attention of first responders. In eastern Tennessee, some locals spread a hoax about federal officials seizing and bulldozing a town hall. And in many parts of the Southeast, a debunked conspiracy theory has circulated about FEMA spending disaster relief money on helping migrants who are in the country illegally."

Trump would add twice as much to national debt as Harris, study finds: Trump’s campaign proposals would increase the ballooning national debt by $7.5 trillion; Harris’s would add $3.5 trillion, according to a nonpartisan think tank. - "'Despite the fact that our fiscal situation is really unhealthy, we have two candidates whose proposals, if looked at comprehensively, would make the situation worse rather than better, with a noticeable distinction that former president Trump would make it significantly worse,' CRFB President Maya MacGuineas told The Washington Post."

Not falling for apples? Another fruit reigns in this Indiana town.: In tiny Mitchell, the persimmon is the king of fall fruits. Sorry, apples.

No air raid sirens on Ukraine’s tallest mountain, just the promise of a future: Tens of thousands climb Mount Hoverla every year. During the war, it has become a pilgrimage for those seeking to lay down their grief and sorrow for a few hours.

Opinion Why the joke is on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Trump’s pandering and empty promises aren’t surprising. How many people keep falling for them is.

Mossad’s pager operation: Inside Israel’s penetration of Hezbollah: New details emerge of Israel’s elaborate plan to sabotage Hezbollah communications devices to kill or maim thousands of its operatives.

Okla. is buying schools 55,000 Bibles. Specs match the $60 Trump Bible.: The state put out a bid for leather-bound Bibles with U.S. founding documents. Few, if any, such Bibles are currently for sale besides a Bible endorsed by Trump. - "Critics who have said Walters is inappropriately pushing Christianity into public schools now say he’s trying to line Trump’s pockets, perhaps with an eye toward a job in Trump’s administration if he wins the election in November."

Hamas built an underground war machine to ensure its own survival: Vowing self-sufficiency, Hamas turned a maze of tunnels in Gaza into weapons factories and well-stocked fortifications. A year after the war began, parts of the group remain deeply entrenched. - "But even homemade weapons require parts that must be brought in from the outside. Hamad said getting components past the Israeli blockade was a constant challenge. Almost every facet of weapons production, from machine tools to agricultural chemicals for explosives, was either labeled for civilian use or hidden inside shipments of food or other everyday wares.

...

"Costing, at minimum, hundreds of millions of dollars — money that Hamas diverted from humanitarian and economic development projects intended to improve the lives of ordinary Gazans — the tunnel system by Oct. 7 extended more than 300 miles, longer than the New York City subway, or about the distance from Tel Aviv to southern Turkey. The IDF acknowledges there is no practical way to destroy the entire system.

...

"By the day of the Oct. 7 assault, Hamas’s well-trained military wing numbered about 35,000, including a vanguard of 6,000 shock troops who burst into Israel early that morning for the attack the group dubbed “Operation al-Aqsa Flood.” Hamad, the political bureau member, said the idea was to shake Israel to its core and force its leaders to end the siege on Gaza, halt settler expansion in the West Bank and curtail raids on the al-Aqsa Mosque, which sits atop Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, known in Islam as the Noble Sanctuary and revered by both Muslims and Jews. [ed. note: lol]

...

With Israel’s unrelenting assault and a dearth of humanitarian trucks bearing food and other necessities reaching Gaza, Hamas may be reaching a tipping point, at least with regard to its supply of money and other vital resources, say analysts. While Hamas was prepared for an extended siege, a year of IDF operations in Gaza — combined with stricter controls by Israelis at border crossings — have nearly drained Hamas’s coffers, officials said. Hamad maintains that Hamas still has 'channels' to ensure cash flow into Gaza, but he declined to elaborate.

"Still, one of Hamas’s key assets remains available to the group with a nearly inexhaustible supply. Analysts say Gaza’s devastation is spurring recruitment, driving legions of embittered or desperate youths into the arms of Hamas."

How to build an AC that will get the world through hotter summers: To combat stickier weather, air conditioners need to go from cooling machines to humidity gulpers.

In eagle nirvana, avian flu is decimating America’s national bird

Officials face antisemitic attacks over Hurricane Helene response: Report finds Elon Musk’s X is fueling conspiracy theories that risk undermining rescue efforts and preparations for Hurricane Milton.

FBI probe of Kavanaugh constrained by Trump White House, report finds: A Democratic senator’s report finds new evidence of the White House controlling an FBI investigation into sexual assault claims against the Supreme Court nominee. - "The report found that messages to the FBI tip line regarding Kavanaugh were forwarded directly to the White House and never probed, and that the FBI had no written protocols for the supplemental background investigation ordered by the White House. It notes that the FBI was instructed by the White House to talk to 10 potential witnesses and was not given the leeway to pursue corroborating evidence — the absence of which was cited by senators as they narrowly voted to confirm Kavanaugh, marking a major triumph for the conservative movement and locking in a right-leaning majority that would later overturn the constitutional right to abortion."

Five men killed in separate D.C. shootings over four days: The shootings mark a spike in homicides even as the number in D.C. has declined by almost 30 percent compared with the same time last year.

70% of D.C.-area bus riders don’t pay. Here’s what Metro is doing about it.: The transit agency is proposing a new funding model where jurisdictions will get credit for paid ridership while subsidizing unpaid riders.

Afghan man arrested in Okla., accused of plotting Election Day attack: Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, is accused of planning to target large gatherings of people on Nov. 5 in the United States in the name of ISIS

Opinion What I learned from Indian American voters in Georgia: Does identity matter in presidential elections?

Fox News quietly reports on a fact sheet correcting Fox News misinformation: In the channel’s eternal struggle between helping Donald Trump and informing its audience, Trump once again prevailed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. - "But this gets to the tension that has undergirded the channel in the past decade: Is its mandate to retain viewers or to report the news? The former means amplifying and backstopping claims made by Donald Trump in order not to alienate them. (They saw the dangers that posed in the aftermath of the 2020 election.) Since Trump is so consistently dishonest, though, that means amplifying and defending false claims, which is the opposite of reporting the news."

Reading archive 2024-10-08

Trump secretly sent covid tests to Putin during 2020 shortage, new book says: “War,” by Bob Woodward, traces how Trump and Biden responded to international crisis and concludes that Trump is worse than Nixon, the president exiled by the Watergate scandal. - "Putin, petrified of the virus, accepted the supplies but took pains to prevent political fallout — not for him, but for his American counterpart. He cautioned Trump not to reveal that he had dispatched the scarce medical equipment to Moscow, according to a new book by Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward."

Have black plastic in your home? It could expose you to toxic chemicals, researchers say: A study raises concerns that recycled plastic containing flame retardants, initially used in electronics, are being reused in the manufacturing of consumer products.

For a second day, Ukrainian hackers hit Russian institutions: Hackers attacked Russia’s digital state media hub and courts websites over two days, bringing both down.

Doctor admits wearing disguise to poison mom’s partner with fake covid shot: Thomas Kwan pleaded guilty to attempted murder at a court in England. He disguised himself as a nurse to inject his mom’s partner with a flesh-eating toxin.

Nearly every household in America has a car. Here’s how to break free.: Here are families defying the trend of one car for every adult. The secret, I found, is not just choosing how you want to live. It’s where you live.

The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books: To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.

This Hartford Public High School grad can't read. Here's how it happened.

'Set up for failure': What lies ahead for Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers

Opinion Warning signs for Democrats in a Michigan bellwether: Abortion is less galvanizing than in 2022, while higher turnout for Trump boosts Republicans.

Opinion Why Trump is losing his edge among voters on the economy: It seems that good economic news is finally sinking in for voters.

Father charged after 5-year-old son dies; boy remembered as ‘vibrant, creative’: D.C. police charged Deandre Pettus with cruelty to a child while an investigation of the death continues, authorities said.

First, warning signs. Then, 3 die in alleged arson in Southeast D.C.: Police responded to the home in Southeast Washington five times in five days.

The 2016 election crushed the girls. Now women, they’re revenge voting.: The girl-power mantras of their middle school years were tested when Donald Trump won. Since that night, they’ve become engaged, empowered and can’t wait to vote against him.

How Can I Get ‘Forever Chemicals’ Out of My Life? - "Consider reducing your reliance on takeout food packaging. Water- and greaseproof food packaging, whether paper, plastic or coated metal, often contain PFAS.

...

"Try to avoid nonstick cookware, which can contain some form of PFAS. Opt for cast iron, glass, stainless steel or ceramic pots and pans. Be particularly wary of nonstick pans that you’ve used for years, or that are chipped or have other visible damage."

Reading archive 2024-10-07

The revenge of the middle-class anti-elitist: Why the comfortably well-off voted for Trump, Brexit and Italy’s Lega

Trump dumps on overtime. His Ohio supporters won’t comment

Journalist’s distress over Israel-Gaza war spurred self-immolation, writings show: Samuel Mena Jr. appears to have grown so disillusioned with his profession that he felt compelled to light himself on fire in D.C. on Saturday to promote his cause. [ed. note: queer, lit up left arm]

Alexandria man sentenced to 58 years in fatal shooting of landscapers Alexandria: Circuit Court Judge James C. Clark rejected prosecutors’ request to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole. - "The Post previously reported that when Rose was arrested for the double shooting in Alexandria, he had been missing probation hearings in D.C. Superior Court after being convicted in 2019 of unlawful possession of a handgun. An attorney for Rose in that case said at the time that he had recently begun rehabilitation for a drug addiction at a suboxone clinic. Court records show his address in Alexandria was located on the same block as the double shooting."

A Maryland teen wasted away at home to 79 pounds. Was it murder?: The trial of Cynthia Moore, 41, is set to continue this week in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

A trail of alleged bribes: How a contractor got lucrative D.C. work: A D.C. contractor allegedly bribed two city officials, prompting concern about how contracts are awarded.

A young doctor’s final words offer a mental health warning for others: Will West, a 33-year-old who was training at George Washington University hospital in D.C., wrote in a suicide note that other residents are “at real risk”

Reading archive 2024-10-04

Anderson, Vindman trade vitriol at debate for Spanberger’s Virginia seat: The hour-long event between the candidates for the commonwealth’s battleground 7th District was short on policy details and heavy on partisan attacks.

Mother shot holding baby as domestic violence rises in Prince George’s: “She was not letting him go,” said Tequia Nails’s niece, who witnessed the fatal shooting. - "The killing underscores a national trend in which Black women are more frequently abused or killed by their romantic partners than other groups, research on domestic violence cases shows."

The Uptown Theater, Cleveland Park’s historic art house, lives: The couple behind Artechouse aims to undertake an ambitious effort to blend old-school Hollywood with 21st-century technology.

Informant in Trayon White case bribed another D.C. official, records say: A judge unsealed the plea deal of the man alleged to have handed Trayon White envelopes of cash to help his company secure city contracts.

How Biden helped end a strike that threatened Democrats in November: With early morning Zoom calls and a surprising ultimatum, the White House brain trust averted a potential economic disaster weeks before the election. - "'To get in one raise what it took you in the past six years to achieve is monumental,' [Kenneth Riley, an ILA vice president based in Charleston, S.C.] said. 'The administration played a key role here in bringing the parties together and defending American workers and the union workers against foreign giants.'"

Employers added 254,000 jobs in September, reflecting strong gains as election nears: The U.S. unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1 percent. - "Strong upward revisions to job gains in July and August data also suggest that the labor market is healthier than previously thought."

Plastic-eating bacteria could combat pollution problems, scientists hope: A bacteria commonly found in wastewater can break down plastic to turn it into a food source, a new study finds. Scientists hope it is a pollution solution.

The reasons people say they leave Donald Trump’s rallies early: The Republican nominee consistently draws large, enthusiastic and rowdy crowds to his rallies and other campaign events, and at nearly all of them, another trend is clear: Scores of people head out before the end.

Opinion Calamity in a keystroke: How the FBI copes with mounting threats: Christopher A. Wray: Cyberthreats are ‘diverse and constantly evolving.’

Opinion Who put these oddballs on the ballot? Could it be … Satan?: GOP conspiracy theorist Michele Morrow is in a dead heat to become North Carolina’s top educator.

JD Vance’s family politics are incoherent: What does his vision of an ideal family have to do with the rest of us? - "There is a chasm between the idyllic family portrait that Vance says he would like to see play out in America — one where abortions are unnecessary and grandmas are child care — and the messy realities he has described encountering in his own life. There is a disconnect between the derivative cruelty he seems to now spout (see: 'childless cat ladies') and in the human experiences that apparently led him to these beliefs. It’s incoherent.

...

"When I listen to the fantasy narratives Vance tells about family in America — how he thinks they should live, who he thinks they should be composed of, how he thinks they should come to be — this is what so often comes to mind: a brokenhearted child. A boy who grew up in chaos, abandonment, violence and poverty and who spent it all dreaming of the opposite. 

"And then, somehow, through determination, luck and natural intelligence clawed his way into the sort of Norman Rockwell existence he’d always wanted. A happy marriage. A lucrative career. Beautiful children. 'For both of my kids, they didn’t grow up with a positive family unit,' Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, recently told the New York Times. 'I know that they seemed to gravitate towards that in their adulthood.'

"Analyzing 'Hillbilly Elegy' for the New Yorker, Jessica Winter unpacked Vance’s preoccupation with 'traditional' family — mom, dad, kids, every child exclusively cared for by loving mothers rather than 'crap daycare' — and describes it as such: 'It is clear, on a primal, emotional level, why Vance sees this as the better deal than what he got. But what results is a blinkered, grotesquely narcissistic vision of the social contract — an identity politics of one grown child.' Is Vance, in other words, trying to legislate the country into the family dynamic he wished he’d been born into?"

Ta-Nehisi Coates and Tony Dokoupil sharpen morning TV with Israel debate: The conversation on “CBS Mornings” over Coates’s new book, “The Message,” was unusually gripping for a promotional segment.

Reading archive 2024-10-03

D.C. to have two holiday markets after management dispute upends tradition: For nearly two decades, Michael Berman’s small company operated the hugely popular DowntownDC Holiday Market. Now he’s setting up a competing event.

Man charged in cold-case sexual assaults in D.C.’s Georgetown area: Police say they’ve linked Ernesto Ramon Mercado to six home invasions in which victims were sexually assaulted between 2008 and 2012, including an attack in College Park, Md.

How Joe Biden lost his grip on Israel’s war for ‘total victory’ in Gaza: A conflict the White House once hoped to moderate has gone from “over the top” to out of control. - "Biden’s overriding concern was preventing an all-out conflagration in the region. Yet as he sought a path for long-term peace and stability for Israel, Biden was undermined at every turn by Netanyahu’s conduct of the Gaza war, his refusal to consider establishment of a Palestinian state, and the territorial ambitions of his right-wing government in the occupied territories.

...

"Secret U.S. diplomacy had cooled tensions with Iran, and Biden was pushing an ambitious, legacy-driven agenda that he believed would not only advance his regional goals but stem China’s global ambitions. It included establishment of normal relations by Saudi Arabia with Israel, in exchange for a state for Palestinians and a strategic U.S.-Saudi partnership. A trade corridor, rivaling Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, was planned to connect India to countries in the Persian Gulf and beyond."

Opinion Mormon voters in the West can save the GOP from Trump: By defeating the former president, they can protect the Constitution they believe to be divinely inspired.

Escalating contest over South China Sea disrupts international cable system: China’s effort to dominate the disputed waterway is taking a toll on the network of underwater cables that provide essential internet connectivity in Asia.

Opinion The U.S. has an opportunity to help rebuild Lebanese sovereignty: Israel’s decapitation of Hezbollah has created a security vacuum.

Dockworkers’ union suspends strike, ports reopen on East and Gulf coasts: The International Longshoremen’s Association agreed to 62 percent raises and will continue bargaining over other issues to finalize a deal.

Liz Cheney rallies with Harris, implores nation to reject ‘depraved cruelty’ of Trump: The two appeared together in Ripon, Wis., a small city that is known as the birthplace of the Republican Party.

Reading archive 2024-10-02

Fact-checking the VP debate between Vance and Walz: Vance dominated on the falsehood meter, with faulty claims on lost children, the environment, inflation, immigration and the Jan. 6 attack.

JD Vance is Trump 2.0: The senator from Ohio carries all of Trump’s politics and far less of his baggage.

Ukraine’s east buckling under improved Russian tactics, superior firepower: In an arc of villages south of Pokrovsk, including Vuhledar, battlefields that have been stagnant for two and a half years are showing more movement than ever — in Russia’s favor.

Opinion At debate, Vance whines: You weren’t supposed to fact-check me!: Republican vice-presidential nominee brings a Magic Drawing Board to his face-off with Tim Walz.

The Vance-Walz VP debate was overshadowed by war and disaster: Iran’s attack against Israel and the devastation from Hurricane Helene, plus possibly the dockworkers’ strike, risk injecting chaos in the presidential campaign’s final month.

I’m fat. Here’s why I’m not taking a weight loss drug.: For people like me, who have struggled for years with accepting our large bodies, the worship of the new GLP-1 weight loss drugs has been disheartening. [ed. note: damaged people are damaged]

Oct. should feel fall-like in D.C., but a bit warmer and drier than normal: September was a tale of two weather patterns — first cool and dry, then wet and humid. On balance, it ended up near average.

Ex-officer testifies he was afraid when he fatally shot suspected shoplifter: Former Fairfax County police officer Wesley Shifflett has said he believed he saw the man he fatally shot reaching for a weapon. Police did not find one.

Revenge of the Office: Many of America’s corporate executives have had enough of the remote-work experiment.

As rioters stormed Capitol with Pence inside, Trump allegedly said ‘So what?’: In a filing that argues Trump is not immune from prosecution, Jack Smith offered new details of the former president’s alleged efforts to overturn the election.

Trump and his allies are not planning to concede another electoral loss: The former president and his allies are making it clear, repeatedly, that the only outcome they will accept without hesitation is one where he is the victor.

Opinion Vance’s debate performance was a breathtaking exercise in sane-washing: JD Vance showed that he understands how unpopular his ticket’s positions are. - "Vance got some good reviews for being more polished than Walz, but what the friendly assessments were praising was a breathtaking exercise in sane-washing a slew of unpopular right-wing positions. Why did Trump run away from the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 policy wish list, which was prepared by many in his orbit? For the same reason that Vance hedged so much on Tuesday: Hiding the ball is now central to the right’s political strategy."

Vance used past GOP climate inaction to argue for climate inaction: During the vice-presidential debate, Sen. JD Vance presented the right’s new case for not taking climate change seriously — a new case that rests on the old case.

Reading archive 2024-10-01

Opinion  How ‘obesity first’ health care is transforming medicine: Doctors are increasingly addressing obesity as the root cause of other illnesses.

As a Finnish Zoo Returns Pandas to China, It Blames Costs, Not Geopolitics: Two pandas are heading back to China eight years early amid lower-than-hoped-for visitor numbers at a zoo in rural Finland, and after the pair didn't produce a cub.

Can You Get Rid of Your Front Lawn Without Offending the Neighbors?: It isn't easy or fast, but it can be done. Here's what worked for one couple.

Our Better Nature: Put the Brakes on Honey Bees – Our Future Depends on It: Honey bees are causing grave – and in some cases irreversible – harm to the environment.

Native Landscapes Can Be Hard to Plant. But Help Is Here.: The nonprofit group Wild Ones offers a free library of designs, with plants specific to your area — and you don’t have to be a member to use it.

Don’t believe the hype: AGI is far from inevitable - "If a company pops up claiming to have a machine that, when you press a button, it creates world peace, then you’d distrust it too. So why are we so quick to believe the promises of big tech who are driven by profit?"

Retired professor, accused of bilking wealthy friends, pleads guilty in NY: Lawrence Gray, who was accused of stealing valuable jewelry, pleaded guilty to fraud.

Before the floods, Asheville was called a ‘climate haven.’ Is anywhere safe?: As climate change leads to more severe hurricanes, mountain communities like Asheville, N.C., face growing flood danger.

Opinion The real reason 47,000 dockworkers are on strike: For American workers, this is one of the first great battles against advanced automation.

Port strike freezes shipping on East Coast, threatening shortages: Longshoremen’s union walkout follows last-minute efforts by the White House to avert a strike.

Tim Walz speaks loudly and carries a big schtick: But the vice-presidential pick best known for calling Donald Trump and JD Vance “weird” is a surprisingly risk-averse campaigner.

What to know about VP debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan: O’Donnell anchors CBS News’s evening newscast, while Brennan anchors Sunday morning’s “Face the Nation.”

Polls show big increase in Republicans planning to vote for abortion rights: In some states, that GOP number could even approach a majority.

This firefly delighted beachgoers. Now it’s flickering out of existence.: The U.S. government is proposing to declare the Bethany Beach firefly as threatened, the first time officials have sought to add a firefly to the Endangered Species Act list.

24 hours of MAGA misinformation: A small sampling of the inundation of false and dubious claims flowing from Donald Trump and his allies.

The 5 hurricane categories, explained

Basement-free buildings are better for the future climate: Politicians mull bans due to flooding, but costs and carbon emissions also a concern

California’s first plastic bag ban made things worse. Now it’s trying again