Friday, January 31, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-31 pt 2

 The "Exciting Business Opportunity' That Ruined Our Lives - "'Going crazy isn't like being hit by a car,' she said in the middle of our conversation. 'People make a small but conscious decision to give up. At some point, it's easier than living in reality.'"

The Return of Snake Oil: The Trump administration is poised to supercharge America’s appetite for supplements. - "In 1905, the muckraker Samuel Hopkins Adams lamented that 'gullible America' was so eager to 'swallow huge quantities of alcohol, an appalling amount of opiates and narcotics, a wide assortment of varied drugs ranging from powerful and dangerous heart depressants to insidious liver stimulants; and, far in excess of all other ingredients, undiluted fraud.'"

As Russian oil spill fouls beaches, locals fume over official response: Volunteers from across the country filled the beaches, eventually prompting the federal government to step in to help clean up thousands of tons of fuel oil.

Reading archive 2025-01-31 pt 1

An MPD Squad Seized Illegal Guns Without Making Arrests. Now Two Officers Could Soon Be Fired.: The department (and federal prosecutors) spent years investigating the Seventh District crime suppression team for alleged misconduct and potential crimes. - "Sarah Mancuso, the IAD investigator handling this case, described several incidents where she believed CST officers improperly used the threat of gun charges to coerce men caught with illegal firearms into becoming informants, a clear violation of department procedures. In one instance, she said the officers let a man walk free in order to convince him not to file a complaint against the department for injuries he suffered as he scuffled with police; in another, MPD believes the officers didn’t make an arrest to avoid a complaint of an improper use of force as they scuffled with a man in a wheelchair."

What America can learn from Miami’s trash nightmare: Miami-Dade County officials are considering building the country’s biggest trash incinerator. Nobody wants it. - "But, in general, incinerators probably create less planet-warming pollution than landfills, according to Townsend, who wrote a meta-analysis reviewing a dozen conflicting studies on the subject."

FBI agents who worked on January 6 and Trump investigations are expected to be fired Friday

Renewables were supposed to take over the grid. Instead they’re falling short.: Despite generous tax credits, red tape has slowed wind and solar.

Why climate change may be making your city’s rat problem worse: A new study is the first to link rising temperatures with booming rat populations in cities around the world.

Trump puts industry insiders in charge of overseeing chemical safety: Republicans say the EPA’s slow approval of new chemicals is holding back economic growth.

Polar bear fur could hold the secret to replacing ‘forever chemicals’: In a new study, scientists solve a mystery hiding in polar bear fur. The answer might help us all. - "A chemical analysis revealed that the grease on the bears’ fur — a substance scientists call sebum — contains a concoction of cholesterol and other lipids that distinguish it from the sebum found on other mammals."

'We wouldn't be able to feed ourselves as a country.' Idaho dairy industry concerned about mass deportation

Church ousts priest who copied Musk’s inauguration salute at pro-life event: The Anglican Catholic Church said Calvin Robinson was previously warned against “online trolling.” Robinson called the gesture an “attempt at dry wit.”

Defying Legal Limits, Trump Firings Set Up Tests That Could Expand His Power: The prospect of legal challenges to President Trump’s purges may be a feature, not a bug, for adherents of sweeping presidential authority.

Trump launched air controller diversity program that he now decries: At news conference, Trump read a list of disabilities he calls disqualifying, but his administration started such hiring in 2019 - "'FAA Provides Aviation Careers to People with Disabilities,' the agency announced on April 11, 2019. The pilot program, the announcement said, would 'identify specific opportunities for people with targeted disabilities, empower them and facilitate their entry into a more diverse and inclusive workforce.'"

Federal workers should tell Trump ‘no deal’ on resignation offer: Big financial decisions made in haste are often followed by regret, especially when the terms leave you with no guarantees or options.

Grandmother, two aunts charged with abuse, murder in death of 4-year-old: Police say a grandmother and two aunts regularly wrapped the boy in tape and malnourished him as well as his 5-year-old sister.

FDA approves new, non-opioid painkiller Journavx: The drug represents the first new class of pain medication in decades. - "Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which makes the drug, has billed it as an effective alternative to opioids that isn’t addictive. Journavx works by intercepting pain signals before they reach the spinal cord, rather than acting directly on the brain."

Mark Zuckerberg Defends Embrace of Trump Administration in Meta Q&A: In a meeting with Meta employees on Thursday, Mr. Zuckerberg also doubled down on recent changes to the company’s online speech policies and ending its diversity initiatives.

‘Drill, baby, drill’ is hitting a pricing problem: If AI really doesn’t need that much power, energy companies have less incentive to produce more.

Trump Administration Shakes Up Senior F.B.I. Ranks: Top officials have been told to retire or be fired in the coming days, fueling fear within the agency that has been the target of President Trump and Kash Patel, his nominee to be F.B.I. director.

Several senior FBI leaders told to leave agency or be fired, people familiar with matter say: The ultimatum was unusual for the FBI and suggested that President Donald Trump is purging leadership at an agency he has harshly criticized. - "'All FBI employees will be protected against political retribution,' Patel told lawmakers."

Your robot chauffeur is on its way. Welcome it.: Self-driving cars appear to be safer than those with human drivers. Bring them on.

Senior U.S. official to exit after rift with Musk allies over payment system: A top Treasury career staffer, David A. Lebryk, announced his retirement. Surrogates of Musk’s DOGE effort had sought access to sensitive payment systems.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-30

Musk team’s push to gut federal workforce bypassed key Trump officials: Billionaire Elon Musk has worked behind the scenes on an initiative aimed at depleting the civil service, prompting questions about its legality.

Va. Gov. Youngkin says voters asked for Trump disruption as fallout continues Virginia’s governor has become a close ally of Trump and defended his plan to freeze federal spending as other officials reeled from changing guidance.

Trial begins for man accused of neo-Nazi plot to shoot up Baltimore power grid: Federal prosecutors say Brandon Russell wanted to sow chaos and start a race war.

Departing the New York Times: I left to stay true to my byline [ed. note: Paul Krugman]

I Have Resigned from The Washington Post, effective today: Why I left to help launch a vibrant, new, independent media outlet - "The Post’s own headline last month warned: 'Trump signals plans to use all levers of power against the media; Press freedom advocates say they fear that the second Trump administration will ramp up pressure on journalists, in keeping with the president-elect’s combative rhetoric.' And yet The Post’s owner quashed a presidential endorsement for Trump’s opponent, forked over $1M for Trump’s inauguration through Amazon, and publicly lauded Trump’s agenda." [ed. note: Jennifer Rubin]

Do Americans really want urban sprawl?: Although car-dependent suburbs continue to spread across the nation, they’re not as popular as you might assume.

Who Goes MAGA?

A new era of government censorship has dawned: Donald Trump fancies himself a champion of free speech. Oh, really?

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-29 pt 2

Smithsonian to close diversity office after Trump order: The Smithsonian Institution is closing its Office of Diversity, freezing federal hiring and ordering employees back to in-office work, according to an email sent by Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III.

YouTube’s top cheater hunter decodes Elon Musk’s gaming farce: Karl Jobst, a notorious debunker of video game cheating, says Musk’s story hasn’t been told quite right — and dives into the psychology of gamer boasting.

Man arrested outside U.S. Capitol with 2 molotov cocktails, police say: Ryan English, 24, told police he came to Washington to kill government officials but decided to surrender instead, according to a court affidavit.

Say yes to more housing in Virginia (and everywhere else): States are smart to remove obstacles to homebuilding.

Dread and hope in ‘Katyzuela’: ‘It’s all in the hands of God and Donald Trump’: Trump could revoke temporary protection for 600,000 Venezuelans who fled their home country.

The flossing techniques and tips your dentist might not have told you: The technique, timing and frequency of flossing may play a role in helping to maintain good oral health, some experts said.

Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s Trump pivot: In Trump’s first term, Meta quietly introduced a slew of Republican-friendly changes behind the scenes. But led by Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan, the company is done playing both sides — and is going all-in on MAGA.

Trump says to ‘clean out’ Gaza, urges Arab countries to take more refugees: President Donald Trump said he wanted Jordan and Egypt to take in more Palestinians from Gaza so they could “maybe live in peace” there.

Sweden seizes vessel after new cable breach in Baltic Sea: Sweden is investigating damage to a data cable linked to Latvia, the latest breach in the Baltic Sea region where European authorities are on high alert.

Reading archive 2025-01-29 pt 1

Why a ‘bad gardener’ spent four years restoring a meadow: Author Paula Whyman’s dream of a modest ecological project took a wild turn on a Virginia mountain.

Trump to build mass detention camp for deportees at Guantánamo Bay: The president said he will issue an executive order to construct a detention camp with room for 30,000 migrants on the U.S. naval base in Cuba.

Trump’s immigration crackdown reaches New York City and shows its limits: In a display of force aimed at quickly increasing arrests and generating publicity, the administration targeted the nation’s largest city, where sanctuary policies limit official cooperation with ICE.

Gabbard faces close vote in Senate intelligence committee hearing: With Democrats opposed and some Republican votes wavering, the committee could employ unusual maneuvers to advance Trump’s controversial pick for director of national intelligence.

Trump’s Panama Canal ambitions gain traction in GOP-led Senate: Republicans hoping to thwart Beijing’s influence in Latin America urge the Panamanian government to cut ties with Chinese entities. - "Hutchison Port Holdings, a Chinese company, has had a lease since 1997 to operate container facilities at ports on each end of the canal but has no control over the operation of the waterway, which is administered by the independent Panama Canal Authority. Fees, set and regularly reviewed by the authority, are based on size and weight of vessels and are openly published and cannot discriminate. Tolls have increased across the board in recent years as a severe drought in the region lowered water levels, causing passage delays."

Amazon to close Quebec warehouses and lay off 1,700 workers: The online retail giant said the move was not linked to recent unionization efforts by workers in the Canadian province.

Why cold weather is no longer an EV battery killer: Heat pumps keep electric vehicles warm with much less energy, allowing their batteries to last longer in cold winter weather.

Tesla Gear Gets Hacked Multiple Times in Pwn2Own Contests: The first team to successfully hack the electric vehicle maker's charger won $50,000 for their ingenuity.

DeepSeek’s Popular AI App Is Explicitly Sending US Data to China: Amid ongoing fears over TikTok, Chinese generative AI platform DeepSeek says it’s sending heaps of US user data straight to its home country, potentially setting the stage for greater scrutiny. - "Meanwhile, several DeepSeek users have already pointed out that the platform does not provide answers for questions about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, and it answers some questions in ways that sound like propaganda."

A free, powerful Chinese AI model just dropped — but don’t ask it about Tiananmen Square: Those who train the AI models get to decide what the truth is.

The trillion-dollar mystery surrounding DeepSeek’s Nvidia GPUs: There’s a cloud of suspicion hanging over the type and number of Nvidia GPUs DeepSeek used to train its R1 models. [ed. note: China claims it accomplished DeepSeek AI with lower-quality chips, but they're lying]

Target’s DEI cuts have Black entrepreneurs saying ‘clear the shelves’: Owners of brands that the big-box retailer championed before it rolled back DEI efforts say a boycott would harm their brands, and encouraged customers to support them.

The resistance will not be rushed: Resting up to join a peaceful, nonviolent, colorful and multigenerational opposition.

What federal workers should know about Trump administration’s ‘deferred resignation’ offer: Here’s what we know about the deferred resignation program offered to federal employees by the Trump administration. - "'The President has no authority to make that offer. There’s no budget line item to pay people who are not showing up for work,' Kaine said. 'If you accept that offer and resign, he’ll stiff you.'"

Resign? Stick it out? Federal workers mull Trump buyout offer.: Thousands of federal workers feel caught in limbo after White House offer to buy out employees if they agree by Feb. 6.

The Less People Know About AI, the More They Like It: You might assume that tech-savvy people are the most open to using AI, but research suggests it's actually those who are least familiar with it. - "Our studies show this lower literacy-higher receptivity link is strongest for using AI tools in areas people associate with human traits, like providing emotional support or counseling. When it comes to tasks that don’t evoke the same sense of humanlike qualities—such as analyzing test results—the pattern flips. People with higher AI literacy are more receptive to these uses because they focus on AI’s efficiency, rather than any 'magical' qualities."

It's not a crime if we do it with an app - "Big Potato controls 97% of the frozen potato market, and any sector that large and concentrated is going to be pretty cozy. The execs at these companies all meet at industry associations, lobbying bodies, and as they job-hop between companies in the cartel. But they don't have to rely on personal connections to rig the price of potatoes: they do it through a third-party data-broker called Potatotrac. Each cartel member sends all their commercially sensitive data – supply costs, pricing, sales figures – to Potatotrac, and then Potatotrac uses that data to give 'advice' to the cartel members about 'optimal pricing.'"

The Trump-Colombia Crisis That Trump Deliberately Created and Then “Fixed,” Explained in One Paragraph: Media just fell for the oldest trick in the old brigand Trump's career-criminal playbook: the rope-a-dope. The fact that it did so confirms that it has learned nothing about how to deal with the man. - "So, for instance, it costs three times as much money to deport someone via a military flight than a civilian charter flight, which is why Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama—who in fact both deported more people than Trump did in his supposed tough-on-immigration first term—used civilian rather than military flights."

Coping With Endorphins

How to Weather the Storm

Developer Creates Infinite Maze That Traps AI Training Bots: "Nepenthes generates random links that always point back to itself - the crawler downloads those new links. Nepenthes happily just returns more and more lists of links pointing back to itself."

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-28

Pardons of D.C. officers leave city at civil rights crossroads: The death of Karon Hylton-Brown sparked angry protests in 2020, led to rare charges against D.C. officers - "But after Hylton-Brown was struck by an SUV, the officers allowed the driver to leave, did not notify the police major crash unit or secure the scene for evidence collection. At the 4th District station, the officers described the crash as minor, didn’t mention the pursuit and downplayed Hylton-Brown’s injuries, leading to the officers’ convictions for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Sutton was convicted of murder."

Trump pardons two D.C. officers convicted in fatal chase: Amid the nation’s racial reckoning of 2020, the pursuit killed a young Black man and sparked hours of destructive civil unrest in Northwest Washington.

Scientists Warn of an ‘Unprecedented Risk’ From Synthetic ‘Mirror Life,’ Built With a Reverse Version of Natural Proteins and Sugars: So-called mirror cells could rampage through our ecosystems, food supply and immune systems, experts say, potentially without existing barriers to protect against them

There were ample reasons, not about his personal life, for rejecting Hegseth Pete: Hegseth has shown no evidence of being capable of managing the Pentagon behemoth.

Trump DOJ gears up for immigration enforcement: The acting deputy AG directed the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces to help with Trump’s “immigration-related initiatives,” according to a memo.

Trump returns — and so does his astounding ignorance: If you feel off-kilter, you’re in good company. The president seems downright bewildered.

Meta courted Trump. Now comes the backlash from Facebook, Instagram users.: Why the internet blames Mark Zuckerberg for the TikTok shutdown

RFK Jr. skipped meeting where officials planned fight against a future pandemic: The session between Trump and Biden administration officials is required of transitions and included other Trump Cabinet nominees.

Caroline Kennedy warns senators of ‘predator’ RFK Jr. in searing letter: The former ambassador warns senators about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination, questioning his ethics and views on vaccines.

Ex-‘MAGA Granny’ is turning down Trump’s pardon of her Jan. 6 conviction: She was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She pleaded guilty. Now, she doesn’t want President Donald Trump’s pardon because she wants to own what she did. - "Now Pamela Hemphill from Boise, Idaho, will decline the pardon that Trump offered her and other Jan. 6 convicts during the first hours of his second term, she told The Washington Post. 

"'I don’t want to be a part of them trying to rewrite history. It was an insurrection that day,' Hemphill said Tuesday, the day after Trump issued the pardons."

Woman, 1-year-old daughter found dead in Northwest D.C. apartment: Family members had not heard from Ebony Washington, 38, and her daughter, Kemy, since well before Christmas. On Jan. 18, they called police.

Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter shot, killed by police in Indiana: Matthew Huttle, freed last year after six months in jail, was shot to death in a scuffle with a sheriff’s deputy along a rural road.

Interim D.C. U.S. attorney Ed Martin launches probe of Jan. 6 prosecutions: Trump’s newly appointed top prosecutor in Washington asked for “all files” on use of obstruction count in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. - "Former officials with the office called the investigation of the obstruction charge puzzling. While the Supreme Court last June ruled that federal prosecutors could only apply it to defendants who sought to impair the integrity of physical evidence used to certify the 2020 presidential election result — and not to impede Congress’s overall certification on Jan. 6, 2021 — all but one of the 15 trial judges to rule on the question had sided with prosecutors’ broader, 'catchall' view, as did two of three federal appellate judges."

The GOP’s stunning response to Trump pardoning those who assaulted police: Trump has worn his party down, and few events crystallize it like the GOP’s muted — and, in some cases, positive — response.

Youth charged in fatal shooting of 14-year-old in Southwest D.C.: Police said the daylight shooting occurred during a robbery by three teens who chased the victim. Three brothers were charged; one had his case dismissed.

A 14-year-old was shot. Another 14-year-old is charged in his killing.: Myron Smith dreamed of buying his mom a house in a different neighborhood. He died on his block, shot in broad daylight.

An investing revolution is coming. The U.S. isn’t ready for it.: Crypto technology can democratize access to opportunities offered by early-stage private companies. [ed. note: lol this guy]

Three teenagers arrested in Alexandria slaying, police say: “Not a proud moment,” says city police chief.

Trump spending freeze upends Washington, triggering legal threats and delays: Hours after the Trump administration issued its directive, officials braced for seismic interruptions to key federal programs and services.

Trump’s funding freeze could halt projects, vital aid throughout D.C., Maryland, Virginia: President Trump’s announcement of a freeze on federal loans and grants has left officials through Maryland, Virginia and the District scrambling to understand the impact.

Democrats flip the script, eyeing debt limit to block Trump’s agenda: Republicans have leveraged the debt ceiling for years to block Democrats’ agenda. Now liberals see an opening to stymie Trump.

Trump’s perceived enemies brace for retribution with plans, dark humor: Officials and others across the country who incited the president’s ire say they are preparing for him to make good on pledges to settle scores now that he’s back in office.

Americans are watching an inflation bait-and-switch: A week into office, Trump has offered zero plans to lower prices.

Worried about food prices? Break up the U.S. meat cartel.: “Big Four” packers have a stranglehold on the U.S. meat supply.

Exhausted and angry, police attacked on Jan. 6 watch pardons and worry: Now, the same people officers sought to hold accountable for storming the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to subvert democracy are free.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-21

Meta just flipped the switch that prevents misinformation from spreading in the United States: The company built effective systems to reduce the reach of fake news. Last week, it shut them down - "Notably, none of these [now-deactivated changes] actually eliminated anyone’s freedom of expression. Instead, they restricted what the technologist Aza Raskin has termed “freedom of reach.” Fact-checking and down-ranking obviously false stories allowed liars and hoaxsters to express themselves but sought to limit the negative effects of those lies on Meta’s customers.

Knowing Things is Hard - "History is Written by Losers (2013): winners are busy swimming in vaults full of gold, having a nice dinner and drinks, and going to bed with bevies of cute people, losers have time and grudges and writing is cheap. Thucydides, Polybius, Sallust, and Sima Qian were not winners."

Everest Fallacy: a logical error, the confusion of the extreme and the normal.

This school has a problem, and the solution is dead vultures. For real.: “Apparently live vultures are offended and will not return to where their brethren are hanging dead,” a Virginia teacher said.

Ex-spies say suburban D.C. casino would put nation’s secrets at risk: Valerie Plame and more than 100 other former CIA, defense and intelligence figures say a Tysons casino would be a too-convenient temptation.

Trump reinstates plan to strip protections from federal workers: Trump issued several orders Monday aimed at federal agencies, including a return-to-office mandate and a hiring freeze.

We tried a $1,000 trash can for food waste. Here’s what we learned.: Food dehydrators, which dry and grind up food into soil-like grounds, have emerged as a way to keep food waste out of the garbage. Here’s how to use them.

Files detail bid to contain fallout from Tulsi Gabbard meetings with Assad: Trip to Syria in 2017 is expected to be a focus of questions from senators weighing her nomination to be director of national intelligence.

The GOP’s stunning response to Trump pardoning those who assaulted police: Trump has worn his party down, and few events crystallize it like the GOP’s muted — and, in some cases, positive — response.

The push to ‘billionaire-proof’ social media

Trump designated drug cartels as terrorists. Here’s what that means.: Cartels have set off car bombs and beheaded victims. But designating them as terrorist groups could have unforeseen consequences. - "The majority of those arrested carrying fentanyl over the border are U.S. citizens. Most guns used by drug traffickers are acquired from Americans. In theory, U.S. gun dealers could be charged with aiding terrorists under the new measure.

...

"Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to Washington, said the problem with adding cartels to the terrorism list was the focus on military solutions to the drug crisis. 'You’re just playing whack-a-mole,' he said, noting that cartels simply reconfigure after kingpins are detained or killed. What’s needed is a more sophisticated strategy, he said, including curbing U.S. demand for drugs and choking off cartels’ money."

To get rid of ‘drug-addicted’ rats, Houston police clean up evidence room: The Texas city’s mayor said he will work with the county district attorney to discard drug evidence obtained before 2015 that no longer has any value.

Cheap, smart, deadly. The tech industry pitches a new way to wage war.: Anduril, a weapons start-up with links to President Donald Trump, wants to see the Pentagon invest more in AI-enhanced drones. - "The high-tech [American] missiles that repelled the [Iranian] assault collectively cost hundreds of millions of dollars, military experts said. The weapons Iran fired were much cheaper: Each of its Shahed drones can be made for about $50,000, according to leaked Iranian documents obtained by Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The U.S. response included SM-3 missiles that can each cost $28 million, according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a defense industry group.

Monday, January 20, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-20

California isn’t the only place where insurers are dropping homeowners: Insurance “nonrenewal” rates also have been climbing in Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina, federal data shows --- all states hit hard by climate change.

Forget ‘they go low, we go high’: This influencer wants Democrats to get mean: Meet Suzanne Lambert, the Arlington-based TikTok influencer going viral by being a “Regina George liberal.”

Pressure builds on RFK Jr. as confirmation hearing remains unscheduled: Trump’s pick to lead HHS is facing 175 questions from Elizabeth Warren, skepticism from Mike Pence and delays related to his disclosure forms.

How ‘Mild Bill’ Burns led a covert CIA campaign in Ukraine: Burns’s steadfast efforts mark a key chapter in his decades-long intelligence duel with Putin.

For this Latino family, voting for Trump was part of preserving their American Dream: But they’re waiting to see whether he keeps his promises.

For Trump’s national security adviser, Afghanistan still looms large: Michael Waltz, a Green Beret lauded for valor in combat, opposed Trump’s 2020 deal with the Taliban as well as Biden’s 2021 pullout. He has warned of the risk of another 9/11.

What the North Koreans took into battle against Ukraine: Weapons and notes left on dead North Korean troops in Russia give Ukraine a glimpse into their mindset — and show how they are quickly adapting to modern war.

Trump readies massive shift in U.S. economy on eve of inauguration: The incoming president and Republican allies are beginning to plot out major changes to federal taxes and spending as they prepare to take control of Washington.

Accidents, not Russian sabotage, behind undersea cable damage, officials say: An emerging consensus among U.S. and European security services holds that accidents were the cause of damage to Baltic seabed energy and communications lines.es to federal taxes and spending as they prepare to take control of Washington. - "Mike Plunkett, a naval expert at security research firm Janes, said that 'aside from a very loud splash, there will also be a lot of noise from the anchor chain paying out through the hawsehole.' He described the chances of three anchor-dropping incidents in the Baltic region since 2023 as 'vanishingly small,' although not zero. But he said it was extremely difficult to prove intentional sabotage."

She waited decades to report her abuse. At 81, police say, he confessed.: For 44 years, she had thought about making the call. When she finally did, she assumed nothing would come of it.

The GOP’s dilemma on Trump’s TikTok flip-flop: The situation previews a series of looming clashes between Trump’s personal interests and lawmakers’ professed principles.

Trump executive order will attempt to end birthright citizenship: The president plans to take at least 10 actions related to the border or immigration, including ramping up deportations and suspending refugee resettlement.

Supreme Court to hear case on opting out of lessons with LGBTQ+ books: Parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, want to be able to opt out of instruction on gender and sexuality that they say goes against their religious convictions.

D.C. police captain alleges he was punished for taking parental leave as a gay man: In a lawsuit, Capt. Paul Hrebenak argues the department treated him differently than colleagues who also took leave.

Scores of career State Dept. diplomats resign before Trump’s inauguration: Trump’s team requested the high-level resignations as the president-elect prepares a sharp break with the Biden administration.

Friday, January 17, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-17

In Greenland, a cold shoulder for Trump, but curiosity about U.S. ties - "As a self-governing territory of distant Denmark, Greenland has limited self-rule but is also a welfare state. A third of the gross domestic product and half the state budget are supplied by Denmark, about $500 million a year."

Where Biden Turned the Battleship: The outgoing president’s legacy of revived antitrust enforcement won’t be easy to undo.

As L.A. considers rebuilding, here’s what people say they’re willing to change: For those who plan to rebuild, a natural question has emerged: What can be done differently to prevent the sort of destruction that has killed at least 24 people, leveled thousands of structures and inflicted untold billions in damage?

Ukraine hawk removed from House intelligence role, reportedly at Trump’s request: The move by Speaker Mike Johnson provides the latest evidence of a changing posture more favorable to Russia under Donald Trump.

Trump’s soft touch on China and Russia rears its head again: His maneuvers to “save TikTok” and the ouster of the hawkish chairman of the House Intelligence Committee evoke a familiar dynamic. - "'We won young people,' Trump said of the 2024 election. 'And I think that’s a big credit to TikTok. So I’m not opposed to TikTok.'"

Influencers Are Using the Los Angeles Fires to Hawk Wellness Products: Essential oils, detox regimens, and the booming disaster economy.

For L.A.’s homeless population, the fires upend hard-earned stability: Los Angeles County had started to curb homelessness. Will the fires undo it?

How resistance to Trump may look different in his second administration: Inauguration protests are expected to draw fewer people than in 2017, but activists say they are gearing up to oppose the new president with a movement that goes beyond marches.

‘I’m terrified’: TikTok’s looming ban sends creators scrambling: As the clock counts down, creators on the app that changed the online economy are hoping for a miracle. - "Dozens mobilized this week via live-stream 'phone-a-thons,' explaining to audiences of hundreds of thousands on TikTok what would be lost if the popular video app used by roughly 170 million U.S. users disappears." [ed. note: nothing. Nothing would be lost.]

The education of Elon and Vivek: For decades, reformers have laid siege to the bureaucracy and failed. DOGE could be different. - "The initial reaction to DOGE has been largely skeptical. There have been myriad attempts to reform federal spending in the 44 years between Stockman’s endeavor and this one. Each time, like Stockman before them, policymakers have come up against the intractable math: You can’t meaningfully reduce federal deficits without slashing the entitlement programs voters cherish or the military spending that members of Congress covet for their districts."

Lions playoff game puts Tom Brady’s conflict under brighter spotlight: Brady is set to call a postseason game for Fox involving two Lions coordinators who are head coaching candidates for the Raiders, partially owned by Brady.

Gay couples race to the altar before Trump takes office: Panicked about the incoming administration, some LGBTQ couples are rushing to say “I do” before Inauguration Day.

Starting Monday: The Trump administration’s days of blunder: Talk of tattoos, Jesus, enemies lists and a war with California mark the week before inauguration. - "On the same day Bannon spoke about Days of Thunder, I was in a hearing room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, watching the most extravagantly unqualified nominee I have ever seen. Pete Hegseth makes the closest runner-up, Harriet Miers, George W. Bush’s ill-fated Supreme Court nominee, look like Oliver Wendell Holmes."

D.C. Council bill would allow bottles and cans to be recycled for cash: The bill would add a refundable 10-cent deposit to the price of beverage containers sold in D.C. stores and create a system for people to return empty bottles and cans.

Distinctive Jordan sneakers help ID suspect in Md. Lyft shooting: Brandon Leonard, 21, is accused of fatally shooting 36-year-old Oluwatosin Adetula after requesting a ride on New Year’s Day.

The Case for Letting Malibu Burn: Many of California’s native ecosystems evolved to burn. Modern fire suppression creates fuels that lead to catastrophic fires. So why do people insist on rebuilding in the firebelt? - "'Total fire suppression,' the official policy in the Southern California mountains since 1919, has been a tragic error because it creates enormous stockpiles of fuel. The extreme fires that eventually occur can transform the chemical structure of the soil itself. The volatilization of certain plant chemicals creates a water-repellent layer in the upper soil, and this layer, by preventing percolation, dramatically accelerates subsequent sheet flooding and erosion. A monomaniacal obsession with managing ignition rather than chaparral accumulation simply makes doomsday-like firestorms and the great floods that follow them virtually inevitable." [ed. note: from 1998 with postscript from 2018]

Catching Up with a Guy Who Had His Legs Surgically Lengthened by Three Inches: Checking in with "Alan," who is all healed up after going from 5'6" to 5'9".

‘I’m literally Joan Baez right now’: gen Z women relate to Bob Dylan’s toxic situationship: The film A Complete Unknown has sparked interest in the folk singers’ doomed romance, and with it the realization that a similar dynamic is ‘happening to girls everywhere’

Looting Season in America: The oligarchy blooms. - "This is simply the logic of capitalism at work. The strongman president demands the loyalty of the oligarchs, and the oligarchs in turn are granted the blessing of the state to loot an ever greater share of the nation’s wealth. Why would you assume that America is any different from the many nations around the world that already practice this political method in earnest? This is the system most conducive to the perpetuation of the oligarchs’ interests. They financially support the political revenge and repression that will flow forth from the strongman, and they themselves are insulated from its consequences, and granted license to get as rich as they want, however they want. The arrangement works for both sides. This is gangster capitalism in full flower."

On First Looking into Brand’s Whole Earth Catalog: Are we in the present that the past envisioned… or just the one they invested in?

The Future Of West Coast Wildfire Is Whiplash - "In some cases, fires can also makes soil hydrophobic, so kind of water-repellent, because the heat changes the chemical properties of the soil. So the dry state caused some physical changes in the landscape that led to the mudslides occurring. [It might have] just been a flood and not a mudslide if there hadn't been a wildfire."






Thursday, January 16, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-16

Prosecutors won’t charge D.C. officers in fatal shooting that sparked protests: D.C. police officers shot and killed Justin Robinson in September after finding him unresponsive in a car with a gun on his lap.

CNN’s really, really dumb messages: In an ongoing trial, CNN is coming face to face with its own internal correspondence.

Man kills friend with AR-15 after argument in Maryland basement, police say: Benjamin Dresbach, 21, was charged with second-degree murder after a shooting in Kensington.

Gov. Wes Moore reveals plan for budget cuts, tax changes in Maryland: The governor proposed raising taxes for the state’s wealthiest residents, tax savings for 60 percent of Marylanders and cuts that would affect some vulnerable populations.

Maryland proposes delivery fee to pay for transportation needs: New fees on deliveries and vehicles would help restore some cuts that would have cost the state federal dollars and left roads and transit in disrepair.

Indians lured to Russia are dying on the front lines in Ukraine: The forced recruitment of Indians into the Russian army has been a point of tension between New Delhi and Moscow, even as the countries have expanded ties.

Kash Patel has vowed retribution. As FBI director, he could do it.: While some Republicans have hailed the pick, Donald Trump’s choice of Kash Patel to lead the FBI has raised alarm among many national security veterans. - "Several people familiar with Patel said his comments about the bureau suggest little understanding of how it operates." [ed. note: even I can tell you that]

TikTok’s mommy influencer meltdown: Unvarnished videos about the ugly side of parenting have blown up online. So have accusations of child mistreatment.

Actually, Sarah McBride does have an agenda: The first out trans lawmaker in Congress would rather talk about fixing your credit score. But sure, ask your bathroom question.

Deportation at ‘light speed’: How Trump’s crackdown could unfold - "The relative dearth of ICE officers will be one of the biggest drags on Trump’s deportation ambitions. The agency has about 5,500 officers working on immigration enforcement nationwide, and there’s no quick path to workforce expansion. Hundreds of vacant positions have proved hard to fill, and ICE officials say it takes 18 to 24 months to recruit, vet, train and deploy a new officer."

Biden warns of the rise of a new American ‘oligarchy’: From the White House that he will soon cede to Trump, Biden likens the current crop of tech moguls to the ’robber barons’ of the 19th century.

Biden seeks last-minute moves that could be hard for Trump to undo: From clemency to conservation, the outgoing president pushes to cement his legacy ahead of a successor determined to erase it.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-15

Attempted carjacking ends in shooting at Chipotle in Bowie, police sa:y Police recovered the vehicle a group of men used to flee the scene but are still searching for the occupants.

D.C.’s sports betting flop ends in $6.5 million settlement, fraud accusations: The attorney general’s office alleges Intralot presented a subcontracting plan with D.C. small businesses to the D.C. Council and lottery officials under false pretenses.

Teen pleads guilty in killing of Lyft driver on Capitol Hill: The 2023 killing of Nasratullah Ahmad Yar, a former U.S. military interpreter, was among the most publicized homicides in a historically deadly year in D.C. - "As part of the plea deal Tuesday, prosecutors with the city’s attorney general’s office agreed not to ask the judge to sentence the teen to more than two years commitment — or not beyond his 18th birthday — with the city’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, also known as DYRS. In addition, prosecutors agreed not to charge the teen with any additional crimes that might have resulted in investigations by their office."

‘A nightmare’: Before NoMa shooting, woman says suspect entered her room Authorities said Tuesday the assailant was 45-year-old Derrick Williams, who lived in the building.

Minister accused of sex abuse landed one high-profile job after another: Jeff Taylor went from the pulpit to the Red Cross to a college nonprofit. Now, his alleged victims are speaking out, and the FBI is investigating.

H5N1: Much More Than You Wanted To Know: Don't give your true love a partridge, turtledoves, or (especially) French hens

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-14

Steve Bannon derides Elon Musk, vowing to limit influence over Trump: His comments reflect an intensifying battle over Musk’s West Wing sway as Trump prepares to take office. - "Bannon told the Italian newspaper that Musk’s ideas are 'really about the implementation of techno-feudalism on a global scale.'"

Bats use storm fronts to ‘surf’ the skies when they migrate, study finds: A new study study sheds light on a little-known phenomenon: the long-distance migration treks of nocturnal bats.

D.C. attorney general sues federal government over Anacostia River pollution: The lawsuit claims that the U.S. government for decades used the Anacostia as a “cost-free toxic dumping ground.”

Teen sentenced to year’s probation in attack on model at McDonald’s: The October assault on the gay model occurred outside a McDonald’s in the 14th and U streets area in Northwest Washington.

How New Orleans failed to protect Bourbon Street from attack, block by block: Major security lapses preceded the vehicular-ramming attack that left 14 dead, according to a Post examination of visual evidence and accounts from witnesses.

15 science-based ways to reduce your risk of dementia: From diet and exercise to protecting against hearing loss and maintaining social connections, there are ways to improve our health and reduce dementia risk, experts say.

On Kansas back roads, I found people who are solving problems: They’re past “What’s the matter with Kansas?” and are finding common ground.

The looming Eurasian menace: As China, Iran, Russia and North Korea lock arms, the U.S. should begin its response preparations. - "The United States also lacks the resources for this new round of rivalry. The U.S. military is designed to defeat only a single enemy in a major conflict. U.S. military spending is nearly as low, as a percentage of gross domestic product, as it has been at any time since World War II. Its defense industrial base is in pitiful shape. Yet as hot wars rage in the Middle East and Europe, and a Sino-American cold war intensifies in the Asia-Pacific, the United States could easily face conflicts in two or more regions simultaneously — or find itself fighting a rival that is receiving help from other adversaries."

Head of the International Court of Justice is named Lebanon's new prime minister: Lebanon’s new president has asked prominent diplomat and jurist Nawaf Salam to form the country’s new government after Salam was named prime minister by a large number of legislators

After economic meltdown and war with Israel, Lebanon's new prime minister vows to rebuild: Lebanon’s prime minister-designate has vowed to rebuild the country following years of economic meltdown and a 14-month war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group

NATO launches new naval operation in Baltic sea after severed cables: The Baltic Sentry operation comes amid mounting European fears of sabotage after a string of murky disruptions to underwater cables in the sea that borders Russia.

Montgomery County considers plastic-bag ban, doubling tax on paper bags: An inspector general’s report said the county’s current bag policy has been inefficient, leading to millions of dollars in lost revenue. - "Under Stewart’s proposal, those receiving food assistance, including from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), would be excused from paying the paper-bag tax. Stewart said the intent was to mitigate the bill’s impact on lower-income people for whom 10 cents a bag is a heavier burden and for those who often transport groceries home via public transportation." [ed. note: STUPID]

Compass Coffee co-founders split amid claim of misspent covid funds: The former Marines who founded the D.C. chain are mired in acrimony as Harrison Suarez accuses Michael Haft, scion of a business empire, of family racketeering enterprise.

This group says natural gas bans hurt minorities. It has gas industry ties.: The Energy Poverty Awareness Center, which fought climate legislation in Maryland, has ties to a group that is partly funded by oil and gas companies. - "The measure would not have affected the state’s nearly 2.6 million existing housing units. It also would not have restricted other appliances such as gas stoves, which have recently emerged as a flash point in the nation’s culture wars. 

"In his testimony sent to state lawmakers, however, Baxter wrote that the bill could force Black households in Baltimore to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a host of new green technologies."

Elon Musk’s Boring Company Is Tunneling Beneath Las Vegas With Little Oversight

Society is making you sick, GOP says. Too bad their plans will make you sicker.: “Make America Healthy Again” might be a laudable plan — if GOP policies didn’t contradict GOP goals.

The U.S. government runs on Celsius. Just ask anyone on Capitol Hill.: The energy drink is consumed by politicians, journalists and even the speaker of the House, who maintains his own stash.

Kristi Noem, a homeland security chief hopeful, banned in parts of her state: South Dakota’s tribes barred the governor from setting foot on their land after she said drug cartels operate there — an allegation the nations’ leaders deny. - "Brendan Johnson, a former U.S. attorney for South Dakota, said that to suggest that cartels use reservations as operating bases is a fundamental misunderstanding of the economics of the drug trade. 

"Drugs are smuggled across the border to larger cities such as Kansas City, Missouri, Denver and Chicago and then flown into smaller rural communities, he explained in a recent interview. 'These small communities are not lucrative targets for a cartel,' he said. 'It would make no sense for them to set up some sort of business empire on the reservation.'"

I was born liberal. The ‘adults in the room’ still have a lot to learn.: To rebuild liberalism, we’ll need to recover what the word used to mean. - "The old liberal epistemology at least rested on egalitarian and universal premises. We believed that everyone was capable of entering to some degree into the mental worlds and lived experience of others, because all of us, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity or sexual orientation, were rational human creatures. This rationalist universalism disintegrated in the 1980s and 1990s, attacked by a new generation of 'progressive' scholars as masculinist, colonialist, racist and fundamentally condescending. This assault was supposed to awaken us to 'intersectionality'— the interaction of disadvantages — but instead of drawing hurt constituencies together, it fragmented them into highly sectarian and identity-based political groupings that foreclosed on alliances, shared understandings, and common political projects across race, class and gender."

Buy or leave, Starbucks tells nonpaying customers in policy reversal: The new policy states that Starbucks spaces “are for use by our partners and customers” — and warns that violators will be asked to leave.

Jack Smith’s subtle indictment of the Supreme Court: The special counsel’s final Trump-Jan. 6 report breaks little new evidentiary ground but directs plenty of suggestive criticism at the nation’s highest court.

Monday, January 13, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-13

‘Every Little Thing’: Enchantment That Flaps at 50 Beats a Second: This film by Sally Aitken follows a hummingbird rescue center and the woman who tends to its denizens with immense care.

RFK isn’t big enough for a stadium with NFL-sized parking - "A stadium could fit comfortably in the 100 acres; 15–40 acres is a common football-stadium footprint. The parking the Commanders are likely to demand, however, will gobble up almost all of the rest. The average NFL stadium includes about 20,000–25,000 parking spots, a target of one spot for every three seats for stadiums with a capacity of about 60,000–80,000 seats. 

"And, NFL owners are increasingly demanding high-capacity facilities that can win bids for the big-money, prestige events like the Super Bowl and the World Cup. The NFL, in fact, requires a Super Bowl host have at minimum 35,000 parking spaces nearby, which means that any new stadium is likely going to aim for the high end of the range."

Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia, Zelensky says: The wounded fighters were taken for questioning to Kyiv, authorities said, where they could reveal details of Pyongyang’s cooperation with Moscow.

Zelensky ready to hand North Korea back its captured troops: Zelensky’s announcement came after he posted photos on social media of two men he said were North Korean soldiers captured in Russia’s Kursk region.

Mark Zuckerberg lies about content moderation to Joe Rogan’s face / The head of Meta cracked under Republican pressure. - "The problem wasn’t that the fact-checking was bad; it was that conservatives are more likely to share misinformation and get fact-checked, as some research has shown. That means conservatives are also more likely to be moderated. In this sense, perhaps it wasn’t Facebook’s fact-checking systems that had a liberal bias, but reality."

Why Los Angeles was unprepared for this fire: Several key factors left L.A. exposed to disaster. - "'There’s no urban water system engineered and constructed to combat wildfire,' said Michael McNutt, a spokesman for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which serves 75,000 people in northwest Los Angeles County. The system was intended to supply water to homes and businesses, he said, and to help fire crews defend a large structure or several homes, not multiple neighborhoods at once. 'The tanks were not able to refill fast enough to meet the overwhelming demand from the enormous firefighting response,' he said." [ed. note: sprawl, individuals ignoring mandated 5' defensible clearance, climate change, federal mandate to stop all fires, water system not built to combat multiple fires]

L.A.’s wildfires have leaders fighting on two fronts: Nature and politics: As weather forecasts predict the resumption of dangerous winds this week, the governor, L.A. mayor and others find California under attack from Trump, conservatives and advisers. - "One major point of criticism among conservatives has been funding levels for Los Angeles’s fire department, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) decrying supposed — but nonexistent — cuts to the firefighting budget as evidence of 'feckless leadership' by Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Overall funding for the Los Angeles Fire Department increased by $80 million, or 9.1 percent, in the 2024-2025 fiscal year." [ed. note: THEY ARE SO STUPID]

Anita Bryant, pitchwoman who crusaded against gay rights, dies at 84: She became one of the most incendiary cultural warriors of the 1970s and saw her prosperous singing career implode as a result.

Biden administration sanctions Russia’s oil giants and tanker fleet: The White House, now unconcerned about the effect on gas prices and inflation, blacklisted two of Russia’s biggest oil producers and nearly 200 tanker ships.

Republicans, enjoy ineffectual control of Congress while you have it: With Congress ceding so much power to presidents, Trump, not GOP lawmakers, is where the action is.

As Trump prepares to take power, MAGA can’t stop the ugly infighting: A new clash between Stephen K. Bannon and Elon Musk epitomizes the fraught and bellicose confederation that surrounds Donald Trump.

The Great MAGA Schism of 2025 is only getting uglier: War of words between Musk and Bannon shows gap between rhetoric and reality

The U.S. is unprepared for a major war. Can Pete Hegseth fix that?: Trump’s defense secretary pick would face a staggering challenge in readying America for war. - "The problem isn’t that the U.S. military has gone 'woke,' as MAGA partisans such as Hegseth allege. The problem is that America became complacent after the Cold War when it downsized its armed forces and its defense-industrial base. Since then, the United States has prepared a military suitable for fighting insurgents in Afghanistan or Iraq — but utterly inadequate for an extended fight against a major power.

...

"Now it will be up to senators to decide if Hegseth — who was dogged by accusations of mismanagement and misconduct at the two nonprofits he ran — is the right person to rebuild America’s atrophied defense capabilities. The committee members should grill him not only about his past, but also about his plans to address this massive challenge. His record doesn’t inspire confidence that he can rise to a task that would severely test far more experienced executives.

Friday, January 10, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-10

Man who attacked D.C. pizza parlor in 2016 is killed by police in N.C.: Edgar Maddison Welch believed the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory, fired shots inside Comet Ping Pong.

Md. Gov. Moore plans $2 billion in cuts, including climate programs: The state’s ambitious climate goals may be rolled back as officials tackle a budget crisis. Other details will be announced next week.

Trump’s tariffs will be costly, but that’s not the worst part: He has no coherent reason for implementing them, and many Americans will be worse off as a result.

Putin is setting a trap for Trump in Ukraine: The only way to compel Putin to make concessions is to increase the cost of his aggression.

Retired generals warn against giving D.C.’s fighter jets to Maryland: Former D.C. National Guard brass raised national security concerns about quickly transferring an elite fighter jet squadron as part of the RFK Stadium deal.

Toys are a scam Kids keep asking for them.: We keep buying them. And no one is playing with them. - "Every television commercial, every print ad, every retail experience elicits the same request: 'Can I have that?' My response is always the same: 'Put it on your list!' (Reader, there are no lists. Except for a couple of weeks before a birthday or holiday, these kids can’t be bothered. The rest of the year, their yearnings fly off like glitter in the wind.)"

The Story of Brexit is the Story of Empire: Why Did Asian Immigrants Vote to Leave the EU?: The complicated love-hate relationship of immigrants from former colonies with the British Empire cannot be ignored if lessons are to be learned in post-Brexit Britain, says Hardeep Matharu - "Although non-white groups were generally more pro-Remain than white British people, 'ethnic minorities showed a non-negligible level of support for leave, which was twice as high amongst Indians as amongst other minority groups', according to an one report on the matter.

...

"'There was a lining of xenophobia towards eastern Europeans among Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities. There was the perception that people from Europe have got a free pass to come here.'"

Texas lawmaker accuses state GOP chair of ethics violation over threats in House speaker race: Rep. Cody Harris filed a complaint against Texas GOP Chair Abraham George for sending mailers and censuring lawmakers who support Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker.

X suspends journalist after debunking theory Elon Musk fan account was Musk himself

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-08

Enough With the Land Acknowledgments

Drilling ban? Trump has bigger oil problems - "That’s because the country is already producing more oil and exporting more natural gas than any other nation. Drilling for more fossil fuels than the world’s markets could absorb would be bad business, leading to potential price dips, economic instability and financial losses for oil producers."

Some Texas business leaders are apprehensive about Trump’s pledged deportations: “We wouldn’t survive” without undocumented workers, one South Texas produce business owner said. By one estimate, 8% of Texas’ workforce lacks legal status. - "The state comptroller’s office did a study in 2006 to find out how the state economy would look without the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas in 2005. The study said their absence would cost the state about $17.7 billion in gross state product — a measure of the value of goods and services produced in Texas. The state has not updated the study since; analysis replicated by universities and think tanks have reached similar conclusions that undocumented Texans contribute more to the economy than they cost the state."

How could Trump's proposed tariffs impact the North Carolina economy?: Leaders in the state's agriculture community are concerned about retaliatory actions impacting farmers.

What really undid the Biden presidency: Biden’s confidence in his ability to guide America through a troubled era was part of the problem.

Is your phone listening to you?: Yeah, but probably not to target ads. The specifics of the theory that your phone is eavesdropping probably aren’t true, but the paranoia is justified.

Landlords are accused of colluding to raise rents. See where.

Meta ends fact checking. Here’s how to find the truth on social media.: Facebook, Instagram and Threads will no longer have fact checking in the United States. Here’s what that means for your feeds and how you can avoid falling for misinformation. - "The number one way to avoid falling for posts circulating on social media is to consider how it makes you feel. If it elicits a strong emotional reaction, like anger, anxiety, fear or even glee, that’s a sign it may be untrue. Take a beat and investigate.

"Misinformation has a variety of sources, from deliberate lies spread to influence public opinion to accounts using outrage to go viral and profit. Where a nuanced factual post might not get much engagement, a juicy conspiracy will lead to more clicks, shares and engagement. 

"'Another good sign is that you want to believe it,' says Abbie Richards, a misinformation researcher and content creator. 'When you encounter misinformation, the biggest factor in whether you fall for it is when you want it to be true.'"

Why Is the US Not Vaccinating Poultry Against Bird Flu? - "'The USDA is currently subsidizing chicken companies when they have outbreaks,' deCoriolis said.

"'American taxpayers have spent billions in the last two years bailing out chicken and turkey companies that have had outbreaks. If they don't vaccinate, they keep their export market; if they have a bird flu outbreak, they get a bailout.'"

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-07

Drilling could resume where a 1969 oil spill inspired Earth Day: A plan by Sable Offshore to restart an oil pipeline that burst in 2015 has outraged Santa Barbara environmentalists.

Dems picked the wrong senator for Senate Judiciary leadership: They need a fighter on the committee, not a go-alonger. [ed. note: basically, Dick Durbin is a punk bitch]

These common medications could be releasing ‘forever chemicals’ into the environment: Researchers found that chemicals, including PFAS, from pharmaceuticals are entering into wastewater — which can be used as drinking water during times of drought.

Man escapes into storm drain after Beltway hit-and-run, police say: The man fled across the inner and outer loops in Fairfax County, state police said.

Accused of trespassing, Metro cuts some Maryland bus stops: Dispute over damaged roads will create longer walks for elderly and disabled residents nearby.

Amazon to release Melania Trump documentary: The film, scheduled to be released later this year, will give viewers an “unprecedented behind-the-scenes look” at the incoming first lady’s life, Amazon said. [ed. note: how embarrassing]

Cannon temporarily blocks report on Trump classified-documents probe: Two Trump employees charged alongside him in the classified documents case separately asked Judge Aileen Cannon to block the release.

Indians slam MAGA ‘war’ over H-1B skilled-worker visas as ‘racist’: As the top recipients of H-1Bs, Indians have been incensed by MAGA criticism of the program. - "Thakur said the visa system harms both American tech workers, who lose out on jobs, and Indian H-1B visa holders, who remain stuck in a relatively low-wage trap for years as they cling to the hope of obtaining lawful permanent resident status, or green cards. He accused the mainstream Indian news media, which used to be vocal about the brain drain until the late 2000s, of failing to get to the bottom of the issue because of its nationalist stance. 

"'Everything in the big newspapers and television channels on H-1B is largely about the image of India’s IT prowess because it is the biggest story from the last few decades that we like to tell ourselves,' Thakur said. 'But like many stories, it is mired in self-deception.'"

Meta ends fact checks as it prepares for Trump era CEO: Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook, Instagram and Threads will prioritize “free expression,” citing a “cultural tipping point.”

America needs a major culture shift on alcohol: Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy was right to highlight alcohol’s cancer risk.

Trump declines to rule out ‘military or economic’ force to expand U.S.: In a 70-minute, meandering news conference, the president-elect previewed his plans to disrupt the U.S. justice system — and global affairs.

Trump takes ‘America First’ to its expansionist endpoint: The Manifest Destiny of MAGA.

The legacy of Bidenomics: Maybe not much at all: Biden struggled to implement economic policies that will endure past his presidency.

‘Murdered In His Own Home’: Kentucky Cops Raid Wrong Home and Kill Innocent Man Over Alleged Stolen Weed Eater Despite Receiving the Correct Address At Least Five Times

The Curious Case of Lindy Li: How did a “Blue MAGA” influencer and fundraiser turn on Democrats so fast?

Monday, January 6, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-06

Emilia Pérez is a regressive movie that thinks it’s woke. It will probably win an Oscar.: Could a movie musical about a trans Mexican drug lord be this awards season’s Crash? - "Still, Emilia Pérez’s presence in the Oscars race isn’t exactly a shock, given that it falls neatly into a category of movies the white Hollywood establishment loves to celebrate: mawkish stories about people on society’s margins that allow viewers to feel socially aware through their consumption, without challenging of any of the stereotypes and political messaging presented in them. Could Emilia Pérez become this year’s Crash?"

For this group of Virginia deer hunters, it’s not only about the meat: For Town Hill — a small band of Black men and their sons — the weeks of rifle hunting at year’s end and the spring gobbler turkey hunts aren’t to be missed.

Trump aides ready ‘universal’ tariff plans — with one key change: President-elect’s aides look at universal import duties, but only on certain sectors, among first big moves of presidency.

Most supplements aren’t worth your money. This one is.: Studies have consistently shown that psyllium may lower cholesterol, dampen glucose spikes, help us stay full longer, and even aid in treating diarrhea and constipation.

Joe Biden: What Americans should remember about Jan.: 6 Four years ago, our democracy was put to the test — and prevailed.

Here’s the solution to Trump World’s ‘civil war’ over H-1B visas: Getting rid of the lottery for high-tech visas could satisfy both MAGA constituencies.

After a last visit from Biden’s team, India readies itself for Trump: U.S.-India relations grew under President Joe Biden, and New Delhi hopes they will blossom with the new Trump administration. But numerous differences exist under the surface.

Trump, Republicans prep ambitious but fraught plan for tax cuts and more: The GOP will attempt to pass one massive legislative package including tax cuts, border security and other priorities, putting lawmakers up against a high-stakes deadline.

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-05

Recycling Doesn’t Work—and the Plastics Industry Knew It: The industry knew decades ago that recycling was never viable in the long term, and now we’re all being poisoned by its product.

Trees are spreading across the Great Plains. They're actually making climate change worse - "Trees darken the ground. So a place that otherwise would reflect more sunlight and send some of its heat straight back into outer space instead soaks up that heat. In some regions, this outweighs the trees’ potential carbon storage."

Opinion: Habitat for all — how housing and biodiversity can coexist even in a crowded future

In the colossus of beef, Argentines are increasingly turning to pork: Grill-obsessed Argentines, facing inflation and economic shock therapy, consumed less beef per capita in 2024 than at any point in the past century.

Why South Korean protesters are using U.S. flags and a pro-Trump slogan: Both supporters and critics of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are using American symbolism, from the “Stop the Steal” slogan to the Virginia state flag.

Liberals Warned Me About MAGA’s Racism. I Didn’t Believe Them—Until Now.: My grandfather voted for Trump three times. Now, part of that movement is calling immigrants like him ‘filthy.’

‘Perfect storm’ of factors hits Washington apple farmers, driving bankruptcies, consolidation

Friday, January 3, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-03

Black MAGA ends 2024 among the year's biggest losers: Despite efforts to curry favor with Trump this year, Black MAGA figures were snubbed or dropped altogether - "The new critique of politicians of color like Donalds, Scott and Robinson should be, Smith argued, 'are these people performing like minstrels?' Or 'are these people actually political negotiators who are putting themselves at the table of power at whatever means necessary in order to deliver some results, some critical results, to Black America?'"

Trump Voters Are in for a Rude Awakening: He sold them countless, often conflicting fantasies. In 2025, he’ll face political reality.

In blow to Democrats, federal appeals court strikes down net neutrality: The Biden administration’s FCC had considered its reinstatement of the rules on internet service providers a signature accomplishment. - "Andrew Jay Schwartzman, senior counsel at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, said Title II authority would allow the FCC to revoke authorizations of certain foreign-owned internet service providers deemed national security risks; to mandate cybersecurity standards for broadband providers; to prohibit interconnection between broadband providers and data centers controlled by non-U.S. owners where a national security threat is found; and to better address outage reporting."

The countries of Southeast Asia work together to quash dissent: The countries of Southeast Asia are helping each other intimidate and extradite exiled government critics, according to a Post analysis of cases in the region.

Memo to Musk: Overhauling government isn’t rocket science. It’s harder.: The Elon Musk-headed ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ offers two fibs in four words. [ed. note: the whole thing is gold]

How an antacid for the ocean could cool the Earth: A new technology promises to remove carbon from the atmosphere and prevent ocean acidification.

Trayon White, facing bribery charge, apologizes to D.C. as he is sworn in: Leaving the stage after the ceremony ended, White did not respond to reporters who asked him to be specific about what he was apologizing for.

Brazil eliminated daylight saving time. It’s having second thoughts.: Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president, promised a “permanent” end to clock confusion. Climate change could scupper that plan.

Who is Tommy Robinson, and why does Elon Musk want him freed?: Elon Musk’s interventions in European politics continued this week with his calls for the release of jailed British far-right extremist Tommy Robinson.

One Kind of American Dream: The Year in Hawk Tuah and Crypto Memecoin: Haliey Welch helped define the year in culture, for better or worse. But it remains to be seen what the future holds for her—and celebrity cryptocurrency ventures in general—now that she’s embroiled in a memecoin scandal.

The Hawk Tuah Memecoin Rug Pull Is The Apotheosis Of Bag Culture - "The structure of the Haliey Welch Media Ouroboros is typical of the large-scale economics of bleeding-edge social media, and I'd argue that she could only have successfully pivoted into a position where she has a lot of money and a chance at permanent fame in 2024 because of A) the rapid decay of traditional media (and even new media, thanks to Elon Musk buying and hollowing out Twitter), and B) the relatively modern phenomenon of the wide acceptance and praise of bag-chasing nihilism."

Hawk Tuah and the Zynternet: Plus, for some reason, some thoughts about the debate - "Over the last ten years or so, a broad community of fratty, horndog, boorishly provocative 20- and sometimes (embarrassingly) 30-somethings--mostly but by no means entirely male--has emerged to form a newly prominent online subculture. This network is adjacent to the “sports internet” of 40something dads and the “hustle internet” of Miami crypto bullshit and the “reactionary internet” of trad influencers, but is its own distinct community with its own distinct cultural referents--college sports, gambling, light domestic beers, Zyn nicotine pouches--and influential personalities and media outlets, among them Dave Portnoy, Pat McAfee, Antonio Brown, and Call Her Daddy, in addition to dozens of minor podcasters and hey-fellow-kids content creators who nearly all work for sports-betting concerns."

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Reading archive 2025-01-02

How much protein do you really need?: And other questions about protein, answered.

The 6 grossest spots in your home, and how to clean them: Pro tips for combating E. coli, dust, pink slime and other nasties around your house.

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The Case for Finding Common Ground With RFK: A pro-vaccine doctor argues that the left should engage with Americans skeptical of public-health rules. - "And what I think is really important to recognize is: Really until the pandemic, a lot of what Kennedy talks about—the idea that government and Big Pharma are in cahoots with one another, and that we’re overprescribing medications to ourselves, especially to our kids; the idea that we’re poisoning the environment with toxins; the idea that food companies are tempting kids with high-sugar, high-fructose, dyed products that then are contributing to a childhood-obesity epidemic—all of those things, I think, coded as liberal critiques of the medical establishment until very recently.

...

"So I don’t think the Democrats should be doing anything different at the mandate level. And that’s a place where I really differ from, say, Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, who’s been tweeting in support of RFK with this kind of, like, bizarre zeal and who I think has sort of overstepped where he maybe wants to be. I think he wants to sort of express some understanding of where the folks of Colorado are, where there’s a really growing, pervasive anti-vax sentiment. That’s actually not—it’s bad public policy. It’s a recipe for disease outbreak.

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"There’s, you know, sort of famously: In 2021, there was a really controversial, high-profile case of approval for a drug for Alzheimer’s that had just been shown not to work, basically. And Alzheimer’s—very common disease, incredibly devastating to families. People are desperate to believe that there is something that they can do for folks. We don’t really have good treatments right now. This was the sort of treatment that had received a lot of hype in advance.

"The data was just not supportive of the idea that it was effective. And, in fact, it did obviously cause harm in some small number of patients. It got pushed through the FDA approval process anyway, largely, in part, due to pressure from the Alzheimer’s Association, which was receiving money from the drug company. That is a perfect-storm setup for an RFK-type critique. And it’s true. And at the time, I wrote an op-ed criticizing that process. So that’s a place where he and I totally agree.

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"So I think one of the major millennial failures is the invention and then rollout of small plates to, like, every yuppie restaurant in every city in the country—which is like: You go. You sit down. There’s, like, this menu of items that are all very expensive and very tiny, and they’re supposed to be for sharing, but they’re not big enough to share. And then the waiter comes and, like, does this whole explanation, like, Have you ever been here before? Let me explain to you how the menu works. Things at the top are small, and things at the bottom are bigger. And then the menu proceeds from, like, $18 for four anchovies to, like, eventually you get to, like, a whole fish. You know what I mean?"