Reading archive 2025-03-05

We Have to Stop Underwriting People Who Move to Climate Danger Zones - "The voices loudly criticizing California for its rigid control of insurance pricing are ignoring numerous similar examples from the rest of the country. In 2023, after the federal flood insurance program began to adjust its premiums to better reflect climate realities, 10 states across the political spectrum — including reliably red Louisiana, Florida and Texas and moderate blue Virginia — sued the program. And California isn’t the only state that failed to raise premiums to properly fund its FAIR plan, the state-sponsored insurer of last resort often relied on by those living in climate-vulnerable areas; Florida did as well."

These buildings use batteries made of ice to stay cool and save money: Ice batteries help office towers, warehouses and stores shrink their power bills and carbon footprint. Soon, they’re coming to houses.

The LA Times’ Political Rating “AI” Is A Silly Joke Aimed At Validating Wealthy Media Ownership’s Inherent Bias

Is ‘Dark Woke’ the Answer to Trumpism—or Just Liberal Cringe?: Welcome to the new hashtag-resistance, where viral clips of men defacing Cybertucks are channeling the frustrated energy of the online left. The writer Kieran Press-Reynolds asks whether it’s a promising beginning or a dead end.

Is Social Security a Ponzi Scheme?

Why these states are helping people pay for stronger roofs: As disasters multiply and insurers flee risky areas, grant programs to help residents protect their homes are expanding across the nation. March 3, 2025 - "The surge of interest in shoring up homes reflects the growing pressure states feel to respond to the financial toll of extreme weather, experts said. In many of these states, Republican governors and lawmakers have discounted climate change. But as disasters multiply and insurance companies raise rates and stop selling policies, the economic consequences have become more difficult to ignore."

How China came to dominate the world in renewable energy: China now eclipses every other country in the world — including the United States — in the green technologies of the future. Here’s how it achieved this lead. - "That gap is likely to widen under President Donald Trump, analysts say. As Trump focuses on boosting fossil fuel production and cutting funding for clean energy projects, China is further increasing investment in renewable energy technologies."

NIH reels with fear, uncertainty about future of scientific research: The Trump administration’s orders have created more turmoil and damage at the National Institutes of Health than was previously known.

D.C. man convicted of murder and freed early found guilty of second killing: Police say Darrell Moore fatally shot Julius Hayes after Hayes allegedly spread rumors that Moore was “dealing with a gay guy.”

D.C. police arrest suspect in fatal shooting of 14-year-old: Police said it appeared the victim was armed and may have returned fire in the Aug. 1 incident at Lamond Recreation Center. - "In 2023, the Office of the Attorney General in D.C. declined to pursue charges in at least four cases against [the victim], which included unauthorized use of a vehicle and armed robbery, according to three officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a juvenile record."