Reading archive 2025-03-26

The NFL plus lots of new housing at RFK? That’s 4th and very long.: In the battle to bring football back to D.C., football will probably win. But at what cost? - "Once built, stadiums provide mainly low-income, seasonal jobs, generate little revenue given the tax breaks that team owners demand, and have slim economic impact because fans just shift their entertainment spending from some other neighborhood, so there’s no net gain, economists argue."

The real scandal: Those chatty Trump officials’ loathing of U.S. allies: The Signal chat fiasco sends an alarming message about Trump officials’ stance toward Europe. - "The policymakers showed no awareness that European nations and other U.S. allies had already joined U.S. efforts to ensure freedom of navigation through the Red Sea. In December 2023 — a month after the start of Houthi attacks — the Defense Department announced a multinational effort known as Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect commercial shipping. This initiative was led by the United States and joined by Bahrain, Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.

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"While Prosperity Guardian was (and is) a defensive operation, another group of U.S. allies joined in Operation Poseidon Archer, a series of airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. The United States and Britain carried out the strikes, beginning in early January 2024, with reported support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.

"Some European nations were uncomfortable with accepting U.S. leadership, fearing that the American approach was overly aggressive and could spark a wider war. So, the European Union launched its own maritime security mission, known as Operation Aspides, which has sent warships to the Red Sea. That mission has reportedly included Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain.

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"You know who isn’t contributing? Russia and China, even though both nations (and China in particular) also benefit from the flow of global commerce through the Bab-al-Mandab Strait. Both Beijing and Moscow are, in fact, essentially the Houthis’ allies. Russia has provided targeting assistance to the group, while China’s buying of 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports ultimately aids Tehran’s financing of the Houthis. Yet, when the Trump administration officials discuss making someone pay for the U.S. military operation, they focus on Egypt and Europe — not on China and Russia."

A person with measles traveled in D.C. while contagious, officials say: D.C. health officials reported Tuesday that a person with a confirmed case of measles recently traveled around the District while contagious after coming from Minnesota.

Here’s one federal building we could — and should — scrap: The Forrestal Building’s form is impeding its function as home of the Energy Department.

Two killer whales are hunting great white sharks — to eat their livers: The orcas known as Port and Starboard have killed dozens of sharks off the South African coast with such precision that one researcher marveled at “how Hannibal Lecter it is.”

This Michigan Democrat cruised to victory in a Trump district. Here’s how.: Meet Kristen McDonald Rivet.

“Be Careful How You Talk to Us”: Trump Appointee Gets an Earful in Anacostia: Cora Masters Barry laid into interim US Attorney Ed Martin at a meeting Tuesday. - "A few minutes later, Cora Masters Barry, Marion Barry’s widow, took issue, giving Martin the most severe dressing down of the day. 'You need to learn your politics,' she said. 'You need to learn geography, and world affairs. There’s a whole different pot of money that goes to Africa that stops diseases…. You don’t know what you talking about, so be careful about what you say when you go places, because you show that you’re not well read.'"

Sorry Nebraska Farmers, America Is Fresh Out of Sympathy: When you vote against your own livelihood, don’t be surprised when the check bounces.

Why Dads Take Their Gay Sons to Hooters

What’s the Matter with Abundance?: The last thing society needs is more stuff

How Trump’s policies have helped Russia and furthered Putin’s goals: Months into the new administration, a slew of policy changes have helped Russia, including defunding U.S. soft power, standing down cyber efforts and splitting with NATO allies.