Reading archive 2025-08-11

Trump readies federal moves on D.C. crime, takes over D.C. police: The president is planning to flex his law enforcement power over Washington, declaring that he would clear the city of homeless people and crack down on crime. - "U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, whom Trump appointed to the job in May, has called for lowering the age limit for charging juveniles as adults to 14." [ed. note: this is way too low]

FBI dispatching agents to D.C. streets as Trump weighs calling National Guard: The Trump administration has temporarily assigned FBI agents to work overnight shifts to combat carjackings and other crimes. - "The deployment of FBI agents to deal with local crime puts agents from the bureau’s counterintelligence, public corruption and other divisions with minimal training in traffic stops out on the streets in potentially dangerous encounters, diverting them from their typical jobs at the bureau.

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"The reassignment of FBI agents has further demoralized some agents in the Washington Field Office, who believe they have little expertise or training in thwarting carjackers and were already angered by a spate of firings inside the agency that they deemed unwarranted. Last week, the Trump administration ousted with no explanation FBI personnel across the country, including the head of the Washington Field Office."

Why your skin needs sunscreen all year long: Beyond the cancer risk, most of the skin changes we see as we get older don’t come from the aging process but from the sun’s UV rays.

The anti-sunscreen movement and what to know about its claims: A growing anti-sunscreen movement on social media is causing concern among dermatologists, who warn that avoiding sunscreen increases long-term health risks.

Democrats with an eye on 2028 reject some parts of liberal orthodoxy: Some presidential prospects have embraced “Sister Souljah moments” that demonstrate their independence.

Footage shows two Chinese ships colliding while chasing Philippine boat: A China coast guard ship barreled into a Chinese navy destroyer Tuesday as the two vessels chased a Philippine coast guard ship.

A family opened a town’s first bookstore. A bathroom bill is driving them away.: The Phelans ran the only bookstore in Vermillion, South Dakota. They sold it and moved after a new law would have required their daughter to use a boy’s bathroom.

Why does travel make me constipated? A gastroenterologist explains.: We all poop weirdly on vacation. Fiber supplements can help.

Smithsonian restores Trump to impeachment display in American history museum: The museum last month removed a placard describing the president’s two impeachments. The new text makes minor changes — and offers slightly less detail.

New mapping reveals D.C. region’s growing vulnerability to flood risk: As the region experiences more extreme weather, an increased number of roads and rail lines could flood, not just those in low-lying areas.

Substack's extremist ecosystem is flourishing: Yup, they're still at it. - "The role of Substack’s ecosystem in our larger politics was made clear last month in the New York Times. The paper reported that the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, had checked both the “Asian” and “Black or African American” boxes on an application for Columbia in 2009. (Mamdani is Indian-Ugandan-American. He did not get into Columbia.) As The Verge’s Elizabeth Lopatto uncovered, the information for this story—which the Times framed as a major scandal—was the product of a hack by a self-described 'violently racist' neo-Nazi. 

"The relevant information was passed to the Times by Jordan Lasker, a Substacker with a reported neo-Nazi past of his own, who contributes to the eugenicist Substack Aporia as well his own, published under the pseudonym “Cremiuex.” (The latter is currently the No. 7 fastest rising Substack in “Science.”) Lasker in turn passed the information on to Benjamin Ryan, the writer of the anti-transgender Substack Hazard Ratio (No. 66 in Science.) The Times then hired Ryan to write the story, giving him the lead byline and allowing him to grant Lasker partial anonymity. He made no mention of the neo-Nazi origin of the information."

The Media’s Urge to Be “Fair” to Trump Is Killing the Republic: Seventy percent of Republicans understand that Trump’s tariffs will raise prices. Why is the press acting like they’re a huge success? - "Uh, no. Here are a few facts and figures, none of which appear in the article. Federal revenue from all sources in recent years has been around $4.7 trillion (it varies from year to year depending on the strength of the economy). Typically, customs fees account for about 2 percent of that revenue. Commit that to memory, please: 2 percent. So that even if tariff revenue doubles, it will account for 4 percent of all federal revenue. It could double again—which, incidentally, would mean tariffs so high as to stifle much international trade—and still account for only 8 percent of all federal revenue. 

"So where does federal revenue come from? About half—that is, around $2.4 trillion or so—comes from the personal income tax. Another third, or roughly $1.6 trillion, comes from payroll taxes. And then about 10 percent, or just under $500 billion, comes from corporate taxes. I know all these numbers off the top of my head, and if I know them, the guy who covers tax policy from Washington for The New York Times ought to know them too. Maybe he does, which would make his decision not to include them in a piece like this all the more bewildering because they provide vital context. But all Duehren has to say on this point is that 'income and payroll taxes remain by far the most important sources of government revenue.'"

Spain Is an Example to the World

Union Leaders Get Tough With Democrats as Members Drift Toward Trump: Doubtful that President Trump has their best interests in mind, top union officials are redoubling efforts to push the Democratic Party to appeal more to their rank and file.

California is pushing the limits of crowdsourced energy

Reading archive 2024-12-09

Campus ban for two pro-Palestinian activists sparks outcry at George Mason: Two student activists with ties to GMU protesters were given four-year trespass notices for alleged vandalism.

Gold bar scammers claimed hackers could fund Russian missiles, police say: A suspect is due in court Monday in Montgomery County, where police say residents have lost more than $6.6 million in elaborate gold-bar scams.

Scam victims often feel shame. This support group helps them heal.

Drugs like ibuprofen can damage our gut lining. Try this instead.: Studies have linked nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, to serious health effects.

LGBTQ+ Americans stockpile meds and make plans to move after Trump’s win: Some LGBTQ+ people are anxiously preparing for what they fear will be a rollback of their rights.

Black D.C. Residents Troubled by City Vacant Property Law

Why hydropower is failing this nation — and could fail others: Warmer temperatures are fueling drought, making it harder for Zambia and other developing nations to generate hydropower.

Philippines pivots from battling militants to projecting power at sea: Philippine leaders say they can turn their attention to the South China Sea because they’ve secured peace with separatist rebels. But the situation is precarious.

Reading archive 2024-07-23

How deeply political D.C. reacted when Biden dropped out of presidential race: In the District, where politics has always been king, Biden’s historic decision reverberated across the city.

‘Psychic’ and family of extortionists scam Md. man out of $4.2 million: The deception, prosecutors allege, was part of an elaborate extortion scheme in which the woman and her family netted millions of dollars.

Opinion  Defeating Trump in November will not save democracy: Today’s aspiring autocrats are mobilizing voters to dismantle checks and balances. - "The acknowledgment of gender inequities and the acceptance of formerly proscribed gender identities; the critique of colonialism, racism and xenophobia; the rise of environmentalism — all challenge a cohort that once determined the status quo. The old mainstream culture feels under siege; political entrepreneurs promise to return to old norms, if only they are given the power."

Opinion  Harris has some good VP choices. The best one is Mark Kelly.: The Arizona senator and former astronaut would help inoculate Harris against her greatest vulnerabilities.

Harris packs first rally as Trump retools for new opponent

Trump wants to take over D.C., but can Harris make it the 51st state?: This is a supremely consequential election for Washington, which usually weathers the churn of administrations, but now faces a reckoning in 2024.

You can forage a delicious meal almost anywhere. Here’s how.: Foraging — the act of finding wild, edible food — is a lost art in modern society. It’s time for a revival. [ed. note: this is extractive and also dangerous]

What key-state voters think about Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden: The Post and GMU’s Schar School asked 152 voters in key states what they think about Harris potentially becoming the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.

Opinion  Yes, ‘Kamala is a cop.’ This time, it could help her win an election.: Harris’s prosecutorial background could be a huge asset.

Opinion  Democrats should not fear running a woman — heck, they should run two: There’s a deep bench of potential female VPs

Bodycam video shows deputy fatally shoot woman who called 911 for help: Sean Grayson, an ex-sheriff’s deputy in Illinois, is charged with murder in the shooting of Sonya Massey as she held a pot of water in her kitchen during a call for help.

$30 million gift will fund center to push for Supreme Court overhaul: Private equity investor Jim Kohlberg will fund research, public outreach and policy advocacy on the Supreme Court, through the Brennan Center for Justice.

Why does China care about a rust bucket in the middle of the sea?: Beijing and Manila have struck a provisional deal to allow the resupply of the dilapidated Sierra Madre in the South China Sea, which has become a potential conflict point.

They wanted to foster a child. Overnight, they got 3: ‘Can we do this?’: “These kids needed a place to live, and they needed to be together,” said PJ McKay, who documents his fatherhood journey with his husband.

Kamala Harris said 19 words in 2018 that taught us all we need to know: Curious about what kind of candidate she’ll be? Her dismantling of Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his confirmation hearing is worth a rewatch. - "'Can you think of any laws,' she asked the nominee, 'that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?'

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"But the version of Harris that always struck me as the most authentic and the most reassuring was the one we were introduced to in 2018, when Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick turned up on Capitol Hill with the confidence of an altar boy who’d never before had to account for some missing Communion wine."

Historians say Biden’s withdrawal shows American democracy is working: ‘This is not chaos,’ but the move comes as Americans seem to be losing confidence in their representative democracy — and have differing views of what it means.

Reading archive 2024-06-15

June 14, 2024 Letter from the Mayor - "This summer, approximately 12,000 young people will earn and learn through the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. Thousands of kids and teens will participate in DPR sports, arts, and science camps." [ed. note: email newsletter]

Trump pledged to pardon Jan. 6 rioters. He faces pressure to name names.: The presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s campaign said he will decide pardons on a “case-by-case” basis without specifying factors.

Trump portrays rampant crime in speech at Black church in Detroit: The presumptive Republican nominee, who hopes to dent Biden’s advantage among Black voters, has often disparaged communities where many African Americans live

Meet the 24-year-old trying to solve Biden’s problems with young voters: Eve Levenson, the Biden campaign’s national youth engagement director, may have one of the hardest jobs in American politics. - "In a recent Harvard Youth Poll, a large majority of young Americans disapproved of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, 76 percent to 18 percent. But the same poll found young people ranked 'Israel/Palestine' 15th out of 16 areas of concern.

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"Sohali Vaddula, communications director for the group, said 'they are doing a lot more [young voter outreach] than we’ve ever seen in the past,' but she fears the campaign does not understand 'the gravitas of the situation' of young voters’ frustration over Gaza." [ed. note: and that's why no one takes young people seriously]

Philippines turns up heat over disputed sea but confronts formidable foe: A recent voyage in the South China Sea revealed the challenge as a flotilla of wooden fishing boats drew an armada of Chinese warships and coast guard vessels.

Customers love this Georgetown bagel shop. Some neighbors want it closed.: The beloved Call Your Mother bagel shop is seeking to convince a D.C. zoning board that it should be allowed to serve sandwiches.

After decades of hurdles, historic sand filtration site now a D.C. park: On Saturday, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) will cut the ribbon to open the Reservoir Park Recreation Center at the old sand filtration site.

Red states strike deals to show controversial conservative videos in schools: Educational material from PragerU is now offered to public schools in six states. Opponents call it indoctrination and inaccurate.

Reading archive 2024-04-26

Is Southwest about to end its free-for-all seating?: The company says it is ‘very seriously studying’ alternatives to its signature open-seating system

How to deal with the 3 levels of gaslighting

Blinken warns China to address its support for Russia or ‘we will’

Asia’s next war could be triggered by a rusting warship on a disputed reef - "To buttress its claims in the South China Sea, the Philippines in 1999 deliberately ran aground a World War II-era landing ship on a half-submerged shoal, establishing the vessel as an outpost of the Philippine navy."

Opinion  This tiny flower teaches us all we need to know about growing old

Secret meetings, social chatter: How Columbia students sparked a nationwide revolt - "But unlike the protests of decades past, college administrators have fewer tools at their disposal to assuage demonstrator demands. Experts say student requests for divestment are not only impractical but also are likely to yield little if any real benefit. More broadly, the students could face a challenge in trying to build alliances. Some would-be demonstrators have been deterred by tactics and chants some view as antisemitic.

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"'I think a difference with older generations is that for them college was a coming of age, whereas my class started elementary school in the financial crisis, started high school in the Trump presidency, and started college in the pandemic,' Vijayakumar said. 'We’ve never lived in normal times.'" [ed. note: there is no such thing as "normal times"]

Baltimore principal’s racist rant was an AI fake. His colleague was arrested.

D.C. officers who were previously disciplined won’t get renewed contracts

After decades of disinvestment, D.C.’s Anacostia welcomes new developments - "But as Bowser and others spoke Thursday on the roof of DHCD’s new headquarters, there was a shared understanding that these new developments were only a step toward rectifying decades of disinvestment. Local business owners who attended the celebration said that while they are excited about the rapid development, they expressed concern about what the new amenities could eventually mean for the neighborhood’s affordability." [ed. note: complain about disinvestment, complain about the effects of investment]

Reading archive 2023-02-02

Infowars’ Alex Jones Says He Lives ‘in Hell,’ Texts Show

Laptop email suggests Hunter Biden read newspapers, not classified documents - "For nine years, The Fact Checker was diplomatic correspondent for The Washington Post. I’ve seen my share of backgrounders, State Department cables and even the odd classified document. Far from being especially sophisticated, Hunter Biden’s email appears to be largely the product of diligent reading of recent newspaper and magazine articles."

U.S. reaches military base access agreement in the Philippines

'A big deal': US, Philippines tighten military ties

What made George Santos lie so much? Experts weigh in on his deception.

Reading archive 2022-07-27

Philippines scraps Russian helicopter deal - AP

Johnson County school board might ban trans students’ pronouns, choice of bathroom

Human bones, stolen art: Smithsonian tackles its ‘problem’ collections: The Smithsonian’s first update to its collections policy in 20 years proposes ethical returns and shared ownership. But will it bring transformational change? - "'I had to chuckle … that the Smithsonian thinks they’re a leader in this. They are not,' said Tina Marie Osceola, an enrolled member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and director of its Historic Preservation Office, which has been trying for 11 years to get the Natural History Museum to return the remains of 1,400 ancestors. 'They are the best bad example we have in the country.'"

Justice Dept. investigating Trump’s actions in Jan. 6 criminal probe: People familiar with the probe said investigators are examining the former president’s conversations and have seized phone records of top aides

Opinion  The U.S. is a lot stronger than Russia. We should act like it. - "Does Sullivan really believe that Putin will launch World War III if the United States supplies rockets with a range of about 180 miles but will hold off as long as we’re supplying only rockets with a range of about 50 miles? Or that the provision of HIMARS, NASAMS air-defense systems, 155mm howitzers, Phoenix Ghost drones, Javelins and Stingers isn’t too provocative — but fighter aircraft and tanks would be?"

Doctor in 10-year-old rape victim’s abortion faces AG inquiry, threats - "Rokita and his office have repeatedly questioned whether Bernard reported the procedure to the state, even as records obtained by The Post show that the physician reported the girl’s abortion to the relevant agencies before the legally mandated deadline to do so. The attorney general has continued to cast doubt on the physician, despite Gerson Fuentes, 27, being charged with rape in the child’s case earlier this month."

Manchin says he has reached deal with Democrats on economy, climate bill

Stolen artifacts, some from 400s B.C., returned to Italy from New York

Republicans have a nonsensical argument against the same-sex marriage bill: They’re glossing over a very real threat these protections could face.

Opinion  Most third parties have failed. Here’s why ours won’t. [ed. note: lol]

She was 12 and behind the wheel before a fatal crash. Her family asks why.

Reading archive 2021-07-04

Mark Levin, the Fox News host who won’t stop criticizing other Fox News personalities: ‘I’m an American first,’ says Levin, who also has a popular radio show, ‘and I’m going to tell it like it is.’ - "Levin, who had supported Ted Cruz for president before rallying behind Trump and becoming one of the biggest television cheerleaders for his presidency, lashed out at Fox for giving Trump a platform to spread a disproven conspiracy theory trying to tie Cruz’s father to assassin Lee Harvey Oswald."

July Fourth is Independence Day for two countries. But for one it is hollow.: For the Philippines, independence from the United States came with strings attached.

What to know about Rise of the Moors, an armed group that says it’s not subject to U.S. law - "On its website, the group says 'sovereignty and nationality can be considered synonymous,' and it considers Moorish Americans to be the 'aboriginal people of the land.' In a video Saturday morning, an unidentified member of the group disputed the sovereign-citizen moniker, saying, 'We are not anti-government. We are not anti-police, we are not sovereign citizens, we’re not Black identity extremists.'" [ed. note: they are all of those things]