So I read something...: discrimination

Showing posts with label discrimination. Show all posts

Friday, October 3, 2025

Reading archive 2025-10-02

Trump Isn’t Interested in Competing With China: To see how the president is losing ground to Beijing, consider his disastrous relationship with India. - "India is not the only Asian partner the Trump administration has alienated. ICE agents arrested more than 300 South Koreans who had entered the United States legally and were building a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia. The move generated outrage in Seoul. On the same day, Trump imposed a punitive investment deal on Japan that drew the ire of Japanese officials and business leaders."

The Running Mate Kamala Harris Didn’t Dare Choose: “I love Pete,” she writes in her new book. But picking a gay man would have been too risky.

It’s Fun to Be a Board-Game Sociopath: What can I say? I love to betray my friends. - "For example, if I were to offer aspiring Werewolf champions one piece of advice: When caught in a lie, do not admit to it. Rather, you must double down and commit to your lie even harder, so that the other players are forced to choose sides between you and your accuser."

Trump’s Campaign of Vengeance Is Already Backfiring As the president knows too well, efforts to censor or convict foes can often make them more popular.

Moscow Can’t Stop the Music: The Kremlin is trying to suppress songs that defy Putin’s rule. It isn’t working.

The 4th Amendment will no longer protect you - "Earlier this month, the Supreme Court rendered obsolete the 4th Amendment’s prohibition on suspicionless seizures by the police. When the court stayed the district court’s decision in Noem vs. Vasquez Perdomo, it green-lighted an era of policing in which people can be stopped and seized for little more than how they look, the job they work or the language they speak."

Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause :By ignoring the rhetoric and actions of the Turning Point USA founder, pundits and politicians are sanitizing his legacy.

Charlie Kirk, Ezra Klein, and the Cost of Civility-Theater Liberalism: “Talking across divides” is laudable—until it becomes a license to launder antidemocratic and dehumanizing ideas. - "This outrage-packaged-for-attention market that incentivizes mockery and monetizes contempt is the roadshow that made Charlie Kirk famous—an old playbook Dinesh D’Souza and David Horowitz ran before him, now optimized for an algorithmic age: a ritualized antagonism, audience participation as culture-war cosplay, the triumphant edit pushed out to millions before the house lights are up. Strip away the self-flattery of a university crowd congratulating itself on its open-mindedness, and the illusion that a staged confrontation with a celebrity provocateur constitutes pedagogy, and what remains is a reel factory masquerading as a public forum."

Ophelia Disappeared: A Wall Street Analyst and a Deadly Shootout: The group was passionately vegan, mostly transgender and highly educated. Seven of them are now in jail. This is the story of one who did not survive.

Russian gasoline production buckles under Ukrainian drone strikes: In annexed Crimea, drivers are limited to five gallons of gas at the pump, and all Russians face higher taxes and less social spending as the war drags on.

Senior government officials privately warn against firings during shutdown: The Trump administration has telegraphed that mass firings are coming, but officials have cautioned that such moves could violate appropriations law.

How Trump’s 2020 election falsehoods are shaping a marquee Georgia race: Warring factions at odds over his failed effort to overturn the outcome are renewing their rivalries in a major midterm contest.

Why do women outlive men? A study of 1,176 species points to an answer.: Let’s talk about sex chromosomes, baby. - "The 'heterogametic sex hypothesis' holds that if something goes haywire with a gene on one of a woman’s X chromosomes, her cells have a spare to rely on. But men, with only a single X chromosome, have no such reinforcements. The same sort of problem may happen with a male’s unpaired Y chromosome."

Democrats are putting money into solidly red Mississippi. Here’s why.: The DNC is investing in low-profile state races there as the South is on track to wield more power in future elections. Will it work?

Friday, August 22, 2025

Reading archive 2025-08-22

White House calls out 7 Smithsonian museums for their exhibits, messaging: The White House released an article outlining Smithsonian exhibitions and materials it considers “woke” or anti-American. Some artists named in the list called it a badge of honor.

Changing the Smithsonian doesn’t erase slavery and the racial wealth gap: There isn’t enough museum space to represent the full extent of the brutality that millions had to endure.

How Montgomery County schools aim to handle opt-outs after court ruling: Superintendent Thomas Taylor said the change will be ‘a significant administrative burden’ following an order from the Supreme Court.

FBI searches home and office of former Trump national security adviser John Bolton: The search focused on whether Bolton, a staunch Trump critic, illegally possessed or shared classified information, people familiar with the investigation say.

In a classic cartel move, college sports beg for federal help: Trump obliged the NCAA and is attacking athletes’ ability to be paid for their work.

What are the most American and most British words?: Is American English really that different than its British ancestor? And if so, what words truly separate the American from the Brit? The Department of Data is on the case.

This 1848 painting has uncanny insight into American conspiracy thinking: Can a country born in conspiracy theories find the fine line between suspicion and paranoia?

Trump seeks $2 billion to clean up D.C. in latest effort to control city: Trump has falsely claimed he has solved the city’s crime problems. Now he seeks to transform Washington into a place reminiscent of his private golf clubs.

Canadian court allows cull of 400 ostriches that RFK Jr. hoped to save: Avian flu was detected at Universal Ostrich Farms in British Columbia, but the owners argue their birds could have antibodies worth studying.

Southwest is a favorite for plus-size fliers. A new policy may change that.: Starting next year, the airline will only guarantee a second-seat refund on flights with at least one open spot.

Police records reveal man who sparked investigation into Kansas official’s immigration status

Georgia bigot filmed berating neighbor with antisemitic slurs fired by health care company he co-founded

As Trump tightens grip on D.C., officers say their chief is absent: The pressure of a partial federal takeover has ratcheted up criticism of the chief from within the department and outside

F.B.I. Plans to Lower Recruiting Standards, Alarming Agents: The plan appears to be part of a broader effort to shift the agency’s focus from tracking national security threats to fighting crime. - "Lowering recruiting standards will allow the F.B.I. to draw deeper from the ranks of other federal law enforcement agencies, specifically a category of criminal investigators classified in the federal system as 1811s. Investigators with that designation work at dozens of agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, inspector general offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"The new plan, current and former agents say, seems to be part of a larger effort by Mr. Patel to have the bureau focus more on street crime, rather than on complicated cases touching on financial fraud, public corruption and national security. Doing so, they added, will erode the bureau’s reputation as an elite law enforcement agency, known for its selectiveness about its recruits."

Monday, October 28, 2024

Reading archive 2024-10-28

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Reading archive 2023-08-16

Increase in ‘subway surfing’ deaths prompts calls for safeguards: Metro officials said the agency made no changes after a 15-year-old died this summer. Accidents and deaths have also spiked in New York City.

U.S. exempts Baylor University from Title IX sexual harassment rules: The private Baptist school had asked the U.S. Education Department to dismiss discrimination complaints filed by LGBTQ+ students that the university said were “inconsistent” with the institution’s religious values

How 10,000 years of plagues left their mark on our DNA

Power lines likely caused Maui’s first reported fire, video and data show: The finding adds to evidence that the island’s electric utility was the source of at least some fires reported on Aug. 7 and 8

What happened when an Ohio school district rushed to integrate classrooms: Shaker Heights sorted students by ability level, and the top classes always had more White students. In the pandemic, it unraveled this ‘tracking.’

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Reading archive 2023-07-23

Stop trying to have the perfect vacation. You’re ruining everyone else’s.: Entitlement and endless optimization have turned travel into an unfun bloodsport.

Calling all nostalgic millennials: Neopets is reviving fantastical pet game

Opinion ‘Sound of Freedom’ puts the adrenaline hormone to work

Security guard shoots teenager in gun battle at Metro station in D.C.: Authorities said the teen had earlier shot a man, then exchanged shots with the guard

An 11-year-old’s robbery charges were dropped. Then he was arrested again.: The child was arrested in connection with an assault and two robberies in May, but the charges were dismissed. Less than two weeks later, he was charged in connection with another robbery.

Gov. Wes Moore pledges new cleanup approach to Chesapeake Bay: New research shows a need to focus mostly on many diffuse sources of pollution rather than single large sources such as wastewater treatment plants

Carlee Russell Searched for Amber Alerts, Movie 'Taken' Before Vanishing, Police See No Evidence of Abduction: Carlee Russell, 25, mysteriously disappeared for 49 hours after stopping on the highway and calling 911 about a stranded toddler she said she saw

Troopers detained a Black man. He exposed their unconstitutional conduct.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Reading archive 2021-02-25

Scientists see stronger evidence of slowing Atlantic Ocean circulation, an ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the climate The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, a system of currents, is weaker than it has been in 1,000 years

Inside a Battle Over Race, Class and Power at Smith College: A student said she was racially profiled while eating in a college dorm. An investigation found no evidence of bias. But the incident will not fade away. - "'This is the racist person,' Ms. Kanoute wrote of Ms. Blair, adding that Mr. Patenaude too was guilty. (He in fact worked an early shift that day and had already gone home at the time of the incident.) Ms. Kanoute also lashed the Smith administration. 'They’re essentially enabling racist, cowardly acts.'"

"Ms. Blair has lupus, a disease of the immune system, and stress triggers episodes. She felt faint. 'Oh my God, I didn’t do this,' she told a friend. 'I exchanged a hello with that student and now I’m a racist.'"

At the mercy of foreign powers: Libyans ousted a dictator, but an ensuing civil war has drawn in Russia, Turkey and others with a thirst for control

Monday, November 19, 2018

Reading archive 2018-11-19

3 takeaways from Trump’s testy Fox News interview

Why Finland is so good at handling forest fires. Hint: It’s not because of raking.

How Extreme Weather Is Shrinking the Planet: With wildfires, heat waves, and rising sea levels, large tracts of the earth are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. But the fossil-fuel industry continues its assault on the facts.

The Brexit Fantasy Goes Down in Tears

Anti-vaccination stronghold in N.C. hit with state’s worst chickenpox outbreak in 2 decades

Ivanka Trump used a personal email account to send hundreds of emails about government business last year

‘Nothing on this page is real’: How lies become truth in online America

Jordan Peterson, Custodian of the Patriarchy: He says there’s a crisis in masculinity. Why won’t women — all these wives and witches — just behave?

Yes, Facebook made mistakes in 2016. But we weren’t the only ones.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Reading archive 2018-04-28

At a rally to end divisive politics in D.C., speaker calls lawmaker a ‘fake Jew’

The ingenious and ‘dystopian’ DNA technique police used to hunt the ‘Golden State Killer’ suspect

Friday, April 27, 2018

Reading archive 2018-04-27

Rachel Dolezal’s Grotesque Idea of Identity: In a new Netflix documentary, ‘The Rachel Divide,’ the controversial “transracial” activist makes her case—and it still doesn’t make sense - "Dolezal talks about blackness as if it were reducible to two qualities, and only two qualities: scholarship and aesthetics. It cannot occur to her that blackness—a social construction, indeed—is a comprehensive and involuntary realm of experience. White power invented it, and white power enforces it, but, paradoxically, black people own blackness.
...
"Ideally, a white person should be able to empathize with a black person, and enjoy black culture, without mistaking themselves for a black person. Ideally, Dolezal would see herself for who she truly is: a white woman with peculiar but nonetheless righteous interest in black culture and black liberation. Instead, Dolezal is a tourist with a fetish who must swear she’s a native."

Who (really) wants gaydar to be accurate anyway?