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Onboard the World’s Largest Sailing Cargo Ship: Is This the Future of Travel and Transport? (Maria)

The author writes, “I am onboard the Neoliner Origin, the world’s largest sailing cargo ship, for its two-week inaugural voyage from the west coast of France to Baltimore, Maryland. Operating at a reduced speed and chasing the wind, the Neoliner Origin’s goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared with an equivalent diesel-powered cargo ship — and chart a course to decarbonize the notoriously dirty shipping industry.”

Americans Want Billionaires Out of Politics — And Think They’re a Threat to Democracy, Poll Shows (Sean)

The author writes, “A rising number of Americans believe billionaires pose a threat to democracy, newly released data shows, and seven in 10 want the ultra wealthy to play a smaller role in U.S. politics amid an administration that has publicly cozied up to the country’s richest people.”

Anthem Is Launching a Doctor Blacklist (Dana)

From The Lever: “A new policy by the health insurer Anthem will penalize hospitals for using doctors outside of its coverage network. Anthem claims the move is designed to reduce its members’ out-of-pocket costs. But critics argue it will force medical facilities to police physicians’ network status, strong-arm doctors into accepting lower payments from health insurance companies, and could lead to fewer care options for patients.”

US Has Warned Others To Avoid Loans From Chinese State Banks. But It’s the Biggest Recipient of All (Reader Steve)

The authors write, “For years, Washington has been warning others not to trust loans from Chinese state banks fueling its rise as a superpower. But a new report reveals an ironic twist: The United States is the biggest recipient of all — by far. And the security and technology implications have yet to be fully understood. China’s state lenders have funneled $200 billion into U.S. businesses for a quarter of a century, but many of the loans have been kept secret because the money was first routed through shell companies in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Delaware and elsewhere that helped obscure their origins, according to AidData, a research lab at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.”

On Edge in Small-Town America (Russ)

From The Washington Post: “In a divided nation, one Wisconsin village feels everyday life begin to fray.”

Rare Desert Berry Could Transform Diabetes Treatment (Mili)

The author writes, “An extract from a desert berry used in traditional Chinese medicine restored insulin function and stabilized metabolism in diabetic mice. The findings hint at a powerful natural alternative for holistic diabetes treatment.”

The Future of AI (Angelle)

From Nature: “Artificial intelligence is booming. Technology companies are pouring trillions of dollars into research and infrastructure, and millions of people now interact with AI in one form or another. But what is it all for? To find out, Nature spoke to six people at the forefront of AI development — people who are driving the technology’s development and adoption, and those who are preparing society to adapt to its rapid rise. In this video series, they describe their greatest ambitions for the technology, their expectations of where and how it will be adopted in the coming years, and their concerns for the future.”