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PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
As Species Recover, Some Threaten Others in More Dire Shape (Maria)
The authors write, “The situation is ironic. A troubled species rebounds thanks to restoration efforts, only to make things worse for others in peril by preying on them or outcompeting them for food and living space. Similar circumstances have turned up elsewhere, challenging wildlife experts who want them all to thrive in balanced, healthy environments. … Such unintended consequences don’t necessarily reveal flaws in the US Endangered Species Act or conservation programs, experts say. Rather, they illustrate nature’s complexity and the importance of protecting biological communities, not just individual species.”
Report: In New Memoir, Jared Kushner Says He Wasn’t Willing to Turn His Back on Saudi Prince Over One Measly Murder-By-Bone Saw (Sean)
From Vanity Fair: “Of the very long list of things one could take issue with regarding Jared Kushner’s time in the White House — a list that includes botching the government’s COVID-19 response and doing nothing to stop his father-in-law’s plot to overturn the election — it’s probably his close personal relationship with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman that rankles the most. That largely has to do with the fact that MBS approved the kidnapping and dismemberment of one of his critics — U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi — and rather than have his father-in-law condemn the guy, Kushner reportedly went to bat for him with Donald Trump, which resulted in the prince literally getting away with murder.”
Republicans’ Next Big Play Is to ‘Scare the Hell Out of Washington’ by Rewriting the Constitution. And They’re Willing to Play the Long Game to Win. (Reader Steve)
The authors write, “As former Republican senator Rick Santorum addressed Republican lawmakers gathered in San Diego at the American Legislative Exchange Council policy summit, he detailed a plan to fundamentally remake the United States. It would become a conservative nation. And the transformation, Santorum said, culminates with an unprecedented event: a first-of-its-kind convention to rewrite the Constitution.”
Leaked Bank of America Memo: ‘We Hope’ Conditions for American Workers Will Get Worse
From The Intercept: “A Bank of America executive stated that ‘we hope’ working Americans will lose leverage in the labor market in a recent private memo obtained by The Intercept. Making predictions for clients about the U.S. economy over the next several years, the memo also noted that changes in the percentage of Americans seeking jobs ‘should help push up the unemployment rate.’ The memo, a ‘Mid-year review’ from June 17, was written by Ethan Harris, the head of global economics research for the corporation’s investment banking arm, Bank of America Securities. Its specific aspiration: ‘By the end of next year, we hope the ratio of job openings to unemployed is down to the more normal highs of the last business cycle.’”
Researchers: Florida Report on Trans Health Care Is Flawed, Biased (DonkeyHotey)
From Metro Weekly: “Researchers from Yale are slamming a report from Florida health care officials that takes a hardline stance against the use of Medicaid dollars to pay for gender-affirming care, claiming the 48-page report is biased, unscientific, flawed, and — above all — politically motivated. The analysis, published [in July] by a group of seven scientists and a Yale law professor, highlights what it says are major deficiencies in a June 2 report released by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration.”
Deep Nerve Stimulation Consistently Reduces Blood Pressure (Mili)
The author writes, “Biomedical engineers are expanding the study of wireless electrodes to treat hypertension and are reporting that blood pressure can be consistently controlled by bioelectronic treatment.”
Earth Just Set a New Record for the Shortest Day (Sean)
The author writes, “Earth just set a record for the shortest day. Not that it was appreciable by us, but hey, at least it was a weekday. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service measured Wednesday, June 29, 2022, was 159 milliseconds shorter than 24 full hours. That’s the shortest day since scientists started using atomic clocks to measure Earth’s rotational speed.”
