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.
|
Listen To This Story
 |
Cello-Playing Climate Activist Arrested at NYC Citibank Protest (Maria)
The author writes, “A 63-year-old climate activist and professional cellist faces up to seven years in prison after being arrested on Thursday while performing a Bach solo outside the headquarters of one of the world’s largest fossil fuel financier Citibank in downtown New York. John Mark Rozendaal, an adjunct music instructor at Princeton university and Alec Connon, director of the climate nonprofit group Stop the Money Pipeline, were arrested for criminal contempt in the public park at the bank’s global headquarters. … Since June 10, climate activists have been peacefully protesting against Citibank’s record financial support for new fossil fuel projects.”
Chopper Whopper: Willie Brown Shoots Down Trump’s Helicopter Story (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “In his press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Donald Trump’s stream of invective, wild claims and outright lies included a story about a brush with death during a helicopter ride with Willie Brown, a veteran California politician who once briefly dated Kamala Harris, now Trump’s Democratic rival in the presidential election. … Both parts of Trump’s story turned out to be untrue. It quickly became clear after the news conference on Thursday that Trump was talking about a helicopter ride with Jerry Brown, then the California governor. Furthermore, Willie Brown had nothing bad to say about Harris.”
Lawrence O’Donnell Slams His Papers Over Media Taking This ‘Insult’ From Trump (Russ)
The author writes, “Lawrence O’Donnell wasn’t having it with cable news outlets for their coverage of former President Donald Trump’s rambling, false claim-filled press conference on Thursday. The MSNBC anchor read a ‘good question’ to Trump from NBC News’ Garrett Haake, who asked the former president if he’d direct the Food and Drug Administration to revoke access to mifepristone. Trump’s response to the ‘yes or no’ question was ‘not an answer,’ said O’Donnell, who slammed his papers on his desk after reading what the former president told Haake.”
What Tim Walz Could Mean for Kamala Harris’s Stance on Gaza and Israel (Laura)
From The Intercept: “Walz allows for Harris to ‘turn a corner’ in her policy on the war in Gaza, said James Zogby, president of Arab American Institute.”
Mussolini, Trump and What Assassination Attempts Really Do (Al)
From Politico: “Assassination attempts are an effort to change a political order in one fell swoop. But history shows that they often backfire, and more often serve not to eliminate a strongman, but to strengthen him and his cult of personality.”
Prompted By Mass Shooting, 72-Hour Wait Period and Other New Gun Laws Go Into Effect in Maine (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “With eleventh hour guidance from the state, Maine gun retailers on Friday began requiring a three-day wait period for gun purchases under one of the new safety laws adopted following the state’s deadliest mass shooting. Maine joins a dozen other states with similar laws, requiring that buyers wait 72 hours to complete a purchase and retrieve a weapon. The law is among several gun-related bills adopted after an Army reservist killed 18 people and injured 13 others on Oct. 25, 2023, in Lewiston.”
Race and Sex Differences in the Association of Bystander CPR for Cardiac Arrest (Mili)
From AHA Journal: “Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is associated with higher survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but whether its association with survival differs by patients’ sex and race and ethnicity is less clear.”
A Herd of Life-Size Elephant Sculptures Is Marching Across America (Dana)
The author writes, “A herd of life-sized elephant sculptures is making its way across America to promote coexistence between humans and animals. Called the Great Elephant Migration, the traveling exhibition features 100 replicas of real-life Indian elephants made by roughly 200 artists in southern India. … The herd is spending the summer in Newport, Rhode Island, before moving on to New York City’s Meatpacking District in the fall. From there, it will head to Florida, Montana and California.”
