FTC Approves Whole Foods-Amazon Merger
The ‘Hipster’ Iman ; More Pro-Trump Russian Bots ...and More Picks
The ‘Hipster’ Iman ; More Pro-Trump Russian Bots ...and More Picks for 8/24
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.
FTC: Amazon-Whole Foods Merger is A-OK (Jimmy)
The author writes, “The deal helped spur the No. 3 U.S. e-tailer, Walmart Stores Inc., to team up with Google Inc. to allow Walmart shoppers to place orders by voice over Google’s Home virtual assistant.”
The ‘Hipster’ Iman (Dan)
The mastermind behind the Barcelona terror attack was able to assimilate in Spanish by his dress and being “polite”. Too polite.
Pro-Russian Bots Behind Fake Trump Supporters (Russ)
A forensic specialist found that Trump twitterer Angee Dixson almost certainly was a fictitious person, part of a Russian effort to sow discord post Charlottesville.
Macron Goes ‘France First’ (Dan)
Macron understands that employment of low-wage workers from Eastern Europe in more industrialized economies fueled pro-Brexit votes in the UK. Now the new French president has embraced a form of ‘protectionism’ to prevent that same outcome in France.
Forget Eye Damage, Check Out This Weird Ear Damage (Russ)
Foreign diplomats in Cuba plagued by odd malady.