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.
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How Digital Twins May Enable Personalized Health Care (Maria)
The author writes, “Imagine having a digital twin that gets ill, and can be experimented on to identify the best possible treatment, without you having to go near a pill or a surgeon’s knife. Scientists believe that within five to 10 years, ‘in silico’ trials — in which hundreds of virtual organs are used to assess the safety and efficacy of drugs — could become routine, while patient-specific organ models could be used to personalize treatment and avoid medical complications.”
Senate Democrats Back Down on Supreme Court Ethics Subpoenas After GOP Threats (DonkeyHotey)
The authors write, “The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee backed down on a planned vote Thursday to subpoena two major conservative players close to Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito in their probe into ongoing ethics controversies at the Supreme Court. The subpoenas would target Leonard Leo, the co-chairman of the board of the influential Federalist Society, and Republican donor Harlan Crow, arguing the information was necessary to better understand whether specific individuals and groups have used undisclosed gifts to gain access to the justices. However, committee Republicans planned to offer scores of amendments that touch on issues including border security, social media use and liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor as they dig in against Democratic efforts to investigate the conservative justices and donors.”
How McConnell Helped Engineer Manchin’s Exit (Sean)
From Politico: “Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans worked for more than a year to make Joe Manchin’s retirement announcement on Thursday a reality. And for good reason: The Democrat’s decision puts Republicans on the precipice of a majority that’s eluded them for two straight election cycles.”
Google’s Open Culture Collides With the Israel-Hamas War (Reader Jim)
From The New York Times: “Google has long been a hub for employee activism, including over the company’s business with Israel. But workers looking to express support for Palestinians say they face hostility.”
Oklahoma Trooper Tickets Native American Citizen, Sparking Outrage From Tribal Leaders (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper ticketed a tribal citizen with a current Otoe-Missouria Tribe license plate for failing to pay state taxes, prompting an outcry from tribal leaders who blamed Gov. Kevin Stitt’s increasing hostility toward Native Americans. Crystal Deroin, an Otoe-Missouria Tribe citizen, was ticketed for speeding near Enid on Tuesday and received a second $249 citation for failure to pay state motor vehicle taxes because she did not live on tribal land.”
How Are People Supposed to Rebuild Paradise, CA, When Nobody Can Afford Home Insurance? (Laura)
The author writes, “The soaring cost of home insurance has consumed the town of Paradise, residents and officials say, as it prepares to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the Nov. 8, 2018, Camp Fire. Residents have received annual premiums that near or exceed $10,000 — leaving many to wonder how they’re supposed to rebuild their hard-hit community when insurance is so shockingly high for houses in an area that is supposed to be among the most affordable in California.”
The Great Cajun Turtle Heist (Dana)
From Texas Monthly: “Alligator snapping turtle populations in Texas were dwindling. One family of smugglers had been poaching them from the state for years.”
