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
 |
NASA Climate Satellite Blasts Off to Survey Oceans, Atmosphere Warming Earth (Maria)
The author writes, “NASA’s newest climate satellite rocketed into orbit Thursday to survey the world’s oceans and atmosphere in never-before-seen detail. SpaceX launched the Pace satellite on its $948 million mission before dawn, with the Falcon rocket heading south over the Atlantic to achieve a rare polar orbit. The satellite will spend at least three years studying the oceans from 420 miles (676 kilometers) up, as well as the atmosphere. … ‘It’s going to be an unprecedented view of our home planet,’ said project scientist Jeremy Werdell.”
Here’s How 2 Sentences in the Constitution Rose From Obscurity To Ensnare Donald Trump (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “In the summer of 2020, Gerard Magliocca, like many during the coronavirus pandemic, found himself stuck inside with time on his hands. A law professor at Indiana University, Magliocca emailed with another professor, who was writing a book about overlooked parts of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. He decided he would research the history of two long-neglected sentences in the post-Civil War addition that prohibit those who ‘engaged in insurrection or rebellion’ from holding office. Magliocca posted a copy of his research — which he believed was the first law journal article ever written about Section 3 of the 14th Amendment — online in mid-December of 2020, then revised and re-posted it on Dec. 29. Eight days later, President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to prevent the certification of his loss to Joe Biden.”
Kremlin Quiet as Tucker Carlson Russia Visit Creates Putin Interview Rumors (Sean)
From The Guardian: “The Kremlin has declined to say whether Vladimir Putin would grant an interview to Tucker Carlson, the far-right American journalist, after the former Fox News presenter was spotted in Moscow. ‘We can hardly be expected to provide information on the movement of foreign journalists,’ Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said when asked about speculation that Carlson was in Russia to interview the Russian president. … Carlson, 54, who reportedly arrived in Moscow last Thursday, has since been photographed in one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. When asked on Sunday by a journalist from the Russian state-controlled Izvestia outlet about his visit to Moscow, Carlson said he ‘wanted to talk to people, look around, and see how it’s doing … and it’s doing very well.’”
What Are the Odds That Extreme Weather Will Lead to a Global Food Shock? (Laura)
From Yale Climate Connections: “Envision, for a moment, a multiyear period of extreme weather, including heat waves, freezes, droughts, floods, and windstorms, topped off by extreme weather during an El Niño event, leading to major crop failures in the US. A disruption of the global agricultural and food supply chain results, leading to panic buying and price shocks. Water shortages cause significant social disruption as populations vie for limited vital resources. The number of countries able to maintain a sustainable level of output shrinks dramatically, the global economy contracts at an accelerating pace, and political tensions rise as countries look to maintain food security. … A 2023 report by insurance giant Lloyd’s explores the odds of such a scenario, using weather data from the past 40 years and a crop model combined with a water-stress model.”
Six Dangerous Bills That Would Censor Speech on Campuses Across the Country (Gerry)
The author writes, “It has been a tumultuous few months for higher ed. Responding to low public trust, raucous protest, and rising incidents of both antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus, legislators are doubling down on their yearslong campaign to destabilize academia, censor college classrooms, and wear down the safeguards that help protect academic freedom. Here are six terrible higher education bills we’re tracking right now, including one that has already become law.”
Telework Produces a 22 Percent Increase in Employees’ Productive Work Time (DonkeyHotey)
From The Hill: “In a recent congressional hearing, a narrative unfolded challenging the very foundation of remote work policies within the U.S. Department of the Interior. Spearheaded by House Republicans, the discourse centered on the alleged inefficiencies bred by telework, casting a shadow of doubt over its productivity and efficacy. Yet a deeper dive into the evidence presents a compelling counter-narrative that not only defends but champions the merits of remote work.”
Trump Allies Pledge ‘Holy War’ Against Taylor Swift (Dana)
From Rolling Stone: “According to three people familiar with the matter, Trump loyalists working on or close to the former president’s campaign, longtime Trump allies in right-wing media, and an array of outside advisers to the ex-president have long taken it as a given that Swift will eventually endorse Biden (as she did in 2020). Indeed, several of these Republicans and conservative media figures have discussed the matter with Trump over the past few months, the sources say. … Behind the scenes, Trump has reacted to the possibility of Biden and Swift teaming up against him this year not with alarm, but with an instant projection of ego. In recent weeks, the former president has told people in his orbit that no amount of A-list celebrity endorsements will save Biden. Trump has also privately claimed that he is ‘more popular’ than Swift and that he has more committed fans than she does.”
