Listen To This Story

Nations Gather in Geneva Again to Fight Spiraling Plastic Pollution Crisis (Maria)

The author writes, “Nation negotiators kicked off a meeting on Tuesday to try to complete a landmark treaty aimed at ending the plastic pollution crisis that affects every ecosystem and person on the planet. It’s the sixth time negotiators are meeting and they hope the last. A key split is whether the treaty should require cutting plastic production.”

Federal Judges Side With Trump on Ending Union Bargaining for Federal Workers (DonkeyHotey) 

From The Hill: “A federal appeals court on Friday sided with the Trump administration in lifting a temporary block on a March executive order that prevented government workers from union bargaining. The three-judge panel for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the plaintiffs’ argument alleging Trump issued the order on the basis of retaliation.”

The Man Behind One of the Fastest Growing Far-Right YouTube Channels (Sean) 

The author writes, “Johnathan Christopher ‘Chris’ Booth, 37, lives in the unincorporated community of Coral, a part of Maple Valley Township in Michigan’s Montcalm county, and is married to a senior local Republican official. Booth has published more than 70 YouTube videos since May on his Shameless Sperg account, whose graphic design elements feature stylized SS bolts. Titles of his videos – generally a recording of him delivering his views direct to camera – include: ‘Why I Dislike Jews. It’s not complicated,’ ‘Black Crimes Matter: Never Relax’ and ‘Jews and FBI hate you and your free speech.’”

Palantir Lands $10 Billion Army Software and Data Contract (Reader Jim) 

From CNBC: “The deal further cements the company’s role in the US government’s clampdown on cost efficiencies by using artificial intelligence tools in President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut jobs and programs in an effort to curb spending.”

Humanity May Reach Singularity Within Just 5 Years (Laura) 

The author writes, “In the world of artificial intelligence, the idea of ‘singularity’ looms large. This slippery concept describes the moment AI exceeds beyond human control and rapidly transforms society. The tricky thing about AI singularity (and why it borrows terminology from black hole physics) is that it’s enormously difficult to predict where it begins and nearly impossible to know what’s beyond this technological ‘event horizon.’ However, some AI researchers are on the hunt for signs of reaching singularity measured by AI progress approaching the skills and ability comparable to a human.”

Inside the Search for Washington’s Sea Star Killer (Reader Steve) 

From The Seattle Times: “The sunflower stars are being kept in isolation to avoid transmitting germs. They are, in a sense, social distancing, for the same reason we did in the early days of COVID-19: Some might carry a pathogen that could kill the others. That’s why researchers are logging arm positions. They are tracking which stars have slowed their movements. They want to know which might soon be dead. I’m here because this team believes it has unraveled a monumental mystery.”