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To Save Its Rare Birds, New Zealand Is Relying on Nation of Backyard Trappers (Maria)

The authors write, “New Zealand has rare birds that are found nowhere else, like the fuzzy and flightless kiwi. Invasive predators have helped drive 62 native bird species to extinction, and more than 80% of the remaining ones that breed in the country are at risk. To save those birds, New Zealand set a goal of eliminating invasive predators by 2050, likely tens of millions of animals, if not more. While the government is leading eradication efforts, local volunteers are getting involved across the country, even setting up traps in their own backyards.”

Trump’s War on Wind Power Has One Very Big Exception (Dana)

From Mother Jones: “As Donald Trump rolled down the 18th fairway at his Turnberry golf resort in July, he was troubled by a deathly vision, slowly spinning in the Scottish distance: wind turbines. ‘These things are massive, and you’re looking at these ugly windmills, and it’s a shame,’ Trump lamented. … At Trump’s side on the course was his son Eric, who oversees his father’s golf empire as executive vice president of the Trump Organization. But a few months earlier and an ocean away, Eric had inked a remarkable series of deals in a very different industry, becoming a major player in a complex network of cryptocurrency ventures that could become a vast new source of family wealth. Key to his plans: a brand new bitcoin mine powered by a wind farm in the Texas Panhandle and a merger with a crypto company that once billed itself as ‘a pioneer in the realm of zero-emissions bitcoin mining.’”

From ‘Reckless’ to Reality: Why Europe Can’t Outsource Polish Security to Trump and Ukraine (Gerry)

The author writes, “On September 3, 2025, US President Donald Trump made what seemed like routine remarks during Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s White House visit. Speaking to reporters, Trump confirmed he would keep US troops in Poland and expressed openness to deploying additional forces. Then came the seemingly minor statement that would prove prophetic: ‘We will help Poland protect itself.’ Putin’s response was swift and calculated. By launching a coordinated drone attack into Polish territory, he sent an unmistakable message to Trump and his administration: show me what you’re made of. This attack represents the latest move in an escalating shadow war between the Kremlin and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and his team. … This wasn’t random violence — it was a calculated test of American resolve, the opening gambit in Putin’s direct confrontation with the United States.”

Trump’s ‘Department of War’ Could Cost Taxpayers Over $1 Billion (Sean)

From The Independent: “President Donald Trump is changing the Pentagon to the Department of War and it could cost taxpayers over $1 billion. Trump signed an executive order [this month] to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War to indicate that America has ‘the strongest military,’ he told reporters from the Oval Office. Politico warned in an article published Thursday the name change will likely cost billions of dollars as hundreds of Pentagon agencies, its global bases, stationery, and other signage will need to be updated.”

Smoke From Canada’s Wildfires Killed Nine-Year-Old Carter Vigh — And 82,000 Others Around the World (Laura)

The author writes, “Tiny toxic particles spewed by Canadian wildfires killed 82,000 people in 2023, according to a study published in Nature on Wednesday. The long tendrils of smoke choked towns not just in Canada and the US, but also across the Atlantic. The pollution was responsible for 22,000 early deaths in Europe alone. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that suggests smoke from wildfires ranks among the greatest threats to human health. In December, a study in the Lancet medical journal attributed 1.53 million deaths each year to exposure to air pollution from wildfires. Despite the vast death toll, experts warn of a widespread lack of public awareness and government action.”

Kat Abughazaleh’s Punk-Rock House Bid (DonkeyHotey)

From The 19th: “When [Kat] Abughazaleh launched her bid to represent Illinois’ 9th District on March 24, her 26th birthday, she joined a growing cohort of young Democrats who have concluded the stakes for democracy are so high — and the party’s old guard is so reluctant to give up power — that they need to push their way into the political arena, even if they are met with resistance. … Abughazaleh’s campaign slogan is a question: ‘What if we didn’t suck?’ The ‘we’ are Democrats. In a direct-to-camera launch video, she says, ‘Donald Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling our country piece by piece and so many Democrats seem content to just sit back and let them. So I say it’s time to drop the excuses and grow a f—ing spine.’”

Why Tiny Bee Brains Could Hold the Key to Smarter AI (Mili)

The author writes, “Researchers discovered that bees use flight movements to sharpen brain signals, enabling them to recognize patterns with remarkable accuracy. A digital model of their brain shows that this movement-based perception could revolutionize AI and robotics by emphasizing efficiency over massive computing power.”