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Welcome to Big Tech’s ‘Age of Extraction’ (Maria)

The author writes, “Like a prosecutor skillfully laying out a case, [Columbia University Law School professor Tim] Wu explains in his new book how platforms like Amazon, Google and Meta use their market power and stickiness to exploit people’s habits and laziness. Ultimately, platforms extract their users’ money–through higher prices as well as fees and taxes levied at developers who use the platforms for commerce.”

Drought Is Quietly Pushing American Cities Toward a Fiscal Cliff (Laura)

From Grist: “This year alone has seen droughts in at least 43 states, from Vermont to California, affecting 125 million people. And the [financial data company Intercontinental Exchange] projects that more of the currently outstanding municipal debt will be located in areas prone to drought by 2040 than hurricanes, floods, and wildfires combined. The financial effects of prolonged water woes can mount in ways not seen in one-off events, said Jeremy Porter, the chief economist at First Street Foundation, a nonprofit climate research firm.”  

Some DC Residents Are Actually Leaving the Country (Reader Steve)

From Washingtonian: “Vowing to leave the country when your preferred presidential candidate loses is something of an American tradition, but that doesn’t typically translate into an actual international relocation. Yet recently in the Washington area, where the impact of Donald Trump’s second term is being felt acutely, some longtime residents are real­l­y doing it.”

Israel’s Underground Jail, Where Palestinians Are Held Without Charge and Never See Daylight (Sean)

The author writes, “Israel is holding dozens of Palestinians from Gaza isolated in an underground jail where they never see daylight, are deprived of adequate food and barred from receiving news of their families or the outside world. The detainees have included at least two civilians held for months without charge or trial: a nurse detained in his scrubs, and a young food seller, according to lawyers from the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) who represent both men.”

Edge of Paradise (Dana)

From Pioneer Works Broadcast: “In Greece, where ancient history meets tourist fantasy, the climate crisis is accelerating faster than almost anywhere else in the global north.”

Snake Pee Might Hold the Secret To Ending Gout Pain And Kidney Stones (Mili)

The author writes, “If you’ve never kept a reptile, you might be surprised to learn that many of them actually ‘pee’ in crystal form. In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers examined the solid urine of more than 20 different reptile species and found that all contained tiny spheres made of uric acid. This discovery highlights how reptiles have developed a unique method for safely storing and removing waste in a crystalline form. The findings could also lead to new ways of treating human conditions linked to uric acid buildup, such as kidney stones and gout.”