Baltogether: “Nearly a century later, Balto’s genetic blueprint is entering the annals of science, thanks to a massive new project that seeks to rewrite our understanding of mammalian evolution, unlocking knowledge that may help treat human disease and stave off species extinction.” WaPo (Free Article): A genome project cracks mysteries of evolution — and Balto the superdog.

+ Call of Duty: “A number of analysts believe China is eager to halt the conflict before there’s a massive escalation in the fighting as the spring’s muddy season passes, allowing offensive operations to begin again in earnest, and as Ukraine receives more military hardware from its Western allies.” China just called Ukraine for the first time in the war. The timing wasn’t accidental, analysts say. And how is Russia reacting to the impending counteroffensive? The same way Putin always reacts. By killing innocent civilians. 25 dead as Russian missiles hit cities.

+ Ban Pan: “South Carolina and Nebraska, two conservative states that have been pushing to ban abortion, on Thursday both failed to pass new bills prohibiting the procedure.”

+ Picking Up the Tablet: Vox: The Ten Commandments could be in every Texas classroom next fall. “I had believed that these religion wars had mostly cooled and even gone away. But it’s different now because we’re battling over nation and nationhood, and who’s an American, not battling over God and prayer.” (I wouldn’t underestimate the extent to which all of this stuff is about God and prayer.)

+ Our Bad: “The Federal Reserve says its own light-touch approach to bank regulation is partly to blame for the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last month, and it promised more vigorous oversight in the future.”

+ Twit Happens: “It’s been exactly six months since Elon Musk took over Twitter, promising a new era of free speech and independence from political bias. But Twitter’s self-reported data shows that, under Musk, the company has complied with hundreds more government orders for censorship or surveillance.” (Free speech my ass.)

+ Robe Wards: Hey, we found an issue that unites all nine SCOTUS justices. They all pushed back on a new, enforceable ethics code.