Extra, Extra
Baltimore Harm Than Good: “Across Baltimore, the death toll has mounted. Fatal drug overdoses have occurred on a third of the city’s blocks. Bodies have been found in motels and vacant houses, at parks and the football stadium, around the corner from City Hall and outside the Health Department. In one grim month alone, 114 people succumbed.” NYT (Gift Article): Almost 6,000 Dead in 6 Years: How Baltimore Became the U.S. Overdose Capital. “The city was once hailed for its response to addiction. But as fentanyl flooded the streets and officials shifted priorities, deaths hit unprecedented heights.” (This is such a massive issue, yet it’s rarely discussed in national politics.) Plus: Baltimore’s unprecedented overdose crisis: 5 takeaways.
+ Hurricane Able: “In the highest hurricane season forecast they have ever released in May, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters said Thursday that the coming months may be exceptionally busy.”
+ The Other War: “In the past seven months, somewhere between half and two-thirds of the country has fallen to the resistance. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, including many children, since the military seized power in a coup in 2021. Some 2.5 million have been displaced, and the military facing an unprecedented challenge to its rule and in an attempt to thwart the growing resistance regularly bombs civilians, schools and churches from its warplanes (the resistance has none).” In Myanmar, armies of young insurgents are changing the course of a forgotten war.
+ Chinese Ire Drill: “The drills come three days after the inauguration of President William Lai, who called on China to stop threatening the island and accept the existence of its democracy.” China holds military drills around Taiwan as ‘strong punishment.’
+ Haley’s Comment: “It’s neither surprising nor disappointing that Haley has aligned herself with Trump after inveighing so fiercely against his utter unfitness for office. His rivals always do.” David Frum in The Atlantic (Gift Article): Nikki Haley Surrendered, but Not Her Voters. It’s definitely no surprise that Haley said she’d vote for Trump. As I recently explained: It’s the Enablers, Stupid.
+ When the Chips Are Up: “Nvidia, the primary avatar of the AI revolution, has solidly ensconced itself not only as one of the most valuable companies in the world but also as one of the most profitable.” Nvidia’s astonishing profitability.
+ First Impression: “My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time.” Cassie Thanks Fans for Support After Release of Diddy Assault Video.
+ River Stance: “It may be hundreds of miles away from any coastline but the Bavarian capital of Munich is home to one of the world’s most iconic — albeit dangerous — waves. The Eisbach wave, which sits on the edge of the Eisbach river, has been attracting wetsuit-wearing surfers since the 1970s.” The world capital of river surfing.
