Extra, Extra
Throwing Off the Mask: “The new law allocates $75 billion for ICE through 2029 to order as many as 10,000 new agents and to build detention facilities for more than 100,000 additional people. ‘It makes ICE a higher-funded law enforcement agency than the entire FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals Service and Bureau of Prisons combined.'” Meet the new national police force.
+ Try Sticks and Stones: “The Russian leader is convinced that Moscow’s battlefield superiority is growing, and that Ukraine’s defenses may collapse in the coming months.” NYT: Putin, Undeterred by Trump’s Words, Escalates His War Against Ukraine. (It turns out words and social media posts don’t win wars.) And more questions about who, if anyone, is in charge. “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not inform President Donald Trump or the White House before authorizing a pause on the delivery of weapons to Ukraine last week, according to a report.”
+ Make Measles Great Again: U.S. measles cases hit highest level in 33 years, CDC reports.
+ The Fire and the Flood: “At least three people were killed by historic flash floods that hit a New Mexico mountain community that suffered devastating wildfires last year.” (This story includes shocking video of a house floating down the street.)
+ Profit of Doom: “As commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick oversees the U.S. government’s vast efforts to monitor and predict the weather. The billionaire also ran a financial firm, which he recently left in the control of his adult sons, that stands to benefit if President Donald Trump’s administration follows through on a decade-long Republican effort to privatize government weather forecasting.” Trump appointees have ties to companies that stand to benefit from privatizing weather forecasts.
+ Kevin Can Wait: “In November, Margaret climbed into her Toyota Camry, left her husband of 10 years at their comfortable brick home in the rural South and drove an hour to a hotel where — she was sure — Kevin Costner was coming to meet her.” “I Love You. Send Bitcoin.” Inside the Billion-Dollar Celebrity Impersonation Scam.
+ Trailer Trash: Thanks to streaming and fast-forwarding, you may not see as many commercials on television these days. If you miss them, just go to a theater. “AMC is providing notice to their ticket buyers to ‘Please allow 25-30 extra minutes for trailers and additional content before the movie starts.'”
+ Arm Candy: “Along with the insulin pump around her waist, the doll has a Continuous Glucose Monitor on her arm—held in place with ‘Barbie pink’ tape—and a phone displaying her blood sugar statistics.” Mattel’s introduces the Type 1 Diabetes Barbie Doll.
