Extra, Extra
Tex and Balances: “Democratic Texas State Rep. Ron Reynolds said he and his colleagues who have left the state to oppose newly redrawn congressional map are prepared to stay out of Texas for ‘as long as it takes to stop this racial gerrymandering,’ even if the governor calls another special session.” Meanwhile, “blue-state governors weigh options to retaliate with their own redistricting efforts.” Here’s the latest on the Texas redistricting battle.
+ Slip ‘N Slide: “The difference, though, is that back then there was something called a Republican official with integrity. And so Georgia’s secretary of state did not agree to fabricate votes that did not exist. But that species of Republican official seems to have gone completely extinct in Trump’s second term. So Trump’s rotten character is now a problem for our whole economy.” Thomas Friedman states the obvious in the NYT (Gift Article): The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away. (What’s amazing is that the market completely brushed off Trump’s firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics because he didn’t like the real numbers.)
+ Going Viral: “A high-profile outbreak in Texas has attracted the most attention, but the problem is worldwide. Canada has had more cases than the entire US this year, and could soon lose its status of having eliminated the virus, while the European Union saw an almost tenfold annual increase in reported cases to more than 35,000 in 2024.” Measles outbreaks surge worldwide.
+ Dropping the Dime on Crime: According to the FBI, crime decreased in every category in 2024, including murder, violent crime and motor vehicle thefts. That doesn’t fit the narrative. Better fire whoever crunched these numbers.
+ Public School Desert: “Supporters of school choice say families are turning to alternatives because public schools are not serving their children well. It’s only right, they argue, that tax dollars follow children to whatever educational setting their families choose. Critics complain that vouchers eat up state funding, benefit families who can afford private school on their own, disrupt communities and send tax dollars to schools that face little accountability. Unlike public schools, private schools don’t have to administer state tests. They can pick and choose their students, while public schools must educate everyone.” Public schools are closing as Arizona’s school voucher program soars.
+ Pet Food: “In a Facebook post last Thursday, the Aalborg Zoo noted that it welcomed animals that, regardless of circumstance, might be nearing the end of their lives. These animals would be ‘gently euthanized’ by trained employees and then used as food for the zoo’s predators.” A Zoo in Denmark Wants to Feed Your Pets to Its Predators. (The more I read the news, the more I understand why my beagles howl all the time…)
+ How to Train Your Trains: Germany’s identity crisis: The trains no longer run on time.
+ Pump and Circumstance: “Ann Buszard, 84, strapped on a thick leather belt before stepping up to the barbell she had loaded to 170 pounds. She exhaled and hinged, lifting roughly the weight of a medium-size refrigerator fluidly off the ground, then reversed the move to gently set it down, safely completing a deadlift.” NYT (Gift Article): Pumping Iron Is Their Secret to Aging Well. (This is just one more reason I’m pacing myself.)
