Extra, Extra

School Bullies: “On Thursday morning, educators fanned out to Los Angeles public schools to do many of the things that are done every year on the first day of school to help families feel safe. They high-fived students and greeted parents dropping off their children. But this year, there was another task at hand: Looking out for federal immigration agents.” In L.A., Fear of ICE Raids Created a Tense First Day of School. (Feel safer?)

+ Newsom Kind of Wonderful: Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for a special election to allow for a new congressional map in California. Trump responded to the press conference by reminding everyone why these tough stances in blue states are increasingly necessary. Border Patrol Agents Show Up in Force at Newsom Rally. Meanwhile, from NYT Mag (Gift Article): How the Democrats Became the Party That Brings Pencils to a Knife Fight. “Will the battle over Texas’ gerrymandering lead to a new era for the party?”

+ District’s Attorney: “The Administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.” DC sues Trump administration over police takeover.

+ Rhyme and Reason: The Atlantic (Gift Article): Why So Many MIT Students Are Writing Poetry. (Because poetry will soon pay more than coding?)

+ Reboot Camp: “While traditional kickboxing comes with the risk of blood, sweat and serious head injuries, the competitors in Friday’s match at the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing faced a different set of challenges. Balance, battery life and a sense of philosophical purpose being among them.” Box, run, crash: China’s humanoid robot games show advances and limitations.

+ Searchin’ for My Lost Shaker of Salt: “All of this conversation about smelling salts piqued my curiosity. Based on these heartfelt testimonials, it seemed as though having this little pick-me-up was a critical part of playing in the NFL. I simply had to know how smelling salts could impact my world. Would they give me a rush strong enough to trigger the writing version of a 75-yard touchdown?” Why Do NFL Players Love Smelling Salts? I Tried Some at Work to Find Out. (News curators prefer sedatives…)

+ Going Down a Bunny Rabbit Hole: Here’s Why Rabbits Are Sprouting Tentacle Horns. (Spoiler alert: Because it’s 2025, why else?)