It’s time once again for news and views that you can peruse! It’s time for another Weekly Reader! As always, if you have something to share, drop a link in the comments!
Ashli Babbitt a martyr? Her past tells a more complex story (from the Associated Press): “But the life of the Air Force veteran from California, who died while wearing a Trump campaign flag wrapped around her shoulders like a cape, was far more complicated than the heroic portrait presented by Trump and his allies.”
House committee intends to subpoena fossil fuel companies for documents about climate disinformation (from CNN): “The committee’s investigation has been ongoing for about three months. Lawmakers particularly want to know more about the companies’ more recent activities, from 2015 to the present, including their presence and ads on social media.”
Hundreds of QAnon Fans Are Going to Texas to See JFK Return. No, Seriously. (from Vice): “Some QAnon followers were so eager to secure their place for the return of JFK that on Monday night hundreds of them gathered in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy was shot in 1963, waiting for the latest QAnon conspiracy theory to come true.”
We invited an AI to debate its own ethics in the Oxford Union – what it said was startling (from The Conversation): “In other words, the Megatron was seeking to write itself out of the script of the future, on the basis that this was the only way of protecting humanity.”
The Dirty Secret of ‘Secret Family Recipes’ (from Atlas Obscura): “When Meyer arrived, the sous chefs had a big bowl of potato salad that brought back memories of his grandmother. He tried it, smiled, and told the chefs, “That’s exactly right.” They grinned back at him mischievously. Eventually, Meyer broke and asked, “What’s so funny?” A chef pulled out a jar of Hellman’s mayonnaise and placed it on the table. Meyer looked at it, then realized that the secret recipe his grandmother had hoarded for years was on the jar. It was the official Hellman’s recipe for potato salad.”
Jimmy Carter: I Fear for Our Democracy (from the New York Times): “First, while citizens can disagree on policies, people of all political stripes must agree on fundamental constitutional principles and norms of fairness, civility and respect for the rule of law. Citizens should be able to participate easily in transparent, safe and secure electoral processes. Claims of election irregularities should be submitted in good faith for adjudication by the courts, with all participants agreeing to accept the findings. And the election process should be conducted peacefully, free of intimidation and violence.”
Newsweek and the Rise of the Zombie Magazine (from the New Republic): “The publication of Eastman’s op-ed says a great deal about the state of Newsweek’s opinion section, which has become a clearinghouse for right-wing nonsense. But it also points to a larger crisis in journalism itself: The rise of the zombie publication, whose former legitimacy is used to launder extreme and conspiratorial ideas.”
Little Caesars’ Hot-N-Ready pizza no longer costs $5 (from CNN): “Little Caesars is selling a “new and improved” version of the recognizable pizza, which has 33% more pepperoni and a new price of $5.55 — its first price increase in nearly 25 years. The pizza first went on sale in 2001 and differentiated itself from competitors because it was made ready for take-out without the need to pre-order it.”
The space station race (from Vox): “These new stations are building on technology first seen in the ISS, but they stand to make low-Earth orbit a more politically fraught place. After all, researchers looking to conduct research in space will potentially have to reckon with the political consequences of choosing one nation’s station over that of another. There will also be a new dynamic of several space stations competing for customers in the private sector.”
The Most Depressing Thing About Don’t Look Up (Isn’t What You Think) (from Medium): “And yet, as Bina’s song shows, even they are aware that their effort and talent is almost certainly futile. It doesn’t matter how powerful a song you write — or film you create — to send a message of awareness. And that’s because the things that stand in the way of action about climate change are connected with power, both political and economic, where leaders and institutions are immune to attacks from pop music and Netflix. Whether Riley Bina is singing a power ballad or Adam McKay is making a movie, the catastrophe is still coming, its pace entirely unslowed.”
That’s all for today. But I’ll be back next week with more information you might find intriguing. So until then, have a great rest of your week, stay safe and happy reading!
Iacon East 