NASA delays launch of historic moon mission (Thanks to Finn for this one)
Friday, February 6, 2026
The Winter Olympics get 8 new events, including the first new sport in decades
The Winter Olympics get 8 new events, including the first new sport in decades (Thanks to Sara for this one)
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| Athletes compete during the men's sprint race at the Ski Mountaineering World Cup event in Bormio, Italy, in February 2025, a year before the sport makes its debut at the Winter Olympics. |
Behind the Scenes at the 150th Westminster Dog Show
Behind the Scenes at the 150th Westminster Dog Show
Brushing, panting, licking and leaping: Here’s what we saw backstage, where show dogs could let their fur down before taking to the ring.
Rethinking Shakespeare in Shanghai
Rethinking Shakespeare in Shanghai
A recent production of “Othello” proves that small creative flowers can grow between the dreary slabs of cultural concrete laid by the Communist Party.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
How Trump Brought the Fight Over American History to Philadelphia's "The President's House"
How Trump Brought the Fight Over American History to Philadelphia - The New York Times
The administration took a crowbar to a site that focused on George Washington and slavery. But can the contradictions of the Founding Era be erased?
In Philadelphia, a few steps from the Liberty Bell, there stands a ghost house. It consists of partially reconstructed red brick walls, an empty door frame and windows and, etched on a free-standing stone slab, the names of nine enslaved people who served George Washington there.
The President’s House, as the open-air site is known, was the seat of the executive branch of the United States’ fledgling democracy from 1790 to 1800, when Washington and then John Adams lived there. But since Jan. 22, when workers arrived unannounced with crowbars and pried all 30 interpretive signs off the walls, it has become a front in the red-hot political battle over American history.
The National Park Service, whose leadership ordered the removals, says it was merely complying with President Trump’s executive order last March calling for the removal or revision of displays that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”
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| Since the removals, local people have come to the site, which is next to the Liberty Bell, to tape up messages, share information and read aloud. |
China’s Xi Presses Trump on Taiwan in Phone Call
China’s Xi Presses Trump on Taiwan in Phone Call - The New York Times
Both leaders gave versions of what they discussed, but the Chinese president’s take made clear the issue of the island was front and center.
Mr. Xi told Mr. Trump that the American position on Taiwan was “the most important issue in China-U.S. relations,” it said, and asserted that China “will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.”
“The U.S. must handle arms sales to Taiwan with extreme caution,” Mr. Xi told Mr. Trump, according to the description in Chinese state media.
“He’s trying to set the table for telling President Trump, ‘When you come in April, be ready to have a serious, sit-down conversation about Taiwan because it’s very important to me,’” Ryan Hass, the director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution.
Related:
Trump Tells Xi Jinping U.S. Will Honor ‘One China’ Policy - The New York Times (2017)
Nuclear Arms Control Era Comes to End Amid Global Rush for New Weapons
Nuclear Arms Control Era Comes to End Amid Global Rush for New Weapons - The New York Times
Beijing, Moscow and shaken American allies are seeking new warheads as President Trump ends more than a half century of nuclear arms control with Russia.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Russia hits Ukraine energy targets with hundreds of drones, missiles, ahead of talks
Russia hits Ukraine energy targets with hundreds of drones, missiles, ahead of talks - ABC News (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
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| In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire at a multi-storey apartment building following a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 3, 2026. |
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Investigation Finds Credit Suisse Had Wider Nazi Ties Than Previously Known
Investigation Finds Credit Suisse Had Wider Nazi Ties Than Previously Known - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
But a lawyer who has been scrutinizing archives and UBS are in a dispute over access to about 150 documents.
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| “Shining light on Credit Suisse’s past is part of turning the page, a very dark chapter of history,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Photo by Eric Lee/NYTimes |
Moltbook is a new social media platform exclusively for AI
What is Moltbook - the 'social media network for AI'?
Moltbook is a new social media platform exclusively for AI
I Spent 6 Hours in Moltbook. It Was an AI Zoo. - Business Insider
Why social media for AI agents Moltbook is dividing the tech sector
Born of a Factory Mistake, This Sad Toy Horse Captures China’s Mood
Born of a Factory Mistake, This Sad Toy Horse Captures China’s Mood - The New York Times
A manufacturing error turned a Lunar New Year toy into an unlikely emblem of workplace fatigue. China is experiencing a backlash to the 996 work culture and a young generation that has embraced nature activities (or staying in bed) rather than consumerism as they are finding opportunities for upward mobility disappearing.
Roundup: Shutdown struggles; Nationalizing Elections & the 2020 Election investigations in Georgia; IRS suit & AI for Crypto; Kennedy Center Closed
Facing Immigration Backlash, Trump Called Schumer to Cut a Deal - The New York Times
The president and the top Senate Democrat, who are often at each other’s throats, agreed to try to keep the government open and to start talks on new limits on federal immigration agents.
Trump, in an Escalation, Calls for Republicans to ‘Nationalize’ Elections - The New York Times
The comments, made on a conservative podcast, follow a string of moves from his administration to try to exert more control over American elections.
Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, brokered the call and President Trump directly questioned frontline agents on the inquiry, The Times has learned.
Trump’s Lawsuit Against I.R.S. Creates ‘Enormous Conflict of Interest’ - The New York Times
The president is demanding that the federal government pay him at least $10 billion over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns during his first term.
U.A.E. Firm Quietly Took Stake in the Trump Family’s Crypto Company - The New York Times
The $500 million agreement raises new concerns about the propriety of the president negotiating foreign policy with his own business partners.
Hours after The Times reported that President Trump had lowered the bar for a deal, he denied backtracking and made new threats against Harvard.
Trump’s Kennedy Center Shutdown Plan Jolts Workers and Performers - The New York Times
The administration’s announcement to shut the center for a major overhaul led to a swirl of confusion and anxiety among performers and patrons about its future.
Venezuela’s acting president signs oil industry overhaul that eases state control
Venezuela’s acting president signs oil industry overhaul that eases state control | AP News (Thanks to Chris for this)
Sweeping oil reform in Venezuela approved, operators expected to gain autonomy | Reuters
| Delcy Rodriguez holds up a copy of the new law repealing a cornerstone of Venezuela's socialist movement. |
Monday, February 2, 2026
A.I.: Power, Water, and Space are on the minds of Microsoft and Musk
Even the Sky May Not Be the Limit for A.I. Data Centers - The New York Times
Some tech leaders are concerned that the artificial intelligence race will exhaust available land and energy. The solution might lie in orbit.
Microsoft Pledged to Save Water. In the A.I. Era, It Expects Water Use to Soar. - The New York Times
Driven by the artificial intelligence frenzy, Microsoft is internally projecting that water use at its data centers will more than double by 2030 from 2020, including in places that face shortages.
Elon Musk Merges SpaceX With His A.I. Start-Up xAI - The New York Times
The deal further intermingles Mr. Musk’s companies and creates the most valuable private company on earth.
Unrelated: Police Search X’s Premises in France as Prosecutors Summon Elon Musk - The New York Times
The move followed a yearlong investigation into X and escalated a wider standoff between European officials and American tech companies over the regulation of social media.
Don Lemon Released Without Bond Over Minnesota Church Protest
Don Lemon Released Without Bond Over Minnesota Church Protest - The New York Times
Nine people have been accused of violating federal law during the demonstration at a church this month, reviving a case that was rejected last week by a magistrate judge.
Squeezed Between Trump and China, India Looks for Faraway Friendships
Squeezed Between Trump and China, India Looks for Faraway Friendships - The New York Times (Thanks to Matte for these)
India is overcoming its aversion to free-trade deals to cozy up with Canada and other middle powers.
Related: US to cut tariffs on India to 18%, India agrees to end Russian oil purchases
US and India reach trade deal, Trump says after Modi call
Tech titans and foreign dignitaries among the powerful men named in Epstein files
Tech titans and foreign dignitaries among the powerful men named in Epstein files | AP News (Thanks to Louden for this one)
Updates: Millions of Pages of Epstein Documents Released - The New York Times
The release of files, videos and photographs from the federal inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein is the largest to date, and the final one planned by the Justice Department. Times reporters are sifting through the material.
How Trump Appears in the Epstein Files - The New York Times
The New York Times found more than 5,300 files with references to Mr. Trump and related terms. They include salacious and unverified claims, as well as documents that had already been made public.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Texas A&M Ends Women’s Studies and Overhauls Classes Over Race and Gender
Texas A&M Ends Women’s Studies and Overhauls Classes Over Race and Gender
New policies limiting the teaching of race and gender issues led administrators and professors to change hundreds of courses. School leaders say the rules could hurt A&M’s reputation.
What to know about the Nipah virus
What to know about the Nipah virus (Thanks to Finn for this one)
The virus — called Nipah — kills more than half of the people it infects. Nipah virus, which was named after the village in Malaysia where the first known patient lived, is part of the same family of viruses as measles. Despite that, it’s not as infectious as measles, but it is significantly more deadly.
Texas cheerleader Grace Brito dies days after best friend was killed in sledding tragedy during winter storm
Texas cheerleader Grace Brito dies days after best friend was killed in sledding tragedy during winter storm (Thanks to Sonia for this one)
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| Grace Brito, 16, died Tuesday after a freak sledding accident during a rare winter storm in Texas. Family Handout/NY Post. |
Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest
The former CNN anchor said he entered the church to cover a protest against President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Three others were also arrested.
Feds arrest Don Lemon, Minnesota journalist and others over church protest
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| Journalist Don Lemon, center, interviews Rep. Al Green (D-TX) at a rally at Columbus Circle near Union Station on September 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnick/Getty Photos |
Trump Weighs New Military Options Against Iran; Iran Rules Out Talks With U.S. Until Trump’s Threats Stop
Trump Weighs New Military Options Against Iran - The New York Times
The plans being weighed by the president go beyond those he considered weeks ago amid widespread protests against Iran’s government.
War Threats and Ambiguous Evidence: Trump Again Confronts Iran - The New York Times
There is little sign that Iran has made significant progress in reconstituting its nuclear program, leaving questions about the timing and motive behind potential plans for further attacks.
Trump Warns Iran With Military Muscle, but Risks a Regional War - The New York Times
Iran’s Islamic Republic, weakened by airstrikes in June and huge popular unrest, warns that it will strike back hard if attacked by the United States. This time, Iran may mean it.
Iran Rules Out Talks With U.S. Until Trump’s Threats Stop - The New York Times
Iran’s foreign minister ruled out direct talks unless President Trump stops threatening to attack it. He also said Iran would not discuss its ballistic missiles.
FBI seizes 2020 ballots in Georgia in apparently unprecedented action, alarming local officials
FBI seizes 2020 ballots in Georgia in apparently unprecedented action, alarming local officials - ABC News (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
F.B.I. Search in Georgia Shows Trump’s Willingness to Pursue 2020 Grievances - The New York Times
The search might also be a harbinger of things to come, signaling the president’s disposition to use the powers of law enforcement to intervene in election matters as the 2026 midterms approach.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
China executes 11 members of gang who ran billion-dollar criminal empire in Myanmar
China executes 11 members of gang who ran billion-dollar criminal empire in Myanmar
The 11 people executed were sentenced to death in September after being found guilty of crimes including homicide, illegal detention, and fraud, Xinhua news agency reported.
The crime family, headed by Ming Xuechang, had long been tied to an infamous compound called Crouching Tiger Villa in Kokang, an autonomous region on Myanmar’s border with China. At its peak, the group had 10,000 people working to conduct scams and other crimes, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Scamming gangs in Southeast Asia steal more than $43 billion a year, according to the US Congress-founded United States Institute of Peace.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Judge Orders ICE Chief to Appear in Court Over Potential Contempt
Judge Orders ICE Chief to Appear in Court Over Potential Contempt - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
In a brief ruling, the Minnesota judge wrote that the unusual order was necessary because “the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary.”
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| Acting ICE chief Todd Lyons. |
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, a Cult Figure Silenced Too Soon
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, a Cult Figure Silenced Too Soon - The New York Times (Thanks to Mel for this one)
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s poetry, performance and films inspired generations of artists. Never forgotten after her murder, a new exhibition sheds light on her legacy.
Cuban Detainee in El Paso ICE Facility Died by Homicide, Autopsy Shows; Cubans are being deported in record numbers
Cuban Detainee in El Paso ICE Facility Died by Homicide, Autopsy Shows - The New York Times (Thanks to Mel for this one)
An autopsy from the county medical examiner said the detainee, Geraldo Lunas Campos, was asphyxiated and restrained by law enforcement. Federal officials described his death as a suicide.
Cubans in Florida Are Being Deported in Record Numbers - The New York Times
Cubans had long benefited from legal privileges unavailable to immigrants from other countries. President Trump has changed that.
Xi’s Purge of China’s Military Brings Its Top General Down
Xi’s Purge of China’s Military Brings Its Top General Down - The New York Times
The ouster of Gen. Zhang Youxia, who was second only to Xi Jinping in the military hierarchy, marks “the total annihilation of the high command,” one analyst said.
Minneapolis Rages as second citizen killed by ICE sparks wide condemnation+ Italy, voter data, fake videos & Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked
As Minneapolis Rages, Legislators Move to Restrict ICE in Their States - The New York Times (Thanks to Matte for these)
Internal review contradicts White House narrative of Pretti’s death : NPR
D.H.S. Review Does Not Say Pretti Brandished Gun, As Noem Claimed - The New York Times
Minnesota Live Updates: Authorities Investigate Attack on Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis - The New York Times
Rep. Ilhan Omar rushed by man on stage and sprayed with liquid at town hall event : NPR
Bystander videos of Minneapolis killings reveal larger trend : NPR
False Posts and Altered Images Distort Views of Minnesota Shooting - The New York Times
ICE Agents Will Join Olympics Delegation in Italy. Many Italians are Angry. - The New York Times
Why Is the Trump Administration Demanding Minnesota’s Voter Rolls? - The New York Times
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