Humpback Whale Is Freed After Days Stranded Off German Beach - The New York Times
In an unexpected breakthrough, the 40-foot mammal swam to deeper water on Friday morning through a channel that rescuers had dug for it.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Senate Votes to Fund TSA and Most of DHS--but not ICE--in Bid to End Partial Shutdown
House weighs funding for TSA but not ICE | AP News (Thanks to Sonia for this one)
Senate Votes to Fund TSA and Most of DHS in Bid to End Partial Shutdown - The New York Times
The bill excludes funding for ICE and Border Patrol but restores it for federal airport security workers. The House could consider the package on Friday.
NJ man who decapitated seagull that tried to steal French fry from daughter sentenced to 8 months
NJ man who decapitated seagull that tried to steal French fry from daughter sentenced to 8 months (Thanks to Joe for this one)
 |
| New Jersey man Franklin Ziegler pleaded guilty to decapitating a seagull, served 262 days in prison and was fined $250. |
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Talks? Nope. 82nd Airborne? Yes. Raising the maximum age for the army? Yes.
Israel and Iran ramp up attacks as Trump insists Tehran wants a deal : NPR
Trump floats 15-point through Pakistani intermediary. Iran is not interested and counters with its own 5-point plan.
U.S. and Iran Are Talking About Ways to End the War: What to Know - The New York Times
Trump’s Threats to Europe Put Its Leaders in a Double Bind Over Iran - The New York Times
European politicians risk angering their voters if they join America’s war. Yet they could also face domestic upheaval if they take no action to reopen shipping routes that Iran has blocked and ease an energy crisis.
The Gravity of the War in Iran - The New York Times
Israel said that an airstrike had killed Alireza Tangsiri, a key player in Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump warned Iranian officials to consider his peace proposal “before it is too late.”
What is the 82nd Airborne Division preparing to deploy to Iran?
Army raises maximum age as Trump plots putting boots on ground
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
LaGuardia collision forces airport closure; NYC Airports Experience Long TSA Lines and Frustrated Travelers
LaGuardia collision: 2 pilots killed after Air Canada jet hits fire truck, forcing airport closure (Thanks to Sara for these)
Two pilots were killed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night after an Air Canada jet struck a Port Authority vehicle on the ground while landing, officials said. More than 40 passengers, crew members and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting officers were hospitalized. The airport is expected to be closed until 2 p.m. Monday.
At NYC Airports, Long TSA Lines and Frustrated Travelers - The New York Times
The shortage of checkpoint workers created lines of at least three hours at LaGuardia Airport. Many passengers doubted ICE agents were the solution.
Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial
Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial - The New York Times
A jury found the companies negligent in their app designs, harming a young user with design features that were addictive and led to her mental health distress.
Meta Ordered to Pay $375 Million Over Child Safety Violations - The New York Times
In one of the company’s first major losses, New Mexico jurors found that it had misled consumers about the safety of its platforms, enabling sexual exploitation of young users.
Related:
Snap Settles Lawsuit on Social Media Addiction, Avoiding a Landmark Trial - The New York Times
The settlement means Snap will avoid a trial where plaintiffs had planned to argue that social media platforms are inherently defective and subject to personal injury liability.
Meta Acquires Moltbook, the Social Network Just for A.I. Bots - The New York Times
Maybe Meta can do for chatbots what it has done for teens! Matt Schlicht, the site’s creator, helped kick off Silicon Valley’s obsession with artificial intelligence agents. Two months later, he is joining the Meta Superintelligence Lab. Will chatbots start suing? (I know this feels like an April Fools' joke, but satire used to be satire and now we have machines writing novels.)
Juries Take the Lead in the Push for Child Online Safety - The New York Times
A pair of verdicts held social media companies accountable for harming young users, highlighting a growing backlash as Congress struggles to pass legislation.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
What to know about the scope of damage from Hawaii flooding
What to know about the scope of damage from Hawaii flooding | AP News (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
Saudi Prince Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls
Saudi Prince Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a “historic opportunity” to remake the region, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.
Trump wants the SAVE Act, but he just voted by mail; Tells GOP not to make a deal on DHS Funding until SAVE is passed
Trump, Who Calls Mail-in Voting ‘Cheating,’ Just Voted by Mail - The New York Times
President Trump has long fixated on mail-in voting to bolster his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. But he recently used the method in a Florida special election.
What’s in Trump’s SAVE Act, the Voter ID Bill Republicans Are Pushing? - The New York Times
The legislation would require voters to prove their citizenship in person upon registration, ban IDs without a photo at polling places and criminalize failures to enforce such requirements. Experts estimate that about 9% of U.S. citizens would not be able to vote due to lack of documentation.
TSA wait times, ICE agents deployed as flyers face worsening lines | CNN
‘Please do something’: Concerns raised about LaGuardia safety before fatal runway collision | CNN
Markwayne Mullin confirmed as Department of Homeland Security head
Trump Delays Threat to Iran, but War Negotiations Are in Early Stage; Iran disagrees
Trump Delays Threat to Iran, but War Negotiations Are in Early Stage - The New York Times
President Trump postponed his threat to strike power plants in Iran, citing “productive conversations” with the Iranians. But officials said the talks were in an early stage and not substantive.
Trump Faces Blowback on Easing Iran Oil Sanctions - The New York Times
President Trump once assailed the Obama administration for making cash payments to Iran. Now he supports sanctions relief that could give the country a $14 billion windfall.
Investors Question Whether Quick Peace in Iran Is Possible - The New York Times
Oil Prices Rise a Day After 10% Plunge - The New York Times
He delivered a lengthy speech at his country’s rubber-stamp Parliament, declaring that his nuclear power will shield his country from American hostility.
 |
| Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, in Tehran last year. He is said to have conveyed to the U.S. that Iran would need sanctions relief and guarantees against future attacks. |
Former FBI director Robert Mueller dies at 81, a look at his legacy and the reaction of President Trump
Ex-FBI chief Robert Mueller, who probed Russia-Trump campaign ties, dies | AP News
Robert Mueller, special counsel who probed but did not charge Trump, dies at 81
A Look at Robert Mueller's Legacy | FRONTLINE | PBS | Official Site | Documentary Series
A Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, Mueller built a decades-long career in law enforcement and national security. He worked as a federal prosecutor and later served as U.S. attorney in San Francisco before taking on senior roles at the Justice Department.
Mueller led the FBI from 2001 to 2013. He was appointed FBI director in 2001, just one week before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and went on to lead the bureau through a major shift toward counterterrorism. Mueller remained in the role for 12 years after being asked by President Barack Obama to stay beyond the traditional 10-year term.
He later served as special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, a probe that shadowed much of Trump’s presidency. He brought charges against multiple Trump associates during the Russia investigation, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn. His final report detailed extensive contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia but did not establish a criminal conspiracy. Mueller declined to make a traditional prosecutorial decision on whether Trump obstructed justice, citing longstanding Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president.
Former FBI director Robert Mueller dies at 81, Trump reacts
"Robert Mueller just died," Trump posted on Truth Social."Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!" Trump added.
Monday, March 23, 2026
The American rare earths company seeking to topple China's dominance
The American rare earths company seeking to topple China's dominance
Trump's push to make the U.S. independent of China
Trump Sets Up ‘Pax Silica’ Fund to Reduce Global Dependencies
Trump Sets Up ‘Pax Silica’ Fund to Reduce Global Dependencies
Trump officials said on Monday that the war in Iran had emphasized the need to reduce vulnerabilities for energy and technology.
Hundreds of N.Y.U. Professors Begin Strike Over Pay and Job Protections
Hundreds of N.Y.U. Professors Begin Strike Over Pay and Job Protections
About 950 full-time faculty members who are not on the tenure track walked out. The university told students that classes would continue.
In Canada’s Frozen North, With Canada’s Frozen Soldiers
In Canada’s Frozen North, With Canada’s Frozen Soldiers
Canadian soldiers transported M777 howitzers to the High Arctic to show their ability to fight in an increasingly contested part of the world. It did not go as planned.
 |
| Members of an artillery unit preparing the ground to install a howitzer. |
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Saturday, March 21, 2026
TSA workers face reality of working without pay as passengers unaware of the shutdown see long lines
TSA workers face reality of working without pay as passengers unaware of the shutdown see long lines (Thanks to Finn for this one)
On Friday, more than half of TSA employees called out at Houston’s William P. Hobby International Airport.
They are among the 61,000 government employees in the Department of Homeland Security caught in the middle as Congress remains locked in a stalemate over funding the agency.
“The traveling public has been really nice,” said Aaron Barker, the local American Federation of Government Employees union president for Atlanta. “What is shocking, though, is a lot of people are unaware that we are in a government shutdown.”
Friday, March 20, 2026
A.I. Is Writing Fiction. Publishers Are Unprepared; Horror Novel ‘Shy Girl’ Canceled Over Suspected A.I. Use
A.I. Is Writing Fiction. Publishers Are Unprepared. - The New York Times
Book publishing has few safeguards in place to prevent the unwitting publication of a novel heavily generated by artificial intelligence.
Horror Novel ‘Shy Girl’ Canceled Over Suspected A.I. Use - The New York Times
Its publisher, Hachette, will not release the novel in the United States and will discontinue its U.K. edition, citing its commitment to “original creative expression and storytelling.”
Trump’s Planned White House Screening Center Is Too Big, Arts Panel Says
Trump’s Planned White House Screening Center Is Too Big, Arts Panel Says - The New York Times
The Commission of Fine Arts delayed a vote on the facility, a new, 33,000-square-foot security screening center for White House visitors, because of concerns over the design.
Judge Rules That R.F.K. Jr. Overstepped on Transgender Care
Judge Rules That R.F.K. Jr. Overstepped on Transgender Care - The New York Times
The ruling provides temporary relief for 21 states seeking to stop the Trump administration from ending federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-transition care.
How High Will Oil Climb? Russian Tanker is headed to Cuba, Testing U.S. Blockade; Sanctions lifted on Belarus
How High Will Oil Climb? Markets Brace for More Bad News. - The New York Times
Energy experts forecast more pain for consumers and businesses as the war in the Middle East shows no signs of easing.
Is Russian Fuel Headed for Cuba, Testing the U.S. Blockade? - The New York Times
A Russian oil tanker is being closely tracked to see if it will challenge the Trump administration’s blockade on Cuba.
U.S. Lifts Fertilizer Sanctions on Belarus as Iran War Causes Price Surge - The New York Times
The Trump administration made the move in exchange for Belarus’s freeing of 250 political prisoners, part of a rapprochement between the two countries.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
China Is Embracing OpenClaw, a New A.I. Agent, and the Government Is Wary
China Is Embracing OpenClaw, a New A.I. Agent, and the Government Is Wary
Excitement about A.I. assistant tools is running into growing concerns about the security risks of software that operates autonomously on user’s devices.
How a Melting Glacier in Antarctica Could Affect Tens of Millions Around the Globe
A collapse of the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica would sharply accelerate sea-level rise in coastal cities.
How TrumpRx Drug Prices Compare With Those in Other Countries; If You Hate Trump’s Economy, I Have News for You
How TrumpRx Drug Prices Compare With Those in Other Countries - The New York Times
The TrumpRx website claims to offer the best prices for medications. Here’s where Americans still pay more — and much more.
Opinion | If You Hate Trump’s Economy, I Have News for You - The New York Times
If you wanted to tell an anti-Trump story, you could focus on the fact that food prices rose more quickly in 2025 than they did a year before. If you wanted to tell a pro-Trump story, you could emphasize that mortgage rates are lower today than they were at the end of 2024.
Iran expert says Trump's 'war of choice' has morphed into a 'war of necessity'; Did the U.S. underestimate Iran’s drone threat?
Iran expert says Trump's 'war of choice' has morphed into a 'war of necessity' : NPR
Did the U.S. underestimate Iran’s drone threat? : NPR
Cheap drones are reshaping modern warfare — and catching the U.S. off guard
Iran War Underscores the Diverging Aims of U.S. and Israel - The New York Times
The United States views Iran through a prism of global responsibilities and strategic goals. Israel has a more regional approach. After nearly three weeks of war, their paths are diverging.
Iran Executes 3 Men, Including Teenage Wrestler Saleh Mohammadi - The New York Times
The Iranian authorities accused the men of killing two police officers during anti-government protests in January. Human rights groups had raised concerns about the cases against them.
Trump’s Friendship With Japan’s Leader Faces Test Over Iran
Trump’s Friendship With Japan’s Leader Faces Test Over Iran (Thanks to Matte for this one)
In Washington on Thursday, President Trump is expected to press Sanae Takaichi for military help in the Strait of Hormuz. But she faces constraints on what she can offer.
Using Charm and Restraint, Japan’s Leader Mostly Avoids Trump’s Wrath - The New York Times
How Japan Reacted to Trump’s Pearl Harbor Joke - The New York Times
‘It Doesn’t Need to Be Here’: The Right Vilifies a Muslim School in Alabama
‘It Doesn’t Need to Be Here’: The Right Vilifies a Muslim School in Alabama (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
A local campaign against the small school reflects growing Islamophobia in conservative enclaves in America and among G.O.P. officials.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Dozens Killed, Possibly Many More, in Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul
Dozens Killed, Possibly Many More, in Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul
The attack hit a drug rehabilitation facility, and Afghanistan vowed to retaliate, risking an escalation of the conflict between the two countries.
Joe Kent, a Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official, Resigns Over the Iran War
Joe Kent, a Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official, Resigns Over the Iran War
Mr. Kent is the highest-ranking Trump administration official to quit in opposition to the conflict. He is also known for his support of conspiracy theories.
Read Joe Kent's Resignation Letter
 |
| “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, wrote in a letter to President Trump that he posted Tuesday. Photo by Jenny Kane (AP) |
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)