Mystery Grows Around Representative Thomas Kean Jr.’s Absence - The New York Times
Representative Thomas Kean Jr. last voted in Washington on March 5, citing a medical issue. An appearance planned for late May has been canceled.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
NAACP urges Black athletes to boycott college sports in the South; Related information on the 'Gerrymandering Wars'
NAACP urges Black athletes to boycott college sports in the South | AP News (Thanks to Sam for this one)
Related:
Tracking the Battle to Reshape Congress for the Midterms - The New York Times
Supreme Court Rejects Virginia Democrats’ Effort to Reinstate New Voting Map - The New York Times
State officials had asked the justices to step in to allow the state to use a congressional map in the midterms that was drawn by Democrats and recently approved by voters.
Why Neutral Maps Could Empower Black Voters as Much as the Voting Rights Act - The New York Times
Our simulations debunk the notion that the act created artificial minority districts that wouldn’t otherwise exist.
What the Gerrymandering Wars Mean for the Midterms—and 2028 | The New Yorker
Iran War Exposes Shortcomings in U.S. Military Industrial Base
Iran War Exposes Shortcomings in U.S. Military Industrial Base - The New York Times
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is taking on a problem that the Pentagon and Congress have tried, and mostly failed, to address for years.
Book on Truth in the Age of A.I. Contains Quotes Made Up by A.I.
‘The Future of Truth’ Contains Quotes Made Up by A.I. - The New York Times
Steven Rosenbaum, author of “The Future of Truth,” said he had started his own investigation after The New York Times asked about the fake quotes.
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| Steven Rosenbaum at his home studio in Manhattan last year. His book “The Future of Truth” incorporated more than a half-dozen misattributed or fake quotes in sections of the book reviewed by The Times.Vincent Alban/The New York Times |
What is Trump’s $1.776 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund?
What is Trump’s $1.776 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund? - The New York Times
The Trump administration is creating a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people it says were wronged by the federal government, a group that could be largely made up of the president’s allies.
Top Treasury Lawyer Resigns After Creation of ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ - The New York Times
Brian Morrissey, the department’s general counsel, stepped down hours after the Trump administration announced the $1.8 billion fund.
Paul Figley, a former Justice Department official, said the proposed payment appeared legal. Congress has long neglected to more tightly control how money from the Judgment Fund was used, giving the Trump administration the ability to make this payment.
“It’s not wrong legally. But the problem is he is creating a new federal program, and if he is doing so with money from the Judgment Fund, it’s not the way Congress anticipated the Judgment Fund would be used,” Mr. Figley said. “It’s horrible policy.”
Once money has passed from the Judgment Fund to the new, “anti-weaponization” account, the five-member board will have the freedom to use the money to “pay for per diems, administrative services, funds, facilities, staff, travel and other support services as may be necessary,” though the members won’t draw a salary, according to the Justice Department.
Pollock and Brancusi Join the $100 Million Club at Auction
Pollock and Brancusi Join the $100 Million Club at Auction - The New York Times
A “drip” painting by the Abstract Expressionist sold for $181.2 million with fees, while a bronze head by the Romanian sculptor, from the S.I. Newhouse collection, brought in $107.6 million at Christie’s.
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| “Number 7A, 1948,” by Jackson Pollock, one of the treasures of S.I. Newhouse’s collection at Christie’s on Monday night, sold for $181.2 million with fees.Pollock-Krasner Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo by George Etheredge for The New York Times |
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| Constantin Brancusi’s bronze-and-gold-leaf sculpture “Danaïde,” from around 1913, carried a $100 million estimate and sold for $107.6 million with fees. It was in the S.I. Newhouse collection at Christie’s.Succession Brancusi/All rights reserved (Adagp); Photo by George Etheredge for The New York Times |
Dozens of Polymarket Bets Show Signs of Insider Trading
Dozens of Polymarket Bets Show Signs of Insider Trading, The Times Finds - The New York Times
Dozens of long-shot bets on Polymarket, from the war with Iran to the cryptocurrency market, have defied the odds, according to a New York Times examination.
Thousands of FiveThirtyEight Articles Seemingly Vanish From the Internet
Thousands of FiveThirtyEight Articles Seemingly Vanish From the Internet - The New York Times
The influential polling analysis site was shut down last year, but an earlier archived version, fivethirtyeight.com, had lived on. Now the site is redirecting users to ABC News.
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| Nate Silver, center, in 2015. Mr. Silver founded FiveThirtyEight as a blog in 2008 before building it into a highly influential polling analysis operation. Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images |
Ebola Was Identified in Congo Weeks Before W.H.O. Declared an Emergency
Ebola Was Identified in Congo Weeks Before W.H.O. Declared an Emergency - The New York Times
Early surveillance and testing failed to identify the rare species of Ebola responsible for the current outbreak. An American doctor is among the confirmed cases.
American Man Tests Positive for Ebola Amid Outbreak, Officials Say - The New York Times
An American doctor working with a Christian missionary organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo was exposed to the deadly virus while treating patients, the organization said.
Citing Ebola Outbreak, U.S. Restricts Entry From Congo, Uganda and South Sudan - The New York Times
The order is in effect for 30 days and does not apply to American citizens or U.S. service members.
Sandy Fire in Simi Valley Forces Immediate Evacuations
Sandy Fire in Simi Valley Forces Immediate Evacuations - The New York Times
Officials ordered more than 23,000 to evacuate after a brush fire broke out in Simi Valley, Calif.
A Sailor Shot Distress Flares. Now a California Island Is Burning.
The shipwrecked man was rescued from Channel Islands National Park, but the flares set off a 10,000-acre fire that has burned park buildings, forced evacuations and threatened rare Torrey pines.
TrumpRx Adds Generic Drugs, With Mark Cuban, GoodRx and Amazon; 5 million slated to lose ACA coverage
TrumpRx Adds Generic Drugs, With Mark Cuban, GoodRx and Amazon - The New York Times
President Trump announced the addition of 600 medicines to his online drugstore as he appeals to Americans concerned about high drug prices and affordability.
Related:
Steep drop in number of people with Affordable Care Act health coverage, analysis finds : NPR
As many as 5 million people who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces may drop their coverage this year, according to a new analysis from KFF, the nonpartisan health research organization. The average increase in deductibles is $1000.
ICE Agent Charged in Shooting of a Venezuelan Immigrant in Minnesota
ICE Agent Charged in Shooting of a Venezuelan Immigrant in Minnesota - The New York Times
The agent is the second federal officer to face felony charges in Minnesota stemming from Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
What to Know About the San Diego Mosque Shooting
San Diego Mosque Shooting: What to Know About the Suspects and What Happened - The New York Times
Three men were killed in the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Two teenage suspects were found dead in a car nearby, police said.
A Fearful Phone Call and Frantic Search Preceded San Diego Mosque Shooting - The New York Times
San Diego police arrived to find three people dead. Nearby, they found two teenagers, the attackers, dead in a car. The violence shattered an idyllic Southern California city.
Suspect’s Mother Warned Police of Missing Guns Before Mosque Attack - The New York Times
Three people were killed in the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and two suspects later killed themselves.
San Diego Mosque Shooting Comes Amid Rising Reports of Islamophobia in the U.S. - The New York Times
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said complaints about bias against Muslims are at levels unseen in decades.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Elon Musk Loses $150 Billion Suit Against OpenAI and Sam Altman
Elon Musk Loses $150 Billion Suit Against OpenAI and Sam Altman - The New York Times
A nine-member jury found that Mr. Musk had waited too long to sue. The setback for the tech mogul frees OpenAI to continue in the artificial intelligence race.
After Elon Musk’s Court Loss Comes the Long Hot A.I. Summer - The New York Times
Even as protests increase, the collapse of Mr. Musk’s suit against OpenAI and Sam Altman will speed up the artificial intelligence juggernaut.
Five Takeaways From the Blockbuster Trial Pitting Elon Musk Against OpenAI - The New York Times
It took a jury less than two hours to decide that Mr. Musk had waited too long to sue. But the testimony over three weeks was still illuminating.
What to Know About the Latest Ebola Outbreak
What to Know About the Latest Ebola Outbreak - The New York Times
The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency after about 80 people died from the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Americans Are Among Those Affected by Ebola Outbreak, C.D.C. Says - The New York Times
A small number of U.S. citizens have been directly affected by the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the C.D.C. said on Sunday.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Inflatable furniture anyone?
IKEA once put a pin in its dream of inflatable furniture. Now it’s blowing up | CNN (Thanks to Finn for this one)
Rory McIlroy has a rough finish at the PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy has a rough finish at the PGA Championship | AP News (Thanks to Louden for this one)
Related:
Watch: Longshot Aaron Rai uses 68-foot putt to clinch PGA Championship title - Yahoo Sports
PGA Championship 2026 prize money: Full payout from record $20.5 million purse - Golf Channel
AI Safety...and meet Cerebras, the larger computer chip ever
Is Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Really a Cybersecurity Risk? - The New York Times
Anthropic said that Claude Mythos was too dangerous to release to the public. That claim has reopened an old debate over cybersecurity.
Why A.I. Safety Controls Are Not Very Effective - The New York Times
Three years after the debut of ChatGPT, fooling A.I. systems into bad behavior is almost trivial.
Cerebras, A.I. Chip Maker, Rises 89% in Market Debut as Tech IPOs Ramp Up - The New York Times
Cerebras, a Silicon Valley maker of artificial intelligence chips, began trading on the stock market on Thursday, as SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic also take steps to go public.
Cuba Says It Has Run Out of Oil
Cuba Says It Has Run Out of Oil - The New York Times
A long-running energy crisis in the island nation reached a breaking point this week, when government officials said they had run out of reserves.
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| A gas station in Havana this month. In January, the Trump administration cut off oil shipments from Venezuela, which had been supplying a large amount of Cuba’s oil.Lisette Poole for The New York Times |
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| People banging pot and pans in protest against blackouts in Havana on Wednesday.Norlys Perez/Reuters |
Trump and Xi Play Up Stability Without Resolving Major Tensions
Trump and Xi Play Up Stability Without Resolving Major Tensions
As President Trump left Beijing, there was no indication that he and Xi Jinping had resolved any major points of contention on trade, the war in Iran or other issues during their talks.
Trump also declined to say whether the United States would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion. “I don’t want to say,” he said. “There’s only one person that knows that. You know who it is? Me.” Trump said Xi had asked him the same question during their conversations and that he had given the same response. “I said, ‘I don’t talk about those things,'” Trump said.
How China Sent a Message to Trump on His Arrival - The New York Times
Beijing welcomed President Trump with a high-ranking vice president, but the choice of a ceremonial leader suggests China is trading symbolism for substance.
Which Trump Tariffs Are in Place, in the Works or Ruled Illegal - The New York Times
Trump Announces Boeing Jet Order From China. Beijing Stays Silent. - The New York Times
The deal, if it materializes, would be a major win for Boeing, which has lost ground to Airbus in one of the world’s largest aviation markets.
Nvidia’s Future in China Remains Unclear After Trump-Xi Summit - The New York Times
The standoff comes as Chinese firms increasingly turn to domestic chipmakers like Huawei, in a drive to reduce China’s dependence on Western technologies.
Elon Musk Returns to Trump’s Side in Beijing - The New York Times
Mr. Musk is part of a delegation of business leaders to China, where his interests include Tesla’s electric vehicle factory and solar panels.
Elon Musk’s Awkward Selfie Moment With a Chinese Billionaire in Beijing - The New York Times
A few seconds of selfie awkwardness between Elon Musk and Lei Jun, a prominent Chinese entrepreneur, has spread like wildfire on China’s social media.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Spain's watchdog probes major energy companies over historic blackout
Spain's watchdog probes major energy companies over historic blackout | Reuters (Thanks to Chris for this one)
Spain's energy and competition regulator said on Friday it had opened formal probes into the country's largest energy companies and the power grid operator over last year's unprecedented blackout in Spain and Portugal, after finding evidence that some power sector rules were breached over extended periods. This could lead to fines of up to 60 million euros.
Chavez-DeRemer steps down as US labor secretary amid misconduct probe
Chavez-DeRemer steps down as US labor secretary amid misconduct probe | Reuters (Thanks to Chris for this one)
The Labor Department’s inspector general is nearing the end of a months-long investigation into a whistleblower’s allegations of professional misconduct by Lori Chavez-DeRemer, including claims that she had an affair with a member of her security team and used department resources for personal trips. Chavez-DeRemer was expected to be interviewed in the matter in the coming days.
New York man convicted after opening Chinese police station; US puts $200K price on head of Monica Witt
New York man convicted after opening Chinese police station (WSJ)
A federal jury convicted a U.S. citizen on Wednesday of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for his part in establishing a police station in New York on behalf of Chinese authorities, the government’s second win this week alleging Americans secretly worked for Beijing.
The Brooklyn jury found Lu Jianwang guilty on one of two federal counts related to acting as an unregistered foreign agent of China and one count of obstructing justice by destroying evidence.
The FBI just put a $200K price on the agent accused of betraying the US to Iran
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| Lu Jianwang exiting court during his trial in New York City on Tuesday. |
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| Monica Witt, a former U.S. service member and counterintelligence agent who was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia in February 2019 on charges of espionage, including transmitting national defense information to the government of Iran. |
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Trump Arrives in China For High-Stakes Meeting With Xi
Trump Arrives in China For High-Stakes Meeting With Xi: Live Updates - The New York Times
The Lecturer and Philosopher King: Xi Jinping Behind Closed Doors - The New York Times
Encounters with other world leaders reveal a side of China’s leader that the public rarely sees, and offer clues to how he will approach President Trump in Beijing.
How China Could Wield Its Control of Rare Earths Against Trump - The New York Times
A central question hanging over the summit this week is whether China will agree to extend a temporary postponement of even tougher rare-earth export controls.
Trump’s Shrinking Ambitions on China - The New York Times
The president came into office planning harsher trade moves on China than on the rest of the world. Here’s why he’s had to scale them back.
Here’s How Trump’s Trade War on China Ended Up in a Stalemate - The New York Times
As President Trump prepares to meet with Xi Jinping, a trade war that once threatened to freeze commerce between the two countries has given way to an uneasy truce.
Jensen Huang boarded Air Force One in Alaska, joining a delegation of more than a dozen business leaders accompanying President Trump on his trip to Beijing.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Iran hangs grad student accused of spying for the CIA and Israel's intel agency
Iran hangs grad student accused of spying for the CIA and Israel's intel agency - CBS News (Thanks to Sara for this one)
Related:
U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities - The New York Times
Secret new assessments say Iran has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that its military remains far stronger than previously asserted by the administration.
Crazy viral video of robots fighting ahead of a match in the Bay Area
Crazy viral video of robots fighting ahead of a match in the Bay Area (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)
Ukraine Looks to Step Away From Trump and U.S
Ukraine Looks to Step Away From Trump and U.S. - The New York Times (Thanks to Matte for this one)
With peace talks on ice and Ukraine now more self-reliant, President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to be stepping away from the United States.
Google Says Criminal Hackers Used A.I. to Find a Major Software Flaw
Google Says Criminal Hackers Used A.I. to Find a Major Software Flaw - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
The company said that it had identified, for the first time, hackers using artificial intelligence to discover an unknown bug. The attempted attack represents “a taste of what’s to come,” one expert said.
Democratic mayor admits to being a Chinese foreign agent
Democratic mayor admits to being a Chinese foreign agent (Newsweek)
Eileen Wang, Mayor of Arcadia, California, and former president of Southwest Chamber of Commerce pleads guilty to be Chinese foreign agent.
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