Harvard's most popular class: Humanities 10

 The brutal Harvard class that suddenly everyone wants to take

Conceived by Stephen Greenblatt and Louis Menand, it’s all distinctly old school. Hotly contested terms like “Western Civ,” “Great Books” and “the canon” appear nowhere in the course description. But the curriculum begins with “The Odyssey,” travels forward in time to James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and then backward to end with “The Iliad.” In between are assignments on Montaigne, Shakespeare, Spinoza, Baldwin, Dante and Plato.

Faculty from left: Jay Harris, Joyce Chaplin, Jesse McCarthy, Stephen Greenblatt, David Elmer, Samantha Matherne. Not pictured: Louis Menand.

Can Tini Younger, One of TikTok’s Biggest Food Influencers, Get Gen Z in the Kitchen?

 Can Tini Younger, One of TikTok’s Biggest Food Influencers, Get Gen Z in the Kitchen? - The New York Times

At 25, Tini Younger is one of the biggest food influencers on TikTok. Her new challenge: Selling a cookbook to young people with scant connection to the kitchen.

A.I.'s hardest problem and the Anthropic IPO.

 Did the Hardest A.I. Problem Just Get Much Easier? - The New York Times

A prominent researcher claims to have a revolutionary approach to “interpretability,” or the science of why A.I. models do what they do. Other experts aren’t so sure.

How We Train A.I. Leads to Rogue Behavior - The New York Times

In Anthropic I.P.O., Goldman and Morgan Stanley Slug It Out for Top Bank - The New York Times

Anthropic named the Wall Street firms lead underwriters on its upcoming public offering, a role that will generate generous fees and enormous prestige.

U.S. Pensions Are Riding the A.I. Wave. For Better or Worse. - The New York Times

As exuberance around the technology stokes fears of a bubble, the nation’s public pensions are starting to grapple with their role — and their risks.

What America Is Living Without

What America Is Living Without - The New York Times

Rising costs are often lumped together into a single issue — “affordability” — when they are in fact the result of many converging forces: the increased cost of medical plans; tariffs that suddenly make clothes and computers more expensive; conflict in the Middle East driving up the cost of oil; inflation and high grocery prices.

Most of these factors are out of everyday Americans’ control, which is why more and more feel that they have been forced to make cuts where they can.

What’s lost — good bread, regular haircuts, pets, food delivery, babysitters, fancy face creams — isn’t just stuff. It’s ambition. It’s the luxury of living a life without the constant hum of worry. It’s losing the idea of the future you had in the past. It’s nostalgia for a life that you imagined for yourself that will never come to fruition.

Baby Boomers Are Retiring. Private Equity Is Waiting

 Opinion | Baby Boomers Are Retiring. Private Equity Is Waiting. - The New York Times

A generation of baby boomers, aging into retirement, are starting to sell their machine shops, plumbing companies and dentistry practices to private equity firms.

Next phase of the BRI: A Chinese Port Could Be a Lifeline for Spain, but Also a Threat

 A Chinese Port Could Be a Lifeline for Spain, but Also a Threat - The New York Times

Residents say a proposed Chinese car plant in northern Spain will create new jobs. Others say it’s a long-term risk, distilling a debate about the costs and perks of ties to China.

Ferrol will become the latest Spanish city to bet its economic future on hosting Chinese companies compatible with the country’s emphasis on green technology. Chinese battery makers, solar panel producers and other renewable energy companies are sprouting across Spain, where Chinese electric vehicle investments have grown faster over the past year than anywhere else in Europe.

What has lingered are deep questions about whether the increased Chinese presence, especially in one of Spain’s military heartlands, will eventually make Spain too reliant on Chinese supply chains, materials and technology, and make local Spanish firms more vulnerable to Chinese competition.

Those concerns have led leaders in other major European powers, like Germany, to make it harder for Chinese firms to set up shop on their soil.

“The question is,” said Rafael Dezcallar, until recently Spain’s ambassador to China, “what price are we willing to pay to have these advantageous relations with China?”

Italians Protesting High Prices Fear a Listless Future, Too

 Italians Protesting High Prices Fear a Listless Future, Too - The New York Times

Inspired in part by French demonstrations, protests in Italy by students in the north and truckers in the south could affect national elections next year.

Bob Woodward Criticizes Jeff Bezos in New Memoir

 Bob Woodward Criticizes Jeff Bezos in New Memoir - The New York Times

Six takeaways from a new memoir by Mr. Woodward, the star Washington Post reporter, including his disappointment with the newspaper’s billionaire owner.

CNBC: #1 issue in midterms: Corruption (surprise)

Corruption is voters' top issue ahead of midterm election, CNBC survey shows

Voters are more concerned about government corruption than any other issue, including high grocery and gas prices, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey.

Democrats have sought to draw links in the midterm election between economic malaise and alleged corruption by President Donald Trump and Republicans.

Republicans have also tried to seize on growing anti-corruption sentiment.

Full Poll: 260557_CNBC_Q3_2026_Topline_D2.pdf

Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardons - CBS News

Alina Habba's $50 million scandal exposes MAGA pardon racket - Salon.com

Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Putin's Flagship Investment Fund - The New York Times

The move would be the latest U.S. concession to Moscow as President Trump pursues economic incentives he hopes will secure an end to war in Ukraine.

Corey Lewandowski Always Found His Way Back to Trump. Until Now. - The New York Times

The Justice Department has opened an inquiry into Mr. Lewandowski. President Trump has not jumped to his defense.

Book Review: ‘Princes and Thieves,’ by Matthew Cole - The New York Times

The new book by the reporter Matthew Cole connects $2 billion in slush funds from Gulf state leaders to Trump’s son-in-law in an effort to influence U.S. policy.

How Trump Gave the Worst Polluters a Free Pass - The New York Times

Trump Administration Unlawfully Fired Maurene Comey, Judge Rules; DOJ files more charges against her father

Trump Administration Unlawfully Fired Maurene Comey, Judge Rules - The New York Times

Ms. Comey, the daughter of James Comey, the former director of the F.B.I., worked for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, handling the prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and Sean Combs

 Justice Dept. Brings More Charges Against Comey, Accusing Him of Leaks - The New York Times

Lawyers for James B. Comey said the case centered on an issue that had already been investigated and had not led to charges, of a purported leak of national security information to The Times in October 2016.

Grand Jury Declines to Bring Charges Against Cassidy Hutchinson

 Grand Jury Declines to Bring Charges Against Cassidy Hutchinson - The New York Times

The rejection of the indictment was the latest extraordinary setback in President Trump’s wide-ranging campaign to go after his political opponents.

A federal grand jury in Washington on Tuesday rejected an effort by the Justice Department to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, the former White House aide President Trump targeted after she gave damning testimony to a congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to people briefed on the matter.

The rejection of the indictment — known in legal circles as a “no true bill” — was the latest extraordinary setback in Mr. Trump’s wide-ranging campaign to go after his political opponents. 

Related: 

The U.S. Attorneys Carrying Out Trump’s Election and Grievance Cases

Justice Dept. Declines to Unseal Warrant for Search of Ilhan Omar’s Home

Flávio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil for the U.S. After Election Defeat

 Flávio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil for the U.S. After Election Defeat - The New York Times

Officials in Argentina said Mr. Bolsonaro entered the country by land then flew to Ecuador. Brazilian police had asked him to hand over his passports because of his links to an investigation. 

Mr. Bolsonaro is being investigated over his links to a Brazilian lawyer who is accused of laundering more than $1 billion through a scheme involving online gambling and trading, according to a court document reviewed by The New York Times.

Mr. Bolsonaro was heading for the United States, according to three U.S. officials. The State Department plans to issue visas allowing him and his family to enter the country, a senior department official said.

The U.S. government’s assistance to Mr. Bolsonaro could escalate tensions between the Trump administration and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who has accused President Trump of interfering in his country’s internal affairs.

ChatGPT’s Advice to Cut Her Seizure Drug Led to Devastating Consequences

 ChatGPT’s Advice to Cut Her Seizure Drug Led to Devastating Consequences - The New York Times

The writer explains the story

The chatbot helped a woman taper off a lifesaving drug and hide the plan from her doctors.

United flight returns to Las Vegas after apparent hijacking threat

 United flight returns to Las Vegas after apparent hijacking threat (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)

Taylor Swift is inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

 Taylor Swift is inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame | AP News (Thanks to Louden for this one)

At least 12 people injured in shooting near a football stadium in Florida

 At least 12 people injured in shooting near a football stadium in Florida (Thanks to Lexie for this one)

Anthropic Reveals 14-Fold Increase in Growth as It Prepares for Blockbuster I.P.O.

Anthropic Reveals 14-Fold Increase in Growth as It Prepares for Blockbuster I.P.O.

The maker of Claude is on the verge of what could be the largest ever public listing, in a test of the A.I. industry amid questions about whether the boom can be sustained. 

What the problem with who AI is making money for? (Kyla Scanlon)

Jensen Huang's moment with the Microducks steals the show

 Jensen Huang's moment with the Microducks steals the show

‘Klara and the Sun’ Review: She’s Not Like the Other Girls

 ‘Klara and the Sun’ Review: She’s Not Like the Other Girls

In Taika Waititi’s latest film, Jenna Ortega plays a futuristic android with a winsome outlook. Unfortunately, no emotional button goes unpushed.

Lawmakers Plan to Block Trump Nominees Over Ukraine Satellite Network Restrictions

 Lawmakers Plan to Block Trump Nominees Over Ukraine Satellite Network Restrictions

Senators have warned the White House they will withhold confirmation votes until the administration ensures the restoration of communications capabilities used by Ukraine’s military.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania and a former F.B.I. agent who worked on Russian counterintelligence in Kyiv, said he doubted the communication problems were accidental.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

A New Level of Threat and Fear Risks Pushing the U.S. and Iran Back to Full War

 A New Level of Threat and Fear Risks Pushing the U.S. and Iran Back to Full War (Thanks to Harper for this one)

With new intelligence and the possibility of all sides seeking pretexts for action, the war in Iran is entering a dangerous phase ahead of elections in the United States and Israel.

The newest tech threat parents need to protect their kids from has arrived

 The newest tech threat parents need to protect their kids from has arrived (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)

Over 600 households have raised $1.2M for pediatric cancer with Halloween displays. This year, they want to break $2M

 Over 600 households have raised $1.2M for pediatric cancer with Halloween displays. This year, they want to break $2M (Thanks to Kabir for this one)

The Second Big Bang...is here

 The Second Big Bang...is here

Warminster Red-Light Cameras Coming to Street Road: What Drivers Need to Know; New Pa. License Plates Still Causing Wrong E-ZPass Charges

 Warminster Red-Light Cameras Coming to Street Road: What Drivers Need to Know

New Pa. License Plates Still Causing Wrong E-ZPass Charges 

 

 

Mississippi AG says use of force was 'justified' in fatal shooting of toddler

Mississippi AG says police shooting that killed 1-year-old was ‘justified’ (Thanks to Aliya for this one)

Kohen Wiley was killed in June when officers fired at a car at a Walmart parking lot. A friend of Wiley’s mother, who was driving, was injured.

Mississippi attorney general says officer's force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley

Mississippi AG says use of force was 'justified' in fatal shooting of toddler

Students at an A.I. School Were Supposed to Learn Faster. Many Aren’t.

 Students at an A.I. School Were Supposed to Learn Faster. Many Aren’t. (Thanks to Jackie for this one)

Alpha School, a private network, is spreading into public education. While its students’ test scores are high, some parents and educators say it doesn’t live up to the hype.

First-of-Its-Kind Vaccine Ushers in New Hope for Cancer Patients

 First-of-Its-Kind Vaccine Ushers in New Hope for Cancer Patients (Thanks to Natalie for this one)

Beyond melanoma, scientists are studying cancer vaccines for glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and more.

Pentagon grants DHS permission to test heat ray weapon for potential use at border

 Pentagon grants DHS permission to test heat ray weapon for potential use at border (Thanks to Finn for this one)