Writing Portfolio: PDB

The Presidential Daily Brief – OZY Media

From 2013-2023 I worked on OZY Media’s Presidential Daily Brief, editing and occasionally writing a daily newsletter covering the morning’s top stories with an international perspective, but for a primarily U.S. audience. These are examples of pieces I wrote. NOTE: OZY has gone out of business and the site is no longer accessible, so unfortunately links no longer work.

IMPORTANT

Two Years On
Coup Anniversary Sees Myanmar in the Grip of Civil War In the two years since Myanmar’s military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the junta has cracked down on dissidents, imprisoned journalists and executed pro-democracy activists. Human rights groups estimate 2,900 people have been killed and more than 17,500 have been arrested — and accusations of atrocities, like air strikes on schools, have become more frequent as clashes with rebel groups have escalated into a civil war. Today protesters marked the second anniversary of the coup with a “silent strike.” Photos on social media showed nearly empty streets in capital Yangon as residents stayed home in protest against military rule. (Sources: BBC, CNN, AP)

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Offshore Justice
Four More Suspects in Haiti Assassination Charged in US
A total of seven suspects in the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse are now in American custody, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. Three Haitian Americans and a Colombian national, considered the ringleaders of the plot, were transferred to Miami Tuesday and are due in court today. The men had been held in detention in Haiti since shortly after Moïse’s murder, but authorities decided to try them in the U.S. — on the grounds that the plot was partly conceived in Florida — as the Caribbean nation’s government institutions have crumbled in the years since the assassination. (Sources: Al Jazeera, NYT)

Dancing in the Dark
Iranian Couple Sentenced to 10 Years for Dancing in Public
Instagram influencers Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi were convicted of “encouraging corruption and public prostitution” as well as “gathering with the intention of disrupting national security” after they were filmed dancing near Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Tower in November. In the viral video, Haghighi was not wearing a head covering, in defiance of Iran’s strict dress code for women — who are also not allowed to dance in public. Tehran has cracked down on dissent since protests erupted over the death of Mahsa Amini in September: More than 14,000 people have been arrested and hundreds have been killed. (Sources: WaPo, AFP)

OK, Computer
Maker of ChatGPT Releases Plagiarism-Detection Tool
Educators have grown increasingly concerned over students using ChatGPT — the popular chatbot capable of producing detailed and articulate answers — since OpenAI released it Nov. 30. Some districts have banned ChatGPT from classrooms, while others are encouraging its use as a learning tool rather than a plagiarism machine. On Tuesday the company launched its new AI Text Classifier to help spot when text was produced by artificial intelligence. But OpenAI’s Jan Leike said the tool “is imperfect and it will be wrong sometimes,” warning, “We don’t fundamentally know what kind of pattern it pays attention to, or how it works internally.” (Sources: The Verge, AP)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today:  Monkey business. Two emperor tamarins that went missing from the Dallas Zoo Tuesday have been recovered from a closet in a nearby home. The zoo’s had a spate of trouble recently as a clouded leopard escaped from a vandalized enclosure and an endangered vulture was found dead under suspicious circumstances. (Source: WaPo) Needle in a haystack. The missing radioactive capsule that fell out of a truck in Western Australia has been found lying near the side of the road. (Source: BBC) Just visiting? Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has applied for a tourist visa to remain in the U.S. after he entered the country on a special visa for heads of state two days before his successor’s inauguration. (Source: The Guardian)
INTRIGUING

A.I. Phone Home
Has a College Student’s Machine Learning Algorithm Found Aliens?
When Peter Ma was still in high school he started developing a new neural network technique to scan space noise for “technosignatures” of intelligent life — and now he’s found some. The University of Toronto undergrad’s algorithm reexamined 150 terabytes of data from 820 nearby stars — data that was previously analyzed by classical techniques and found to be “devoid of interesting signals.” But Ma’s deep learning algorithm has already returned eight signals of interest — and together with SETI and Breakthrough Listen, the team is about to scale up their search to 1 million more stars using South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope array. (Sources: Phys.org, Popular Science)

Life Finds a Way
‘De-Extinction’ Startup Plans to Bring Back the Dodo
On Tuesday genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences announced it has secured $150 million in seed funding to resurrect the famously extinct flightless bird — along with the woolly mammoth and the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. Colossal, founded in 2021 by Harvard geneticist George Church and entrepreneur Ben Lamm, aims to edit the genomes of living relatives of the extinct creatures to create proxy species that would fill their empty ecological niches. All three animals’ genomes have been sequenced, but “de-extinction” will probably take years: It relies on technology that’s still being developed — though it could eventually benefit human health care too. (Sources: Gizmodo, Wired)

Art Pollution
Study Suggests Impressionist Paintings Inspired by Smog
Researchers have analyzed changes in style and color by Claude Monet and Joseph Mallord William Turner during the Industrial Revolution, revealing that their hazy skies may have been less a stylistic choice and more a reflection of industrial air pollution. Using a mathematical model, researchers tracked sharpness of outlines and levels of contrast in 60 Turner paintings and 38 Monets and found that their painted landscapes got hazier as sulfur dioxide emissions increased. “Impressionism is often contrasted with realism,” study co-author Peter Huybers said, “but our results highlight that Turner and Monet’s impressionistic works also capture a certain reality.” (Source: WaPo)

Apex Predator
Influencer Fined $18K for Cooking and Eating Great White Shark
A food blogger in Nanchong, China, is in deep water after buying, cooking and consuming a six-foot shark and broadcasting it to millions of followers. The woman, username Tizi, said, “It may look vicious, but its meat is truly very tender.” She then tore chunks from the carcass with her teeth. Great white sharks are endangered in China and it’s illegal to kill, buy or eat them, and Tizi has been fined $18,500. It’s unclear if she’ll face jail time — but authorities may look higher up the food chain for the person who sold the ill-fated shark online. (Source: Fortune)

Order on the Court
Coach Busted for Impersonating 13-Year-Old JV Basketball Player
A high school girls’ basketball program in Portsmouth, Virginia, has ended its season early after it was discovered that a 22-year-old assistant coach suited up and pretended to be an absent player. Arlisha Boykins, who took the court in a junior varsity game against young teens on Jan. 21, has since been fired, along with the varsity and JV coaches. The father of the impersonated 13-year-old said, “Coaches always preach to the kids about integrity and those types of things, so I was just shocked.” He noted that his daughter won’t be returning to Churchland High School next year. (Sources: USA Today, Yahoo Sports)
IMPORTANT

‘Shame on Us’
Congress Urged to Pass Police Reform Bill in Wake of Nichols’ Death
Amid ongoing protests over the death of Tyre Nichols — who was beaten, pepper-sprayed and shocked by Memphis police officers — his family’s attorney urged Congress to revisit a bill aimed at curbing police misconduct. “Shame on us if we don’t use his tragic death to finally get the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed,” Ben Crump said. The bill, which passed the House in 2021 but stalled in the Senate, would limit immunity for officers accused of misconduct and ban chokeholds, among other measures. Even if a revised bill passes the Senate, Republican House leaders are unlikely to put it to a vote. (Sources: WaPo, BBC)

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During Prayers
Dozens Killed in Explosion at Pakistan Mosque
At least 28 people have been killed and more than 150 injured after a blast in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. The mosque, which was filled with worshippers during afternoon prayers, is reportedly located in a police compound and mostly attended by law enforcement officials. Police say more people are likely trapped in the rubble. Local media reports suggest the blast may have been caused by a suicide bomber “sitting in the front row of the congregational prayers.” No one has claimed responsibility, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised “stern action” against those behind the attack. (Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN)

Fighting Words
Boris Johnson Says Putin Threatened UK With Missile Strike
The former British prime minister revealed to the BBC that in a phone call shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin warned that he could hit the U.K. with a missile. Johnson said, “He threatened me at one point, and he said, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you but, with a missile, it would only take a minute’ or something like that. Jolly.” No reference to the exchange appeared in official accounts of the call. Johnson said he believed Putin was “just playing along” with negotiations during a time when Western leaders were trying to dissuade him from war. (Source: BBC)

Bad Day at Work
Mining Company ‘Sorry’ for Losing Radioactive Capsule
Officials in Western Australia have dispatched search teams to track down a dangerously radioactive capsule that’s smaller than a penny. The cylinder, which is part of a sensor used by mining company Rio Tinto, is believed to have fallen out of a truck somewhere along an 870-mile journey through the desert. “We recognize this is clearly very concerning and are sorry for the alarm it has caused,” said Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott. Authorities warn that the public should keep their distance from the capsule, which could quickly cause radiation burns or radiation sickness, while prolonged exposure may cause cancer. (Sources: NYT, SMH)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
NATO over newbie. On Saturday, the Czech Republic elected Petr Pavel, a retired senior NATO general, as president over populist billionaire Andrej Babis. (Source: NYT) Not showing up. Tunisians expressed their disapproval of President Kais Saied’s policies with just 11% voting in parliamentary elections Sunday. “Almost 90% of Tunisian voters ignored this piece of theater and refused to be involved in the process,” said an opposition leader. (Source: The Guardian) He’s … sorry? The suspect in last year’s attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband called into a California TV station from jail. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get more of them,” the man said. “I should’ve come better prepared.” (Source: WaPo)
INTRIGUING

Bad Lessons
Neo-Nazi Homeschool Network With Thousands of Members Revealed
The Ohio couple behind the “Dissident Homeschool” Telegram channel, which distributes lesson plans focusing on white supremacy and neo-Nazi ideology to its 2,400 members, has been exposed. The network’s administrators, who call themselves “Mr. and Mrs. Saxon,” were revealed by an antifascist research group as Logan and Katja Lawrence using biographical information the couple shared on the network and on podcast appearances — including that their German shepherd was named Blondi after Adolf Hitler’s dog. Katja explained on a neo-Nazi podcast that they launched the network in 2021 because she “was having a rough time finding Nazi-approved school material” for her children. (Sources: Vice, HuffPost)

Déjà Vu
Facial Recognition Identifies Mysterious Raphael Masterpiece
British researchers have used artificial intelligence to match a painting known as the de Brécy Tondo to the famous faces on the Italian Renaissance master’s Sistine Madonna. Visual computing professor Hassan Ugail’s facial recognition algorithm revealed that the two paintings’ Madonnas had 97% similarity. The late art collector George Lester Winward, convinced the de Brécy Tondo was a genuine Raphael when he bought it in 1981, has finally been vindicated. “Looking at the faces with the human eye shows an obvious similarity,” Ugail explained, “but the computer can see far more deeply than we can, in thousands of dimensions, to pixel level.” (Source: Smithsonian)

Fierce Looks
‘Selfie Bear’ Discovers Wildlife Camera, Strikes 400 Poses
A black bear in Boulder, Colorado, has become a viral star after it came across a motion-detecting camera in the wilderness and began admiring its own reflection. The ursine influencer snapped 400 selfies — of the 580 total shots on the camera — from various angles, and has since won online admirers on Twitter. “Wildlife cameras help us learn what animals are out there and what they’re up to over the course of a day, a week or even year,” the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department explained. “And sometimes that means taking a bunch of selfies, just like us.” (Source: Insider)

Mysterious and Spooky
Lisa Loring, Original Wednesday Addams, Dies at 64
The actress, born Lisa Ann DeCinces, died Saturday of complications from a stroke. Loring, the first actress to portray the morbid Addams daughter, was cast in the 1964 sitcom when she was just 5 years old, and later said she “learned to memorize before I could read.” The series ran just two seasons, but had a lasting cultural impact: Loring was praised as an inspiration for Jenna Ortega’s take on the character in the Netflix hit Wednesday. Later in her career, Loring appeared in slasher movies in the ‘80s and had a recurring role as Cricket Montgomery on As the World Turns. (Source: Hollywood Reporter)

Super Storylines
Philadelphia and Kansas City to Meet in Super Bowl LVII
Last night, the Eagles barreled past the 49ers 31-7 while the Chiefs edged the Bengals 23-20 — setting up some notable Super Bowl firsts. When the winners face off on Feb. 12, Philly’s Jalen Hurts and K.C.’s Patrick Mahomes will be the first Black starting QB matchup in Super Bowl history. Meanwhile, as Chiefs coach Andy Reid takes on his former team, the Kelce brothers are making history as the first siblings on opposing sides: Eagles center Jason Kelce — who supported little brother Travis’ efforts with K.C. until their AFC championship win — tweeted, “Officially done being a Chiefs fan this season!!” (Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN, SI)
IMPORTANT

Who’s Running the Show?
Congress Opens Amid Uncertainty About Speaker of the House
Lawmakers convene today with a new balance of power after Republicans won the House by a narrow margin. But they haven’t rallied behind Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid to replace Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and some speculate he’ll be the first nominee in a century to lose the vote. McCarthy’s struggle exposes deep divisions within the GOP, as Trump loyalists pull the party further right and mainstream Republicans, reeling from Trump-endorsed candidates’ midterm losses, try to move beyond his influence. “This is a lot more important than about one person,” said one former aide. “It’s about whether Republicans will be able to govern.” (Sources: AP, NYT, WaPo)

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Striking Back
Ukraine Counterattack on Russian Barracks Kills at Least 63
In a rare admission, Moscow said that 63 of its troops were killed in a New Year’s Day strike on “a temporary deployment facility” in the Russian-controlled city of Makiivka. Ukrainian forces fired six rockets using a guided missile system provided by the U.S., and two were shot down by Russian defenses. Moscow rarely releases casualty numbers and when it does the figures are typically low: It claimed just one death from a crew of hundreds after the sinking of the Moskva cruiser. Kyiv, unsurprisingly, puts the numbers higher, estimating that 400 Russian soldiers were killed and hundreds injured. (Source: The Guardian, Al Jazeera)

Criminal Mind
Idaho Murder Suspect to Be Extradited From Pennsylvania
Bryan Kohberger, who is facing first-degree murder charges in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, is not expected to fight extradition at a court hearing today after he was taken into custody Friday at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. Investigators believe he broke into the students’ Moscow, Idaho, home in November “with the intent to commit murder,” though they have yet to reveal a possible motive. Kohberger is a doctoral student and teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University — about 10 miles from the crime scene. (Sources: AP, NPR, NYT)

Island Getaway
Florida National Park Closes After 300 Cuban Migrants Arrive
The National Park Service reported that the remote islands of Dry Tortugas National Park, at the tip of the Florida Keys, would be closed for several days “while law enforcement & medical personnel evaluate, provide care for & coordinate transport.” Around 300 migrants have landed in the last few days. The Coast Guard has noted an increase in arrivals from Cuba during “unseasonably good weather,” and sent 80 asylum-seekers back to the island last week. More than 220,000 Cubans have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year in what experts call the largest-ever exodus from the authoritarian nation. (Sources: WaPo, NBC)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
Ugly politics. Two members of Parliament in Senegal have been sentenced to six months in prison for attacking pregnant MP Amy Ndiaye and kicking her in the stomach during a budget debate. (Source: BBC) Conflicting reports. President Joe Biden contradicted remarks by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, saying the U.S. is not discussing joint nuclear exercises with Seoul amid growing tensions with North Korea. (Source: Al Jazeera) Not welcome. France’s César Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars, will ban anyone being investigated for sexual misconduct from its ceremony in February. Protests were expected over actor Sofiane Bennacer, who is under investigation for allegations of rape and abuse. (Source: AFP)
INTRIGUING

Hard Hit
Bills Safety in Critical Condition After Cardiac Arrest on Field
Monday night’s football game between the Bengals and the Bills was suspended in the first quarter when Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after tackling Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins. Medical staff administered CPR and restored Hamlin’s heartbeat before he was taken off the field by ambulance. The 24-year-old is sedated and in critical condition at a Cincinnati hospital. Hamlin had been collecting money for a toy drive with a goal of $2,500 before the game — but as of Tuesday morning it had raised over $3 million after an outpouring of support for the young player. (Sources: ESPN, USA Today)

Bad Call
Police Use Debunked 911 Analysis Method to Discredit Callers
A ProPublica investigation into 911 call analysis — a method to identify guilt from callers’ voices and word choices — shows it’s widely used by police and prosecutors despite consensus among experts that it’s unscientific. “I know what a guilty father, mother or boyfriend sounds like,” said Tracy Harpster, author of Is The Caller the Killer? His method was even used by the FBI until its own studies debunked it. But while callers have been wrongly accused or convicted, Harpster keeps his methods secret: “The more civilians who know about it, the more who will try to get away with murder.” (Source: ProPublica)

Turn Back Time
Can Ditching Old Cells Reverse the Effects of Aging?
Biochemist James Kirkland and molecular biologist Tamara Tchkonia of the Mayo Clinic are at the forefront of a movement to keep humans healthier for longer by targeting aging cells. These “senescent” cells, which have worn out and stopped dividing, build up as we age, releasing compounds that make tissues susceptible to illnesses like strokes, diabetes and osteoporosis. Kirkland and Tchkonia are taking aim at these toxic cells with senolytics — drugs that kill decrepit cells so that younger, healthier ones can flourish — in the hopes of extending not the lifespan, but the “health span” of humans to live disease-free. (Source: Ars Technica)

Sins of the Forefathers
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Family Targeted for Slavery Reparations
The Emmy-winning Doctor Strange actor may be asked to hand over some of his Hollywood earnings to descendants of sugar plantation slaves in Barbados. The Caribbean nation, which rejected British rule and became a republic in 2021, has begun seeking reparations from wealthy descendants of plantation owners. Abraham Cumberbatch, Benedict’s seventh great-grandfather, made the family’s fortune in the 18th century when he owned the Cleland plantation, where he enslaved 250 Barbadians. The actor played a slave owner in 12 Years a Slave and also portrayed an abolitionist in Amazing Grace as a “sort of apology” for his family’s history. (Sources: Insider, The Daily Beast)

Mistaken Identity
Invitation to Masters Tournament Goes to Wrong Scott Stallings
The three-time PGA Tour winner started worrying when his invitation hadn’t arrived by late December. “Honestly, I thought my wife had it and was doing something for Christmas.” But then he received an Instagram message from someone with a familiar name. “Hi Scott. My name is Scott Stallings as well and I’m from GA. My wife’s name is Jennifer too! I received a FedEx today from the Masters inviting me to play in the Masters Tournament,” he wrote. “I’m 100% sure this is NOT for me.” The golfer has since invited the other Stallings to join him at Augusta National. (Source: AP)
IMPORTANT

Out With the Old, In With the Older
Lula Inaugurated in Brazil While Bolsonaro Lands in Florida
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s leader for the third time on Sunday after narrowly thwarting former President Jair Bolsonaro’s reelection bid. “We do not carry any spirit of revenge against those who sought to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological designs, but we will guarantee the rule of law,” Lula said, hinting that the previous administration “will answer for their errors.” He vowed to work toward racial and gender equality, battle extreme poverty and protect the Amazon against deforestation. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, refused to attend the inauguration and has departed for Florida. (Sources: AP, Al Jazeera, DW)

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Under Fire
Kyiv Welcomes New Year Under Barrage of Drone Attacks
Russia unleashed another wave of drone attacks across Ukraine after relentless strikes throughout the weekend killed three civilians on New Year’s Eve and damaged energy infrastructure around the country. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that 40 drones “headed for Kyiv” were destroyed overnight, though the city is still experiencing power outages. In his first address of the new year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded the unity of the Ukrainian people. Russian forces are “afraid … because they are losing,” Zelenskyy said. “Drones, missiles, anything else will not help them. Because we are together. And they are together only with fear.” (Sources: CNN, AP)

Farewell
Mourners Pay Respects as Pope Benedict Lies in State at Vatican
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who became the first pope in 600 years to resign when he stepped down in 2013, will also be the first to be buried by his successor. Pope Francis will preside over the funeral on Thursday in St. Peter’s Square. It’s expected to draw thousands of mourners, but at Benedict’s request will be a relatively simple event by papal funeral standards, with delegations from Italy and his homeland, Germany. The late pontiff’s body will be displayed in an open casket in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica before he’s laid to rest in the tombs beneath it. (Sources: WaPo, BBC)

Tough Times Ahead
IMF: One-Third of World Economy Will Be in Recession in 2023
Kristalina Georgieva, head of the International Monetary Fund, warned Sunday that the coming year will be “tougher than the year we leave behind.” The IMF predicted a difficult 2023 thanks to the ongoing war in Ukraine, high inflation and the lingering effects of COVID-19, particularly in China, the world’s second-biggest economy. “Even countries that are not in recession, it would feel like recession for hundreds of millions of people,” Georgieva warned. But the outlook isn’t all doom and gloom. She said the “resilient” U.S. may yet avoid recession due to its “labor market remaining quite strong.” (Source: The Guardian, BBC)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
Cruise to nowhere. Hundreds of Viking Orion passengers have been stuck off the coast of Australia since Dec. 26 after the ship was denied permission to dock over “biofoul,” microorganisms and algae that can introduce invasive species. The hull must be cleaned before it can dock. (Source: BBC) Hey, EU! Croatia, which became a member of the European Union nearly a decade ago, has officially joined the Schengen zone, the world’s largest passport-free travel area. It has also dropped the kuna and switched to the euro. (Source: Al Jazeera) Travel chaos. Tens of thousands of travelers were stuck in the Philippines as Manila’s international airport suffered a severe power outage on New Year’s Day. (Source: CNN)
INTRIGUING

Tusk, Tusk
British Town Cancels New Year’s Fireworks for Visiting Walrus
Scarborough, a seaside town in the north of England, called off its annual display to cater to one specific tourist: an Arctic walrus called Thor. Wildlife experts warned that loud bangs and flashes could “distress” the walrus, who seems to be resting on his journey north. Thor has been drawing crowds of admirers since he appeared on Friday, but wildlife officers say, “It’s in his best interests to be left alone as much as possible.” If Thor’s well-being isn’t enough motivation, they added that he’s protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and disturbing him “may constitute an offense.” (Source: Sky)

You Say You Want a Resolution
The Science Behind Making New Year’s Resolutions Work
It’s the “fresh start effect.” Researchers say “temporal landmarks” — like birthdays, holidays and the beginnings of years — help divide time into “before” and “after,” letting us move on from past failures. Studies show resolutions about doing new things are significantly more successful than those about stopping things, and they’re more likely to stick if you have a specific goal from the start. Group dynamics help, whether it’s working toward a shared target or just holding each other accountable, and if all else fails, research shows that forming habits can be enough to keep us on track when our willpower fails. (Sources: Live Science, IFLScience)

Face of Evil
Has Jack the Ripper Been Unmasked … by a Carved Walking Stick?
British police have rediscovered a cane with a menacing face carved into the handle and some believe it’s the image of the notorious Victorian serial killer. The walking stick was reportedly a retirement present for Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline, who unsuccessfully investigated the brutal murders of five London women in 1888. The face is believed to be that of Abberline’s prime suspect, Dr. Alexander Pedachenko, a Russian anarchist and “lunatic” who lived in London at the time. However, some Ripper historians aren’t so sure: They believe similar canes were mass-produced as ghoulish souvenirs around the time of the killings. (Sources: Daily Mail, The Sun US)

Under the Weather
Jeremy Renner ‘Critical but Stable’ After Snowplow Accident
The Hawkeye actor’s representative said, “We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today.” Emergency responders were called to Renner’s Lake Tahoe home near Reno, Nevada, Sunday morning, and the actor was flown to a local hospital. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating the circumstances of the incident. Renner, who earned an Oscar nomination for 2010’s The Hurt Locker, is currently starring in Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+. His representative reassured fans that “he is receiving excellent care.” (Source: Hollywood Reporter)

Dropping the Ball
Big Ten Falls Flat in College Football Playoffs
For much of 2022 the Big Ten Conference ruled college football. It announced plans to steal USC and UCLA away from the Pac-12 in 2024. It scored a lucrative new deal for media rights. And for the first time, two of its teams made the CFP’s four-team bracket at once. But on New Year’s Eve, both of those heavyweights — Ohio State and Michigan — dropped the ball as TCU upset the Wolverines 51-45 and Georgia squeezed past the Buckeyes 42-41. As the conference faces a new year, questions about its leadership are inevitable, and Commissioner Kevin Warren is reportedly already interviewing for new jobs. (Sources: SI, ESPN)
IMPORTANT

‘Blizzard of the Century’
Buffalo Digs Out After Storm Brings Piles of Snow and Travel Chaos
At least 28 people have died in what’s being called New York’s worst storm in 50 years. President Joe Biden declared a federal emergency Monday night as snowplows struggled to clear as much as four feet of snow. Gov. Kathy Hochul said “scores and scores of vehicles” abandoned along roads were complicating that effort. Though conditions have improved slightly, Mayor Byron Brown urged residents to stay home, saying, “You will still get stuck out there.” Many travelers are also stuck as the storm wreaks havoc on air travel across the country. Southwest alone had canceled more than 2,870 flights by Monday night. (Sources: Buffalo News, NYT, NPR)

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Chilly Reception
Texas Gov: Migrants ‘Agreed’ to Go to VP’s House in Winter Storm
Gov. Greg Abbott’s administration dismissed criticism of his latest migrant-busing stunt, saying the roughly 130 migrants shipped to Washington, D.C., Saturday night had agreed to go there. They were deposited outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in 18-degree weather, some dressed in shorts and T-shirts. “Governor Abbott abandoned children on the side of the road in below-freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve,” said a White House spokesman. But Abbott isn’t backing down on his criticisms of President Biden’s immigration policies. Earlier this week, he warned Biden that asylum-seekers in Texas were at risk of “freezing to death on city streets.” (Sources: NYT, WaPo)

On Edge
Serbia Puts Army on High Alert Amid Tensions With Kosovo
Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said Serbian forces are on the “highest level of combat readiness … to the level of the use of armed force.” Tensions between the neighboring countries, already high in recent months over protests and blockades, spiked on Sunday after shots were fired near NATO troops in northern Kosovo. Since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, Belgrade has refused to recognize the state and has stoked dissent among the 120,000 ethnic Serbs living there. Earlier this month, Kosovo officially applied for European Union membership, while Serbia has strengthened its ties to Russia during the invasion of Ukraine. (Sources: DW, The Guardian)

Two Lies and … Another Lie?
New York Congressman-Elect Admits He ‘Embellished’ His Résumé
Republican Rep.-elect George Santos ended a weeklong silence Monday and confirmed some of the findings of a New York Times investigation into his background. “My sins here are embellishing my résumé,” Santos confessed, admitting he lied about graduating from college. “I didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning,” he said. “I’m embarrassed and sorry.” He also admitted he “never worked directly” for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, despite his previous claims. And he confessed that when he said his grandparents “fled Jewish persecution” during WWII he didn’t mean to imply that they were Jewish, clarifying, “I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’” (Sources: NYT, AP)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
Royal reception. A record 10.6 million viewers tuned in for King Charles’ first Christmas speech. The new monarch paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and addressed the cost of living crisis gripping the U.K. (Source: The Guardian) Something new. Scientists have identified two new minerals never before seen on Earth from a 33,000-pound meteorite discovered in Somalia. (Source: CNN) Zero ‘zero-COVID.’ China has announced that beginning Jan. 8, 2023, overseas visitors will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival if they have a negative PCR test result. (Source: NYT)
INTRIGUING

Tickled Pink
Endangered Pink Iguana Makes Comeback in Galápagos
The Pacific Ocean archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is famously home to a range of rare creatures found nowhere else on Earth. Among them is the Galápagos pink land iguana, first discovered in 1986, which is found exclusively on the slopes of Isabela Island’s Wolf Volcano. Only 200-300 of these critically endangered pink beauties remain, but this year — for the first time since they were discovered — researchers have spotted hatchlings and juvenile populations. The new generation has “given us the first hope for saving this enigmatic species from extinction,” said Galápagos Conservancy President Paul Salaman. (Source: Popular Science)

Alloy’s Well That Ends Well
Move Over, Graphene: There’s a New Toughest Material on Earth
Researchers have proven that a metallic alloy of chromium, cobalt and nickel is over 100 times tougher than the famously sturdy graphene. Better yet, it gets even tougher at extremely low temperatures. Physicist Dong Liu and her team tested the alloy at temperatures as low as minus 424 degrees Fahrenheit and found it “mind-boggling” how strong it remained. That could make it ideal for space infrastructure — or for storing clean energy on Earth. “If you drive a car with a hydrogen vessel made from something very brittle, you’re essentially carrying a bomb around with you,” Liu said. “But not with this material.” (Source: LiveScience)

Foreign Relations
South Korea Reverses Ban on Imported Sex Dolls
While there wasn’t a specific law prohibiting the adult toys from being brought into the country, for years, customs officials had — perhaps overzealously — applied a law banning goods that “harm the country’s beautiful traditions and public moral.” As a result, thousands of sex toys have been confiscated at the border. But after reviewing recent court rulings and consulting with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the customs service officially began enforcing a new rule Monday that allows life-size adult dolls into the country. Officials estimate there are still at least 1,000 seized sex dolls in government storage. (Source: AP)

Phone Phobia
Consultant Helps Millennials Overcome Fear of Talking on Phone
Mary Jane Copps noticed 16 years ago that smartphone-savvy young workers were missing a vital business skill: actually talking on the phone. “In my generation, the phone was on the wall in everyone’s house, and we were taught to answer it and make calls at a young age,” she explains. “Now we have several generations that were never taught anything about talking on the phone.” Copps started a consultancy called The Phone Lady to help Gen Zers and millennials get comfortable with old-school tech. An hour of one-on-one coaching will set you back $480 and a full-day corporate workshop runs $3,500. (Source: Insider)

Penalties
Iran Grounds Flight to Keep Soccer Star’s Family From Leaving
Iranian soccer legend Ali Daei was waiting to meet his wife and daughter on Monday in Dubai for a family vacation. Instead, their flight from Tehran was diverted to Iran’s Kish Island in the Gulf and the pair were removed from the plane. Daei, a former captain of Iran’s national soccer team and one of the country’s biggest sports stars, has spoken out in support of ongoing antigovernment protests. Local media reported that a travel ban had been ordered against his wife, and the family’s jewelry store and restaurant were forced to shut earlier this month for “cooperation with antirevolutionary groups.” (Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC)
IMPORTANT

In-Person Pitch
Zelenskyy Rallies US Congress for Military Support
In a passionate address to lawmakers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared Ukrainian fighters to Americans who resisted Nazi forces at the Battle of the Bulge. “The occupiers have a significant advantage in artillery … in ammunition, they have much more missiles and planes,” he said, pressing the U.S. for more military aid. Though the chamber gave him 18 standing ovations, Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz didn’t clap and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Josh Hawley, who have criticized U.S. financial support, didn’t attend. “Your money is not charity,” Zelenskyy reassured those in attendance. “It’s an investment in … global security and democracy.” (Sources: WaPo, The Guardian)

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Back on Top
Netanyahu Reaches Deal to Form Far-Right Government
Benjamin Netanyahu announced the formation of a new six-party political coalition Wednesday night — the most far-right government in Israel’s history — which includes formerly fringe ultranationalist and ultrareligious parties. Once ratified by Parliament, the coalition will return Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving leader, to the helm after only 18 months out of office. Though he promised to “act in the interest of all citizens of Israel,” many observers are worried that he’ll be tied to the extreme agendas of his coalition partners, who have vowed to make sweeping legislative changes, including allowing lawmakers to override decisions made by the Supreme Court. (Sources: NYT, Al Jazeera)

Shocking Crime
Group of Teen Girls Charged With Murder in Toronto Stabbing Attack
Eight girls aged 13 to 16 have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a 59-year-old man in downtown Toronto early Sunday morning. The teens, who appear to have met on social media, allegedly “swarmed” the unnamed victim, assaulting and stabbing him after an argument. A witness said she was smoking with the victim outside a homeless shelter when the group approached them and tried to take her liquor bottle. “He protected me,” the witness explained. Toronto police said they chose to charge all eight girls because “all eight were together and participating in this event, which is disturbing.” (Sources: The Guardian, CBC)

Bank Man Busted
Sam Bankman-Fried Extradited to US as His Associates Plead Guilty
The embattled crypto boss returned to American soil in FBI custody — only to find that two of his associates, FTX co-founder Gary Wang and Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, have pleaded guilty to defrauding investors. “If you participated in misconduct at FTX or Alameda, now is the time to get ahead of it,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. “We are moving quickly and our patience is not eternal.” Last week, federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Bankman-Fried with stealing billions of dollars in FTX customer assets in what Williams described as “one of the biggest financial frauds in American history.” (Sources: BBC, Reuters)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
Mission complete. NASA has announced that its Mars InSight lander has stopped responding to communications after a productive four-year mission. InSight’s last official message read: “My power’s really low, so this may be the last image I can send.” (Source: Live Science) Early release. Nepal has ordered the release and deportation of French serial killer Charles Sobhraj, known as The Serpent, who is believed to have killed a string of Western backpackers, among others, in the 1970s. (Source: AP) Immortal. A Roanoke, Virginia, statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee will be replaced with a life-size bronze of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman whose cancer cells, taken without her consent 70 years ago, have helped save millions of lives through medical research. (Source: BBC)
INTRIGUING

Under the Surface
Archaeologists Discover Lost 2,000-Year-Old Kingdom in Guatemala
The huge ancient Maya site contains nearly 1,000 settlements across 650 square miles, including “massive platform and pyramid constructions” that suggest the densely populated area had a centralized political structure. It was connected by 110 miles of raised roads and a complex water-management system and included dozens of courts for playing Mesoamerican sports. Researchers led by Idaho State University archaeologist Richard Hansen discovered the site using lidar, remote-sensing technology that bounces lasers off surfaces to reveal the shape and distance of objects — even those obscured by dense vegetation. They said this finding “challenges the old notion of sparse early human occupation.” (Sources: Miami Herald, Vice)

Rhymes With Stick
Ardern’s Hot Mic Gaffe Raises $63K for Prostate Cancer Research
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern didn’t mince words during a debate last week when she returned to her seat after heated questions from Libertarian Party leader David Seymour. “He’s such an arrogant prick,” she muttered — but it was caught by a hot mic and preserved in the official parliamentary record. After the comment went viral, Ardern and Seymour joined forces to auction the signed transcript to raise money for prostate cancer research. “Can’t say I expected this,” Ardern posted. “A faux pas with the old mic in parliament has turned into $100,100 [$63,000 U.S.] for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.” (Source: The Guardian)

Greener Gas
Chilean Synthetic Gasoline Factory Begins Production
Highly Innovative Fuels, a startup formed in collaboration with Porsche and a handful of energy companies, uses wind power to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen, then combines the hydrogen with carbon captured from the air to synthesize methanol. It will initially produce 34,000 gallons per year — which will be used by Porsche for its Supercup race series — with plans to scale up to 145 million gallons by 2026. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service announced this week that it’s buying 66,000 electric vehicles, replacing a third of its fleet, in a bid to reduce emissions and save money. (Sources: Ars Technica, Quartz)

Not So Blue
Lizzo Scores a Hit With Art Fans for ‘Blue Monday’ Tribute on ‘SNL’
When the lights came up on Lizzo’s Saturday Night Live performance of “Break Up Twice,” many art lovers recognized the scene instantly: Annie Lee’s iconic painting Blue Monday, depicting a weary Black woman waking in a gloomy room. The response was dramatic — especially for Abe Ilo, Lee’s grandson, who’s managed her art since her death in 2014. “The fact that Lizzo, whose star is so bright right now … for her to use her time in the spotlight on SNL to honor my grandmother was definitely just awe-inspiring,” he said. He’s now offered Lizzo the rights to use Blue Monday again in a video for the song. (Sources: Chicago Sun Times, Artnet)

Man of Steel
Pittsburgh’s NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris Dies at 72
The legendary running back, who sparked the mid-1970s Steelers dynasty into postseason glory with the “Immaculate Reception” — voted the greatest play in NFL history — died on Wednesday. Harris’ death comes just two days before the 50th anniversary of the play and three days before the Steelers planned to retire his No. 32 during a halftime ceremony. In his career, Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh. Steelers president Art Rooney II said, “From his rookie season, which included the Immaculate Reception, through the next 50 years, Franco brought joy to people on and off the field.” (Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN)
IMPORTANT

In the Dark
4.5 Million in Ukraine Without Power After Russian Attacks
After losing ground and suffering embarrassing battlefield defeats, Russia has increasingly targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure, staging large-scale missile and drone attacks on power plants in recent weeks. In his nightly address Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 4.5 million people were without power. “The very fact that Russia is resorting to energy terrorism shows the weakness of our enemy,” Zelenskyy said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell agreed, saying that because “the Russian army is unable to conquer” they are resorting to “destroying a country.” He urged Europeans to remain unified in their support for Ukraine, especially in the cold winter months ahead. (Sources: BBC, DW)

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Political Violence
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Wounded in Assassination Attempt
The former prime minister was shot in the leg Thursday afternoon when his anti-government protest convoy came under attack in Wazirabad. Khan has been leading protesters to Pakistan’s capital to demand snap elections after he was removed from power in April in a vote of no confidence. Ten other people were injured in the attack, and one of Khan’s supporters was killed. Police identified the gunman as Faisal Butt and released a video of the suspect allegedly confessing and saying he acted alone. Khan’s successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, denounced the attack, saying, “Violence should have no place in our country’s politics.” (Sources: Al Jazeera, AP, BBC)

Detweet
Musk Begins Mass Layoffs at Twitter Via Email
According to an internal memo sent to the platform’s employees, the new management will begin cutting the workforce Friday morning “in an effort to place Twitter on a healthy path.” The news will come via emails sent to their work accounts — or their personal ones, for those who have been let go. But overnight tweets by employees suggest many have already lost access to company communications. The layoffs were rumored before Musk’s takeover and reports estimate as many as half of Twitter’s employees will lose their jobs, though the world’s richest man previously told investors he’d lay off 75% of staff. (Sources: WaPo, TechCrunch)

Consequences
FBI Warns of Synagogue Attacks Amid Rampant Antisemitism
Federal investigators announced Thursday that they’d received “credible information of a broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey from online forums frequented by extremists. The state FBI office warned, “We ask at this time that you take all security precautions to protect your community and facility.” While law enforcement said no specific target was mentioned, state Attorney General Matt Platkin said patrols would be increased in “sensitive areas.” Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have increased in the last few years and have spiked recently, including demonstrators making Nazi salutes on an L.A. overpass in support of Kanye West’s antisemitic tweets. (Sources: NYT, CNN)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
He Said, Xi Said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in China meeting with President Xi Jinping about economic matters, but promised a “candid exchange” on difficult issues, including human rights and the war in Ukraine. (Source: DW) Retaliation. Former President Donald Trump has struck back against New York Attorney General Letitia James by filing a lawsuit — despite objections from his own legal advisers — accusing her of trying to “recklessly injure” him with her investigations into his business practices. (Source: NYT) Astro-nomical gloves. Hot defense helped the Astros hold on for a 3-2 win over the Phillies Thursday night. Houston leads the World Series 3-2 going into Saturday’s Game 6. (Source: USA Today)
INTRIGUING

Lights Off
Maui Dims Outdoor Lighting to Protect Wildlife
The Hawaiian island has adopted a measure to protect endangered sea turtles and rare sea birds, which can be confused by artificial lights. But some humans aren’t thrilled about being in the dark. The law, which goes into effect in July 2023, requires nearly all outdoor lights to be angled downward and fully shielded so no light shines onto the ocean. That means nighttime hula dances and luaus are effectively banned, striking a blow against tourism. It will also impact film and TV shoots like The White Lotus — and it doesn’t even allow exceptions for resort security lighting and runway lights at Maui’s airports. (Source: WaPo)

OK, Computer
New Tool Helps Users Visualize Biases in A.I. Image Generators
Accidental bias in artificial intelligence is a well-documented problem, from facial recognition software that’s far less precise on non-white faces to A.I. recruiting tools that penalize resumes containing the word “women.” But it’s not always easy to visualize the problem if you’re not a computer scientist. With the release of the text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion, A.I. image creation is now much more accessible (and, frankly, addictive). Now the Stable Diffusion Bias Explorer, a new tool designed by an A.I. ethics researcher, lets anyone test combinations of certain professions and traits to see how the model visualizes biases in real time. (Sources: Digital Trends, Vice, Images by Stable Diffusion)

Hello, My Name Is…
178 Hirokazu Tanakas in One Place Break Guinness World Record
Scores of Hirokazu Tanakas — identified by nicknames referencing favorite foods or hobbies, like “Chewing Gum,” “Hot Pot” and “Triathlon” — assembled in Japan to set a record for the largest gathering of people with the same first and last names. They surpassed the previous mark set by 164 Martha Stewarts (including the famous one) in 2005. It was the third attempt by the Same Name Association of Hirokazu Tanakas, which failed to achieve sufficient numbers of Hirokazu Tanakas in 2011 and 2017. “I feel as if we’re all related and it doesn’t feel like we’ve met for the first time,” said group leader Hirokazu Tanaka. (Source: UPI)

They Did
Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico Secretly Married
Mariana Varela of Argentina and Fabiola Valentín of Puerto Rico, who reportedly met while competing at the Miss Grand International pageant in 2020, announced their happy news on Instagram after keeping their romance secret for nearly two years. “After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors to them on a special day. 28/10/22,” the brides posted alongside a celebratory image outside a courthouse in San Juan. Same-sex marriage is legal in Puerto Rico under U.S. law and is now allowed in much of Latin America, including Mexico, where it recently became legal in all states. (Sources: People, NBC)

Too Little Too Late?
Nets Suspend Kyrie Irving for Promoting Antisemitic Film
The Brooklyn NBA team suspended the point guard for at least five games without pay for his ongoing failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs.” Irving has been under fire since promoting a movie with antisemitic themes last week and, as of Thursday night, had refused to apologize or disavow antisemitism. The team described his behavior as “deeply disturbing,” saying he was “currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.” Several hours after his suspension was announced, Irving finally spoke out, saying, “I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate.” (Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports)
IMPORTANT

Conceding Nothing
Bolsonaro Backers Won’t Accept Defeat, Ask Military to Intervene
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro refuse to believe Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Sunday’s election. Following the 2020 U.S. election playbook, Bolsonaro stayed mum for days before agreeing to the transfer of power. But after years of questioning the integrity of elections, Bolsonaro’s message has taken root. Protesters have blockaded roads and swarmed military bases, alleging voting fraud — and even demanding the military take control to prevent da Silva taking office. Bolsonaro has called on protesters to dismantle the roadblocks, saying, “I am as upset and sad as you are, but we have to put our heads in the right place.” (Sources: NYT, BBC)

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‘Path to Chaos’
Biden Warns of Threats to Democracy, Political Violence
President Joe Biden addressed the nation Wednesday night from Washington, D.C.’s Union Station, just steps from the Capitol. Invoking the memories of Jan. 6 and the recent politically motivated assault on Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden called on Americans to defend democracy. He warned that political violence must end, and candidates must be willing to accept defeat or risk setting the country on a “path to chaos.” Law enforcement agencies are bracing for potential violence surrounding next week’s midterms, and early voters are already reporting intimidation by armed “election monitors” in some states. (Sources: WaPo, Newsweek)

Arms Down
Ethiopia, Tigrayan Forces Agree to End Two-Year War
African Union mediators announced that after a week of formal peace talks in South Africa the warring parties have agreed to a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” including coordinated disarmament and unhindered access to humanitarian aid. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the agreement, saying, “The commitment to peace remains steadfast. And our commitment to collaborating for the implementation of the agreement is equally strong.” Tigrayan rebels said they’d made concessions to “build trust” but noted that reaching an agreement “speaks volumes about the readiness on the part of the two sides to lay the past behind them to chart a new path of peace.” (Source: Al Jazeera)

Up, Up and Away
Fed Raises Interest Rates, Warns More Hikes on the Way
The Federal Reserve boosted interest rates another three-quarters of a point Wednesday, its fourth consecutive 0.75% increase. Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank would consider a smaller hike at its December meeting, but warned that more are likely. “It is very premature to be thinking about pausing,” Powell said. “We have a ways to go.” U.S. markets slumped following the news, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.5% and the Nasdaq falling more than 3%. The benchmark rate, which was near zero in March, is now in the 3.75-4% range — the fastest increase since the early 1980s. (Sources: Reuters, WSJ)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
ICYMI: ICBM. North Korea continued its barrage of missile launches Thursday, firing an intercontinental ballistic missile over its eastern waters. (Source: AP) Pay up. Paramount and CBS must cough up $9.75 million after a state investigation found the network covered up sexual misconduct allegations against former CEO Les Moonves. (Source: NYT) Time to think. Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury last month spared him the death penalty. (Source: USA Today)
INTRIGUING

In the Bag
Professional Cornhole Rocked by BagGate Scandal
First chess, now cornhole: Is nothing sacred? The pro version of a game most people know from family cookouts and tailgate parties — yes, there is pro cornhole — is mired in a controversy involving illegal beanbags. In the wake of a scandal so serious that it eclipsed the sporting prowess on display at the 2022 American Cornhole League World Championships in August, when multiple competitors’ bean bags weren’t regulation size, new rules are brewing. A beanbag crackdown is underway. As one cornhole pro noted, most players are good people, “but all it takes is one bad apple.” (Source: WSJ)

They Found It!
Scientists Map All 10,000 Nerve Fibers in Human Clitoris
After decades of assuming the human clitoris contains 8,000 nerve fibers — a number from a 1976 book that was based on cow anatomy — researchers finally counted them. Dr. Blair Peters of Oregon Health and Science University led the research, using donated samples from seven transmasculine patients who underwent phalloplasty, the surgical construction of a penis from other tissues. The research highlights how little is known about the clitoris, and hints at a broader lack of research on female pleasure. While Peters notes that “this work came from trans people and is also for trans people,” it could also benefit women who have had trouble reaching orgasm. (Sources: LiveScience, Gizmodo)

Broken Glass
Yale Replaces Smashed ‘Racist’ Stained Glass Window
Six years ago, a frustrated kitchen employee at Yale University dramatically smashed a “racist, very degrading” stained glass window depicting slaves picking cotton, saying, “I shouldn’t have to come to work and see things like that.” Now the university has replaced 12 windows celebrating the antebellum South and slavery-supporting politician John C. Calhoun. The new panels — in a building recently renamed from Calhoun College to Grace Harper College in honor of a pioneering computer scientist — were designed by Black artists Faith Ringgold and Barbara Earl Thomas. One depicts a Yale dining hall with a cracked window emblazoned with the words “Broken is Mended.” (Source: Artnet News)

For Creel
Want to Live in Vecna’s House From ‘Stranger Things’?
If you’re shopping for a 6,000-square-foot Victorian with “unparalleled provenance and pop culture pedigree” — and you have $1.5 million lying around — you can buy your own portal to the Upside Down. The 140-year-old mansion known as the Creel House in Stranger Things season four went on the market just before Halloween. According to the realtor’s listing, it boasts a “majestic formal dining room where telekinesis is no longer practiced during meals” and possibly “some residual demogorgons skulking about the property.” But if you’re set on Hawkins, Indiana, there’s bad news: Vecna’s place is in Rome, Georgia, where the series is filmed. (Sources: Nerdist, Daily Mail, photo by Netflix)

Stellar
Astros Pitchers Combine for First World Series No-Hitter Since 1956
Cristian Javier owned the Philadelphia Phillies so completely in the Astros’ 5-0 Game 4 win that it seemed he might take them down single-handedly — and without a hit. But after 97 pitches and six innings, he passed the ball to the bullpen. Relievers Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly picked up where Javier left off, blanking the Phillies’ sluggers and recording the first combined no-hitter in postseason history and just the second no-hitter in World Series history. With the series now tied 2-2, the Astros will have Cy Young winner Justin Verlander on the mound for Game 5 in Houston. (Sources: USA Today, Yahoo Sports)
IMPORTANT
[This one isn’t a complete email because it was co-written by others. The following pieces are my contributions.]

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Bibi’s Back
Exit Polls Show Netanyahu Set to Return to Power
Former — and apparently future — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is projected to lead his right-wing bloc to a narrow win in Tuesday’s general election, saying, “We are close to a big victory.” It’s a dramatic turnaround for Israel’s longest-serving PM, who was toppled last year after 12 years in power. With just under 85% of votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud party, together with the far-right, ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, will control up to 65 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. If the polls are wrong, however, and the parties are deadlocked, it will spark the country’s sixth election in just four years. (Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC)

Georgia on His Mind
Graham to Face Questioning in Election Interference Probe
The Supreme Court dealt Sen. Lindsey Graham a blow Tuesday, rejecting a request to spare him from testifying before a grand jury investigating alleged 2020 election interference in Georgia. Graham claimed his communications with state election officials — which came amidst former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his defeat in Georgia — were protected by the Constitution. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is particularly interested in Graham’s phone calls with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who Trump urged to “find” roughly 11,000 votes to overturn his defeat. The grand jury has asked Graham to testify by Nov. 17. (Sources: The Hill, WaPo)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
Wake-up call. Capitol Police cameras captured the moment a man broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home, but no one was monitoring the feed because she wasn’t in residence. Pelosi faces more death threats than any other U.S. lawmaker. (Source: WaPo) Danish drama. Denmark’s left-wing bloc held onto power with a tiny one-seat margin in Tuesday’s tense general election that was triggered by the so-called mink crisis. (Source: France24) Not so fast. Elon Musk has said that banned Twitter accounts, including Donald Trump’s, will not be reinstated until after the U.S. midterms. (Source: The Guardian)
INTRIGUING

Fake the Vote
BBC Creates Fake Americans to Study US Politics
BBC reporter Marianna Spring wanted to get inside the heads of American voters to understand how online disinformation spreads. To do this, she’s created fake social media profiles for a diverse group of characters, from retired MAGA fan Larry to liberal lesbian Emma. “We’re doing it with very good intentions,” Spring explained, noting that “the U.S. is the key battleground.” Using carefully crafted traits and interests — and computer-generated profile pictures — Spring is watching how platforms’ algorithms target each archetype. She reports that despite social media companies’ efforts to rein in disinformation, plenty of it is still getting through. (Source: AP)
IMPORTANT

Buried Horrors
Mass Grave Found in Liberated Ukrainian City
“Russia leaves death everywhere,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his Thursday night address as he revealed that Ukrainian forces had discovered a mass grave in the northeastern city of Izium. The city, recently recaptured from Russian forces, was left in ruins, with local officials saying 80% of its infrastructure has been destroyed. Zelenskyy promised to provide more details today as exhumations of more than 440 bodies are due to begin. “We want the world to know what is really happening and what the Russian occupation has led to,” Zelenskyy said. “Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izium.” (Sources: BBC, DW)

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One-Way Ticket
GOP Governors Escalate Efforts to Ship Migrants to Blue States
Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas on Thursday stepped up efforts to deliver the immigration debate to Democrats’ home turf. DeSantis chartered private planes to ship 50 Venezuelan migrants to the wealthy Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard. One migrant said his family was promised shelter, English lessons and assistance with work permits, but believed they’d been lied to when they arrived to find Martha’s Vineyard residents unprepared for their arrival. Meanwhile, Abbott sent two busloads of migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris’ official residence. The White House accused the Republicans of “using migrants as political pawns.” (Sources: Reuters, ABC News)

Long Time Coming
Mexico Arrests Military Officials Over 2014 Case of Missing Students
When 43 students disappeared in southern Mexico in 2014, their families quickly raised suspicions about military involvement at the local army base. Eight years later, the base’s commanding officer, retired Gen. José Rodríguez Pérez, has been arrested, along with two other military members. Last month, a government truth commission declared it a “state crime” and named Rodríguez responsible for the disappearance of six of the students, who were allegedly kept alive in a warehouse for days before he ordered their murder. Shortly after the report was published, arrest warrants for 83 individuals — including former Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam — were issued. (Sources: Al Jazeera, AP)

Paperwork
Judge Appoints Special Master for Mar-a-Lago Documents
A federal judge has agreed to former President Donald Trump’s choice of a special master to review thousands of documents seized from his Florida residence in August. Raymond Dearie, a semiretired federal district judge appointed by President Ronald Reagan, is tasked with reviewing 11,000 records the FBI recovered from Mar-a-Lago. The move is expected to slow the Justice Department probe of Trump’s handling of classified documents. The government can’t use the seized materials for its criminal investigation during Dearie’s review, which must be completed by Nov. 30 — though he’s been asked to prioritize the roughly 100 documents marked as classified. (Sources: NPR, NYT)

Briefly
Here are some things you should know about today: 
Relationship issues? Russian President Vladimir Putin conceded that Chinese President Xi Jinping had “concerns” about the war in Ukraine after the two leaders met in Uzbekistan Thursday. (Source: NYT) Save the date. The U.S. Senate won’t hold a vote on protecting same-sex marriage until after November’s midterms. (Source: The Hill) They’re hired. Saturday Night Live has announced a slate of new talent for the fall season, including Molly Kearney, the show’s first nonbinary cast member. (Source: NBC News)
INTRIGUING

A.I. Phone Home
Has a College Student’s Machine Learning Algorithm Found Aliens?
When Peter Ma was still in high school he started developing a new neural network technique to scan space noise for “technosignatures” of intelligent life — and now he’s found some. The University of Toronto undergrad’s algorithm reexamined 150 terabytes of data from 820 nearby stars — data that was previously analyzed by classical techniques and found to be “devoid of interesting signals.” But Ma’s deep learning algorithm has already returned eight signals of interest — and together with SETI and Breakthrough Listen, the team is about to scale up their search to 1 million more stars using South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope array. (Sources: Phys.org, Popular Science)

Life Finds a Way
‘De-Extinction’ Startup Plans to Bring Back the Dodo
On Tuesday genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences announced it has secured $150 million in seed funding to resurrect the famously extinct flightless bird — along with the woolly mammoth and the thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. Colossal, founded in 2021 by Harvard geneticist George Church and entrepreneur Ben Lamm, aims to edit the genomes of living relatives of the extinct creatures to create proxy species that would fill their empty ecological niches. All three animals’ genomes have been sequenced, but “de-extinction” will probably take years: It relies on technology that’s still being developed — though it could eventually benefit human health care too. (Sources: Gizmodo, Wired)

Art Pollution
Study Suggests Impressionist Paintings Inspired by Smog
Researchers have analyzed changes in style and color by Claude Monet and Joseph Mallord William Turner during the Industrial Revolution, revealing that their hazy skies may have been less a stylistic choice and more a reflection of industrial air pollution. Using a mathematical model, researchers tracked sharpness of outlines and levels of contrast in 60 Turner paintings and 38 Monets and found that their painted landscapes got hazier as sulfur dioxide emissions increased. “Impressionism is often contrasted with realism,” study co-author Peter Huybers said, “but our results highlight that Turner and Monet’s impressionistic works also capture a certain reality.” (Source: WaPo)

Apex Predator
Influencer Fined $18K for Cooking and Eating Great White Shark
A food blogger in Nanchong, China, is in deep water after buying, cooking and consuming a six-foot shark and broadcasting it to millions of followers. The woman, username Tizi, said, “It may look vicious, but its meat is truly very tender.” She then tore chunks from the carcass with her teeth. Great white sharks are endangered in China and it’s illegal to kill, buy or eat them, and Tizi has been fined $18,500. It’s unclear if she’ll face jail time — but authorities may look higher up the food chain for the person who sold the ill-fated shark online. (Source: Fortune)

Order on the Court
Coach Busted for Impersonating 13-Year-Old JV Basketball Player
A high school girls’ basketball program in Portsmouth, Virginia, has ended its season early after it was discovered that a 22-year-old assistant coach suited up and pretended to be an absent player. Arlisha Boykins, who took the court in a junior varsity game against young teens on Jan. 21, has since been fired, along with the varsity and JV coaches. The father of the impersonated 13-year-old said, “Coaches always preach to the kids about integrity and those types of things, so I was just shocked.” He noted that his daughter won’t be returning to Churchland High School next year. (Sources: USA Today, Yahoo Sports)

Daily PDB posts recovered from my personal email and the Internet Archive