When to quit: A simple framework for life’s toughest decisions
Thursday, June 19
Robert Reich
A reflection on Juneteenth
Friends,
The Supreme Court recent unanimous ruling in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services hasn’t got nearly the attention it deserves.
On the surface, the ruling seems innocent enough. The Court merely decided that white and straight employees who allege they’ve been discriminated against don't need to meet a higher standard of proof than do Black or LGBTQ+ employees who sue for discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
(Prior to this ruling, some courts had required that white or straight employees demonstrate not only that they were discriminated against but they also worked in a discriminatory environment.)
The Court’s decision in Ames appears a logical extension of the 2023 ruling by its six conservative justices ending race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities across the country.
At A Glance
The history of Juneteenth in photos.
... and how red drink became the holiday's official beverage.
... and meet the man who created the Juneteenth flag.
The story of Walt Whitman's lost novel. (via YouTube)
The 10 best places to live in the world.
Astronomers release colorful image of Sculptor galaxy.
MLB baseballs don't fly as far as they used to.
See Jeremy Allen White as the Boss in Springsteen movie trailer.
Clickbait: Trader Joe's opens across the street from Trader Joe's.
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 2025 James Beard Award winners announced; Jungsik Yim of New York City's Jungsik named outstanding chef, while Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado, wins outstanding restaurant (More)
> R. Kelly suffers near-fatal overdose in prison, alleges he was purposely given too much medication by prison staff; Kelly is serving a 30-year sentence on sex trafficking charges (More) | Doctor in Matthew Perry's death case to plead guilty to providing Perry with ketamine in month leading up to the actor's overdose death (More) | Anne Burrell, chef and Food Network star, dies at age 55 (More)
> TV viewership via streaming tops combined broadcast and cable viewing in the US for first time with 44.8% of TV consumed via streaming (More)
Science & Technology
> OpenAI awarded $200M defense contract to develop AI tools for the Pentagon; company partnered with autonomous defense tech firm Anduril in December (More)
> Octopuses use their arms to sample the microbial populations on different surfaces, distinguishing between food, eggs, and regular objects (More)
> Genetically modified yeast creates hydroxyapatite—a naturally produced mineral with commercial applications—out of human urine; process may eventually lower the cost of wastewater treatment (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -0.8%, Dow -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.9%) as Israel-Iran conflict continues (More) | Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting concludes today; the central bank is expected to keep its benchmark interest rates steady (More)
> Elon Musk's AI startup xAI reportedly in talks to raise $4.3B in equity funding (More) | Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says rollout of generative AI will reshape company's workforce (More) | Amazon expands Prime Day event to four days, will take place July 8 to 11 (More)
> Eli Lilly to acquire gene-editing biotech firm Verve Therapeutics for up to $1.3B; Verve shares rise over 80% on the news (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Department of Homeland Security directs ICE agents to continue raids on farms, hotels, and restaurants, reversing guidance issued last week (More) | ICE agents arrest New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander for allegedly assaulting and impeding officers while escorting a defendant from immigration court; Lander was released hours later (More, w/video)
> At least a dozen killed—including a US citizen—and over 100 wounded in Russian drone and missile barrage in Kyiv, marking one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital (More) | At least 59 killed and over 200 wounded while waiting for aid trucks in Gaza; Israeli forces say they are reviewing the incident (More)
> Indonesia issues highest-level alert after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts in the south-central region, spewing hot ash around 30,000 feet high (More, w/video)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Dogs and Cats
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My closeness to animals started at an early age when our parents brought a puppy into our home for my sister and me; a dachshund who we named Rebel. Rebel lived to be twenty-two years old and finally had to be put down due to health complications. That task of taking Rebel to the Vet for that to happen fell on the shoulders of our father who said he would never have another animal in his house after that. He was true to his word.
My love of animals has shifted from dogs to cats although, I would had never imagined I would have ever changed. It happened when I moved to TN and met this woman years after my divorce who had cats.
Cats are easier to take care of than dogs as they do not have to be house-broken or walked. You just create a litter box and even the smallest kitten knows what to do.
Cats can be both independent as well as needy and can be friendly as well as standoffish. Probably this is the reason why it is difficult to have dog owners like cats, since dogs are friendly all the time and never want to be alone.
Currently, my wife and I have three cats who are 13/14 years old and will only be around for a few more years. They are like our children. We have all sorts of cat trees for them to play on and right now they sleep on the bed in our spare bedroom for guests. Our cats get cold in the winter, so we have 3 heating pads under their blankets to keep them warm.
We moved to a smaller house two years ago but in that other house, we had built them a screened in area outside the basement. They could get to that area anytime they wanted through a swinging cat door. They had several areas out there, shelves that we had built, where they could lay out and sun themselves.
These will be our last animals, and I cannot imagine my life would have been like after 1990 without cats in it.
The Quantum Imperative
Quantum is critical to US tech leadership—ignoring it risks economic, scientific, and national security setbacks.
The tip of the spear for technological dominance in the battle between the United States and China is not limited to AI, but in the future application of quantum physics to computing, measurement, and communications.
The economic and scientific opportunities presented by quantum are unparalleled. For example, its ability to simulate molecular interactions at the atomic level could significantly accelerate drug discovery. Its capacity to solve complex mathematical problems has applications across sectors ranging from materials science to space travel. Quantum optimization algorithms could also transform financial risk assessment and enhance supply chain logistics.
Wednesday, June 18
Headlines
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Kraft Heinz will remove artificial dyes from all products by 2027. The Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lunchables proprietor made the announcement yesterday, about two months after the FDA under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed a plan to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors from food and medication. Kraft Heinz said 90% of its products don’t use synthetic dyes, but the ones that do (primarily in the beverage and dessert categories) will soon switch to natural colors. And, no, this does not mean your ketchup is going to turn beige: Kraft says it’s never used artificial colors in its signature condiment.
President Trump threatened Iran’s supreme leader. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the US knows where Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “hiding,” calling him an “easy target” but saying he will not be killed, “at least not for now.” He also demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as it traded airstrikes with Israel for the fifth day. Trump’s escalating rhetoric came as the US moved more warships into the Middle East in what officials said was a defensive position. The president also posted, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” but it was unclear if that meant the US was directly involved in the conflict. Trump is reportedly weighing using US military assets to strike Iran.
OpenAI and Microsoft are reportedly beefing. The biggest partnership in AI might be on the rocks, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. OpenAI is reportedly considering the “nuclear option” of accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive behavior as it seeks to convince the tech giant to approve its conversion into a for-profit company. Per the WSJ, the two companies don’t agree on how much of OpenAI Microsoft would own if the former were to launch a public-benefit corporation. Microsoft has invested billions into OpenAI in exchange for access to its technology, but they have recently become rivals amid the artificial intelligence arms race.—AE
Robert Reich
Where will we be in four years?
Friends,
I don’t have to tell you how bad it is. If you’re like me, you approach each day’s news with a knot in your stomach. The question I keep asking myself (and others) is how will this Trumpian daymare end? Where will we be, say, four years from now?
Let me give you a few scenarios and ask you to respond with your view of the likeliest outcome four years from now (or you can check “other” and share with us a different view of the likeliest outcome).
At A Glance
World's oldest lemur turns 39 years old.
The brain cell types determining which smells are pleasant.
A plant pairings guide for your garden.
Fewer than 50 people have the rarest known blood type. (via YouTube)
Colorado climbers rescued after being struck by lightning.
Joey Chestnut returns to Nathan's hot dog contest.
What it's like to go on a family therapy retreat.
Skipping rocks and other forgotten summer activities.
Clickbait: Can stool predict imminent death?
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Florida Panthers will look to win their second straight Stanley Cup tonight (8 pm ET, TNT) in Game 6 with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven final series against the Edmonton Oilers (More)
> "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane reveals ALS diagnosis has left him experiencing paralysis in his right arm (More) | Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, fashion designer and "Project Runway" contestant, identified as protester who was shot and killed during "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City (More)
> Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit that alleged Ed Sheeran's hit "Thinking Out Loud" infringed on the copyright of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" (More)
Science & Technology
> Astronomers discover roughly three-quarters of the universe's unaccounted-for ordinary matter—which makes up 5% of the universe's matter and energy—is in thin gases located between galaxies (More) | ... and tomorrow's 1440 Science & Technology newsletter explores the life and work of Stephen Hawking (Sign up here)
> Federal judge rules Trump administration's cuts to diversity-related grants at the National Institutes of Health were illegal; awards amount to around $1B in funding, decision likely to be appealed (More)
> Researchers develop technique to target specific cells affected by ALS, a key step in delivering effective treatments; neurodegenerative disease affects around 30,000 people in the US, has no current cure (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +1.0%, Dow +0.8%, Nasdaq +1.5%) on hopes Israel-Iran conflict remains contained (More) | The US and the UK say they have reached a trade deal, expected to cut tariffs on goods from both countries; details have not been made public (More)
> Crypto billionaire Justin Sun to take Tron Group public through a reverse merger with Nasdaq-listed toy manufacturer SRM Entertainment; SRM will rebrand as Tron Inc. (More) | What is a reverse merger? (More)
> WhatsApp to introduce ads to some parts of its messaging app as well as a subscription model for the first time (More) | Trump Organization to launch $47.45-per-month mobile phone plan and $499 smartphone in September (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> President Donald Trump calls on the G7 to readmit Russia, suggesting its 2014 ouster paved the way for the current conflict in Ukraine; also calls on the group to consider adding China (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Suspected gunman in attack on Minnesota lawmakers faces state, federal charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder; authorities say he traveled to two other lawmakers’ homes during the spree, but they were not home (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Federal judge extends restraining order on Trump administration's effort to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students; hearing scheduled for June 23 (More)
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +1.0%, Dow +0.8%, Nasdaq +1.5%) on hopes Israel-Iran conflict remains contained (More) | The US and the UK say they have reached a trade deal, expected to cut tariffs on goods from both countries; details have not been made public (More)
> Crypto billionaire Justin Sun to take Tron Group public through a reverse merger with Nasdaq-listed toy manufacturer SRM Entertainment; SRM will rebrand as Tron Inc. (More) | What is a reverse merger? (More)
> WhatsApp to introduce ads to some parts of its messaging app as well as a subscription model for the first time (More) | Trump Organization to launch $47.45-per-month mobile phone plan and $499 smartphone in September (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> President Donald Trump calls on the G7 to readmit Russia, suggesting its 2014 ouster paved the way for the current conflict in Ukraine; also calls on the group to consider adding China (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Suspected gunman in attack on Minnesota lawmakers faces state, federal charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder; authorities say he traveled to two other lawmakers’ homes during the spree, but they were not home (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Federal judge extends restraining order on Trump administration's effort to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students; hearing scheduled for June 23 (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Simplicity
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As life continues to progress technologically, it moves away from simplicity and into complexity. I am just stating the obvious because I don't believe that anyone stops and thinks about life when it was SIMPLE.
When I speak of simplicity, I am not talking about life through the eyes of a baby, or an adolescent, or a teenager, or young adult but through the eyes of living life without cell phones or computers.
I got my first computer in 1990 and my first cell phone about ten years later, when I had been laid off and had to work as a CSR while waiting for an opportunity commensurate with my education and experience. The need for the cell phone grew out of a requirement that I had to let my employer know an hour before my shift if was going to be late. If I was stuck in rush hour traffic, there was little chance that I could get off the highway and find a telephone box to make that call. Therefore, I was forced to buy a cell phone so I could call from the car.
Before that incident, life to me, was simple and uncomplicated.
In 1990, when I got that first computer, I had to go through another learning curve that took me over a decade with which to feel comfortable... and today, with each new computer, the systems and applications become more and more complicated.
It is somewhat of a nightmare, when I have to call for tech support because half of my day will be wasted. The same situation occurs when calling about a credit card error or trying to make an appointment with a doctor. It takes a minute for the recording to explain your options then the recording wants to try and solve your problem without talking to a real person.
To me, this is not having a simple life.
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