Monday, July 14
Headlines
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Trump announced 30% tariffs for Mexico and the EU. The president posted letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on his Truth Social account, saying the import taxes would be placed on Mexico and the European Union effective August 1. Both trading partners have been negotiating with the American coterie for weeks, but neither has been able to finalize a deal. They responded by saying they will continue to seek agreements before the deadline. US equity futures fell Sunday evening following the news.
Updates from the Texas flood tragedy. Emergency workers in Kerr County, which suffered the worst in the July 4 flooding, were instructed yesterday by local police to leave the Guadalupe River corridor due to the threat of new flooding, although some operations were allowed to proceed later in the day. Also yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended FEMA’s response to the disaster. She said she was not sure if a report released Friday by the New York Times, which found that the agency laid off hundreds of call center workers during the crisis, was true. Per the NYT, which cited anonymous sources, FEMA answered more than 99% of calls on July 5, but just 35.8% the next day and 15.9% on July 7. Noem said, “The anonymous attacks to politicize a situation are completely wrong.”
Superman won the weekend box office, boding well for DC Universe. The reboot starring David Corenswet in the eponymous role and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane took the No. 1 spot with $122 million in ticket sales domestically, good for the third largest debut of the year behind A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch. The performance bodes well for both Warner Bros. and DC Studios. It’s the first movie released since DC co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed in 2022, following a raft of failed superhero flicks. “The DC vision is clear, the momentum is real, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said.—HVL
Robert Reich
Friends,
I’m receiving an increasing number of messages from some of you who are concerned about me. Please don’t be.
Some are concerned about my safety. “You’re speaking out so much and so visibly that they’ll try to get rid of you,” one of you warns.
I assure you I won’t take unnecessary risks. But I’m not going to stop speaking out.
Others of you are concerned about my health. “You’re writing this Substack every day, you’re the subject of a new movie, and you’ve got a book coming out. You’re pushing 80. Get enough sleep! Don’t work so hard!” is a typical comment.
I do get enough sleep (although as I get older, it’s more challenging to get a full night in).
But I have to work hard because we’re in a national emergency. I need to get you the facts, arguments, and analyses you need to take an active role against the Trump regime.
At A Glance
Largest Mars rock on Earth goes to auction this week.
Cloned yak delivered via C-section weighing 74 pounds.
Oklahoma City tops US cities with fastest-selling homes.
Explore marital trends since 1930.
Beetle infestation threatens books in Hungary's oldest library.
Polish pyramids discovered dating back 5,500 years.
Girl's note to home residents found on empty toilet paper roll.
Animal genders in kids' storybooks.
Clickbait: Blaze of glory takes on new meaning.
In The NEWS
Federal Budget, 101
The US federal budget outlines how the government plans to both raise revenue and spend it via its 3 million workers across more than 400 agencies in a given fiscal year. The president submits a detailed budget request to Congress. Congress then reviews this proposal and develops its own budget resolutions through 12 appropriations bills. If there's an impasse, "continuing resolutions" can be temporarily used to maintain funding while bills are debated.
Federal spending is divided into two main categories: mandatory and discretionary.
Mandatory includes expenses required by existing law (like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid). Discretionary spending includes funds for programs subject to annual review like defense, education, and transportation.
A federal deficit occurs when the government’s annual spending exceeds its revenues. The national debt is the cumulative total of these annual deficits and represents the government’s outstanding financial obligations.
... Read our full explainer on the federal budget here.
Also, check out ...
> Before 1921, there was no federal budget, and it was pretty chaotic. (More)
> What happens if we hit the national debt ceiling. (More)
> Track US spending this year. (More)
Barbecue, explained
Barbecue is an umbrella term for several culinary methods that involve live fire or smoke to cook meat. From Memphis-style dry-rubbed ribs to Argentine asado, the style is an integral part of cuisines around the world.
Barbecue can involve direct or indirect heat techniques. Direct heat, often called “grilling” in the United States, involves quickly cooking ingredients directly over the heat source (think hamburgers or Japanese yakitori skewers). Indirect heat, where the ingredients are placed adjacent to the flames to cook “low and slow,” is often associated with American barbecue dishes like smoked brisket (read more about the difference).
Modern barbecue originated in the precolonial Caribbean and Americas; the word is thought to come from “barabicu,” an Indigenous term referring to wooden frames used to cook meat high above the fire. While there are dozens of unique regional barbecue styles in the US, the “Big Four” are the best known: Carolina, Memphis, Texas, and Kansas City.
... Read our full deep dive on barbecue here.
Also, check out ...
> The delicious chemistry of barbecue. (More)
> Exploring the United States of barbecue sauces. (More)
> Why are barbecues considered patriotic? (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Art Exposure
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When I was a young lad, perhaps in junior high or the last year of elementary school, I cannot remember, my mother took me into Washington, DC to The National Theater, to see Broadway plays.
I saw OKLAHOMA, WEST SIDE STORY, SOUND OF MUSIC, CAMELOT, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, MUSIC MAN... are a few of the ones I can remember.
My mother had annual tickets to The National Theater, and I was invited when one of her club members could not attend.
When she was not taking me to the theater, she was taking me to a variety of Art Galleries in the Washington, DC area to familiarize me with that side of life.
I remember going to one art gallery to see a modern art show and the paintings made me wonder why anyone would buy them. They were mostly one solid color with a circle of another color in the corner, or a strip of another color going down one side. The price tag as I recall was $10,000.
Regardless of what my mother's intention may or may not have been, I had a strong interest in art galleries and the theater most of my life after I graduated from high school.
I also tried being an artist, fooling around with charcoal drawings, watercolors, acrylics, and oils. My interest in being an artist lasted about five years when I finally realized that without lessons from someone who knew what they were doing, I was just wasting my time.
Scientists Unveil Quantum Leap That Could Make Silicon Obsolete With 1,000× Faster Electronics
In a remarkable breakthrough, researchers have developed a technique that could transform the electronics industry, propelling devices into a new era of speed and efficiency.
By employing a method known as thermal quenching, scientists have discovered a way to switch a quantum material between conductive and insulating states, paving the way for electronics that are 1,000 times faster than current models.
This innovation holds the potential to replace traditional silicon components, promising devices that are both exponentially smaller and significantly faster.
As the demand for faster and more compact technology continues to grow, this discovery could revolutionize how we interact with electronic devices.
Sunday, July 13
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