Thursday, August 28
Headlines
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Two children killed in Minneapolis school shooting. Another 17 people were injured, 14 of them children, and the shooter was also dead after he shot through the windows during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School, authorities said yesterday. Two of the injured children were in critical condition but are expected to survive. The academic year for the school, which includes preschool through eighth grade, began on Monday. Authorities said they did not yet know the motive of the shooter, reportedly a former student of the school who was transgender, but FBI director Kash Patel said the shooting was being investigated as domestic terrorism and as a hate crime against Catholics.
Trump’s 50% tariff on India kicked in. India’s exports to the US will now get hit with a steep import tax, after President Trump doubled the 25% tariff he initially imposed on Indian goods to punish the country for buying Russian oil amid the war in Ukraine. The heightened tariff, which took effect yesterday, is putting a strain on US-India relations and could be a big blow to India since the US is its biggest export destination. It shipped about $87.3 billion worth of goods to the US last year. However, some major exports are exempt for now, including smartphones—which is good news for Apple as it’s been shifting manufacturing there in an effort to decrease its reliance on China.
The FDA approved updated Covid vaccines—but only for some people. The regulator signed off on this year’s version of the shots; however, it revoked the broad authorization for the vaccines, placing new limits on who is eligible to get them. The approval is for those at higher risk of severe illness, including people over age 65 or those who have an underlying health condition. All others will now need to get approval from a doctor to get the jab. The change comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. often criticized vaccines, especially those that use mRNA. It could impact who can access the shots and whether insurance companies will cover them.—AR
Robert Reich
Friends,
Trump’s escalating rhetoric of a “crime wave” in America, coupled with threats to occupy Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and many other cities, has put many Democrats in a bind.
They worry if they deny crime is a problem, they could turn off swing voters who always and inevitably worry about crime.
As with immigration, crime is an issue that Trump can demagogue because, while the rate of serious crime his fallen dramatically, most Americans continue to fear crime. That fear has been heightened by expanding homeless encampments and drug overdoses in plain view, no matter what the statistics say.
Crime has also been a racial dog whistle. At least since Richard Nixon emphasized “law and order” and Ronald Reagan said he’d be “tough on crime,” Republicans have used fear of crime as code for white fear of Black people.
At A Glanc
"Punk rock" dinosaur found in Morocco.
How the world is quietly getting better.
Nike announces Caitlin Clark as newest signature athlete.
Why do hammerhead sharks have a hammerhead?
The best movie performances of the 21st century.
Time capsule sealed by Princess Diana opened after 34 years.
The visiting interstellar comet that keeps getting weirder.
Some colleges permit students to bring pets to campus.
Clickbait: Mascot hangs up hooves after deciding running is overrated.
Historybook: Black teenager Emmett Till is brutally lynched after wrongfully being accused of offending a white woman (1955); MLK delivers "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, DC (1963); Shania Twain born (1965); Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorce (1996); Actor Chadwick Boseman dies (2020).
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits MLB-leading 50th home run, joining Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season (More) | See tracker for this season's home run leaders (More)
> YouTube tops Nielsen ratings as most-watched streaming service for sixth straight month, accounting for 13.4% of all TV viewership in July (More)
> The 82nd Venice Film Festival kicks off today; see preview of most anticipated films (More) | "KPop Demon Hunters" becomes Netflix's most-watched movie ever with 236 million views (More)
Science & Technology
> SpaceX carries out 10th test flight of its massive Starship space vehicle, deploys dummy Starlink satellites for first time before splashing down in the Indian Ocean (More) | See previous write-up (More)
> Researchers demonstrate treatment preventing premature fusion of infant skulls in mice; craniosynostosis affects roughly one in 2,200 human births (More)
> Primate study reveals correlation between longer thumbs and larger brains, suggesting increased cognition evolved with improved manual dexterity (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.3%, Nasdaq +0.4%); investors await Nvidia Q2 earnings report after the bell today (More)
> Telecom giant AT&T to buy certain EchoStar wireless spectrum licenses for $23B, expanding AT&T's network and resolving federal probe into EchoStar’s 5G network build-out compliance; EchoStar shares close up 70% (More)
> Trump Media partners with Crypto.com to form new cryptocurrency treasury firm; Trump Media plans to make digital tokens central to new rewards system on Truth Social platform (More) | What's cryptocurrency? (1440 Topics)
Politics & World Affairs
> Israel releases initial findings into inquiry over back-to-back strikes on Gaza's Nasser Hospital earlier this week; says six of the 20 people reported killed were Hamas members, a claim denied by the militant group (More)
> Pakistan issues flood alert to its Punjab region amid heavy rains and accusations India improperly released two dams, dangerously increasing the flood threat (More)
> Dust storm known as haboob hits Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, leading to flight cancellations, power outages (More) | See photos (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Southern Born
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What is it like to be SOUTHERN?
For some, I am sure, being southern is something very special and somewhat unique because of the personality traits that most southerners possess.
However, I really don't share those traits, at least, as I perceive them, such as:
- growing up on a farm
- learning to fish and hunt
- acquiring handyman skills
- working in tobacco fields
- operating farm equipment
- being overly friendly to strangers
- liking pickup trucks
- wearing cowboy boots and hats
- having a southern accent
- eating biscuits/gravy in the morning
- having large families
- learning how to cook
While I was born in North Carolina, I was raised in Alexandria, Virginia (considered southern) just 8 miles south of Washington, DC.
I really did not start living in the south until 1966 when I attended college in North Carolina, as an out-of-state student. So, when I got married in 1969 and became a resident of North Carolina, one could say I was becoming a southerner.
So, ever since 1969 until present time (2025) or 56 years, I have lived my life as a southerner.
What does that mean to me?
- I like southern living
- I like low vehicular traffic
- I like having lots of land
- I like most southern cooking
- I like living around low crime
- I like a low cost of living
- I like southern hospitality
- I do not hunt or fish or farm
- I do not drive a pickup truck
- I do not wear cowboy boots or hats
- I do not own a handgun
Living in East TN for 35 years, I have gotten used to the slow lifestyle...
Fresh Discovery Hinting at Advanced Engineering Behind Egypt’s Pyramids
In a groundbreaking discovery that challenges historical narratives, researchers have uncovered a sophisticated water management system around Egypt's Pyramid of Djoser, suggesting that ancient builders employed advanced engineering techniques to construct monumental structures.
Recent archaeological findings in Egypt are challenging traditional narratives about the construction of ancient monuments. At the heart of this revelation is a sophisticated water management system discovered around the Pyramid of Djoser.
This remarkable network, hidden beneath the sands, suggests that the ancient Egyptians employed advanced engineering techniques to harness seasonal floodwaters, enabling the construction of monumental structures. Such insights not only revolutionize our understanding of ancient Egyptian capabilities but also open new avenues for exploring historical engineering marvels.
Wednesday, August 27
Headlines
Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty Images
Starship’s 10th test flight succeeds, in big boost to SpaceX, NASA. The largest and most powerful rocket ever built went up to space and back, launching at 7:30pm ET yesterday from Starbase in Texas. The Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster both made simulated landings before exploding (the former in the Indian Ocean, the latter in the Gulf of Mexico). An expert source told the New York Times that the company “appeared to achieve all of their test objectives” and is “back on track” after three Starship tests failed earlier this year. The mission gives both SpaceX and NASA good news and momentum as they work together toward the Artemis III mission, which intends to put two astronauts on the moon and is currently scheduled for late 2027.—HVL
US government may pursue ownership stakes in leading defense contractors. On Squawk Box, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump administration was considering options to take stakes in defense companies following its $9 billion deal for 10% of Intel and that Lockheed Martin is “basically an arm of the US government.” Lutnick said he would leave the economics of such deals to the secretary of defense, but also added that the president is thinking of changing how munitions are financed. Department of Defense appropriations require the annual approval of Congress. Lockheed told CNBC in response to an inquiry, “We are continuing our strong working relationship with President Trump.”—HVL
Norway divests from Caterpillar over Palestine demolitions. The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund is selling off its ~$2.1 billion stake in US equipment-maker Caterpillar, it announced this week, citing Israel’s documented use of its bulldozers to destroy Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Gaza. The fund’s independent ethics council said, “Caterpillar’s products are being used to commit extensive and systematic violations of international humanitarian law” with the help of the US government, which buys the machinery and sells it to Israel. The White House, Israel, and Caterpillar didn’t immediately comment. Amid mounting public and political pressure, Norway’s wealth fund has divested from more than 20 Israeli companies this year in an ongoing ethics review, but Caterpillar is the first major US company to get the boot.—ML
Robert Reich
Office Hours: Will Jeffrey Epstein finally take Trump down?
It all may happen soo
Credit: Tom Tomorrow at thismodernworld.com
Friends,
Trump’s possible connection to convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein — who allegedly died by suicide in prison — may be the one thing that undermines his base of support and causes his Republican loyalists in Congress to turn on him. This makes it politically explosive.
With Congress now returning from August recess and the media and Congress looking into “Epsteingate,” the issue will either grow or disappear in the next few weeks.
Roughly half of the country now believes that Trump was involved in crimes committed by Epstein, according to recent polls. And more than two-thirds believes that the Trump administration is hiding information about Epstein.
At A Glance
Lost luggage auctions give a peek into strangers' lives.
... and ranking the worst US airports for flight delays.
How Alfred Hitchcock changed cinema.
Instagram launches new feature to connect college students.
Belgium tops countries with the most calories per person.
... and Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala create a new nature reserve.
Cracker Barrel to return to old logo after backlash.
How parents took over college dorm rooms.
Clickbait: Fisherman catches a rare blue lobster.
Historybook: Krakatoa volcano eruption, among the largest in recorded history, kills around 40,000 (1883); President Lyndon B. Johnson born (1908); "Guinness Book of World Records" first published (1955); Sociologist and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois dies (1963); American vaudevillian Gracie Allen dies (1964).
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