Contact: [email protected]
We will never sell, rent, or give your personal information away under any circumstance.
Use the 
icons to see multiple angles on trending topics.
Trending
— Jacob Sullum ([email protected]) (Reason) (11/22)
Nov 23, 2020
A Scathing Ruling Against the Trump Campaign Highlights the Gap Between Rudy Giuliani's 'Massive Fraud' Claim and His Legal Arguments"A federal judge in Pennsylvania yesterday rejected a Trump campaign lawsuit that sought to prevent certification of the presidential election results in that state. U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann dismissed the campaign's claims with prejudice, meaning it cannot try again with a revised complaint. Brann's scathing ruling, which concludes that neither the campaign nor the two Pennsylvania voters named as plaintiffs had standing to bring the suit and in any event failed to state any valid constitutional claims, vividly illustrates the chasm between the arguments Donald Trump's lawyers are making in court and his assertion that systematic fraud denied him his rightful victory in the presidential election."
— Jacob Sullum ([email protected]) (Reason) (11/22) (Email) (Pocket)
Trump's legal team cried vote fraud, but courts found none"The campaign took the opportunity to answer one of the more puzzling questions that its election challenge raised: It only wanted the presidential election results set aside, not votes on the same ballots for other offices. The briefs were filed by Giuliani and co-counsel Marc Scaringi, a local conservative talk radio host who, before he was hired, had questioned the point of the Trump litigation, saying "it will not reverse this election.""
— Maryclaire Dale, Associated Press (PBS) (11/22) (Email) (Pocket)
Post-truth politics: As Trump pushes ‘fraud,’ partisans pick their own reality"Why would Trump supporters be so sure about fraud in the election, when evidence to support that claim is lacking, more than two dozen court cases have gone against the president’s campaign or been withdrawn, and a majority of the country believes otherwise? Media silos may be one big reason. A quick glance at news headlines on Nov. 18 shows the split: The New York Times and other mainstream sources led with stories about the national coronavirus spike, with a smattering of pieces about the organization of the incoming Biden administration. Fox News, Breitbart, and OANN lead with Trump lawyer Mr. Giuliani laying out a "path to victory," and the continuing struggle to certify vote results in Michigan’s Wayne County."
— Story Hinckley (Christian Science Monitor) (11/19) (Email) (Pocket)
Reason
Science
— William Petri, Professor Of Medicine, University Of Virginia (The Conversation) (11/20)
Nov 23, 2020
COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time – but are these game-changers safe?"I am an infectious diseases specialist and professor at the University of Virginia. I care for patients with COVID-19 and am conducting the local site for a phase 3 clinical trial of Regeneron’s antibody cocktail as a tool to prevent household transmission of COVID-19. I’m also conducting research on how dysregulation of the immune system during SARS-CoV-2 infection causes lung damage."
— William Petri, Professor Of Medicine, University Of Virginia (The Conversation) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Why emergency COVID-vaccine approvals pose a dilemma for scientists"Such competition between a clinical trial for a vaccine and emergency use of it is new for vaccine development. Only this month, the World Health Organization approved the first-ever emergency use for an immunization still being tested, against a type of poliovirus that is spreading in the Southern Hemisphere. But phase III trials for that jab have not yet begun."
— David Cyranoski (Nature) (11/23) (Email) (Pocket)
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment: Clinical trial reverses two biological processes associated with aging in human cells"The study was led by Professor Shai Efrati of the Sackler School of Medicine and the Sagol School of Neuroscience at TAU and Founder and Director of the Sagol Center of Hyperbaric Medicine at the Shamir Medical Center; and Dr. Amir Hadanny, Chief Medical Research Officer of the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at the Shamir Medical Center. The clinical trial was conducted as part of a comprehensive Israeli research program that targets aging as a reversible condition."
— (Science Daily) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Google Images
Tech
— (ZDNet) (11/19)
Nov 23, 2020
FireEye surges as investment firm Blackstone takes $400 million investment, board seat"Shares of cloud-based security provider FireEye shot up almost 10% in late trading Thursday evening after the company announced that private equity firm Blackstone Group is making a $400 million investment in the company and taking a board seat. "
— (ZDNet) (11/19) (Email) (Pocket)
Takekai International appoints new head of alternative investments division"Takekai International, a company dedicated to outperforming its competitors through client satisfaction and innovative market approach, has recently enhanced the Alternative Investment team, adding personnel and widening the departments hierarchic structure, creating a top-to-bottom division of experts in the field of alternative investments such as private equity, hedge funds, commodities and tangible assets, among others."
— Esmee.Samsworth (Hedge Week) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
ORIX invests $60M in Israeli crowdfunding platform OurCrowd"Japan-based financial services group ORIX Corporation today announced that it has made a $60 million strategic investment into the Israeli crowdsourcing platform OurCrowd. In return, the crowdfunding platform will provide the firm with access to its startup network. OurCrowd also says that the two groups will collaborate to create financial products and investment opportunities for the Japanese and global market, including access to its venture funds and specific companies in the OurCrowd portfolio."
— Frederic Lardinois (Tech Crunch) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Google Images
Business
— Andrew Tarantola (Engadget) (11/22)
Nov 23, 2020
After Math: Microsoft turns the big 3-5"The push towards EVs grows in strength daily. Last week a conglomeration of electric vehicle startups as well as numerous players within the battery tech supply chain decided to join forces and form a lobbying supergroup. This new organization will be tasked with courting lawmakers for their help in expanding the scope of the EV market. "
— Andrew Tarantola (Engadget) (11/22) (Email) (Pocket)
: Blink Charging’s stock more than doubles in a week amid a ‘great deal of market interest’ in the EV sector"What may have also fueled interest in EV stocks on Friday, Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George spoke about consumers’ declining dependence on gasoline, as well as the growth of the electric vehicle market, and how it posed a "significant threat" to even other renewable energy sources, such as ethanol."
— (Market Watch) (11/23) (Email) (Pocket)
How General Motors Can Become a Growth Stock"On Thursday, GM made its strongest pitch yet that it is a technology company that can win a coming electric-vehicle race against Tesla. "We are pivoting to a growth strategy," said Chief Executive Mary Barra at an investor event organized by Barclays. She committed an extra $7 billion of capital spending to electric vehicles over the coming five years, while vaunting the skills the company can transfer across from the traditional car business."
— (The Wall Street Journal) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Google Images
Trending
— (Market Watch) (11/20)
Nov 23, 2020
The Fed: Mnuchin pulls plug on some coronavirus emergency lending programs over Fed’s objections"In a letter to the Fed, Mnuchin said the Fed’s innovative lending program for small- and medium-sized businesses would not be extended. He also said he wouldn’t extend the Fed’s municipal lending and corporate credit loan programs."
— (Market Watch) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Barofsky Says It's Worst Time to Pull Plug on Fed Lending Programs"Neil Barofsky says now is not the time to end emergency Fed lending programs. He is the former special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, is a partner at Jenner & Block. Barofsky is also a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He appears on "Bloomberg Markets." Barofsky's opinions are his own. (Source: Bloomberg)"
— (Bloomberg) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Mnuchin pulls plug on some pandemic lending programs that Fed considers essential"Democratic U.S. Representative James Clyburn, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, said there was "absolutely no justification" for Mnuchin to shelve the Fed’s lending programs in the midst of the health crisis, and asked him to reverse the decision."
— (Reuters) (11/20) (Email) (Pocket)
Google Images
Trending
— Victoria Petersen (Wired) (11/21)
Nov 23, 2020
Climate Change Is Intensifying the Tsunami Threat in Alaska"Climate change makes land more unstable and increases the risk of landslide-caused tsunamis. As the climate warms, glaciers melt and recede, pulling back from the mountainsides they were hugging. Barry Glacier's wall of ice—which once held the hillside in place, supporting it against the fjord’s mountains—has thinned, edging away from the rock face, releasing its support and revealing an unstable slope that is slipping downward toward the ocean. Brentwood Higman, geologist and executive director of Ground Truth Alaska, is working with other scientists to research climate change’s impact on landslide-triggered tsunamis. "[These events] are worth worrying about regardless of climate change," Higman said. "But there are a number of reasons to think climate change makes them a lot more likely.""
— Victoria Petersen (Wired) (11/21) (Email) (Pocket)
Climate Change Closes In On Lebanon's Iconic Cedar Trees"Climate scientists predict average annual temperatures in the Middle East to increase by as much as 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, compared to the mid-1800s. The changes could mean heatwaves lasting some 200 days per year, with temperatures reaching an unbearable 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees C) by the end of the century. The projections show prolonged droughts, air pollution from dust storms, and rising sea levels. In order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the world must keep average temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, climate scientists say."
— (NPR) (11/22) (Email) (Pocket)
We Need a National Institute of Climate Change and Health"With a budget of over $40 billion, the NIH is the largest, best funded health research institution in the world. Yet currently a measly $9 million is spent annually on research directly related to climate change and health, according to the NIH’s own tally. If the NIH budget were scaled to $100, climate change and health funding would amount to two hundredths of one penny—what’s called "budget dust.""
— Richard J. Jackson (Scientific American) (11/22) (Email) (Pocket)
Wired
Scientific American
Pbs
Trending
— (Bloomberg) (11/23)
Nov 23, 2020
Biden to Name Longtime Aide Blinken as Secretary of State"President-elect Joe Biden intends to name his longtime adviser Antony Blinken as secretary of state, according to three people familiar with the matter, setting out to assemble his cabinet even before Donald Trump concedes defeat. Derek Wallbank reports on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe." (Source: Bloomberg)"
— (Bloomberg) (11/23) (Email) (Pocket)
Biden Expected to Nominate Anthony Blinken as Secretary of State"Blinken, 58, served as deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration and has close ties with Biden. If nominated and confirmed, he would be a leading force in the incoming administration’s bid to reframe the U.S. relationship with the rest of the world after four years in which President Donald Trump questioned longtime alliances."
— Ap News (Snopes) (11/23) (Email) (Pocket)
: Biden to name Antony Blinken his secretary of state: reports"Blinken is a longtime Biden adviser and a former deputy secretary of state. Bloomberg said the official announcement is expected Tuesday. The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal independently confirmed the news later Sunday night."
— (Market Watch) (11/23) (Email) (Pocket)
Google Images
