At least 55 people have now died in the Maui wildfires, and more than 1,700 buildings have been destroyed. / The Honolulu Star-Advertiser How a changing environment—with less precipitation and more invasive species—dried out Hawaii's landscape and increased its susceptibility to wildfires. / The New York
Fires on Maui kill at least 36 and destroy historic Lahaina, the Hawaiian kingdom’s original seat of power. / The Honolulu Star Advertiser The term “global warming” first appeared in print 48 years ago this week. / History To prepare for future heat waves, cities and architects need to think past
China's economy slips into deflation, with consumer prices falling for the first time in more than two years. / CNN The United States has a new Covid-19 strain, nicknamed Eris, which the CDC estimates is causing 17.3 percent of current cases. / Vox Evidence suggests social media is
Italy's government approves a 40% tax on its major banks' 2023 windfall profits. / The Guardian Why does Britain export 80% of its oil? "It makes far more sense for individuals to focus on what they're good at." / Material World Some thoughts on the
From outright lies to demands for loyalty, Trump's actions following his latest indictment follow an authoritarian playbook. / NPR Ocean temperatures are rising, in part because of a 2020 measure to reduce ships' sulfur emissions, resulting in lower cloud coverage overall. / The Telegraph "Google knows my home
Federal prosecutors seek measures to bar Trump from disclosing evidence, citing his social media posts that could result in witness tampering. / NBC News A Texas judge issues an injunction allowing women with complicated pregnancies to receive abortions, and shielding doctors who provide care from prosecution. / The Texas Tribune In a
Florida has "effectively banned" AP psychology after the College Board declined to remove gender and sexual orientation material from coursework. / The Washington Post "The rates of suicide, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are skyrocketing." The health effects of extreme heat are worse than you think. / STAT
The oddity of the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump is that a great deal of it "is already quite familiar." / Lawfare Richard L. Hasen: It is hard to overstate the stakes riding on this indictment. / Slate Joyce Vance: Trump is finding out that democracy and the
Donald Trump is charged with four federal counts connected to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. / NPR Fitch downgrades the United States' credit rating partly due to a "steady deterioration" in fiscal governance—e.g., all the debt-ceiling standoffs. / Reuters A good overview of
Among 18 high-income countries, the United States has fallen to dead last on life expectancy. / The Economist As Saudi Arabia continues to evolve into "a global investment powerhouse," some thoughts on the prospects of a Saudi century. / The New Statesman Related: Walmart didn't just compete
