Dine and dash
First Serbia and Brazil, next Israel and the United States: We have embarked on 10 days of elections that may shape the future of democracy. / The Guardian
With Serbia finally toppling Vučić and Brazil reelecting Lula, Netanyahu has lost two key allies ahead of tomorrow’s election. / Ynet Global
Two centuries after the US deported free Black Americans there, Liberia again becomes a place where unwanted deportees are sent with little concern for anyone’s safety. / Africa Is a Country
Cases in Nigeria and Kenya confirm border controls may not be enough to stop the fastest-growing—and second-largest—Ebola outbreak in history. / Devex
“It was as easy as sending an email to the EPA.” How Trump waived clean-air rules for the world’s worst polluters. / The New York Times [$]
First under Biden, and now again under Trump, the EPA appears determined to wipe out its online document repository, which costs around $2 million a year to maintain. / Mother Jones
Peering inside Jared Kushner’s hacked iPhone, the Dutch government found a slew of troubling financial transactions with the UAE. “Jared was looking for shortcuts in his diplomacy.” / Vanity Fair
Online scammers have long been draining people of their savings, but a new tactic is emerging, where victims are also being used as money-laundering mules. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
“Despite massive investments and widespread hype around artificial intelligence, the technology has delivered zero financial payoff to corporate America outside of tech.” / Apollo
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It’s striking just how much tech fascism follows Mussolini’s playbook, where every societal institution would be bundled under a single authority. / The Walrus
Last month, the BBC and ITV Studios edited out the pride pins two students wore during an episode of a quiz show. / Leicester Gazette
Animated maps depict how airlines are embarking on creative flight routes to avoid the world’s conflict zones. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
What’s behind the East Texas tradition of adding margarine—and never, ever butter—to salsa? “If it’s on the table, I’m going to use it.” / Texas Monthly
Longing for the pleasures of dining anonymity in an age where every restaurant wants your phone number. / The Atlantic [$]
See also: Maybe it’s entitlement, maybe it’s the “Robin Hood effect,” but people certainly seem to enjoy stealing items from restaurants. / The Independent
An interactive map of every registered dog in New York City—or why every dog is named Luna, except in the Financial District. / Every Dog in New York
A link correction from Friday: “Junk journaling” is said to be an antidote to doomscrolling. / Vox [$]