For whom the spell tolls
We’re taking off the rest of the week for the Thanksgiving holiday. See you on Monday.
Hundreds of firefighters struggle to contain a blaze that’s engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong. / BBC News
Jonathan A. Czin: Whereas most countries targeted by President Trump’s tariffs rushed to the negotiating table, China dug in—and won. / Foreign Affairs
Leaked audio finds Trump advisor Steve Witkoff instructing a senior Kremlin official on how to develop a plan together for Ukraine. / Bloomberg [$]
In response, Republican Russia hawks say Witkoff is obviously “under Russia’s spell.” / CNN
The BBC plans to shrink its workforce—mainly by outsourcing thousands of non-news jobs—to compete “in an AI-driven world.” / Deadline
Some thoughts on the role of journalism in a world where tech CEOs no longer feel shame. “The thing is, platforms' strategy of delay, deny and deflect mostly works.” / Platformer
Character.AI begins cutting off teenagers from its chatbots, and the teens are mourning. “It means the tech worked exactly as designed.” / The Wall Street Journal [$]
Unrelated: An introduction to the United States’ (supposedly) first search-and-rescue otter. / Outside
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A ton of details on how much it costs to run a not-for-profit science fiction publishing company. / Bluesky
Bibliomania is said to be the rare hobby that’s also a mental health affliction. / Literary Hub
A round-up of “necromodernist architectures” in contemporary literature. / 3:am Magazine
The Olympic flame began its journey to the Milan Cortina Winter Games. / US News & World Report
Italy introduces femicide into its criminal law and punishes it with life in prison. / NPR
See also: “To Explore Violence Against Women, She Drugs Herself Onstage.” / T Magazine [$]
Joan Didion’s recently unveiled papers reveal how she hosted up to 75 guests for Thanksgiving. We’re betting she didn’t use AI slop recipes. / The New York Times [$], Bloomberg [$]
Leslie Harpold’s classic guide, “How to cook Thanksgiving Dinner.” / The Morning News
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