May 31, 2017

Dozens killed by a giant blast during morning rush hour in Kabul’s embassy quarter. / BBC

“The only chance to best this problem from hell might be to protect transatlantic relations from Donald Trump as best we can.” Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff offers the German perspective on Trump’s visit to Europe. Conclusion: sad, very sad. See also: “Germany is the Silicon Valley of political innovation.” / The American Interest

More on Trump v. Germany: The problem isn’t that Germany’s exporting too much—it’s that it’s spending too little. / Bloomberg

For your Wednesday wanderlust: a drone tour of Brodie, Calif., a ghost town now used as a state park, “preserved in a state of arrested decay.” / parks.ca.gov

“Audible tattoos” now available for those who want to aurally translate their body art with their phones. / The Daily Express

“Over the course of their 15-year collaboration, the banker saw Proust squander three-fifths of his wealth on reckless ventures and on magnificent presents for the men and women who struck his fancy.” A profile of Marcel Proust as an investor. In 1911, the author carried “a crazy level of exposure”—with a fortune totalling $6,864,000, he “had about $2,900,000 tied up in obligations to buy.” / Marginal Revolution

With Trump likely to back out of the Paris agreement, here are more of his frightening environmental offenses. / The Guardian

“Hate speech is not protected by the First Amendment,” says Portland mayor. Wrong. It is, no matter how hateful. / The Washington Post

We’re live, folks: Check out the books, judges, and schedule for the Rooster Summer Reading Challenge. / TMN

It’s been fifty years since an athlete in a major sport played in seven consecutive championships, as LeBron will. / The Undefeated