Must come down

The shutdown probably won’t trigger a nationwide recession, but “it could certainly worsen some smaller ones already gathering force.” / The Atlantic [$]

“California, and the country, cannot await the outcome of the midterms to repel Trump’s siege on democracy.” An argument for California flexing its economic might at the federal level. / Mother Jones

More companies appear to be “greenhushing,” where they undertake climate-friendly policies quietly—so as to avoid political blowback. / Bloomberg [$]

A rising number of Ukrainian soldiers are infected with strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria—and it’s spreading to the general population. / Knowable Magazine

A Nobel Prize winner doesn’t yet know he won because he’s backpacking “his best life” off the grid in Idaho. / The Guardian

Time spent on social media peaked in 2022 and has been in decline ever since—except in North America, where usage is still climbing. / FlowingData, Financial Review

In a study of the neocortexes of more than 30 primate species and the relative sizes of their social groups, researchers think humans can have around 150 friends. / The Wall Street Journal [$]

Ezra Klein can’t content-create through this: “Even though he admits he has no idea what the solution to our present situation might be, he is still just the person to deliver a solution.” / The Reframe

According to an astrophysicist, one or two Starlink satellites fall back to Earth every day. / EarthSky

See also: A list of the space junk that’s raising the most concerns over its potential to collide with other debris and create more space junk. / Ars Technica

Photos and videos show how data centers loom over the daily lives of people living in Northern Virginia. / The Washington Post [$]

An especially awful bill introduced in Michigan would ban anything with any degree of sexual content, as well as the depiction of trans people and the use of VPNs. / Reason

“Most people, of course, do not love mud or things that scurry. They do not love swamps.” A pilgrimage to all five of the East Coast’s largest swamps. / Longreads

A model-by-model retrospective of the Discman—including the D-303, still “one of the most sought-after models for those who actually listen to their vintage gear.” / Obsolete Sony

A very cool collection of ambigrams—typography that retains its meaning when turned upside down. / ambigr.am

And now a brief chat with new supporter Casey B.!

Hi, Casey! Thanks so much for supporting. You found us via the Tournament of Books, is that right? I've been following the TOB for many years. Taking the “tournament” platform and applying it to something so completely different was such a fantastic idea, and I’ve read many a book that appeared in your brackets.  It even inspired me to do a “tournament of apples” in my Economics class (back when I was a teacher. IIRC, Fuji won).

I started following TMN more closely shortly after November 5, 2024, when I decided that following the regular “news” was literally unhealthy for me. There’s a whole wide world out there, and you guys do a fantastic job of helping people find wonder and goodness. It’s really important.

Well, thank you, we really appreciate that. Any particular reason you decided to support today? I decided to support you because it’s really important that humans get compensated for doing the work they do. Especially now, especially when that work is unique and creative and important. Thank you for shining a light on the obscure corners of the world where hope thrives, and humanity persists, and creativity thrives. The Morning News restores my faith and hope (well, not every link), and I am very grateful for that.

In the members area, unlocked links from the Atlantic, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post ↓