In February 2011, frigid temperatures took down part of Texas's power infrastructure. Officials ignored the warnings, setting the state up for last week's disaster. / BuzzFeed News

After the 2011 freeze, El Paso—which isn't on the same grid as most of Texas—prepared its power plants for extreme winter weather. Last week, just 3,000 people there lost power. / Texas Monthly

Texas's unregulated energy market is resulting in some residents receiving electric bills in the tens of thousands of dollars. / The New York Times

Texas inmates have experienced horrific conditions with unidentifiable food and broken and overflowing toilets. ICE detainees are in similar straits. / Daily Beast, BuzzFeed News

"It's not about governing. It's about lying frequently and passionately enough to bend the narrative to your will. It's about being right." / Defector

What happened in Texas should set off alarms for the rest of the US: Climate change will continue to disrupt infrastructures across the country. / The New York Times

This week, the US death toll from Covid-19 will pass 500,000. / Associated Press

Among the ways to put the toll in perspective: It's more people than have died in any war in American history except for the Civil War. / The Washington Post

Fauci says Americans may still need to wear masks in 2022. / CNN

"The path of pandemicide was paved in pursuit of the president's reelection and his relentless, all-consuming post-election campaign to refute his opponent's victory." / Foreign Policy

Dominion Voting Systems is suing MyPillow Mike Lindell for more than $1.3 billion in damages. / Axios

By personally stepping in to change the rules of Facebook's ban on Alex Jones in 2019, Mark Zuckerberg allowed right-wing conspiracies to flourish on the platform. / BuzzFeed News

Ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing today, Merrick Garland pledges to prosecute white supremacists who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6. / The Guardian

The Supreme Court has now cleared the way for Manhattan's District Attorney to access Trump's tax returns. / CNN

Georgia's new voter suppression bill specifically targets Black voters, eliminating early voting on Sundays, when Black churches hold "Souls to the Polls" drives. / Mother Jones

More than 80% of known American serial killers operated between 1970 and 1999. Where did they go? / Rolling Stone

See also: Buffalo Bill's house in Silence of the Lambs is now a bed and breakfast. / Consequence of Sound

After 28 years, Daft Punk have split. / Pitchfork