September 1, 2017

If you can read basic English: The White House admits Mr. Trump lied about seeing Texas wreckage “first hand.” / The Washington Post

“This is maddening: Saudi Arabia successfully blackmails the United Nations to bar journalists so as to prevent coverage of Saudi atrocities.” We wonder how Russia can possibly support Syria, and yet we’re backing and arming Saudi war crimes in Yemen. / The New York Times

Lonzo Ball’s youngest brother becomes first high school kid with a signature shoe—possibly risking a college career. / The Root

Looking at previous disasters, the US economy can handle big storms, but modern flood insurance may not be adequate. / Bloomberg

“When Diana died, a crack appeared in a vial of grief, and released a salt ocean. A nation took to the boats.” Hilary Mantel, of Wolf Hall fame, deconstructs the princess myth, Diana’s death, and what 1997 means today. / The Guardian

A study of US policy and the atrocities in Syria since 2011. Green boxes are positive outcomes, red are negative. / United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Earlier this week, a man returned to his flooded southeast Houston home, sat at his piano, and played. / Instagram

Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah digs into the makings of Dylann Roof, to find out what “weaponized autism” means for a killer. / GQ

“Everything around me is new and I’m inspired by everyone I meet.” Creative types on why and how to work abroad. / It’s Nice That

A new solo show at Galerie Paris-Beijing by Chinese artist Liu Bolin, in which he makes himself or others disappear. / Galerie Paris-Beijing

HHS will slash the ACA’s advertising budget by 90%—a move that falls in line with Trump’s goal to cripple Obamacare. / Bloomberg

Postcards from the 1960s and ’70s compared to their present-day, decayed locations. / DCist

Some travel writing for your weekend: What it’s like to cross the Australian outback on camelback with your parents. / The Monthly

For less than $2 an hour, female inmates in California volunteer to fight wildfires with little training. / The New York Times Magazine

We knew post-punk had some bleak bands, but these horror book covers of ’80s artists are kinda terrifying. / Bored Panda

“It was like a Kickstarter before Kickstarter. I think one dude donated like a thousand dollars. He couldn’t stand SongMeanings being down.” A history of the lyrics site that defined countless teenhoods. / The Outline

We wish you a safe holiday weekend, full of peace wherever you find it. Perhaps this 2011 Japanese advertisement where a wooden ball plays Bach in the forest. / YouTube