Venus bodily charm
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Trump was briefed by DoJ in May about his appearances in the Epstein files. / The Wall Street Journal [$]
Republican policies are making electricity more expensive, providing an opening for Democrats on climate—if they choose to take it. / Heatmap
As the US continues its era of retributive governing cycles, some thoughts on the implications if a Democrat president continues Trump’s patterns. / The Atlantic [$]
The season opener of South Park depicts Trump in bed with Satan. / Reliable Sources
See also: Tracking every White House effort that may pose a threat to American democracy. / Trump Action Tracker
Who is the elusive median voter in the US? This year, it’s the Supreme Court. / Wake Up to Politics
Recent ICE detentions include Afghans who interpreted for the US military, whom the Taliban will likely target on their return. / WBUR
A round-up of the odder books the Defense Department wants to ban—e.g., Debbie Harry Sings in French. / Literary Hub
A guided tour of Robert Caro’s library. / Smithsonian Magazine
The White House sides with artificial intelligence and big tech over publishers and authors. / WIRED
Dan Williams: We should have a moderately strong degree of confidence that social media is not the primary driver of America’s epistemic crisis. / Asterisk
New files appear to demonstrate Volkswagen using enslaved labor in Brazil. “They have a cave where they kill people and throw the bodies in.” / The Washington Post [$]
Officials in Russia embrace “patriotic fashion” to demonstrate their Russianness: beards, traditional headdresses, Stalin tunics. / Meduza
In London, Trader Joe’s bags are becoming a trendy accessory, despite an absence of stores. / The New York Times [$]
France is planning to add a tax to each item of ultra-fast fashion. / The Conversation
China accounts for almost a thousand hotels that include Vienna in their name, “far more than any country, including Austria itself.” / towards data science
Meanwhile, trend reporting apparently has it wrong (gasp): Gen Z is just as likely to open a bar tab as anyone else. / Ipsos Consumer Tracker
See also: What it’s like to seek out every official cocktail (102 in total) listed by the International Bartenders Association. / Adam Aaronson
Venus Williams, 45, becomes the oldest WTA match winner since Martina Navratilova. / The Guardian
Some thoughts on the accidental poetry of lists you find on the sidewalk. “In literature, a list is a gift of value.” / Longreads
Related: Photos from the archives of Found magazine. / Instagram
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