The Navigator, Saturday, March 22, 2025
Americans' antisocial habits, Tesla Takedowns, Europe's new DEI playbook, an egg farmer's flock-flu fears, 'Captain Canada,' the rise of clean energy—and more
This week's deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, executed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, underscores the perils of circumventing due process in our justice system. The Trump administration sidestepped established legal protections by invoking a centuries-old wartime statute, transferring individuals to a foreign nation's high-security facility without proper judicial oversight. This approach undermines the foundational principles of fairness and transparency, sets a troubling precedent, and, perhaps, creates new and dangerous rules for the treatment of immigrants and the integrity of our legal framework.
Moreover, the Trump administration's apparent disregard for a federal judge's order to halt these deportations raises serious concerns about the balance of powers and the rule of law. Such actions erode public trust in the justice system and compromise the rights of individuals who may be unjustly targeted, including American citizens. Upholding due process is a vital safeguard against governmental overreach and the erosion of civil liberties. It’s needed for the future of freedom and democracy as we know it.
As always, thank you for making us part of your week. Let us know your thoughts on this week’s events and your input on the new rules emerging for tomorrow by commenting below.
Americans’ increasing antisocial habits, explained in one chart (Vox)
More people report eating their meals alone. Here's why that matters.
The Courts Aren’t Bending to Donald Trump Just Yet (Vanity Fair)
The president was hit with a string of unfavorable legal rulings—and a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts—as his administration feverishly worked to challenge the judiciary’s checks on his power.
The Bird Flu Tipping Point (Radio Atlantic)
If and when it jumps to more humans, we might not know until it’s too late. A conversation with Greg Herbruck, an egg farmer who’s already dealt with millions of bird deaths in his flocks, and Atlantic science writer Katie Wu.
‘Anti-Woke’ in the U.S., DEI at Home: the New Playbook for European Companies (The Wall Street Journal)
Firms that operate in the U.S. and Europe are rowing back diversity and inclusion policies in the U.S. while keeping them in place elsewhere.
‘Captain Canada’ Takes On Trump (The New York Times)
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, is reinventing himself as one of Canada’s staunchest defenders against President Trump’s economic and sovereignty threats.
Here’s What the Rise of Clean Energy Looks Like From Space (The New York Times)
A constellation of satellites orbiting 250 miles above Earth’s surface shows how solar and wind energy have taken off in recent years.
U.S. once again hits new low in World Happiness Report (Axios)
The U.S. hit a new record low on the annual World Happiness Report released Wednesday night.
AI Won't Replace You — But an AI-Equipped Professional Will (Entrepreneur)
Professionals who master multiple specialized AI agents will operate on an entirely different playing field, transforming from overwhelmed generalists into strategic powerhouses with superhuman productivity, Entrepreneur predicts.
Florida explores ditching property taxes to cut the soaring costs of owning a home in the state (The Wall Street Journal)
A full repeal is unlikely soon, but the idea is gaining political traction, reflecting the strain homeowners are also under now from rising home insurance prices due to the rising risks posed by the changing climate.
‘It’s a Heist’: Real Federal Auditors Are Horrified by DOGE (WIRED)
Federal auditors say DOGE is eschewing professional auditing processes for rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. “You can’t coherently audit something like the whole Social Security system in a week or two. In no uncertain terms is this an audit. It’s a heist to steal a vast amount of government data.”
Hundreds of Thousands Will Die (The New Yorker)
The writer, surgeon, and former U.S.A.I.D. senior official Atul Gawande on the Trump Administration’s decimation of foreign aid and the consequences around the world.
Tesla Takedown protests expand as Trump threatens criminal charges (The Week)
Nationwide demonstrations at Elon Musk's car dealerships are ramping up across the country and now in Canada and in Europe, nabbing the growing attention and ire of the White House.
We’re getting taller and it’s bad for our health (The Telegraph)
From thyroid problems to heightened cancer risk, there are challenges to being vertically blessed. But it’s not all bad news.
How Golden Visas and Second Passports Are Transforming Wealth Strategies. (Entrepreneur)
As financial strategies evolve, golden visas and second passports have emerged as essential tools for safeguarding wealth, optimizing tax exposure and ensuring personal freedom.
New national forest to see 20m trees planted (BBC)
Twenty million trees will be planted and 2,500 hectares of new woodland created in the west of England as part of a "national forest" drive, the government has announced.