The Navigator, Saturday, November 16, 2024
The Republican sweep, melting glaciers, New York City's new fire season, holographic doctors, Rupert Murdoch's family battle, and more
Have a good weekend, subscribers!
This week, amid all the chaos and noise surrounding the presidential transition, we were taken by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s comments at the Harvard Kennedy School: “In moments like this, our salvation really will come from the local — the local and the state bodies. We would like a little more consistency in federalism, but a lot of the answers are going to come from mayors, from communities, from states that aren’t captive to some wacky ideological project.” His words are a reminder that there’s still plenty of work to do and many stories to be told. We want to hear and share yours.
As always, thank you for including us in your regular reads. In case you missed it, check out our pieces from this week: Alternate Realities, about an emerging new type of political disinformation that is being used this year to make Americans angry about things that aren’t real, and New Bohemia, which details how Cedar Rapids’ community-centered resilience and innovation culture helped to rebuild the city following the 2008 floods and continues today.
Please keep the conversation going by leaving a comment below, and let us know what you’d like us to cover next. If you haven’t yet had a chance to fill out our short reader survey, please take a moment to do so.
Your input is important to us, always.
Republicans win House majority, securing sweeping power in Washington (The Washington Post)
With the presidency, the Senate and the House now in hand, the Republican Party ushers in a new political era.
Women forced out of Idaho for medically-needed abortions sue for clarification on ban (Boise State Public Radio)
Four Idaho women say they had to leave the state to get the healthcare they needed for non-viable pregnancies. They are now suing Idaho, saying its strict abortion bans are unconstitutional and they’re asking for clarification on the laws’ few exceptions.
Can Holographic Doctors Save Struggling Hospitals? (Texas Monthly)
A small medical center south of Dallas is the nation’s first to offer 3D telehealth visits, and its CEO believes the technology is a “game changer.”
How the Ivy League Broke America (The Atlantic)
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
Does Warren Buffett Know Something That We Don’t? (The Wall Street Journal)
Berkshire Hathaway is hoarding cash in a pattern seen before the financial crisis, but it has a new reason this time.
Melting Glaciers Are Causing Billions of Dollars of Damage (SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN)
Thawing ice, from the high peaks to the poles, is producing extraordinarily expensive floods, infrastructure damage and losses to tourism and fishing.
When Did Apple’s Notes App Become an Extension of Our Brains? (The Wall Street Journal)
The simple iPhone app is a receptacle for nearly everything: passwords, grocery lists, baby-name brainstorms, the occasional ‘Vanderpump’ brain dump.
Why Did Brooklyn’s Biggest Park Light Up in Flames? (Slate)
Climate change has brought us a new kind of fire season in the Northeast.
How the MAHA movement could shake up public health (Axios)
A sprawling movement built around concerns over the food supply and drug industry profiteering is poised to shake up health policy in the new Trump administration — and is already stoking disinformation concerns.
‘Dad, is the world going to end?’ How to talk to your kids about the election (NPR)
Many parents are grappling with how to talk to even to their young children about the election. Experts offer tips on how to start the difficult conversation.
Rupert Murdoch’s Family Battle Proves He’s Losing Control (Vanity Fair)
In the Murdoch family’s continuing succession drama, the media mogul is scrambling to protect Fox News from three of his politically moderate heirs.