Experts concerned about Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq
They’re concerned about the public health message that it sends.
Today's Liberal News
America Didn’t Need Sports After All
The night that sports began shutting down was the night that the United States began shutting down. On March 11, 2020, an announcer at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s home arena told fans just before tip-off that the evening’s game had been postponed. Within an hour, the visiting Utah Jazz revealed that a player—soon identified as the center Rudy Gobert—had tested positive for COVID-19, and the NBA also declared that it was indefinitely suspending the season.
The Surprising Key to Combatting Vaccine Refusal
Why wouldn’t someone want a COVID-19 vaccine?Staring at the raw numbers, it doesn’t seem like a hard choice. Thousands of people are dying of COVID-19 every day. Meanwhile, out of the 75,000 people who received a shot in the vaccine trials from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax, zero died and none were hospitalized after four weeks.
Democrats Can’t Hike the Minimum Wage. Their Backup Plan Stinks.
It would actually be better to do nothing.
Luxury Aviation Companies—and People Who Can Afford Them—Are Living in a Different World Than the Rest of Us
“When you go private, you stay private.
What Those Shocking Texas Power Bills Have in Common With Uber Surges, Broadway Tickets, and Airfare
It’s called marginal-cost pricing, and it isn’t just a red-state problem.
The One Word That Could Decide Whether Democrats Hike the Minimum Wage
It all comes down to the subjective linguistic judgment of an unelected congressional functionary.
FDA panel endorses Johnson & Johnson vaccine in 22-0 vote
The vaccine, which is given as a single dose and is easy to ship, appeals to officials struggling to vaccinate hard-to-reach or skeptical populations.
CDC balks at watchdog’s push to remake Covid-19 tracking
The GAO wants to know why health agencies’ Covid-19 data are still inconsistent and confusing to track.
‘Repeal and replace’ is dead. Republicans can’t figure out what comes next.
The pandemic and Biden’s incremental policies have scrambled the party’s usual lines of attack.
White House planning to forecast vaccine shipments months in advance
The longer planning window could address concerns from governors who complained that limited shipment forecasts affect their planning abilities.
A Playlist for Your Next Walk
Every weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox.When asked to curate an hour of new music for Atlantic readers to listen to while walking, my mind immediately went to Sophie Xeon, the brilliant electronica producer who died at age 34 in January.
Did Helen Keller Really “Do All That”?
A troubling TikTok conspiracy theory questions whether Keller was “real.
Dear Care and Feeding: My Black Partner Hopes Our Kids Will Look White
Parenting advice on biracial worries, theater kid annoyance, and teenage anxiety.
Biden targets smallest businesses with exclusive aid window
Only businesses with fewer than 20 employees will be able to apply for aid through the massive Paycheck Protection Program.
Biden’s economic point man draws praise — and pushback
Allies laud Brian Deese’s leadership on the stimulus negotiations, but he’s rubbed some the wrong way.
Biden aims to isolate China on coal — but it could blow back on the U.S.
The U.S. wants to stop new coal projects, but risks losing poor countries to Beijing’s “Belt and Road” agenda.
‘Clearly not healthy’: Markets are giddy about reopening — and that’s the problem
Investors are pumping up bubbles across markets, with excitement growing about more stimulus and widespread vaccinations.
‘The Democratic version of John McCain’
As the critical swing vote in a 50-50 Senate, Joe Manchin has emerged as the most powerful man in Washington.
“We Want the Truth Uncovered”: Malcolm X’s Daughter Ilyasah Shabazz Backs New Probe into Assassination
The family of Malcolm X is demanding a new investigation into his 1965 assassination in light of the deathbed confession of a former New York police officer who said police and the FBI conspired to kill the Black leader.
The Assassination of Malcolm X: Ex-Undercover Officer Admits Role in FBI & Police Conspiracy
The FBI and New York Police Department are facing renewed calls to open their records into the assassination of Malcolm X, after the release of a deathbed confession of a former undercover NYPD officer who admitted to being part of a conspiracy targeting Malcolm. In the confession, Raymond Wood, who died last year, admitted he entrapped two members of Malcolm’s security team in another crime — a plot to blow up the Statue of Liberty — just days before the assassination.
“The Whole System Needs to be Indicted”: Attorney Benjamin Crump on Overhauling U.S. Policing
The Democratic-led House of Representatives is expected to vote next week on a sweeping police reform bill that would ban chokeholds, prohibit federal no-knock warrants, establish a National Police Misconduct Registry and other measures. The legislation, known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, is in response to a series of high-profile killings of Black people in 2020 and the nationwide racial justice uprising they sparked.
“Decades in the Making”: How Mainstream Conservatives & Right-Wing Money Fueled the Capitol Attack
As more details emerge about those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, it’s becoming clearer that the insurrection was not the work of a “fringe” group, but rather the result of a decades-long conservative effort to undermine democracy, according to author Brendan O’Connor.
Trump Will Run Again In Part To Fleece The ‘Rubes,’ Predicts Anthony Scaramucci
“This is the most money he’s ever made,” notes Trump’s former pal and current critic.
CPAC Organizer Denounces Critics Spotting What Looks Like Nazi SS Symbol On Stage
CPAC head Matt Schlapp angrily denied any resemblance, and touted the organization’s excellent relationship with the Jewish community.
Community Spotlight: The Resistance pivots to offense and fixing our democracy
A common theme of stories we rescued this week—infrastructure and science—makes a 180° turn from last week’s attention to classical literature. Community members spent this final week of February investigating the electric grid and water pipes, plus a niche topic in chemistry and pollution from plastics.
Wellness for Activists: You probably aren’t drinking enough water
Welcome to my weekly feature covering ways us activists can lead healthier lives. For a full explanation check out the inaugural edition here, but in short, most of us do a terrible job of taking care of our minds and bodies. This is a science-based exploration of how to change that, so we can be around for many years of fruitful activism. You can find other articles in this series here.
You don’t drink enough water.
One of the most pro-worker moves Biden could make might surprise you
One incredibly important move to help workers that the Biden administration has signaled didn’t necessarily look like a pro-worker move. Even before President Biden was inaugurated, his incoming White House counsel started asking for suggestions for judicial nominees who would be diverse not just on race, gender, sexual orientation, and religion, but on professional background.