Elmo’s wellness check uncovers existential dread and despair on social media, nobody's ok right now (www.nbcnews.com)
Activists renew push to repeal Kentucky's near-total abortion ban (apnews.com)
Abortion rights supporters mounted another push Wednesday to restore abortion access in Kentucky, but the Democratic lawmaker sponsoring the legislation acknowledged the odds are overwhelmingly against them in the Republican-dominated legislature....
Startup news site The Messenger shutters less than a year after its launch (www.nbcnews.com)
The news outlet promised to provide “thorough, objective, non-partisan, and timely news coverage” in a time of bias and misinformation when it launched in May....
Danny Masterson moved to maximum-security prison that once held Charles Manson (www.independent.co.uk)
Masterson has been interned at Corcoran State Prison in Central California and will be eligible for parole in 2042 – when he’s 66 years old...
House passes an expanded child tax credit bill and sends it to the Senate (www.nbcnews.com)
It’s unclear whether the bill can pass the Senate, where some members want changes and GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley said he’s worried it would make President Joe Biden “look good.”...
A federal judge dismisses a suit to block U.S. support of Israel — but urges Biden to re-examine his approach. (www.nytimes.com)
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit by Palestinian Americans who sought to force the White House to withdraw support for Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, as was widely expected based on constitutional precedent that only the political branches of U.S. government could determine foreign policy....
‘Your Product Is Killing People’: Tech Leaders Denounced Over Child Safety (www.nytimes.com)
Lawmakers on Wednesday denounced the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Discord, accusing them of creating “a crisis in America” by willfully ignoring the harmful content against children on their platforms, as concerns over the effect of technology on youths have mushroomed....
Working longer won’t solve the retirement crisis — seniors need a ‘Gray New Deal’ to retire with dignity, this economist says (finance.yahoo.com)
Elon Musk’s $50 Billion Tesla Pay Was Struck Down. What Happens Next? (www.nytimes.com)
The company’s board of directors will now decide whether to appeal the decision, change where Tesla is incorporated or negotiate a new pay package....
Newly released recordings reveal what officers said after Tyre Nichols' fatal beating (www.npr.org)
As they walked away, Mills told the lieutenant he believed the parents “know more than what they are saying” and seemed suspicious because they didn’t open their screen door. Then he said, “I just hope … he just needs to make it, that’s all. He needs to make it. He ain’t looking too good.”
Grant program for Black women comes under tough questioning in key anti-DEI lawsuit (apnews.com)
A small venture capital firm faced tough questions from conservative judges Wednesday as it defended a grant program for Black women-owned businesses in a lawsuit that has become emblematic of a growing legal backlash against corporate diversity programs.
Jan. 6 rioter who 'blind-side tackled' Capitol officer is sentenced to more than 6 years in prison (news.yahoo.com)
Lock 'em all away.
Man accused of destroying Satanic Temple display at Iowa Capitol is now charged with hate crime (apnews.com)
A Mississippi man accused of destroying a statue of a pagan idol at Iowa’s state Capitol is now being charged with a hate crime.
The majority of Americans are not engaged at work, 70% of managers have no training to lead a hybrid team and it could be killing employee engagement (www.cnbc.com)
Under Ken Paxton, Texas’ Elite Civil Medicaid Fraud Unit Is Falling Apart (www.propublica.org)
After the chief of the attorney general’s Civil Medicaid Fraud Division was forced out last year, two-thirds of attorneys have quit the unit, leaving it at its smallest size since Paxton took office....
Tesla sued by 25 California counties for allegedly mishandling hazardous waste (www.theguardian.com)
Los Angeles, San Francisco and others say carmaker improperly labelled materials like antifreeze and sent it to the wrong landfills
Oklahoma gas pipeline explodes, shooting flames 500 feet into the air (www.cbsnews.com)
A gas pipeline exploded in an Oklahoma town near the Texas border overnight, creating a glow that could “be seen for miles,” local fire officials said Wednesday....
Judge dismisses Disney’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies | CNN Business (www.cnn.com)
Migrant Caravans Are Challenging an Oppressive Border Regime (jacobin.com)
Jacobin.com
Senate hearing highlights: Lawmakers grill CEOs from TikTok, X and Meta about online child safety (youtube.com)
Video here: www.youtube.com/live/VDmeGQcpRLQ
Days of Darkness: How one woman escaped the conspiracy theory trap that has ensnared millions (apnews.com)
First penguins die in Antarctic of deadly H5N1 bird flu strain (www.theguardian.com)
Activist who led ouster of Harvard president linked to ‘scientific racism’ journal (www.theguardian.com)
Christopher Rufo recommends a newsletter to his readers that has published several supporters of discredited genetics theory
After 43 years wrongfully imprisoned and less than 5 years free, Clifford Williams dies (www.firstcoastnews.com)
Archived at ghostarchive.org/archive/TgPzL
Texas border city on edge as Gov. Abbott dials up battle with Biden: The border crisis has been reduced to a 2.5-mile stretch named after a Confederate general (www.washingtonpost.com)
EAGLE PASS, Tex. — A century and a half ago, Confederate Gen. Joseph Orville Shelby splashed into the wild waters of the Rio Grande off this border city and fled to Mexico, refusing to surrender his battle flag to Union soldiers....