Nearly 3.7 million Afghan children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, along with 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women, according to the U.N. World Food Program apnews.com/article/wfp-...

Afghanistan's child deaths are rising as food distributions face cuts, UN says

Child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces, according to the U.N. World Food Program.

apnews.com

Police are reminding parents that those popular first-day-of-school photos posted for hundreds or even thousands of social media followers can unintentionally provide valuable information to predators apple.news/AJLrUjvAgRGO...

Georgia deputies issue warning on back-to-school photo trends — FOX 5 Atlanta

The first day of school is a milestone many parents are eager to celebrate online, but one Georgia sheriff's office is urging families to think twice before sharing those picture-perfect moments.

apple.news

According to CDC wastewater testing, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi all have low levels of COVID activity right now. However, Missouri and Alaska are reporting moderate levels of COVID www.huffpost.com/entry/covid-...

If You Live In These Areas, Experts Want You To Know COVID Cases Are Rising

Certain areas are seeing a notable increase.

huffpost.com

A federal appeals court said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cannot freeze about $20 billion of clean energy grants awarded to several nonprofit groups, handing a defeat to the Trump administration www.huffpost.com/entry/epa-cl...

EPA Cannot Block Billions In Climate Grants, U.S. Appeals Court Rules

The $20 billion in grants were awarded during the Biden administration with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

huffpost.com

"Get away from me right now," King, a retired U.S. Army captain who served in Iraq and earned both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, can be heard telling the three male guard members in the video as they approach her on the bench. "You have absolutely no authority to detain me."

A veteran was detained by the National Guard in her front yard. Now she's suing

Military veteran and D.C. resident Anna King has filed a $3 million lawsuit against the Idaho National Guard, saying three guard members assaulted her while detaining her in front of her home.

npr.org

Uber’s lawyers have argued that the women’s past traumas or use of drugs or alcohol made them unreliable narrators, suggested that the women consented or that they never happened, and that even if an assault occurred, something else was the cause of her pain www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/b...

Uber’s Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?’

The ride-hailing giant promised to handle legal claims “in a way that is best for the survivor.” Its lawyers are pursuing a far more aggressive strategy.

nytimes.com

This is Gus. He really likes helping bring in the groceries. Makes him feel super strong and super proud of himself. 13/10 we're proud of you too, Gus (TT: angieee677)

In this week's issue of The End Files, read about a historic discovery in a Boston boneyard, a grief counselor who’s in big trouble, a fly cemetery, famous deaths in history and more theendfiles.substack.com/p/we-need-to...

We need to support each other

Vol. 3, Issue 29

theendfiles.substack.com

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order reaffirming that Trump won’t have to pay any taxes he might have owed the IRS www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...

Trump Gets To Keep Tax Immunity Under DOJ Deal With Republican Senators

The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” might be dead, but President Donald Trump still gets out of paying any back taxes he might have owed.

huffpost.com

COVID-19 cases have historically picked up in the late summer, and that trend is slowly starting in several states. www.huffpost.com/entry/covid-...

If You Live In These Areas, Experts Want You To Know COVID Cases Are Rising

Certain areas are seeing a notable increase.

huffpost.com

Gent Welsh, adjutant general of the Washington National Guard, said at a news conference Aug. 3 that the damaged areas resemble a "war zone." A day earlier, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said the wildfires were "the worst natural disaster our region has faced." apple.news/AQQJaQ0X4S3-...

Spokane wildfires expand, force 65,000 from their homes in Washington — USA TODAY

Three wildfires burning in the Spokane, Washington, area have forced roughly 65,000 people from their homes and destroyed hundreds of buildings.

apple.news

Every now and then someone takes a run at me along the lines of "I don't understand why you, a scifi writer, don't appreciate 'AI'," and I'm all, motherfucker, it's *because* I'm a science fiction writer I have the positions I have, how many times do we have to fucking yell "torment nexus," my dude

The rise in conspiracy charges has caused some legal experts to worry that the federal government is stretching the bounds of the law to sweep up political activists who oppose the Trump administration's deportation agenda www.npr.org/2026/08/03/n...

She protested ICE raids. Then agents showed up at her door

The Justice Department is using federal conspiracy charges to sweep up ICE protesters. Some legal experts worry the agency is casting too wide a net to prosecute political activists.

npr.org

For the first time in more than 70 years, women took the field in a professional baseball game. Dreams that generations fought for are finally becoming reality. Here’s to every girl who has ever been told, “Baseball isn’t for you.” Keep proving them wrong💪 #WomensSports #SheShed #ViVaHerAlliance

Across the country, federal judges are calling out Department of Justice lawyers, questioning in unprecedented ways whether they can be trusted to tell the truth or uphold centuries-old legal norms apple.news/AM2k0JXVAQOS...

Federal Judges Chastise Trump’s Justice Department for “Unlawful,” “Unethical” and “Unseemly” Conduct — ProPublica

ProPublica reviewed hundreds of cases in which judges criticized the actions of federal prosecutors. In many, judges expressed frustration that they can no longer take the government at its word.

apple.news

For decades, workers at a nuclear facility in Kentucky were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Management assured them nothing was wrong. Then four friends risked everything to reveal the truth. apple.news/A7WF4YiFeSeK...

The Whistleblowers Who Exposed Decade’s of Nuclear Lies — The Atavist Magazine

For decades, workers at a nuclear facility in Kentucky were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Management assured them nothing was wrong. Then four friends risked everything to reveal the truth...

apple.news

A couple years ago, we got surprise daisies (the sea probably from wildlife dropping off seeds) Opted to just let them grow 🌻

Delays in contact tracing, difficulties accessing affected areas, mistrust from communities and violence by armed groups and some residents have hampered the response, the Africa CDC said. apnews.com/article/cong...

Congo says the death toll in fastest-growing Ebola outbreak has passed 1,500

Ebola has killed over 1,500 people in eastern Congo, marking a 50% increase in about a week. The outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo virus, has seen 3,442 cases as of Tuesday.

apnews.com

The immigrants aboard Flight 164 were pursuing lives in the U.S. when ICE detained them. In Venezuela, they were held in a building that collapsed hours later www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

Deported by the U.S., detained in Venezuela — then lost in the earthquakes

The immigrants aboard Flight 164 were pursuing lives in the U.S. when ICE detained them. In Venezuela, they were held in a building that collapsed hours later.

washingtonpost.com

This week's issue of The Moonlight Reader Society has been published. Learn how Anthropic destroyed millions of books, Obama’s summer reads, the world’s largest pop-up book, literary holidays and more! moonlightreadersociety.substack.com/p/do-not-res... 💙📚

Do not resist the temptation

Vol. 3, Issue 27

moonlightreadersociety.substack.com

Estrella del Paso is part of a network of gov't subcontractors that represent over 24,000 unaccompanied children in proceedings. Without these services, children might otherwise be left to fend for themselves in the notoriously complicated and adversarial process www.huffpost.com/entry/unacco...

Trump Has A Tactic To Make It Easier To Deport Children

“We know what happens when children go to court without an attorney,” a lawyer said. “One word: deportation.”

huffpost.com

When times are tough and the future seems grim, it helps to remember that there is still good in the world. That's why I publish "A Bit of Good News." Learn about a boy who reads to dogs, a couple married for 80 years, this week's fun holidays and more! abitofgoodnews.substack.com/p/dream-ever...

Dream every night

Vol. 5, Issue 27

abitofgoodnews.substack.com

This is Fenrir. He has not yet been successful in cuddling with the cat. But thinks if he goes slow enough she might not notice. 13/10 (IG: fenrirfanclub)

More people who lost coverage after congressional Republicans ended enhanced federal subsidies are now seeking care in emergency rooms and unable to pay bills www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/b...

After Obamacare Cuts, Hospitals Are Treating More Uninsured Patients

More people who lost coverage after congressional Republicans ended enhanced federal subsidies are now seeking care in emergency rooms and unable to pay bills.

nytimes.com

A U.S. government map of Africa mislabeled every country during a state department presentation at a ⁠global conference www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

The cuts are compounded by the Trump administration’s refusal to reimburse the nonprofits roughly $65 million for legal services they have already provided to unaccompanied migrant children — payments the organizations argue they are entitled to under federal law www.latimes.com/california/s...

More than 24,000 immigrant children could lose legal representation as a federal contract expires

The termination of a federal contract that pays nonprofit organizations for providing legal assistance to immigrant children will affect 90 organizations nationwide.

latimes.com

You only see ‘glom’ with ‘onto.’ If you see ‘fro,’ there’s probably a ‘to’ before it. If you’re ‘wreaking,’ 99% of the time it’s ‘havoc.’ If you want to ‘ebb,’ you will probably ‘flow’ immediately after. You only see ‘lop’ with ‘off.’ You only see ‘beck,’ with ‘and call.’

It’s that time of year again: here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed this summer. If you’ve read any good ones, let me know!

Iran’s one-way attack drones, used extensively to target U.S. forces across the Middle East over the last five months, could put troops at greater risk of traumatic brain injury and psychological harm, according to medical experts and veterans groups www.stripes.com/theaters/mid...

Iran war brain injuries could outlast US troops’ return to duty

Iran’s drone attacks are adding new urgency to research into blast-related brain trauma among U.S. troops.

stripes.com

U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have sent a letter to the federal agency expressing frustration with the decision. https://mrf.lu/25c80