The Biggest Issue in the Midterm Elections

You’ll hear more and more about this

robertreich.substack.com

Life’s ‘Last Universal Common Ancestor’ May Predate Life Itself

How did life begin? This mystery has tantalized scientists since Charles Darwin mused on it in 1871, spawning no shortage of competing theories about the origins of Earth’s biology around four billion...

portside.org

August 31, 2026

Alex Horton and Tara Copp of the Washington Post reported on Sunday, August 30, that military leaders are warning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that a plan to continue large-scale operations in Iran ...

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

Measles deaths, Covid-19 and common cold, Covid-19 protection for immunocomprimsed, and more

The Dose (Sept 1)

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com

Scenarios for big tech. China's birth collapse. Air power in the Pacific & the violence of bureaucracy.

Great links, images, and reading from Chartbook Newsletter by Adam Tooze

adamtooze.substack.com

The Plot to Steal Venezuela’s Oil

A scam that is both vile and deeply stupid

paulkrugman.substack.com

'It's in the realm of possibility': Climate change is spurring a reemergence of yellow fever, and the US could face future threats

The yellow fever virus is reemerging in regions where it hadn't been seen for decades. Warmer temperatures and extreme weather could make conditions more favorable for the mosquitoes that carry the vi...

livescience.com

'This is probably the safest time to be playing the sport of football': Concussion expert explains why viral CTE study may not be as scary as it sounds

A new study suggests that at least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died in recent years had CTE. A concussion expert puts the finding into context.

livescience.com

Postal Service Whistleblower Warns Trump Assault on Mail-In Voting Could ‘Derail the Midterm Elections’ | Common Dreams

An anonymous federal official warned of a "high likelihood that the new ballot mail verification processes will result in major disruptions in mail ballots ever getting delivered to voters."

commondreams.org

2,030 Israeli attacks in West Bank in August; Postal Service plan could disenfranchise millions; Nepal death toll passes 1,000

Drop Site Daily: September 1, 2026

open.substack.com

Gmail

Gmail is email that’s intuitive, efficient, and useful. 15 GB of storage, less spam, and mobile access.

mail.google.com

Israel’s Restrictions on Engine Oil Threaten Gaza’s Ability to Generate Electricity

As Israel continues to restrict the entry of engine oil and spare parts, Gaza’s strained network of generators, now its main source of electricity, is collapsing.

open.substack.com

Leaked Files Reveal Uganda’s Secret Drone Deals with Israel

As Uganda prepares to deploy troops to a Gaza “stabilization force,” internal documents show a years-long Israeli program to upgrade the country’s drone capabilities.

open.substack.com

Johnson's unavoidable, uncomfortable September problem

GOP leadership is not whipping the Edwards censure vote.

axios.com

This Marine Died in the Iraq War. His Mother Asks, ‘What Was It For?’ (Gift Article)

Travis Fuller was from my hometown. I went back and talked with his family about how they made sense of his death, 25 years after Sept. 11.

nytimes.com

IRS Audit Revenue Has Plummeted Under Trump, Watchdog Finds

The I.R.S. lost roughly a quarter of its employees since President Trump took office, hampering the agency’s ability to conduct audits.

nytimes.com

FTC and 22 States Sue Amazon Over Advertising Practices (Gift Article)

Regulators say the e-commerce giant forced millions of advertisers to pay more than they should have. The company denies the claims.

nytimes.com

U.S. reignites Iran war; Israel’s $3.5B defense deal with Greece; Details of Venezuela oil deal

Drop Site Daily: August 31, 2026

open.substack.com

Knowledge is Power (who said that?)

Here’s a few Free Stater examples of recent legislative decisions before we head into the midterm and state elections.

padresalsa.substack.com

USDA reportedly shelves cyclospora research amid relocations and fund cuts

Trump officials shuttering three projects on foodborne parasite, two defunded by Congress, Politico reports

theguardian.com

How a South African town cleaned up its polluted river using stones, wood and sand

Scientists say system to treat contaminated wastewater offers a model for ensuring food security in a fast-warming climate

theguardian.com

As US-Canada tensions flare, who’s calling the shots in Trump’s trade team?

US trade representative Jamieson Greer has a level-headed reputation but commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and White House adviser Peter Navarro also have key roles

theguardian.com

A pediatrician is running for Senate. Can doctors change the political debate over health and science?

After Lindsey Graham’s death, Democrat Annie Andrews finds herself in a closely watched race as she seeks to flip his Republican seat

theguardian.com

Headteacher saves 900 children from deadly flash flood in Nepal

Rajendra Dawadi ordered students to higher ground with moments to spare after receiving warnings from upstream

theguardian.com

Trump’s plan to sell off a part of Yosemite is what oligarchy looks like | Rebecca Solnit

Public lands belong to all of us. No one should plunder those lands for profit

theguardian.com

Bonds, bonds, bonds. World hunger. Aliens and the man for whom the Dolomites are named.

Great links, images, and reading from Chartbook Newsletter by Adam Tooze

adamtooze.substack.com

Oligarchy and the Great Evasion

The tax gap: What it is and why it matters

paulkrugman.substack.com

From Kakistocracy to Cheatistocracy

Rewarding the most dishonest

paulkrugman.substack.com

Judge Rules the Trump Admin Can't Deport International Students for Free Speech | Common Dreams

​"A federal judge just ruled that the Trump admin's use of immigration law to deport me and other noncitizen students for pro-Palestinian speech is unconstitutional. No one should fear speaking up for...

commondreams.org

The Social Security trust fund is running out, and yet it's not a top campaign issue

Limited public discussion of the trust fund's shortfall has experts worried that most Americans don't fully understand the problems Social Security faces — let alone be able to weigh in on solutions.

vermontpublic.org