in the clear: 2024-04-15

This is a running list of various media I've looked at each week. It's mostly for reference and to give an impression of the type of news that I'm exposed to. Bullets are written by me and numbers are summaries of the respective article from an LLM.

If you have any suggestions or know of other good news sources, please leave a comment in the guestbook or reach out to me directly. I can't spend all my time reading about current events, but I like to try and stay informed whenever possible.

NPR: Here's how the brain experiences pleasure — even the kind that makes us feel guilty

1. The popular book series, "The Empyrean" by Rebecca Yarros, has become a "guilty pleasure" for some NPR Short Wave podcast team members.
2. Neuroscientists have discovered that pleasure is a cycle of "wanting" and "liking," each with separate neural mechanisms.
3. The "wanting" stage activates the dopamine or reward circuits of the brain, while the "liking" stage involves activation of hedonic hotspots in the brain.
4. Different types of pleasure can have varying levels of fulfillment; the most joyful sources of pleasure often provide meaning and connection with others.
5. The idea of moderation or willpower is less important than realizing and apprecireciating the variety of pleasures available.
6. The NPR Short Wave podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, with additional content available through Short Wave+.

Wired: The US Government Has a Microsoft Problem

1. Microsoft has experienced several major security breaches in recent years, including hacks by Chinese and Russian government hackers.
2. The US government continues to use Microsoft products despite these security issues, and officials have not publicly criticized the company.
3. Microsoft is a critical partner in the government's cyberdefense initiatives and has unique insights into hackers' activities.
4. The company's executives and lobbyists promote Microsoft as a leader in cybersecurity, but critics argue that it has not made necessary cybersecurity improvements.
5. The Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) criticized Microsoft's security culture in a report on a major Chinese intrusion, stating that it requires an overhaul.
6. Microsoft has launched a new initiative to improve security, but it disagrees with the CSRB's characterization of its security culture as "broken."

NYT: Book Bans Continue to Surge in Public Schools

1. Book bans in public schools have surged, with over 4,300 books removed from schools across 23 states in the first half of the 2023 academic year.
2. This surge is driven by conservative groups and new laws regulating children's access to certain types of books.
3. Many of the targeted books feature LGBTQ characters or deal with race and racism.
4. Florida had the highest number of removals, with 3,135 books removed across 11 school districts.
5. The rise in book bans has been accelerated by legislation in Florida, making it a hub for book banning tactics.
6. Opponents of book bans, including parents, students, and free speech organizations, are actively working to stop book removals, arguing that they violate the First Amendment.

NPR: Supreme Court temporarily revives Idaho law banning gender affirming care for minors

1. The US Supreme Court temporarily reinstated Idaho's law banning gender-affirming care for minors, allowing it to take effect immediately during the ongoing litigation.
2. The decision was based on the state's argument that the lower court only had authority to stop the law from applying to the two plaintiffs, not to prevent its enforcement throughout the state.
3. The ruling could potentially limit the effects of any constitutional challenge to a state or federal law, as it may restrict the impact of legal challenges.
4. The decision is temporary, similar to the lower courts' decisions, and the law will remain in effect until the case's final ruling on its constitutionality.
5. There are similar bans in other states, such as Kentucky and Tennessee, with petitions for full review at the Supreme Court.
6. The law is part of a trend, with 21 states passing restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors in the last year, often justified as protecting children from unproven treatments.

WSJ: Investment Banking Bounceback Powers Big U.S. Lenders

1. The six largest U.S. banks have reported a combined profit of $35.63 billion in Q1 2024, a 3% decrease from the previous year.
2. The banks' investment-banking divisions have seen a resurgence, with increased revenue from debt issuance and equity underwriting.
3. Consumer spending remains robust, with a 9% rise in credit-card transactions and a 15% increase in credit-card loans.
4. Wages have grown for both high-income and low-income households, reflecting the strength of the labor market.
5. However, there are signs of distress in loans to consumers with low credit scores, and banks are facing challenges from higher deposit rates and potential customer migration to higher-yielding alternatives.
6. Banks are also dealing with unrealized losses on debt securities due to interest rate increases and potential impacts from tighter bank regulations.

Forbes: iOS 18—Apple Issues New Blow To Google With Bold AI Privacy Decision

1. Apple's iOS 18 will have on-device AI capabilities, eliminating the need for cloud processing.
2. This move is a significant privacy advantage for iPhone users, as data stays on the device.
3. The new AI capabilities will be revealed in detail at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
4. The iPhone 16 is expected to have enhanced hardware for handling AI data processing.
5. Apple's on-device AI approach differs from Samsung and Google's hybrid and cloud-based models.
6. This strategy could help Apple differentiate itself in the AI field, particularly in terms of privacy.

The Economist: Generation Z is unprecedentedly rich

1. Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is becoming more influential in the workforce, with a significant number in full-time jobs.
2. This generation is often associated with anxiety, less relationship formation, and a preference for digital communication due to the influence of smartphones and social media.
3. However, Generation Z is financially better off than preceding generations at the same stage in their lives, with lower unemployment rates and stronger wage growth.
4. This economic advantage is changing their relationship with work, leading to a more casual attitude and a tendency to prioritize self-care over work.
5. The idea of a job being a "right" rather than a "privilege" is prevalent among Generation Z, leading to concepts like "quiet quitting" and "bare minimum Monday".
6. Despite concerns about the cost of education and housing, data suggests that Generation Z is still better off financially than previous generations at the same age.

EFF: How Political Campaigns Use Your Data to Target You

1. Political campaigns collect data from various sources to create voter profiles and target ads.
2. This data includes public voter records, online behavior, and real-world interactions.
3. Data brokers like Acxiom or Experian sell consumer data to campaigns, which can be hard to trace.
4. Campaigns often share voter information, and signature sheets for ballot measures become public record.
5. Political ads are increasingly targeted through devices like smartphones and connected TVs.
6. You can minimize your data footprint by managing your privacy settings on devices and online platforms.

NYT: Why Your Big Sister Resents You

1. The concept of "eldest daughter syndrome" suggests that firstborn daughters may have intense feelings of familial responsibility, people-pleasing tendencies, and potential resentment towards siblings and parents.
2. Research has found connections between birth order and various outcomes, such as educational attainment, IQ, financial risk tolerance, and participation in dangerous sports. However, these findings may be influenced by the age difference between siblings rather than birth order itself.
3. Large-scale studies often show weak or no links between birth order and personality traits, suggesting that birth order may not significantly shape personality or long-term outcomes.
4. Personal experiences and cultural practices may still play a role in how birth order influences family dynamics and sibling roles.
5. Some people find it helpful to reflect on their birth order and how it has shaped their lives, particularly in terms of family roles and expectations.
6. The debate on birth order's impact on personality is ongoing, and some believe that people seek self-understanding through various lenses, such as birth order, horoscopes, or attachment styles.

CoinTelegraph: NSA ’just days from taking over the internet’ warns Edward Snowden

1. Edward Snowden warns that the NSA is close to expanding surveillance powers, allowing them to "take over the internet."
2. The expansion is due to a new bill reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
3. The bill changes the definition of "electronic communications surveillance provider," broadening the scope of who can be forced to assist with NSA surveillance.
4. This change could potentially include any individual or company providing internet-related services.
5. Penalties for those forced to hand over data include hefty gag orders, preventing disclosure of the information provided.
6. The bill has faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with concerns raised about constitutional rights and the potential for overreach.

The Economist: Large language models are getting bigger and better

1. Large language models are rapidly advancing, with new versions and competitors regularly outperforming previous ones.
2. The availability of high-quality data for training these models is a growing concern, as the public internet's supply is expected to be depleted by 2026.
3. "Self-play" is a promising method for training AI models, where a model learns from itself or competes against another model.
4. The use of specialized hardware and larger context windows could improve the reliability and capability of AI models.
5. Some experts believe that the current AI learning algorithms are insufficient and that better learning algorithms, inspired by the human brain, are needed.
6. The transformer architecture, while effective, may not be the most efficient solution for scaling up context windows due to its computational inefficiency.

The Economist: What is screentime doing to children?

1. There is a growing concern about the impact of smartphones and social media on children's mental health.
2. Many children have access to smartphones by age 12, with social media being their main screen activity.
3. There has been a rise in mental health issues among young people, including a significant increase in major depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts.
4. Some studies suggest a correlation between increased social media use and poorer mental health in young people.
5. A few experimental studies indicate that time away from social media can improve mental well-being.
6. Much remains uncertain about the causal relationship between social media use and mental health, with limited research on teenagers and non-American populations.

Vox: What is private equity, and why is it killing everything you love?

1. Private equity (PE) firms use a lot of debt to buy companies, with the goal of improving their performance and selling them for a profit.
2. PE firms have been criticized for causing job losses and business failures, such as Toys R Us, by saddling them with debt and prioritizing short-term gains.
3. PE firms argue they create value and save companies from bankruptcy, but critics say they often leave companies worse off.
4. PE firms are typically funded by institutional investors and accredited investors, not ordinary individuals trading on the stock market.
5. PE firms like Bain Capital and KKR have been involved in high-profile cases of business failures, leading to criticism and calls for regulation.
6. PE firms are often blamed for various economic issues, such as surprise medical bills and the struggles of the retail industry.

NYT: A Nigerian Chess Master in Times Square

1. Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, is attempting to break the Guinness world record for the longest chess marathon in Times Square, New York.
2. Onakoya's goal is to raise $1 million for Gift of Chess and Chess in Slums Africa, organizations that use chess to lift children out of poverty.
3. The Gift of Chess, started in New York City during the pandemic, aims to distribute 10,000 chess sets to socially isolated children globally.
4. The event is taking place in less than ideal conditions for Onakoya, who is used to much higher temperatures in Nigeria.
5. The cyberattack on New York's budget process, the hiring of Randy Mastro as New York City's top lawyer, and the new housing deal are also highlighted in the page.
6. SEED Brklyn, a Brooklyn store, will screen a documentary called "Farming While Black" for Earth Day, featuring Soul Fire Farm, an Afro-Indigenous community farm in upstate New York.

Lawfare: How Google’s Location History Program Could Upend Digital Surveillance Law

1. Google's Location History program has been used in investigations, such as the Okello Chatrie bank robbery case, to identify individuals located in specific areas at certain times.
2. The use of geofence warrants has raised constitutional questions about cell phone users' Fourth Amendment rights in the location data they share with apps.
3. Google's statements indicate that millions of users, including Chatrie, affirmatively opted in to using Location History. However, further examination reveals that this may not be the case for many users.
4. The Supreme Court's Carpenter v. United States decision ruled that users have a Fourth Amendment right in the location data collected by their cell service provider.
5. The Fourth Circuit is considering whether cell phone users have any Fourth Amendment rights in the location data they share with apps, with a potential ruling that such data is wholly unprotected.
6. Google's Location History program is not strictly opt-in, as users can be led to believe. In reality, users may be pressured or manipulated into giving permission during app setup, which could affect their constitutional protections.

Lawfare: Questioning the Conventional Wisdom on Liability and Open Source Software

1. The debate around software liability often involves the role of open source software, which makes up a significant portion of most modern software applications.
2. A key issue is the potential legal responsibility of open source software developers, with some advocating for no legal responsibility and others arguing that malicious developers should be held accountable.
3. A proposed liability regime would primarily focus on preventing companies from shipping products with open source components that have known vulnerabilities or obvious code flaws.
4. If software liability laws cover open source software, companies may invest more in the open source software ecosystem.
5. An absolutist view that open source software is provided "as is" could potentially allow for the distribution of malicious open source software.
6. The inclusion of end-of-life (EOL) open source software components in an application, which no longer receive security updates, is a potential area of concern and could be considered a "don't" in software practices.

IAPP: FTC advises on data security vulnerabilities (Full story)

"The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Office of Technology wrote about how to strengthen data security systems to avoid punishable data breaches. The advisory discusses vulnerabilities that include cross-site scripting, structured query language injections and buffer overflows."

EFF: Two Years Post-Roe: A Better Understanding of Digital Threats

1. The Dobbs decision in 2022 led to concerns about digital surveillance and data collection in the context of reproductive healthcare.
2. Key evidence in court cases can include social media message logs and search history, as seen in examples from Nebraska and Google.
3. Doxxing sites and data brokers pose significant threats to healthcare professionals who offer abortion services, often leading to harassment and violence.
4. The data broker industry is largely unregulated, posing privacy risks and enabling warrantless surveillance.
5. There has been a rise in federal designation of abortion-rights activist groups as domestic terrorist threats.
6. Legal challenges to medication abortion and potential changes to electronic health records could lead to increased surveillance of patients and providers.

ArsTechnica: Cops can force suspect to unlock phone with thumbprint, US court rules

1. A federal appeals court ruled that US Constitution's Fifth Amendment does not prohibit police from forcing a suspect to unlock a phone with a thumbprint scan.
2. The ruling does not apply to all cases involving biometrics, but is a significant decision in an unsettled area of law.
3. The court had to determine if the compelled use of a biometric to unlock an electronic device is testimonial.
4. The court unanimously ruled against Payne, who was charged with possession of drugs and had his phone unlocked with his thumbprint at a traffic stop.
5. The court's decision hinged on whether the act of unlocking the phone with a thumbprint implicitly communicated the existence of incriminating information.
6. The court distinguished this case from previous ones, as Payne was not compelled to acknowledge the existence of any incriminating information, but merely to provide access to potential information.

NPR: The Rise of 'Grid Zero': Why more Instagram users are hiding their profile

1. Instagram users, particularly Gen Z, are increasingly hiding their profile photos in a trend called "Grid Zero."
2. This trend is driven by a desire for privacy and aversion to permanence in the digital world.
3. Instagram's growth in direct messaging and temporary posts suggests a shift away from the traditional grid of posted photos.
4. Some users maintain a "finsta" or "dump account" for sharing posts with a close circle of friends.
5. This movement can be seen as a form of self-protection and a reaction to 'digital addiction.'
6. The rise of "Grid Zero" may also be due to the desire for mystery and intrigue, making users more desirable or interesting.

Proton Blog: How to delete your search history

1. Search history can reveal personal information, making it valuable for targeted advertising and surveillance.
2. Google, the dominant search engine, collects and uses search data to monetize its services, often selling it to advertising and analytics companies.
3. Governments also collect browsing history for mass surveillance purposes, which can be accessed by various agencies.
4. You can delete your Google search history, which may prevent its use for targeted ads, but the data's accessibility to governments is unclear.
5. Each Google app allows deletion of search history on mobile devices, but this may only apply to the specific app or device.
6. Browser search history can also be deleted to prevent others with physical access to your device from viewing your online activities.

The Register: EU tells Meta it can't paywall privacy

1. The EU's Data Protection Board (EDPB) has advised large online platforms, including Meta, not to offer users a choice between paying for a service and consenting to the use of their personal data for targeted advertising.
2. The EDPB's opinion was in response to complaints about Meta's introduction of a paywall model for users who do not want their personal data used for targeted advertising.
3. Meta introduced a subscription model of €9.99/month on the web or €12.99/month on iOS and Android for users who do not want their personal data used for targeted advertising.
4. The EDPB states that in most cases, it would not comply with legal requirements for valid consent if platforms confront users only with a choice between consenting to the processing of personal data for behavioral advertising purposes and paying a fee.
5. Meta argues that their subscription model for no ads is a legally valid way to seek people's consent for personalized advertising and complies with EU laws.
6. Consumer groups have filed complaints against Meta's pay-or-consent model, arguing that it breaches data protection principles of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Axios: Exclusive: Google finds AI agents pose fresh ethical challenges

1. Google DeepMind researchers explore ethical dilemmas associated with giving more autonomy to AI-powered assistants.
2. Advanced AI agents could become daily companions, advisors, or assistants, planned and controlled through natural language interfaces.
3. Autonomous action can lead to increased risks, such as accidents or misinformation, requiring limits on AI agents.
4. Advice-giving AI agents need extensive knowledge about users, raising questions about privacy and data usage.
5. AI optimists emphasize its potential, while briefly acknowledging risks; there's a need for new ideas to address these concerns.
6. Cities like Northwest Arkansas and others are emerging as AI job hubs, offering economic opportunities beyond Silicon Valley.

HIPPA Journal: MedData Settles Class Action Data Breach Lawsuit for $7 Million

1. MedData settled a class action lawsuit for $7 million due to a data breach, exposing personal and health information of 136,000 individuals.
2. The data breach occurred between December 2018 and September 2019, due to an inadvertent upload by a MedData employee to a public-facing part of GitHub.
3. MedData was informed about the data exposure in December 2020 and took action to remove the files.
4. Class members can claim up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses or $500 for minimal affirmative action in response to the data breach.
5. Free health data and fraud monitoring services, including a $1 million identity theft insurance policy, are available to class members for 36 months.
6. MedData is required to implement and maintain an enhanced cybersecurity program to prevent future data breaches.

Reuters: Dutch privacy watchdog recommends government organisations stop using Facebook

1. A Dutch privacy watchdog has advised government organizations to stop using Facebook.
2. Reuters Econ World will provide the latest news and analysis on the global economy, with users able to sign up.
3. Croatia's Constitutional Court has ruled that President Zoran Milanovic cannot become prime minister after the recent elections.
4. Russian missiles hit the Pivdennyi port in Ukraine, destroying grain storage facilities and foodstuffs.
5. Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian strategic bomber involved in an airstrike that killed eight people, including two children.
6. The G7 has pledged to strengthen Ukraine's air defences and urged China to stop supporting Moscow's military industry for better relations with the West.

EFF: Internet Service Providers Plan to Subvert Net Neutrality. Don’t Let Them

1. Net neutrality is the principle that ISPs should treat all data equally, without discrimination.
2. The absence of strong net neutrality protections allows ISPs to create "fast lanes" for preferred services, which could harm competition and consumer choice.
3. The FCC has proposed draft rules to reinstate net neutrality, with a vote scheduled for April 25, 2024.
4. The proposed rules must prevent loopholes that could undermine net neutrality, such as allowing for "fast lanes" or prioritizing certain applications.
5. Network slicing, a technology that allows for specific uses of bandwidth, can be beneficial if used in an application-agnostic manner.
6. The FCC needs to ensure that the proposed rules do not allow for throttling or discrimination, which would harm competition and consumer choice.

NYT: A Huge Number of Homeowners Have Mortgage Rates Too Good to Give Up

1. Many American homeowners have low fixed mortgage rates (around 4-5%) due to refinancing during the past decades, while the current market rate is around 7%.
2. This gap has created a "lock-in effect," causing about 1.3 million fewer home sales in America from 2022 to 2023, as homeowners are reluctant to give up their low rates.
3. This lock-in effect is causing a slowdown in mobility, affecting both the housing market and the labor market, as people can't move for better jobs or housing.
4. The lock-in effect is also preventing first-time buyers from purchasing homes due to the price increase caused by the lock-in effect.
5. The Federal Reserve's fight against inflation and the rapid rise in interest rates have caused this situation, making it financially unattractive for homeowners to sell their homes.
6. The Biden administration has proposed temporary tax credits to encourage home buying and selling, but the effectiveness of these measures is uncertain.

NYT: This Therapy Helps Victims of Violent Crime. Who Will Pay for It?

1. Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs) are beneficial for helping victims of violent crime recover, particularly in low-income communities with a distrust of traditional mental-health treatment.
2. TRCs offer comprehensive support, addressing both immediate practical concerns and emotional impact, including anger, turmoil, anxiety, and depression.
3. The TRC model has been successful in reducing homelessness and depression among victims, and in increasing reporting of crimes.
4. The approach is cost-effective, as it addresses immediate material needs to build trust for therapy and other forms of help.
5. New York City currently has three TRCs, but their funding is insufficient and dependent on City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, whose term ends in 2026.
6. The proposed city budget may cut funding for other victim support programs, such as Safe Horizon's victim advocate program in police precincts.

NPR: House approves sell-or-be-banned TikTok measure, attaching it to foreign aid bill

1. The U.S. House has approved a bill that could lead to a ban of TikTok if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell the app.
2. This bill is part of a foreign aid bill supporting Ukraine and Israel, and extends the deadline for TikTok to find a buyer.
3. National security officials fear TikTok could be used for propaganda or spying by the Chinese government, although there's no public evidence of this.
4. TikTok has been given a year to find a buyer, and must convince the Chinese government to allow the sale of its algorithm.
5. The high value and potential antitrust issues make it uncertain if a buyer can be found.
6. The bill delays any action until after the November presidential election.

The Economist: America is uniquely ill-suited to handle a falling population

1. The town of Cairo in Illinois, once expected to grow into a huge metropolis, is now experiencing a significant population decline, with a current count of 1,700 people.
2. The decline is due to various factors, including the shift from river to rail transport, white flight after civil rights legislation, and the demolition of public housing.
3. The U.S. is currently facing a national demographic headwind, with over half of the country's counties losing population due to slow population growth.
4. The slow population growth is primarily due to falling birth rates, with the total fertility rate dropping below the replacement level since 2008.
5. If the current trend continues, America's population will grow at its slowest rate in history in the coming decades.
6. This trend is not unique to America, with many other rich and developing countries facing similar or worse demographic challenges.

WSJ: These Home Sellers Are Done Waiting for the Fed to Lower Rates

1. The Federal Reserve's high-rate policies have led to a tough housing market with mortgage rates rising, causing some home sellers to list their properties even if they can't get superlow mortgage rates.
2. Homeowners, particularly empty-nesters and growing families, are selling due to specific needs such as moving to homes without stairs or upsizing from starter homes.
3. Existing home sales have dropped in 2023 to the lowest level since 1995, but new listings are up 11% from a year earlier.
4. Homes are spending more time on the market and sellers are receiving fewer offers compared to a few years ago when mortgage rates were lower.
5. Despite the challenges, some sellers are still optimistic, hoping for lower mortgage rates that could bring out more buyers.
6. The Bhargavas, Boltons, and Graces are three examples of home sellers who have listed their properties due to personal and market circumstances, each with unique experiences and motivations.

NYT Opinion: Government Surveillance Keeps Us Safe

1. The text discusses the reauthorization of a key intelligence power, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, for collecting critical information on foreign threats.
2. It highlights the need for surveillance to protect against terrorism, hacking, and other national security dangers, while also addressing concerns about privacy rights.
3. The authors argue that the latest version of the bill includes the most expansive privacy reform in its history, with dozens of legal safeguards around the surveillance in question.
4. The text explains how the digital age has blurred the lines of surveillance rules, especially with foreign nationals using American providers like Google and Meta.
5. It discusses the use of Section 702, which allows efficient surveillance of foreign targets, and the importance of this surveillance in national security investigations.
6. The authors mention past instances of FBI misconduct and propose reforms to improve compliance and prevent abuses without compromising the critical national security value of Section 702.

The Economist: How American politics has infected investing

1. American politics is increasingly influencing investment decisions, with investors favoring or avoiding certain companies based on political alignment.
2. This trend is driven by a gap in how Democrats and Republicans view the world, leading to differing interpretations of economic data and investment choices.
3. Partisan investors may also be motivated by a desire to sway business behavior or express support for certain causes, even if it means sacrificing financial returns.
4. The rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing has allowed asset managers to distinguish themselves, but it has also become a point of contention, leading to net outflows from such funds.
5. Both conservative and liberal investors are making their voices heard, with some states threatening to boycott financial firms that do not align with their political beliefs.
6. Taking a stand in investments can be costly, as it may lead to missed opportunities or increased borrowing costs for companies targeted by boycotts.

NYT: What to Know About State Laws That Limit or Ban D.E.I. Efforts at Colleges

1. D.E.I. in higher education refers to initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented groups, including those based on race, gender, culture, religion, and socioeconomic status.
2. D.E.I. programs are supported for fostering inclusion and helping students from various backgrounds succeed, but criticized for potentially discriminating against certain groups and advancing left-wing ideas.
3. Since 2023, 84 bills targeting diversity programs have been introduced across the US, with 12 becoming law and 13 awaiting governors' signatures. These laws aim to eliminate or restrict D.E.I. programs, diversity training, and identity-based preferences.
4. Some states, like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, North Dakota, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Alabama, and Kansas, have passed anti-D.E.I. laws, affecting D.E.I. initiatives and limiting the teaching of certain concepts.
5. The new laws have resulted in eliminating D.E.I. positions, closing offices, and rebranding D.E.I. programs under different names in some universities.
6. University officials have responded differently to these laws, with some eliminating D.E.I. programs and others rebranding or reorganizing them to continue promoting diversity and inclusion.

NYT: ‘Aging in Place, or Stuck in Place?’

1. Homeownership, once a reliable source of retirement funds, is becoming less dependable due to rising mortgage debt and housing prices.
2. Many older adults struggle to downsize due to a lack of affordable, suitable housing options.
3. The proportion of older adults with mortgage debt has significantly increased over the past few decades.
4. Reverse mortgages can be an effective way to tap home equity, but they come with high upfront costs and substantial paperwork.
5. Other methods of accessing home equity have become more difficult due to rising interest rates and stricter lending standards.
6. Homeownership remains a valuable asset for older adults, providing protection against rising housing costs and a potential source of funds for long-term care.

WSJ: Move Aside, Big Banks: Giant Funds Now Rule Wall Street

1. Asset management companies, such as Blackstone and BlackRock, are growing rapidly and expanding their services, leading to increased control over the U.S. economy.
2. This growth is due to new types of products, long-term client commitments, and the shift from traditional banking to fund management.
3. The shift is also driven by the 2008 financial crisis, which led to new regulations for banks and the movement of investors to managed funds.
4. The biggest asset managers now control over $43.5 trillion, compared to U.S. banks' $23 trillion.
5. This growth has resulted in the minting of new billionaires, particularly in the private equity sector.
6. The trend is expected to continue, with private equity and debt fund assets doubling in the last four years and plans to reach $1 trillion in assets by some firms by 2026.