The News Not Noise Letter: Time Is on Whose Side?
Turning down the noise on the economy, Trump, and Google. Plus: monkey meds and a Mick Jagger spotting.
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As we write this newsletter, negotiators are waiting to learn whether Hamas will accept the hostage/ceasefire offer Israel made earlier this week. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel is giving Hamas one-week to reach a deal before they launch an operation in Rafah. Reuters reports that Hamas is expected to deliver a written response to the offer in Cairo on Saturday. And US Sec. of State Antony Blinken says the floating aid pier the US is constructing is “probably a week away” from being operational.
Here in the US the protests on college campuses have largely been broken up by police or quelled by agreements with universities without major incident (yes, some people report injuries, but nothing widespread). More than 2,300 people were arrested at university protests. Many are students, but it’s worth noting that many others were not affiliated with universities (the NYPD says 60% of those arrested at City College of New York were not affiliated). The NYPD reports they found a “level of organization” on campuses that leads them to believe “there is somebody funding this and radicalizing students” and say they plan to trace the sources of funds. I reported on a lawsuit that gets at the same question – among the evidence is a toolkit they say was distributed to campuses on October 8, the day after the October 7 massacre. I’m sharing a copy of that with paid subscribers at the end of the newsletter. A police presence persists on many campuses as universities prepare for graduation.
This is a complicated moment. In days or weeks the war in Gaza could wind down or dramatically ramp up. The clashes on campuses and across major cities could subside or ignite again. It’s all very fragile. Because we’re waiting for these news stories to evolve, we’ll spend the rest of this newsletter on other news stories – that includes some news that doesn’t suck!
Announcement: We’re hosting a Zoom for our paid subscribers next week – you can see how to register below.
Here are your headlines:
Economy Grows, but Slows: The April jobs report shows the US economy added 175,000 jobs last month. That’s the smallest gain in months. Before you panic, know that this isn’t bad news. The economy is still growing, at a pace many economists say is more sustainable, and this slower growth could indicate a path to easing inflation.
Trump Trial Updates: This week, former President Donald Trump paid a $9,000 fine for contempt after violating his gag order. The prosecution is making the case that paying off Stormy Daniels and covering it up would be entirely consistent with Trump’s behavior. To this end they played secret recordings by Michael Cohen in which Trump and Cohen discussed arrangements to pay off a different woman, Playboy model Karen McDougal. They also called former Trump aide Hope Hicks. Hicks teared up during testimony, detailing for the court how she worked with the Trump campaign to suppress or respond to scandalous stories. She also said that it would be “out of character for Michael” Cohen to have paid porn star Stormy Daniels of his own volition. This would support the prosecution’s argument that the payments were directed by Trump. The defense has yet to present its case.
Trump Campaign Threats: Sound familiar? Trump is again telling interviewers he won the 2020 election and won’t commit to accepting the results in 2024. He told one outlet that if the vote is not “honest” “you have to fight for the right of the country,” and speaking to Time Magazine, he wouldn’t rule out violence, saying it’s unlikely “but if we don’t win, you know, it depends.” Of course it’s upsetting to hear a major party candidate warn of violence and some analysts are rightfully concerned that Trump’s most ardent fans could act on his words.
Questions: Here’s something new. We recently included questions in a post on social media and you told us that you found them helpful for enhancing your understanding. So I’m adding a few questions here: For all the hand wringing by the anti-Trump crowd, could Trump’s outrageous threats actually lose him votes? After all, though election denial is popular among the MAGA crowd, it’s a big turn-off for many voters including independents. A recent Ipsos poll shows that “threats to democracy” ranks ahead of the economy and immigration as top concerns for voters. Could these threats turn away undecided voters and some who lean Trump but are not strongly committed to him?
Google Antitrust Case: A federal judge heard closing arguments this week in US v. Google, an antitrust case that could dramatically change our digital landscape. The basic arguments boil down to this: the US government says Google is an illegal monopoly and uses its power – plus billions in payments to device makers like Apple and Samsung – to suppress competition and control online search. Google says it’s not a monopoly and that it dominates search because it’s, well, popular. The ruling could force Google to restructure.
Questions: The lawsuit makes us wonder, are our antitrust laws up to the challenges raised by today’s tech megacorporations? And if not, does any elected official have knowledge, financial security and political courage to take on the tech behemoths with new policy?
Brittney Griner Speaks Out: WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia for ten months in 2022, is publicly speaking out about her harrowing experience. She described repeated humiliation, including being denied hygiene products, caged, and jeered at by guards. When she got a severe eye infection, she was treated by someone she later learned was a veterinarian. She said the dehumanization made her consider suicide. “I wanted to take my life more than once in those first weeks. I felt like leaving here so badly,” Griner said. Her memoir, Coming Home, comes out May 7 and is available for pre-order now. In the meantime, you can read her latest profile in the New York Times Magazine here.
Here’s some news that doesn’t suck:
Caitlin Clark’s First WNBA Game: Former Iowa college basketball star Caitlin Clark will play her first WNBA game with her new team, the Indiana Fever, tonight. The Fever will face off against the Dallas Wings in a preseason game at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern. You can watch by subscribing to the WNBA League Pass here.
Dr. Orangutan: You might’ve heard that orangutans are smart – they use tools complexly, plan for the future, and tease each other – and now, there’s evidence they use medicine to treat wounds. In a new study, researchers observed a 35-year-old male orangutan, Rakus, in the wild. Rakus had a sizable wound beneath his right eye. Scientists say they saw Rakus chew up the leaves of the yellow root plant, which has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties and which is used widely in traditional medicine in Southeast Asia. Then, Rakus applied the chewed-up leaves to his wound several times. Rakus’s wound closed within days and was “barely visible” two months later. This is a big deal – there are very few records of wild animals self-medicating, and Rakus’s use of a plant with known medicinal properties suggests this wasn’t just a fluke. Researchers suggested Rakus’s self-treatment “provides new insights into the origins of human wound care.”
Kentucky Derby Kicks Off: The 150th Kentucky Derby is Saturday. They call it America’s oldest race. In recent years it’s been marred by some deaths but because this is News That Doesn’t Suck we are going to focus on the fun! While many are excited for the horses, we’re watching for the hats. If you’re attending or know others who are, please DM us with some photos and we’ll share online. You can watch the derby on NBC or stream via Peacock starting at 11:30 am Pacific / 2:30pm Eastern.
Still Going Strong: If anyone knows time is on his side, it’s Mick Jagger. The 80-year-old rock legend appeared with the Rolling Stones at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival over the weekend. Jagger brought in a special guest, singer Irma Thomas, to perform Time is on My Side. Jagger explained: “In 1964, which is a very long time ago, we heard this great song on the radio by this amazing singer. We recorded it and it became our first kind of hit in America. The lady that did the song first, she’s the Soul Queen of New Orleans! I’d like to bring out on stage now to sing the song with us, here she is, Miss Irma Thomas!” Watch the Stones and Irma Thomas perform “Time Is on My Side” here.
Subscriber Zoom Next Thursday
We’re having a Zoom for our paid subscribers next Thursday, May 9 at 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern. I’d like to talk a little bit about the news, a bit more about the state of the world and hear how you’re doing with your news anxiety. I can share tips for staying calm through the insanity as well.
You can register for the Zoom here: