NEWSVANDAL RUNDOWN 02.15.23
TODAY: The Tech Bubble Doesn't Suck. It Just Sucks For You
LEADS
The Astonishing Transformation of Austin
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/13/the-astonishing-transformation-of-austin
Tech helped make Seattle. Could industry layoffs break it?
https://crosscut.com/news/2023/02/tech-helped-make-seattle-could-industry-layoffs-break-it
In Seattle, People Have to Make $400,000 to Buy A Home
https://247wallst.com/housing/2023/02/11/in-seattle-people-have-to-make-400000-to-buy-a-home/
Silicon Valley’s Newest ‘It’ Couple Is Going Big on Real Estate. Here’s How They’ve Spent $140 Million
https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/silicon-valleys-newest-it-couple-is-going-big-on-real-estate-heres-how-theyve-spent-140-million-01675956086
‘Broken promises.’ Tech industry’s real estate pullback leaves communities reeling
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/tech/tech-industry-real-estate-pullback
Layoffs take their toll on tech's most interesting projects
https://www.axios.com/2023/02/13/tech-layoffs-innovation
Fresh waves of tech layoffs will erase hundreds more Bay Area jobs
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/02/14/tech-job-layoff-palo-alto-san-ramon-san-francisco-economy-sap-twilio/
Silicon Valley stays sturdy despite ‘gloom and doom’ of tech layoffs: report
https://www.siliconvalley.com/2023/02/14/silicon-valley-tech-economy-job-layoff-index-google-apple-facebook/
Corporations embrace layoffs and stock buybacks in the name of ‘efficiency’
https://www.grid.news/story/economy/2023/02/13/corporations-embrace-layoffs-and-stock-buybacks-in-the-name-of-efficiency/
What Layoffs? Top Wall Street Traders Score Giant Paydays
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/13/business/hedge-fund-trader-pay.html
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Recession
https://www.pringturner.com/funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-recession/
Rents push up U.S. consumer prices; inflation gradually cooling
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-consumer-prices-increase-january-trend-slowing-2023-02-14/
Annual Services Inflation Rages at New Four-Decade High, Monthly Overall CPI Hottest since June
https://wolfstreet.com/2023/02/14/annual-services-inflation-rages-at-new-four-decade-high-overall-monthly-cpi-hottest-since-june/
New car prices push higher as used vehicle prices keep slipping
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/new-car-prices-push-higher-as-used-vehicle-prices-keep-slipping-161627155.html
Electric Vehicles Could Match Gasoline Cars on Price This Year
https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/36635-electric-vehicles-could-match-gasoline-cars-on-price-this-year
For some electric vehicle owners, recharging now more costly than filling up
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/electric-car-2023-costs-gas-vehicles/
The gas bill is $907.13? Sticker shock for Californians as prices soar
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-15/california-natural-gas-bills-expensive-socalgas-pge-long-beach
Egg Prices Soar Even Higher—70% In A Year—Amid Accusations Of Price Gouging
https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonytellez/2023/02/14/egg-prices-soar-even-higher-70-in-a-year-amid-accusations-of-price-gouging/
Wholesale egg prices tank after months of increases
https://scrippsnews.com/stories/wholesale-egg-prices-tank-after-months-of-increases/
As inflation stays high, grocers push back against raising food prices
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/inflation-stays-high-grocers-push-back-food-price-hikes-rcna70612
Coca-Cola revenue rises in fourth quarter, fueled by higher prices
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/14/coca-cola-ko-q4-earnings.html
Study finds link between ‘free sugar’ intake and cardiovascular disease
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/health/added-free-sugars-cardiovascular-disease-risk-wellness/index.html
Top US smoothie company accused of deception after toxic PFAS discovered
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/14/green-goddess-smoothie-maker-bolthouse-farms-toxix-pfas-chemicals
Fish may carry higher levels of PFAS than drinking water. Here's what you should know about it.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/02/14/fish-may-carry-higher-levels-of-pfas-than-drinking-water-what-to-know/69833618007/
Waterways along Ohio River still contaminated following train derailment carrying hazardous materials: Officials
https://abcnews.go.com/US/waterways-ohio-river-contaminated-train-derailment-carrying-hazardous/story?id=97195028
‘This is absurd’: Train cars that derailed in Ohio were labeled non-hazardous
https://grist.org/accountability/derailed-train-cars-ohio-not-labeled-toxic-cargo/
Marjorie Taylor Greene Complains Not Enough Money Went Toward Rail Safety in Bill She Voted Against: ‘This Is a Failure’
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-complains-not-enough-money-went-toward-rail-safety-in-bill-she-voted-against-this-is-a-failure/
Mike DeWine Pours Cold Water on J.D. Vance’s Attack on Biden Over Toxic Spill Cleanup
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/mike-dewine-pours-cold-water-on-j-d-vances-attack-on-biden-over-toxic-spill-cleanup/
Charlie Kirk Claims Ohio Derailment Is Proof of ‘War on White People’
https://www.thedailybeast.com/charlie-kirk-claims-ohio-derailment-is-proof-of-war-on-white-people
How Ben & Jerry’s Ended Up at War With Itself
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-02-14/ben-jerry-s-israel-controversy-set-off-unilever-battle
Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop "war" on poultry
https://www.reuters.com/world/bird-flu-spreads-new-countries-threatens-non-stop-war-poultry-2023-02-15/
Mass death of sea lions from bird flu suggests virus may be spreading between mammals in the wild
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2023-02-15/mass-death-of-sea-lions-from-bird-flu-suggests-virus-may-be-spreading-between-mammals-in-the-wild.html
Bird Flu Is Already a Tragedy
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/02/avian-bird-flu-virus-outbreak-epidemic/673058/
POLITICS and FLEAS
Justice Department tells court there’s evidence of a crime in bid to force more answers from Trump attorney
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/politics/evan-corcoran-trump-attorney-testimony
Opinion: Jared Kushner’s Saudi deals may remain hidden — while Trump campaigns
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/14/jared-kushner-saudi-trump-house-gop/
Biden’s brother was hired to broker secret $140M Saudi deal when Joe was veep, docs reveal
https://nypost.com/2023/02/14/jim-biden-helped-negotiate-saudi-deal-due-to-joe-biden-ties-report/
To Distract From GOP’s Biden Family Business Investigation, Media Dredge Up More ‘But Trump’ Excuses
https://thefederalist.com/2023/02/14/to-distract-from-gops-biden-family-business-investigation-media-dredge-up-more-but-trump-excuses/
Snowden says shot down UFOs meant to divert attention from Nord Stream sabotage
https://tass.com/world/1575885
I Don’t Know What’s Going On With These UFOs, But I Know We Won’t Get The Truth
https://thefederalist.com/2023/02/15/i-dont-know-whats-going-on-with-these-ufos-but-i-know-we-wont-get-the-truth/
The U.S. government’s UFO problem is not new. Officials still don’t know what to do about it.
https://www.semafor.com/article/02/15/2023/the-us-governments-ufo-problem-is-not-new-senators-still-dont-know-what-to-do-about-it
You absolutely must not attempt to shoot down spy balloons
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/shoot-spy-balloon/
Shooting down Chinese spy balloons or mystery UFOs, US always relies on this $439,000 missile
https://www.wionews.com/world/shooting-down-chinese-spy-balloons-or-mystery-ufos-us-always-relies-on-this-439000-missile-562081
FOREIGN ENTANGLEMENTS
Scotland's leader Nicola Sturgeon shocks U.K., says she'll resign from First Minister post
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-scotland-leader-uk-resigning-first-minister-post/
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon quits after outrage over transgender laws
https://nypost.com/2023/02/15/scotlands-nicola-sturgeon-quits-amid-anger-at-transgender-law/
Sturgeon dodges question on SNP 'fraud' probe as she quits
https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23323606.sturgeon-dodges-question-snp-fraud-probe-quits/
Nicola Sturgeon resignation: Why the First Minister's announcement leaves the SNP in shock
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-resignation-why-the-first-ministers-announcement-leaves-the-snp-in-shock-4028322
Ford, police union among those encouraging Tory not to resign as Toronto mayor: source
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/02/14/ford-encouraging-tory-not-to-resign-as-mayor/
John Tory's closest advisers are urging him to stick with his resignation, sources say
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-resign-stay-on-as-mayor-city-budget-1.6748871
Bolsonaro says he will return to Brazil next month to lead the opposition
https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-02-15/bolsonaro-says-he-will-return-to-brazil-next-month-to-lead-the-opposition.html
PANDORA'S BOXCUTTER
Is the eco-bubble about to burst?
https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/02/14/is-the-eco-bubble-about-to-burst/
Where Is This "Climate Crisis" That Activists Keep Talking About?
https://www.zerohedge.com/weather/where-climate-crisis-activists-keep-talking-about
Slippery slope? Alpine tourism in the face of climate crisis – photo essay
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/feb/13/alpine-tourism-climate-crisis-photo-essay
How Climate Change Is Spreading Malaria in Africa
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/health/malaria-mosquitoes-climate-change.html
Fact check: False claim the rotation of Earth's core is responsible for climate change
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2023/02/14/fact-check-climate-change-caused-humans-not-earths-core/11177275002/
The Shameless Attack on a Climate Change Dissenter
https://reason.com/video/2023/02/13/the-shameless-attack-on-a-climate-change-dissenter/
Stop Appeasing Biden and the Other Climate Authoritarians
https://americanliberty.news/defense-news/stop-appeasing-biden-and-the-other-climate-authoritarians/dsimon/2023/02/
Far-left environmental groups conducted internal Biden admin trainings, documents show
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/far-left-environmental-groups-conducted-internal-biden-admin-trainings-documents-show
Climate crisis could have been avoided if colonists adopted indigenous lifestyle, says top Biden official
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/climate-crisis-avoided-colonists-adopted-indigenous-lifestyle-top-biden-official
How evangelicals moved from supporting environmental stewardship to climate skepticism
https://theconversation.com/how-evangelicals-moved-from-supporting-environmental-stewardship-to-climate-skepticism-196727
Climate ripples and the rise of the right
https://apps.npr.org/climate-migration-senegal-morocco-spain/
Climate denial campaign goes retro with new textbook
https://grist.org/science/climate-denial-campaign-goes-retro-with-new-textbook/
In Kutztown schools, the right’s culture warriors block a book on climate change
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/kutztown-schools-halt-two-degrees-reading-20230212.html
Banning ideas and authors is not a ‘culture war’ – it’s fascism
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/13/african-american-studies-republican-ban-florida
THE MEDIA SCRUM
Fox News must face Smartmatic's lawsuit over election-rigging claims
https://www.reuters.com/legal/fox-news-must-face-smartmatics-lawsuit-over-election-rigging-claims-2023-02-14/
Super Bowl snub is latest dust-up between White House, Fox News
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3857701-super-bowl-snub-is-latest-dust-up-between-white-house-fox-news/
Great — now ‘liberal’ ChatGPT is censoring the The Post’s Hunter Biden coverage, too
https://nypost.com/2023/02/14/chatgpt-censors-new-york-post-coverage-of-hunter-biden/
AI-powered Bing Chat loses its mind when fed Ars Technica article
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/ai-powered-bing-chat-loses-its-mind-when-fed-ars-technica-article/
Microsoft’s ChatGPT-powered Bing is getting ‘unhinged’ and argumentative, some users say: It ‘feels sad and scared’
https://fortune.com/2023/02/14/microsoft-chatgpt-bing-unhinged-scared/
‘This Is High Urgency’: Musk Reportedly Demanded Twitter Algorithm Change After Super Bowl Tweet Got Fewer Views Than Biden’s
https://www.mediaite.com/tech/this-is-high-urgency-musk-reportedly-demanded-twitter-algorithm-change-after-super-bowl-tweet-got-fewer-views-than-bidens/
ODDS, ENDS
After Michigan State mass shooting, more questions than answers
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/02/15/msu-shooting-more-questions-than-answers/69904881007/
'F*** your thoughts and prayers,' Michigan lawmaker says after latest mass shooting
https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20230215305/f-your-thoughts-and-prayers-michigan-lawmaker-says-after-latest-mass-shooting
Michigan State University student who survived Sandy Hook massacre speaks out after shooting
https://abc13.com/msu-shooting-michigan-state-sandy-hook-survivor-mass-shootings-school/12818746/
Clawson vigil honors multi-sport athlete killed in Michigan State University shooting
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2023/02/15/clawson-vigil-honors-multi-sport-athlete-who-lost-her-life-in-mass-shooting-on-msu-campus/
Henry Pratt mass shooting victims being honored Wednesday in Aurora
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/video/henry-pratt-mass-shooting-victims-being-honored-wednesday-in-aurora/
Pandemic racism, mass shootings spur Asian Americans to take up guns
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/15/news/world/pandemic-racism-mass-shootings-spur-asian-americans-to-take-up-guns/1878847
Buffalo mass shooter Payton Gendron set to be sentenced to life in prison
https://abcnews.go.com/US/buffalo-mass-shooter-payton-gendron-set-sentenced-life/story?id=97079974
Missouri man accused of holding woman in basement for weeks could face 5 life sentences
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/missouri-man-accused-holding-woman-basement-weeks-face-5-life-sentence-rcna70712
An Alabama Man Was Taken to Jail. Two Weeks Later, He Was Dead From Hypothermia.
https://reason.com/2023/02/14/an-alabama-man-was-taken-to-jail-two-weeks-later-he-was-dead-from-hypothermia/
She asked the police to help her husband. They killed him instead
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/14/los-angeles-police-shoot-kill-takar-smith
‘He’s Got a Knife—Kill Him!’
https://www.thebulwark.com/hes-got-a-knife-kill-him/