Morning Coffee (1/4/19)

It's time for Friday happy links, but there's actually . . . happy political stuff?!?!

Nancy Pelosi’s first speech as House speaker celebrated women’s accomplishments

Kyrsten Sinema Makes History As First Openly Bisexual Person Sworn In To Senate

Democratic Majority Reinstates Gun Ban In New Hampshire House Chamber

New York gets a non-binary option on birth certificates starting today

!! Jamelle Bouie Joins The New York Times Opinion Pages as Columnist

Far side of the moon: China's Chang'e 4 probe makes historic touchdown

Mexican Archaeologists Discover Pre-Hispanic Temple of 'The Flayed Lord'

Obviously there are many more important things about Cecile Richards than her beauty routine but that was interesting too.

Check Out These 14 Adorable Library Cards

LET'S GO: Winter weekends away: 10 of the best country house hotels

Morning Coffee (1/3/19)

Shutdown Leaves Food, Medicine and Pay in Doubt in Indian Country

What Is and Isn’t Affected by the Government Shutdown

This is great: Massachusetts Episcopal diocese buys shares in Smith & Wesson parent to influence gun debate

Heh: I Don’t Hate Women Candidates — I Just Hated Hillary and Coincidentally I’m Starting to Hate Elizabeth Warren

New Poll of U.S. Troops and Veterans Reveals Their Thoughts on Current Military Policies

Apple is basically blaming Trump’s trade war for disappointing iPhone sales in China

Women Form 385-Mile Human Chain to Protest Temple's Menstruation Ban

Ooh! NASA's New Horizons Mission Reveals Entirely New Kind of World

Ugh: Kristi Toliver, an N.B.A. Assistant Who’s Paid Like an Intern

Oh good: McNally Jackson Books will Remain at its Longtime Prince Street Shop

Morning Coffee (10/28/18)

This is horrifying: Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: At Least 11 Dead and Gunman Identified

Also: Kroger Shooting Suspect Tried to Enter Black Church Before Killing 2, Police Say

Related: Trumpism Is ‘Identity Politics’ for White People

Obviously this is all we need: NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch says supporters may need to bring guns to polls to protect themselves from progressives

Ugh: N.H. Supreme Court Says SB3 Can Stay In Place, Reversing Lower Court's Order

Here’s how to avoid problems with straight-ticket voting in Texas

For... Central America. F.B.I. Arrests White Nationalist Leader Who Fled the Country for Central America

It’s okay to let your transgender kid transition — even if they might change their mind in the future

Oh no: Another Storm Victim — Pecan Groves In Southwest Georgia

Lavender’s Soothing Scent Could Be More Than Just Folk Medicine

Morning Coffee (8/28/18)

Student Loan Watchdog Quits, Saying Trump Administration Is Harming Students

An important read from Lily Herman: After Jacksonville Shooting, Vote In Tuesday's Primary Like Your Life Depends On It

Washington Is Turning Into Moscow

Iran’s Parliament Removes Finance Minister From Office

This is great: Scotland to offer free sanitary products to all students in world first

What We Know About Voter ID Laws

Mike Pence’s Outer-Space Gospel

A Retirement Community Turned Away These Married Women

Ancient Burial Pits Reveal Sophisticated Rituals

Attempt to replicate major social scientific findings of past decade fails

Morning Coffee (8/25/18)

The Conspiracy Memo About Obama Aides That Circulated in the Trump White House

Reality Winner, Former N.S.A. Translator, Gets More Than 5 Years in Leak of Russian Hacking Report

Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg granted immunity in Cohen probe

Oh good: Elections board takes less than a minute to reject proposal to close 7 of 9 polling places in majority-black county

Manafort Jury Holdout Blocked Guilty Verdicts on 10 of 18 Charges, Juror Says

Of course: White House blocks bill that would protect elections

Education Secretary Considers Using Federal Funds to Arm Schools

I know people are making fun of this, but they reacted exactly as they should have! They passed the test! Attempted Hacking of Voter Database Was a False Alarm, Democratic Party Says

In the wake of Mollie Tibbetts’ death, don’t blame immigrants for murder. Blame men.

This is so exciting: Laura Benanti to Join ‘My Fair Lady’ on Broadway

Morning Coffee (8/19/18)

Hmm: McGahn, White House Counsel, Has Cooperated Extensively in Mueller Inquiry

Of course: Alex Jones of Infowars Destroyed Evidence Related to Sandy Hook Suits, Motion Says

ACLU of Georgia Slams Plan to Close Many of County's Polls

This is a great piece from David Remnick: Trump and the Enemies of the People

FiveThirtyEight has its House race forecast up if you'd like to add some stress to your life.

In New Zealand, Avocado Shortage Leads to Orchard Crime Wave

Awesome: New York Public Library Is Now Lending Out Ties and Other Accessories for Job Interviews

! Kangaroos could supply spare parts for injured sports stars

This is great casting: ‘The Florida Project’s Brooklynn Prince To Headline Apple’s Hilde Lysiak Series

This spaghetti-breaking problem stumped physicist Richard Feynman. Two MIT students have now solved it.

Morning Coffee (8/13/18)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

The old left and the new anti-Semitism

What Sunday’s Unite the Right 2 rally tells us about the state of the alt-right in America

With Brett Kavanaugh, Trump Has Found a Way to Repay the NRA

I'm curious to see how this ballot situation sorts out: GOP Uncertain as Rep. Chris Collins Ends Re-election Bid

The FCC Blamed a Cyberattack When Its Comment System Crashed Before Net Neutrality Repeal. The Real Culprit Was John Oliver.

Welp: Russians Flock to Trump Properties to Give Birth to U.S. Citizens

The demographic info at the end of this is fascinating: Quiz: How well can you tell factual from opinion statements?

It's terrible that this is necessary, of course, but it's a great idea: Hotel housekeepers call for panic buttons amid sexual harassment

Traces on George Orwell letter suggest he caught TB from Spanish hospital

JEOPARDY is Now Streaming on Hulu (It's a selection, not all the current episodes. But still!)

Morning Coffee (8/9/18)

This is astonishing, even by Trump administration standards: The Shadow Rulers of the VA

WHEE: Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) charged with insider trading, federal prosecutors announce

A Nail-Biter in Ohio Is a Democratic Triumph

These people are just despicable: Alex Jones’ Lawyer Seeks To Make Sandy Hook Parents’ Home Addresses Public

By not banning Alex Jones, Twitter is making a political choice

Beyond family separation: Trump’s ongoing war on asylum, explained

Deluge of opposition to Israel’s nation-state law builds with new court petition

GOOD: Phone Calls From New York City Jails Will Soon Be Free

BAD: Oscars Won't Televise All Awards Live, Adds "Popular" Film Category

Bones found at Stonehenge belonged to people from Wales

Morning Coffee (8/4/18)

I'm glad our state party immediately called for him to resign: State Sen. Jeff Woodburn Arrested On Domestic Violence, Assault Charges

Myanmar Official Line: Rohingya Are Returning. But Cracks in That Story Abound.

Suspected Russian spy found working at US embassy in Moscow

This story has a GREAT lede: Beto O’Rourke Is Officially Making Ted Cruz Sweat

Good for him: Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty Unacceptable in All Cases

WHAT A PITY: The NRA Says It’s in Deep Financial Trouble, May Be ‘Unable to Exist’

Spotify removes Alex Jones’s podcasts, citing policy on ‘hate content’ (Really, they've removed specific episodes that were flagged by users, which is... a step but not enough.)

Apple Is Worth $1,000,000,000,000. Two Decades Ago, It Was Almost Bankrupt.

This saga is so terrible: Agent Danielle Smith’s Former Clients Speak Out

Oh no: Fields Medal Is Stolen Minutes After It’s Given in Brazil

Morning Coffee (8/2/18)

A Migrant Boy Rejoins His Mother, but He’s Not the Same

Thousands Attend Mega Arabic Lesson in Tel Aviv to Protest Nation-state Law

What he has done to the Sandy Hook families (among others) is despicable: Alex Jones, Pursued Over Infowars Falsehoods, Faces a Legal Crossroads

2018! Judge in Manafort trial tells attorneys to 'rein in' their facial expressions

Trump tried to defend Paul Manafort by ... comparing him to Al Capone

Trump is leading a ‘hate movement’ against the media

Trump Says Since Americans Must Show ID to Shop at the Grocery Store, They Should Need ID to Vote. What?

THIS IS BAD, obviously: In ruling against Planet Fitness, Michigan court concludes trans women aren’t women

Crime author sentenced for murders that inspired his novels


'Spectacular' ancient public library discovered in Germany

Morning Coffee (8/1/18)

HOW IS IT AUGUST? Anyway, more on this this afternoon, but special August thing: If you are a Patreon supporter or sign up this month at any level, you'll get a bunch of EXTRA rewards and the chance to help me decide which rewards to keep/change going forward!

Mueller Passes 3 Cases Focused on Illicit Foreign Lobbying to Prosecutors in New York

What we learned from the opening statements at Paul Manafort’s trial

The battle to stop 3D-printed guns, explained

Facebook Identifies an Active Political Influence Campaign Using Fake Accounts

Jeff Sessions announces a religious liberty task force to combat “dangerous” secularism (Spoiler: He just means Christian nationalism.)

The motivations in suggesting this seem good but... this also seems really dangerous: Senate Bill To Require Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Data By 2030 Census

HI WE MISS YOU: Spotted: Obama and Biden Eating Sandwiches at Veteran-Run Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown

!!! Swedish crown jewels: Speedboat thieves steal priceless treasures

This story is SO GREAT: Lawson Craddock's Amazing Last-Place Finish In The Tour De France

Private world of Franklin D. Roosevelt unveiled in newly found film footage

Morning Coffee (7/24/18)

Once ostracised, now Pakistani transgender people are running for parliament

As Trump’s latest lies implode, one party tries to smuggle out the truth

Of course he is: Trump to Seek Repeal of California's Smog-Fighting Power

Oh good: Here's a New Thing to Worry About: Census Hackers

He killed someone in a parking space dispute. But police say he just stood his ground.

This is awful: New York Daily News Layoffs Ax Half The Newsroom Staff

Penguin Random House is publishing a book by the March for Our Lives founders.

Whee, trailer and premiere date for Amazon's Manchester City show.

I am VERY EXCITED about the trailer for Legacies, the new Vampire Diaries spinoff. SUPERNATURAL BOARDING SCHOOL.

Two quarks for Muster Higgs

Morning Coffee (7/16/18)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

Russian Influence Campaign Sought To Exploit Americans' Trust In Local News

What a shock: Jill Stein’s Recount Cash Pays for Her Russia Legal Defense

Here’s How Kavanaugh Could Deal a Big Blow to Gun Control

Amazon Is Used to Promote White Supremacist Merchandise and Views, Report Says

Here is President Obama's summer reading list. I MISS HIM.

I bet he doesn't have a summer reading list: Donald Trump is excellent at selling books that trash him; mediocre at selling books that praise him.

How Many Teenage Girls Deliberately Harm Themselves? Nearly 1 in 4, Survey Finds.

Quite the editor's note: This New York Times Writer Failed to Mention She Used Her Husband As a Source on Vagina Selfies

In a cosmic first, scientists detect ‘ghost particles’ from a distant galaxy

Ooh! Ancient find may be earliest extract of epic Homer poem Odyssey

Morning Coffee (6/6/18)

Mueller Accuses Paul Manafort of Attempted Witness Tampering

Oh: Betsy DeVos says safety committee formed after school shootings won't study guns

UN office calls on US to stop separating families at border

“Senator Merkley and his staff saw children in cages.”

I don't even know what to say anymore: Scott Pruitt enlisted an EPA aide to help his wife find a job — with Chick-fil-A

I'm so sad to hear of Kate Spade's death, and this piece is great: Kate Spade’s aesthetic was the happy answer to fashion snobbery

Drug prices soar in Medicare despite fewer prescriptions

The Network: Russia’s Odd, Brutal, and Maybe Invented Pre-World Cup Terrorism Case

Miss America Says Farewell To Its Swimsuit Competition, Embracing 'Whole New Era'

This 4,000-Year-Old Jar Contains Italy’s Oldest Olive Oil

Morning Coffee (6/5/18)

In Narrow Opinion, Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Baker Over Same-Sex Couple

Protesters Demand Audit of Hurricane Maria Death Toll in Puerto Rico

Oh good: Judge orders Maine to implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion

This is terrible: Police investigated Bruce McArthur for months before telling public there was no evidence of serial killer

Good for them: Marjory Stoneman Douglas students to embark on summer tour

Amazing: Crowd cheers when valedictorian quotes Trump. Then reveals it was Obama

Wow: Howard Schultz, architect of modern Starbucks, to step down as executive chairman

WHAT: Woody Allen Says He Should Be ‘Poster Boy for the #MeToo Movement’

I wish this were more surprising than it is: Researcher finds skull in Philadelphia Quaker library display case

Who Owns the New Land Created By a Volcano in Hawaii?

Morning Coffee (6/3/18)

Chris Hayes: What ‘Law and Order’ Means to Trump

Congressional Candidate In Virginia Admits He’s A Pedophile

The Equestrian Coach Who Minted Olympians, and Left a Trail of Child Molestation

Heh: Hottest Heads of State Explains: Missouri Governor Eric Greitens

Which Pollsters To Trust In 2018

For ‘Columbiners,’ School Shootings Have a Deadly Allure

Italy’s Political Crisis: The Danger It Poses for the Global Economy

HBO Reteams With Alex Gibney To Chronicle Fall Of Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos Company

Goop’s Winning Retail Formula? It Doesn’t Have to Pay for Its Stores

5 Tips for Buying Cheese at the Counter

Morning Coffee (5/30/18)

Study Puts Puerto Rico Death Toll From Hurricane Maria Near 5,000

ABC cancels Roseanne following “abhorrent, repugnant” comment from Roseanne Barr

After Supreme Court Decision, Arkansas May Lose All But One of Its Remaining Abortion Clinics

The Trump effect: New study connects white American intolerance and support for authoritarianism

Heh: Sinkhole Thwarted in Attempt to Swallow White House Into Depths of Hell

Wow: ‘Active Shooter’ Video Game That Allows Player To Be School Shooter Denounced By Mass Shooting Families

Intel faces age discrimination allegations following layoffs

Archaeologists uncover remains of man crushed as he fled Pompeii

This seems like such a weird choice: ‘Hair Live!’ Is Coming to NBC in 2019

A Tennis Player Seized His Last-Minute Chance To Play In The French Open, Drove 10 Hours To Paris, And Won

Morning Coffee (5/28/18)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

The meaning of Memorial Day

Here's an interesting perspective on the 1500 "missing" immigrant children.

The War Over Confirming Federal Judges Is Heating Up — Again

Arne Duncan Is Serious: Americans Should Boycott School

This is an interesting study: The Oxygen of Amplification

Sigh: Today in the Continued Absurdity of Being a Woman in a Misogynist Culture

Ooh, release date for The Hate U Give.

Oxford Lifts the Veil on Race, Wealth and Privilege

This headline is a bit overblown, but it's an interesting theory: Scientists find secret behind sweet sound of Stradivarius violins

Morning Coffee (5/26/18)

Sigh: New Hampshire Just Created a “Death Benefit” for Teachers “Killed in the Line of Duty” (But God forbid we fund schools or do anything about our insane gun laws.)

Why did anyone ever take Trump’s North Korea diplomacy seriously?

Good for them: Families of Sandy Hook victims, FBI agent file defamation lawsuit against right-wing radio host Alex Jones

And good for him: Jets Owner Christopher Johnson Says He Will Pay Players' Anthem-Related Fines

After erasing all mentions of climate change, National Park Service releases uncensored report

Congressional candidate under fire for saying Puerto Rican evacuees shouldn't vote in Florida

How an author trademarking the word “cocky” turned the romance novel industry inside out

Ex-mayor of Ipswich denied citizenship after almost 40 years in UK

Neat: Nielsen’s Gracenote Uses Artificial Intelligence to Classify 90 Million Songs by Style

Huh: Snapchat Getting True-Crime Scripted Series From Elisabeth Murdoch’s Vertical Networks

Morning Coffee (5/23/18)

Congress Rolls Back Part Of Dodd-Frank, Easing Rules For Midsize, Smaller Banks

I love this Adam Serwer piece: There Is Only One Trump Scandal

The recent mass shootings in the US all have one thing in common: misogyny

Puerto Rico’s rocky recovery is distracting from its pre-existing struggles, residents say

Met Opera Accuses James Levine of Decades of Sexual Misconduct

"Mr. Batali, who has denied engaging in nonconsensual sex, has so far declined to send out another baked goods recipe."

"According to campaign spokesperson Arianna Jones, Sanders plans to seek the Democratic nomination in Vermont’s August primary. If he wins, she said, he would 'respectfully' decline the nomination and run as an independent in the general election." I hate him!

THIS IS NOT HOW YOU RUN A CONVENTION: My FanX craziness, annotated

Oh, Florida: Florida city warns of 'extreme zombie activity' during power outage

I'd still rather have a chronological timeline, but this is good: Instagram Is Finally Going To Let You Mute People