Good news on air quality, self-driving cars, the energy transition
This edition of Fix the News has half the usual number of items in the subscriber-only section (FTN notes that it’s busy on “administrative stuff”), and most of them are specific to one country. So let’s focus on three of the items in the free section:
— The UN Environment Program is calling China’s achievement in improving air quality in its capital the “Beijing Miracle,” the Global Times reports.
— Self-driving cars are “dramatically” safer than human drivers, not just marginally, says Fix the News, citing articles from IEEE Spectrum and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
— Fix the News has done a longer item on the energy transition in this edition so we can see “how some of the world’s leading energy analysts are thinking about the bigger picture.”
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” — late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., civil rights activist
Here are regularly updated voting rights resources for the November midterm elections, on John Dineen’s briefing.center website. And here is John’s daily quick commentary on his briefing.center home page.
Ukraine strikes Russia refinery after Moscow breaks Trump energy ceasefire
Reuters: The order to limit Starshield for Ukraine came from inside the White House, sources say
Ukraine develops aerial drone to evacuate wounded soldiers
After bipartisan backlash, Trump says Pentagon won’t livestream execution of Fort Hood shooter
Politico: FAA seeking ownership stake in air traffic AI company
Federal authorities are investigating letters with ‘suspicious substances’ sent to congressional, election offices
WPost: Secret documents reveal donors behind $330 million for Trump ballroom
Close Trump friend and ally Paolo Zampolli leaves his special envoy post
FBI agents and analysts who were fired for their roles investigating Trump’s retention of classified files sue to get jobs back
Heather Cox Richardson on corrupt and incompetent people in Trump’s orbit
ProPublica: Trump says the border is secure, but Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott keeps declaring an emergency
ProPublica: Over the past year, DOJ has sued 30 states and D.C. demanding their unredacted voter rolls; most cases have been thrown out
Seven DOJ subpoenas engulf Nevada election chief Cisco Aguilar in key midterm battle
ProPublica: Frustrated by losses in courts, Missouri Republicans want to change the way top judges are selected
At least 8 states are suing OpenAI, saying its chatbot is harming children and deceiving adults
NYTimes: ‘The calculations needed to train AI are nearly impossible to visualize — but we tried anyway’
Online ads are being weaponized to deliver ‘zero-click’ spyware, researchers say
Bad news in the bond market may be good news for investors
Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7; some changes will come in 2027
You can call the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and be connected to the offices of your representative and senators. To email your House member and your two senators, you can connect to their websites at Congress.gov. Most lawmakers seem to only accept emails from their constituents, but these leaders accept emails from Americans nationwide, at:
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer
Senate Majority Leader John Thune