The Full Belmonte, 2/23/2023
News outlets demand release of Jan. 6 footage given to Tucker Carlson
“Scores of news organizations — including The Washington Post — on Friday demanded congressional leaders release a trove of surveillance footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that the House speaker provided exclusively to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has downplayed the violence.
Attorney Charles Tobin sent a letter on behalf of CBS News, CNN, Politico, ProPublica, ABC, Axios, Advance, Scripps, the Los Angeles Times and Gannett, arguing that the footage should be available to other groups as well.
‘Without full public access to the complete historical record, there is concern that an ideologically-based narrative of an already polarizing event will take hold in the public consciousness, with destabilizing risks to the legitimacy of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the various federal investigations and prosecutions of Jan. 6 crimes,’ the letter stated.
The Post is part of another coalition of news outlets, which includes the Associated Press and the New York Times, that sent a letter to McCarthy seeking access to the material….” Read more at New York Times
A Florida Education Bill Would Ban Gender Studies and Diversity Programs at Universities. Here's What to Know
A view of the campus of New College of Florida, a public liberal arts college in Sarasota, Fla. on Jan. 19, 2023.
Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post—Getty Images
“Colleges and universities are usually the places where students get to explore a variety of viewpoints and political beliefs—often for the first time. But one expert says that academic freedom would become scarce at Florida’s public universities if a new bill to regulate higher education in the state passes.
Introduced by Republican Rep. Alex Andrade on Feb. 21, House Bill 999 would ban any funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Florida state universities, even if they’re privately funded. It would make trustees responsible for hiring decisions on faculty—university presidents would only be allowed to give recommendations—and tenure status could be reviewed at any time. The bill calls for the rewriting of university mission statements. It would ban general education courses that teach ‘curriculum based on unproven, theoretical, or exploratory content’ and that define ‘American history as contrary to the creation of a new nation based on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence.’
Entire majors would also be banned, specifically, ‘any major or minor in Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies, or Intersectionality, or any derivative major or minor of these belief systems.’ African-American studies departments could also be vulnerable at public institutions statewide.
‘It is the most draconian bill that we’ve seen in the entire country relating to higher education,’ says Jeremy Young, who researches free speech and culture war issues at PEN America. ‘We are absolutely concerned about copycat bills in other states and about this spreading to be a national movement…I think it is very likely that this bill will pass in something very close to its current form in Florida, but it’s never a sure thing.’
The bill is right in line with Governor Ron DeSantis’s higher education agenda, which calls for banning ‘discriminatory’ DEI initiatives. In fact, a version of this bill is playing out in real time. Back in January, DeSantis appointed six conservatives to the board of the New College of Florida in Sarasota. They are leading an overhaul of the small public liberal arts college.
DeSantis kicked off his very public fight against ‘woke indoctrination’ last spring when he signed into law the Stop WOKE Act, which aims to regulate how racism is discussed in schools and workplaces (though a federal judge struck down the provision pertaining to private businesses). At the time of publication, DeSantis has not made a public statement on House Bill 999.” [Time]
“The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauges unexpectedly accelerated in January while consumer spending surged after a year-end slump. That all adds up to yet another reason to believe the fight to rein in inflation will continue for the foreseeable future.” [Bloomberg]
U.S. consumers increased spending at retailers and restaurants in January by the most in nearly two years.
PHOTO: SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES
“Payments on $1.8 trillion in federal student loans are set to resume in the next six months, and the economic consequences will be far-reaching: More than 4 million Americans are expected to fall behind and millions more will struggle to pay. Experts predict more delinquencies on credit cards and auto loans as the impact cascades through the economy. Next week, the US Supreme Court—dominated by a 6-3 Republican-appointed supermajority—will hear arguments in cases where GOP-controlled states are leading an effort to block President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student debt per federal borrower.” [Bloomberg]
Chicago mayor’s race dominated by concerns about crime
By SARA BURNETT
FIlE - Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot participates in a forum with other Chicago mayoral candidates hosted by the Chicago Women Take Action Alliance Jan. 14, 2023, at the Chicago Temple in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)
“CHICAGO (AP) — For years, Republicans have sought to win over voters by depicting Democratic-led cities as lawless centers of violence that need tough-on-crime policies. In Chicago, some of the Democrats running for mayor are deploying the same strategy as they debate how to make the city safer.
One leading candidate, who touts his endorsement from the Chicago police union, says ‘crime is out of control’ and the city needs hundreds more officers patrolling its streets. Another hopeful says that if suspects flee a crime scene, officers should be able to ‘hunt them down like a rabbit.’
Even incumbent Lori Lightfoot, the first Black woman and first openly gay person to serve as Chicago mayor, has used language right out of the GOP playbook, accusing a top rival in her reelection bid of wanting to defund the police.
The shift in rhetoric reflects the degree to which concerns about crime have dominated Tuesday’s mayoral election in Chicago and threatened Lightfoot’s reelection bid. Far from being an outlier, the nation’s third-largest city is just the latest Democratic stronghold where public safety has become a top election issue….” Read more at AP News
Feds seek to limit telehealth prescriptions for some drugs
By AMANDA SEITZ and LINDSAY WHITEHURST
FILE - OxyContin pills are arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt., Feb. 19, 2013. The Biden administration is moving to require patients to see a doctor in person before getting drugs to treat attention deficit disorders or addictive painkillers, toughening access to the medications against the backdrop of a deepening opioid crisis. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)
“WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration moved Friday to require patients see a doctor in person before getting attention deficit disorder medication or addictive painkillers, toughening access to the drugs against the backdrop of a deepening opioid crisis.
The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions after three years of relying on telehealth for doctor’s appointments by computer or phone during the pandemic.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said late Friday it plans to reinstate once longstanding federal requirements for powerful drugs that were waived once COVID-19 hit, enabling doctors to write millions of prescriptions for drugs such as OxyContin or Adderall without ever meeting patients in person.
Patients will need to see a doctor in person at least once to get an initial prescription for drugs that the federal government says have the the most potential to be abused — Vicodin, OxyContin, Adderall and Ritalin, for example. Refills could be prescribed over telehealth appointments….” Read more at AP News
Tennessee restricts drag
RuPaul's Drag Race tour in Nashville in August. Photo: Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images
“Tennessee became the first state to pass a bill restricting drag performances in public or in front of children this week.
What to watch: There are proposed bills to limit drag shows in at least 14 other states, Axios Tampa Bay's Selene San Felice notes.
Drag performers and civil rights groups say the bills are redundant under existing obscenity laws and are part of a Republican push to limit LGBTQ people's conduct across the country, Reuters' Jonathan Allen writes.
Supporters of the restrictions say they are meant to protect kids.” [Axios]
California faces more blizzards, floods in multistate storm
By JOHN ANTCZAK, AMY TAXIN and ED WHITE
A person sits in a snow-covered bus stop Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Olympic Valley, Calif. California and other parts of the West are facing heavy snow and rain from the latest winter storm to pound the United States. (AP Photo/John Locher)
“LOS ANGELES (AP) — A powerful winter storm lashing California threatened floods, blizzards and avalanches Saturday while adding frigid temperatures to the misery mix.
Overnight lows could drop below freezing in some areas while downtown San Francisco could see record-breaking cold temperatures Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Projected temperatures of 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) would see the city at its coldest since 2009, the weather service said.
Flash flood warnings were issued from Friday through 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. Saturday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, a region with some 6 million people. The weather service said flash flooding was occurring late Friday in Ventura County, where up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) inches of rain had fallen and up to 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) were possible before the storm turned showery on Saturday afternoon….” Read more at AP News
Justice Thomas wrote of ‘crushing weight’ of student loans
By MARK SHERMAN and JESSICA GRESKO
FILE - Associate Justice Clarence Thomas joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. The Supreme Court won’t have far to look for a personal take on the ‘crushing weight’ of student debt that underlies the Biden administration’s college loan forgiveness plan. A legal challenge has reached the court and arguments are set for Tuesday. Thomas was in his mid-40s and in his third year on the nation's highest court when he paid off the last of his debt from his time at Yale Law School. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
“WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t have far to look if it wants a personal take on the ‘crushing weight’ of student debt that underlies the Biden administration’s college loan forgiveness plan.
Justice Clarence Thomas was in his mid-40s and in his third year on the nation’s highest court when he paid off the last of his debt from his time at Yale Law School.
Thomas, the court’s longest-serving justice and staunchest conservative, has been skeptical of other Biden administration initiatives. And when the Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday involving President Joe Biden’s debt relief plan that would wipe away up to $20,000 in outstanding student loans, Thomas is not likely to be a vote in the administration’s favor.
But the justices’ own experiences can be relevant in how they approach a case, and alone among them, Thomas has written about the role student loans played in his financial struggles.
A fellow law school student even suggested Thomas declare bankruptcy after graduating ‘to get out from under the crushing weight of all my student loans,’ the justice wrote in his best-selling 2007 memoir, ‘My Grandfather’s Son.’ He rejected the idea.
It’s not clear that any of the other justices borrowed money to attend college or law school or have done so for their children’s educations. Some justices grew up in relative wealth. Others reported they had scholarships to pay their way to some of the country’s most expensive private institutions.
Of the seven justices on the court who are parents, four have signaled through their investments that they don’t want their own children to be saddled with onerous college debt, and have piled money into tax-free college savings accounts that might limit any need for loans.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Neil Gorsuch have the most on hand, at least $600,000 and at least $300,000, respectively, according to annual disclosure reports the justices filed in 2022. Each has two children.
Justices Amy Coney Barrett, who has seven children, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who has two, also have invested money in college-savings accounts, in which any earnings or growth is tax free if spent on education.
None of the justices would comment for this story, a court spokeswoman said.” [AP News]
“Nigerians pick their next president this weekend, and the victor will inherit a fiscal crisis and soaring unemployment. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s biggest crude oil producer, but because of a decrepit grid and little refining capacity, it relies almost entirely on imported fuel. Last year, 20 million children didn’t go to school and the country’s currency hit an all-time low. All three major candidates have vowed reforms, and young voters have a chance to shake up the election and replace the old guard.” [Bloomberg]
In the run-up to the election, Nigeria has had to contend with widespread shortages of both gasoline and currency notes. Photographer: John Wessels
“The world marked a year of Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion that has upended millions of lives in the gravest challenge to European security since the end of World War II.
As Ukraine’s allies underlined their support for its defense, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to continue the war in a speech in Moscow in which he also suspended involvement in a key nuclear pact with the US.
The US and the European Union imposed fresh sanctions on Russia as Washington renewed warnings to China not to aid Putin’s war. Beijing unveiled a plan to stop the fighting that drew scorn in the US and Europe.
Dig into these and other stories from the past week in this edition of Weekend Reads.
Ukrainian artillery fire at Russian positions near Bakhmut. Photographer: Libkos/AP
China Cease-Fire Proposal for Ukraine Falls Flat With US, Allies
China called for a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine in a 12-point plan for ending the war that appeared to offer some reprieve to Moscow but was quickly dismissed by Kyiv’s allies as the conflict enters its second year.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is intensifying a campaign to mediate an end to the war as he seeks to reinsert Brazil in the global political stage.
Biden Meets Zelenskiy on Surprise Trip Nearly Year Into War
US President Joe Biden declared ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine at talks in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a dramatic show of solidarity ahead of the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion.
Read how Biden’s visit was carried out under cloak-and-dagger secrecy after months of meticulous planning by a close circle of advisers.
Biden walks with Zelenskiy at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv on Feb. 20. Photographer: Evan Vucci/AP
Biden’s $300 Billion Sanctions Shock Is Failing to Stop Russia
While the economic punishment imposed on Russia by the US and its allies has inflicted damage, the sanctions haven’t induced Putin to stop the war — raising wider questions about a tool that’s become increasingly central to US foreign policy, as Daniel Flatley reports.
War in Ukraine Will End When Russia Knows It’s Lost, Kallas Says
’When the army realizes that they are sent to the grinder because the West is behind Ukraine and they can’t really win, and the Russian population understands that they can’t really win, then this war ends,’ Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told Ott Tammik and Michael Winfrey in an interview.
Kallas in Tallinn on Feb. 23. Photographer: Peter Kollanyi/Bloomberg
More Ukrainians Are Settling Abroad as War Grinds On
Ukraine already had one of the fastest shrinking populations in the world before as many as 8 million fled abroad to escape Russia’s invasion. Patrick Donahue and Piotr Skolimowski report that the war has tipped the country into a spiral of demographic decline that is likely to harm its future growth prospects.
China Urges The World to Stop Saying Taiwan Is Next
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said countries should ‘stop touting ‘Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow,’ as Beijing stepped up efforts to distance itself from Russia’s war effort.
Soaring prices at the vegetable market are threatening nutrition and forcing governments from Morocco to the Philippines to protect supplies.
Rishi Sunak Faces Brexit Hell in Showdown With UK Hardliners
Rishi Sunak’s allies have told Conservative rebels that if they don’t back his imminent deal on Brexit, there’s no prospect of a fix for a cross-channel immigration crisis that’s seen as crucial to the party’s electoral fortunes. As Alex Wickham and Ellen Milligan report, it’s a pivotal moment for the UK prime minister.
Pakistan Faces The Abyss. Debate Rages on Who Should Pay
Pakistan is teetering on a precipice, with fiscal, humanitarian and political crises bringing it ever closer to the brink. As foreign reserves plummet, covering only three weeks of imports, Kai Schultz and Faseeh Mangi report the country is facing its worst economic meltdown in decades.
Residents gather to buy government-priced wheat flour in Hyderabad on Jan. 9. Photographer: Husnain Ali/AFP/Getty Images
Erdogan Clings to His Ideal Election Date Despite Earthquakes
Selcan Hacaoglu and Firat Kozok report on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to step up rebuilding efforts following two deadly earthquakes and stick to a May election timetable, as he seeks to shore up popularity ahead of a potential hit to the economy.
Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Hits a New High, Testing Diplomacy
International atomic monitors in Iran have detected uranium enriched to levels just below nuclear weapons-grade, risking an escalation over Tehran’s expanding program, Jonathan Tirone reports.
US, South Korea Plan for Potential Nuclear Strike by North Korea
The US and South Korea held discussions over ways they would respond to possible nuclear attacks by North Korea, which has been steadily building up its capability to deliver a credible strike against them, as Jon Herskovitz reports.
Zimbabwe Opposition Eyes Election Victory Despite Rigging Fears
The leader of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party said he’s confident of an emphatic win in upcoming elections despite concerns of a possible repetition of the violence and irregularities that have plagued every vote since 2000. Loni Prinsloo and Antony Sguazzin report.
And finally … After three years of Covid hibernation, Hong Kong’s champagne-soaked art and luxury shopping scene is roaring back to life. Lulu Yilun Chen and Krystal Chia report that, with the city’s edition of Art Basel just a few weeks away, global auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s are bringing back in-person VIP events. They’re also gearing up for the return of wealthy mainland Chinese patrons, who mostly stayed away during the global health crisis due to travel restrictions.” [Bloomberg]
Handbags at the Sotheby’s Gallery in January. Source: Sotheby’s
Single America
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
“A dramatic shift from a generation ago: Americans are increasingly forgoing or delaying marriage.
By the numbers: Over the last 50 years, the marriage rate in the U.S. has dropped by nearly 60%, Axios' Erica Pandey writes.
What's happening: Taxes and other legal structures still give an advantage to married couples, but the formal benefits of marriage are diminishing, said Andrew Cherlin, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins. And the societal pressure to marry has eroded dramatically.
‘Life is still a bit easier if you're married,’ he said. But many of the life events we link to marriage, such as cohabitating or having kids, are increasingly occurring outside of marriage.
Reality check: Even as the marriage rate is falling, the institution still holds value in the U.S., said Susan Brown, co-director of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
Case in point: High school seniors' attitudes toward marriage have remained relatively stable over the past several decades.
In 1976, 74% of seniors said they expected to get married, and in 2020, 71% said so, according to an ongoing University of Michigan study.
But the way we think about marriage is changing.
‘It used to be a basic institution that everyone had to buy into in early adulthood,’ Cherlin said. ‘You got married, then you moved in together, and then you got a job.’
‘Marriage is now becoming the last step into adulthood.’ And it's an optional step. People are more likely to want to finish their education, find a job and pay off debt before getting hitched.
As a result, many are delaying marriage.
The number of women entering their first marriage between the ages of 40 and 59 has jumped 75% since 1990, Brown said.
The bottom line: Expect fewer 50th-anniversary parties in the future.
Share this story. [Axios]
Charted: Hitched in Vegas
Data: Census Bureau, CDC Vital Statistics; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios; Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
“Fewer Americans are getting married — but when they do tie the knot, they still love to do it in Las Vegas, Axios' Erin Davis reports.
By the numbers: Roughly 4% of U.S. marriages in 2021 took place in Nevada, according to an Axios analysis of new CDC data.
The share of U.S. marriages in Nevada has exceeded the share of the U.S. population residing in that state every year since 1920.” [Axios]
Millennials' ballooning debt
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
“Stunning stat: The debt of Americans in their 30s has jumped 27% since late 2019 — to more than $3.8 trillion, according to the New York Fed.
The big picture: ‘The debt buildup could worsen a generational wealth gap that was already on the rise for millennials. Many started their careers during the 2007-09 recession with no bargaining power, crimping their earnings ever since,’ The Wall Street Journal reports.” [Axios]
Scientists have discovered a new core at the center of the Earth
A recent study reveals a new, distinct fifth layer of Earth deep inside the core, which could help inform the evolution of Earth’s magnetic field.
“Back in my day, there were only four layers of Earth: the crust, mantle, liquid outer core and solid inner core. Now, scientists have revealed a new, distinct layer within our planet’s inner core, which could help inform the evolution of Earth’s magnetic field.
In a study released this week, a pair of seismologists at the Australian National University documented new evidence of a 400-mile-thick solid metallic ball at the center of Earth’s inner core — like the smallest figurine of a massive, planetary Russian nesting doll set. The new layer consists of an iron-nickel alloy, like other parts of the core. But it has a different crystal structure that causes shock waves from earthquakes to reverberate through the layer at different speeds than the surrounding core, the study found….” Read more at Washington Post
MLB catchers wary of looming robo umps amid rules changes
By TIM BOOTH
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras catches during a spring training baseball workout Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
“Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais spent parts of 11 seasons and nearly 800 games behind home plate as a catcher with four franchises, mostly in the 1990s.
During that era — one dominated by Hall of Famers Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez — the skills needed at backstop were clearly defined.
‘Could you throw guys out, how did you do blocking the ball and could you hit with power?’ Servais said. ‘That’s how the position was evaluated.’
A generation later, those attributes have been joined by a more subtle but equally significant skill: pitch framing. During baseball’s data revolution, the fine art of making borderline pitches look like strikes was found to be a game-changing craft — one that could be as impactful as Piazza’s power or Rodriguez’s arm.
The calculus, though, could be about to change, along with an equation that’s included the human element for nearly 150 years.
While pitch clocks, bigger bases and other rules changes debut this year at the major league level, the Automated Ball-Strike System will receive its biggest experiment yet at Triple-A. ABS will be used four days per week to call every pitch at baseball’s highest minor league level. On the other three days, umpires will traditionally call balls and strikes with a challenge system in place — teams will be able to appeal a handful of calls to the so-called robo-zone each game….” Read more at AP News
GAME OF THE WEEKEND
Indiana’s Chloe Moore-McNeil, left, and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark earlier this month.Darron Cummings/Associated Press
“No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 6 Iowa, women’s college basketball: When Iowa is on, the team can be hard to keep up with. Iowa has the highest-scoring offense in the country, led by one of the highest-scoring players, Caitlin Clark. Earlier this month, the Hawkeyes blew out Penn State by 44 and Rutgers by 54. Between those games, though, Indiana beat them, relying on the best defense in the Big Ten. Indiana has lost only once this season.” [New York Times] 2 p.m. Eastern tomorrow, ESPN
Roald Dahl — unaltered
Classic titles by Roald Dahl. Photo: Andrew Burton/AP
“Roald Dahl's classic texts will be republished in his original words, U.K. publisher Puffin announced yesterday.
The backdrop: Puffin has faced backlash for editing Dahl's language related to body image, mental health, gender and race with an eye for sensitivity.
‘This book was written many years ago, and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today,’ the copyright page of an edited Dahl notes.
For example, Willy Wonka's Augustus Gloop is now ‘enormous,’ rather than ‘enormously fat.’
The new classic editions of Dahl will be published alongside the edited versions later this year.” [Axios]
THE WEEK IN CULTURE
CNN
“The CNN anchor Don Lemon, who apologized for comments he made about women and aging, ‘should have known better,’ Vanessa Friedman writes.” [New York Times]
“‘Succession’ will end after its next season, The New Yorker reported.” [New York Times]
“‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ a German-language antiwar movie, won seven BAFTA awards. Watch a harrowing battle scene from the film.” [New York Times]
“The actor Paul Mescal spoke Gaelic on the BAFTAs red carpet in an interview that resonated in Ireland.” [New York Times]
“The Obie Awards named ‘English, ‘a comedic drama set in an Iranian test-prep classroom, the best new American play staged Off Broadway over a two-year period.” [New York Times]
“Spencer was a golden retriever who became the Boston Marathon’s official race dog. He died this month at age 13.” [New York Times]
“Pharrell’s role as men’s wear designer for Louis Vuitton sets the table for younger hip-hop stars to someday take on a similar role, Jon Caramanica writes.” [New York Times]
“Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on set.” [New York Times]
“Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary, will host a weekly MSNBC talk show.” [New York Times]
“Richard Belzer, who died at 78, turned the relationship between comedian and crowd upside-down, our critic writes.” [New York Times]
“Yoko Ono turned 90. Her critical reputation is still on the rise.” [New York Times]
“The artist Wu Tsang, a MacArthur ‘genius’ grant winner, created a queer take on ‘Moby Dick.’” [New York Times]
“Tom Whitlock co-wrote ‘Danger Zone’ and ‘Take My Breath Away,’ two songs that helped elevate ‘Top Gun’ into a pop culture giant. He died at 68.” [New York Times]
“How hard is it to paint like Vermeer? Dutch reality show contestants found out.” [New York Times]
An author gets his due, thanks to TikTok
“Retired Vermont lawyer Lloyd Devereux Richards spent 14 years plugging away at his literary opus, a crime thriller that follows an FBI agent on a serial killer’s trail in rural Indiana, called ‘Stone Maidens.’ (A hardcore name for a hardcore story.) But when Richards finally published his masterwork in 2012, there was little fanfare from readers or critics. And so there it sat for years, in the depths of Amazon’s Kindle store, when his daughter, Marguerite, decided to give her dad some free TikTok publicity. It worked better than she could’ve imagined — the initial video about his work has earned more than 48 million views, and ‘Stone Maidens’ ascended to the second spot on the Amazon charts this week. ‘My dad wasn’t really sure what TikTok is, but he has been so pleased and grateful,’ Marguerite said. ‘I love how people are appreciating him.’ As for a ‘Stone Maidens’ sequel, Richards is keeping mum — but with renewed interest in his work and a newly devoted fanbase, he might just turn it into a series.” [CNN]
A matriarch's heroic secret is revealed
“Belle Irvin-Partridge (pictured farthest right in the image above) regaled her children for years with stories from her time in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. But there was an important detail she left out, one that her daughter Brenda didn’t uncover until after Belle’s death: She was an integral member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-women, predominantly Black unit to serve in Europe during the war. Brenda did some digging on the internet and stumbled upon a black-and-white photo of her mother in uniform alongside the other women of her battalion. Though the women didn’t see combat, their time in Europe wasn’t short on danger: They dodged German U-boats in the North Atlantic and survived a rocket explosion upon their arrival in England. The women worked tirelessly to sort and send mail to US service members stationed overseas. It took decades for their work to be recognized but last year, President Joe Biden awarded the surviving members of the battalion the Congressional Gold Medal, and Tyler Perry is directing a film about the women. To Brenda, though, Belle Irvin-Partridge was just her mom — a quiet hero whose humble work made history.” [CNN]
Animals find paradise in the DMZ
”Leave it to the ever-ingenious animal kingdom to transform a barren landscape devoid of human activity into a wildlife haven. The more than 6,100 species within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea have made their homes in the space between the two countries, which has become a sanctuary in the decades since the DMZ was created. Google street-view images of the birds, reptiles, mammals and plants that live in the DMZ were shared for the first time to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, which helped establish the DMZ. Among the DMZ's residents: Mountain goats, otters, golden eagles and musk deer — in all, 38% of Korea's endangered species are found there. Seung-ho Lee, president of the wildlife advocacy group DMZ Forum, told CNN that the region has become an ‘accidental paradise.’ Thousands of creatures would agree!” [CNN]