The ‘Super’ El Niño Has Arrived. How It Could Affect World’s Weather and Economy

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The ‘Super’ El Niño Has Arrived. How It Could Affect World’s Weather and Economy (Maria)

The author writes, “The forecasted El Niño — a mysterious but well-documented climate phenomenon — has officially begun, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced June 11. Meteorologists expect it to evolve into one of the most powerful ones on record, and the event will likely bring about extreme weather worldwide and affect the economy. … Here’s what you need to know about this El Niño and what it may do.”

The World’s Leading Deepfake Expert No Longer Trusts His Own Eyes (Dana)

From The New York Times: “The emails began to arrive on a Sunday morning, as the worst ones often did. Hany Farid opened the first message at his home in the hills above Berkeley and found a link to a viral video purporting to show a US-made missile hitting an elementary school in Iran, where more than 150 people had been killed, most of them children. ‘Is this an internet hoax or an international war crime?’ one note read. … Farid grabbed a pencil and a notepad, leaned into his computer and watched. He saw blue sky, telephone wires and a few palm trees swaying in the wind. Then a missile streaked across the screen, clear and unmistakable even at 500 miles per hour. It looked like a scene from a video game. In the last few days, Farid had reviewed dozens of convincing AI-generated videos of fake bombings, fake plane crashes, fake fires and fake executions. His instinct was to be skeptical. He was nearly certain the video was another fake.”

Senate Wants To Force Us To Share Sensitive Intel With Israel (Sean)

The author writes, “Buried deep inside a 192-page intelligence authorization bill is Section 622, titled ‘United States-Israel Intelligence Sharing Enhancement.’ It would require the president, acting through the director of national intelligence and as necessary the secretary of defense, to ‘expand and enhance intelligence sharing with the Government of Israel’ on a list of subjects that encompasses almost every topic of intelligence interest in the Middle East. The bill, put forward by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, would prohibit any suspension, reduction, or limitation of such sharing ‘except on the basis of a specific and identifiable national security concern determined by the President.’ … This proposal is one of several recent moves by those in Washington who carry the Israeli government’s water to keep the United States tied to Israel despite plummeting support for the country among the American public.”

The Reinventions of the White House Lawn: Playground, Pasture, Stage (Bethany)

The author writes, “Every so often, the White House transforms its South Lawn into something unexpected. While best known as the backdrop to American political power, the grounds have doubled as high-stakes playing fields and performance spaces for over a century. From ‘scandalous’ pop concerts to full-scale youth baseball diamonds, the South Lawn has frequently been dug up, relined, and reinvented in the name of recreation.”

Two Simple Steps Toward De-MAGAfication (DonkeyHotey)

From The American Prospect: “In Hungary, Viktor Orbán recently lost power after 16 years of autocratic rule. The defeat was so enormous that the opposition party, led by Péter Magyar, swept past all Orbán’s various bulwarks designed to maintain power, winning the two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament necessary to amend the constitution. Magyar immediately set to work planning attacks on the various Orbán power bases, like restoring judicial independence and breaking the control over the media held by Orbán allies. This will be necessary to unlock billions in European Union funding, and to restore democracy to Hungary. Should Democrats win the midterms this year and then the presidency in 2028, they will face a similar task. The Trump administration and the broader MAGA movement has done untold damage to the American government. Fixing the problems on a permanent basis will require a program of de-MAGAfication.”

Congenital Syphilis Skyrockets as US Has Shortage of Drug That Treats It (Reader Jim)

From Truthout: “The United States has a shortage of the only first-line medication recommended for pregnant women with syphilis to prevent passing it to their baby, even as congenital syphilis rates have been skyrocketing. Last July, drug manufacturer Pfizer issued a voluntary recall of brand name Bicillin L-A, or penicillin G benzathine — a long-acting injectable of the antibiotic — warning of particulates, or foreign material, in some batches. The US Food and Drug Administration says supplies won’t return to normal until December 2027.”

The Forgotten Organ That Could Predict How Long You Live (Mili)

The author writes, “Researchers at Mass General Brigham have uncovered evidence that the thymus, a small immune system organ long thought to lose its importance after childhood, may play a major role in adult health. Two new studies found that adults with healthier thymuses were more likely to live longer and less likely to develop serious diseases. The research also suggests that thymic health may influence how well cancer patients respond to immunotherapy.”