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PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Composting Is Becoming Mandatory in NYC — Here’s What You Need to Know (Maria)
The author writes, “New York City’s mostly plant-based, health-minded Mayor Eric Adams just surprised his 8.5 million constituents — who all have big opinions about their city — by announcing that composting will become mandatory in all five boroughs in the coming year. Climate-conscious consumers who already recycle began asking: ‘How will that work?’ … The answer is composting will work, and already has begun to.”
Secession Talks Emerge in One Northern California County. Is a New State a Possibility? (Reader Steve)
From The Sacramento Bee: “When considering the possibility of a 51st U.S. state, places like Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are likely some of the first to spring to mind. But what about a sparser alternative, nestled between California and Nevada, with prime views of Lake Tahoe’s southern shore? A new proposal, put forth by a resident and supported by at least one former county leader, would have El Dorado County secede from California and become its own state.”
A Historic Week and How to Talk About It (Al)
The author writes, “Lots of us have Trump fatigue and perhaps even news fatigue from the last few days, but it would be a mistake to become numb to the unprecedented nature of the current moment.”
What Does the West Really Know About Xi’s China? (Sean)
From Foreign Affairs: “Insights into decision-making in Beijing are harder to get than they have been for 50 years. The main reason for this is that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is more authoritarian and less open than it has been at any point since Mao Zedong was in charge. People close to power are more fearful, and access to information is less widespread, even within the higher echelons of the regime. Outside observers therefore know much less than they did in decades past about how the party’s leaders arrive at their conclusions with regard to foreign policy.”
Extreme Heat Is Killing Incarcerated Black Folks (Laura)
From Word in Black: “Temperatures within America’s prison walls are often unbearable. And, given the unjust demographics of who gets locked up in the United States — 38.5% of incarcerated people are Black, even though we only make up 13.6% of the population — hot prisons disproportionately impact Black incarcerated individuals.”
Multivitamin Improves Memory in Older Adults, Study Finds (Mili)
The author writes, “Taking a daily multivitamin supplement can slow age-related memory decline, finds a large study led by researchers at Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard.”
Apple Is Taking On Apples in a Truly Weird Trademark Battle (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “The Fruit Union Suisse is 111 years old. For most of its history, it has had as its symbol a red apple with a white cross — the Swiss national flag superimposed on one of its most common fruits. But the group, the oldest and largest fruit farmer’s organization in Switzerland, worries it might have to change its logo, because Apple, the tech giant, is trying to gain intellectual property rights over depictions of apples, the fruit.”
