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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.
Fox News Defamation Trial Delayed; Network Pursuing Settlement Talks, Source Says (Maria)
The author writes, “The start of Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion defamation trial against Fox has been pushed back by a day, the judge said on Sunday, with a source familiar with the matter saying the media giant was pursuing settlement talks. The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told Reuters that Fox was seeking a possible settlement. … Dominion is suing Fox Corp and Fox News in a defamation lawsuit over the network’s coverage of the 2020 US presidential election.”
Americans’ Experiences With Gun-Related Violence, Injuries, and Deaths (Sean)
From KFF: “Experiences with gun-related incidents are common among U.S. adults. One in five (21%) say they have personally been threatened with a gun, a similar share (19%) say a family member was killed by a gun (including death by suicide), and nearly as many (17%) have personally witnessed someone being shot. Smaller shares have personally shot a gun in self-defense (4%) or been injured in a shooting (4%). In total, about half (54%) of all U.S. adults say they or a family member have ever had one of these experiences.”
Sports Now Resemble Politics (Reader Steve)
From the Arizona Daily Star: “It’s eerie how sports are growing more like politics. Or maybe politics are growing more like sports. Either way, it’s not good. In both, many people think winning is more important than fair play, that victory trumps integrity. And in politics and sports, some fans think loyalty is measured by how much they hate the opposing team.”
Book Banners Are Now Trying to Close Public Libraries (Sean)
From The Daily Beast: “When a judge ordered the Llano County, Texas, library system to return 17 banned books to its shelves, county commissioners debated a radical workaround: closing the entire library system. The removal of 17 books was part of a nationwide campaign to purge libraries of specific books — many related to race, gender, or LGBTQ issues. Some librarians and readers have resisted those efforts, refusing book bans or filing lawsuits for the return of their books. In response, conservative officials have pushed to defund libraries outright, potentially forcing their closure.”
A Popular, But Noxious, Piping Fix Is Sickening People. And It’s Throughout America’s Sewers. (Reader Jim)
From USA Today: “Fumes from cured-in-place pipe projects have landed people in the hospital, triggered evacuations and sparked lawsuits. The industry says it’s safe.”
Sedentary Time May Significantly Enlarge Adolescents’ Heart (Mili)
The author writes, “In adolescents, sedentary time may increase heart size three times more than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a recent article concludes. The researchers explored the associations of sedentary time, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with cardiac structure and function.”
Spanish Climber Leaves Cave After 500 Days in Isolation (Dana)
The author writes, “A Spanish mountain climber emerged Friday from a cave 70 meters (230 feet) underground where she spent 500 days isolated from the outside world. Beatriz Flamini, 50, of Madrid, left the cave in southern Spain shortly after 9 a.m. after being told by supporters that she had completed the feat she set out to accomplish on Nov. 21, 2021.”
