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This Week on Seabird
Another story from my home state. A long read, but really good reporting on the southern evangelical movement.
How an Alleged Child Predator Remade the Nation’s Second-Largest Faith Group in His Image
Paul Pressler helped ordain the marriage between white evangelicals and the GOP, all while accusations of sexual abuse piled up. Right-wing groups are still using his political playbook
texasmonthly.com
Not enough to get me on a space ship, but glad to see the photos of such an astonishing sight.
Seeing an eclipse from Earth is awe-inspiring – for astronauts seeing one from space, the scene was even more grand
Astronauts report feeling profoundly awestruck when they go to space, an anthropologist reports. This experience shapes their perspectives even back on Earth.
theconversation.com
On how to escape the gerrymandering trap.
Lessons from the Redistricting Wars
Gerrymandering is just tweaking a bad system at the margins.
liberalcurrents.com
Balanced take on data centers as both: 1) a light industrial use, with the cons that come with any light industrial use and 2) as object of ire because of what it represents (AI) rather than what it is (racks of computers in a building).
OPINION: Data centers will not destroy Reno - The Nevada Independent
OPINION: Data centers will not destroy Reno. Read more at The Nevada Independent.
thenevadaindependent.com
Why doesn’t a rising tide lift all boats?
CEO pay soared in 2025, 20 times faster than workers’ pay
Analysis finds real wages fell 12% since 2019, with inequality widening in the US beyond global levels
theguardian.com
If you don't know it, I highly recommend The Big Dig podcast. Very Massachusetts history focused: they dig into some place where government / policy intersect with the real world, and document and explain how that policy actually was implemented and affected the populace. Every season is very different (a highway mega project, the state lottery, a fishing scallywag) but each is told in delightful depth. I really recommend it if you're the sort of person who is in to policy or recent history.
The Big Dig
Seemingly dry topics become gripping political dramas in this Peabody Award winning show from creator Ian Coss and GBH News. Each season of “The Big Dig” uncovers a different facet of society in Boston – infrastructure, gambling, food, healthcare – together the pieces connect to tell the story of modern America.
wgbh.org
Sarah Skwire on political theory, alliances, power, and also dragons.
The Enemy of My Enemy Is a Really Big Dragon
When political theory meets horror, do not call up that which you cannot put down. Sarah Skwire discusses Joe Hill's novel King Sorrow, "a deliciously gory and smart bit of horror" that also brings lessons about the enemy of your enemy.
liberalism.org
The Tejas history of Cinco de Mayo.
The Hero of Cinco de Mayo Was Born in Texas
Ignacio Zaragoza led ragtag Mexican troops to victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla.
texasmonthly.com
As advertised.
How Socialist were the National Socialists? Part 1
An Endless "Debate"
unpopularfront.news
This is really well done.
A Southern Grandma Wore a Shocking Outfit to a No Kings Protest—and Was Violently Arrested for It. I Went to Her Trial. It Was Even Worse Than I Expected.
Never has a “Dick Tator” pun caused so much trouble.
slate.com
