“The Butcher of Tehran” is Dead
Iran state media confirms Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash in extremely foggy conditions. He was returning from the unveiling of a new dam on the border with East Azerbaijan. Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and two other government officials were among those on the helicopter.
Raisi’s death is being celebrated by Iranian ex-pats across the west and — as the video shows — by some brave Iranians inside the country as well.
He was a cleric and served as a “judge” in 1988, condemning at least 5000 political prisoners to death. And that’s the tip of the iceberg of his gruesome despotic legacy.
He was not the most senior leader in Iran. He reported to the Supreme Leader who is still in charge. But these multiple deaths will no doubt create instability when Iran is already under pressure.
It’s late. Read the Monday newsletter. We’ll get into more there. If you have specific questions for us to answer in the newsletter, please post them in comments.
“The Butcher of Tehran” is Dead
Iran state media confirms Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has died in a helicopter crash in extremely foggy conditions. He was returning from the unveiling of a new dam on the border with East Azerbaijan. Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and two other government officials were among those on the helicopter.
Raisi’s death is being celebrated by Iranian ex-pats across the west and — as the video shows — by some brave Iranians inside the country as well.
He was a cleric and served as a “judge” in 1988, condemning at least 5000 political prisoners to death. And that’s the tip of the iceberg of his gruesome despotic legacy.
He was not the most senior leader in Iran. He reported to the Supreme Leader who is still in charge. But these multiple deaths will no doubt create instability when Iran is already under pressure.
It’s late. Read the Monday newsletter. We’ll get into more there. If you have specific questions for us to answer in the newsletter, please post them in comments.
A new lawsuit alleges that groups helping to organize and fund some of the student protests have ties to Hamas.
Please read the whole carousel for context and more information. There is no allegation that student protesters are aware of any such ties. And any of these claims would have to be proven in court. I link to the lawsuit in stories.
Going forward I will share public comment from the groups implicated by and named in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit has far more detail than I shared here. Please read the lawsuit – it’s available to the public, filed in U.S. district Court for the Eastern District of Columbia. It’s filed by a highly reputable lawfirm.
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WNBA PAY OUTRAGE IN CONTEXT
The success of @ncaa women’s basketball has changed the conversation. So many of you are outraged that @caitlinclark22 electrified the public, set new records for college ball – for both men and women – and helped drive the season to record high ratings. She was just the number one @wnba draft pick (going to the @indianafever) but she’s getting paid a paltry sum. Only $76,000 her first year. Tons of you are outraged by this. You asked how could this be?
We did the research and have some answers. It’s a bad news-good news scenario. As in things have been bad, but they seem to be getting better. And whether they get much better depends on you and me.
Check out the reel for details. What do you think? If you don’t already, will you start paying to see women’s sports?
PS @deloitte predicts women’s elite sports revenue will top $1 billion dollars worldwide for the first time this year. And women are expected to earn more sponsorships at higher rates.
And of course Clark is expected to make much more than $76k on sponsorships, and other deals.
Sources @justwomenssports @wasserman @ncaa @bloomberg @huddleup_welovesports
#caitlinclark #wnba #nba #indianafever
HUMAN MOMENTS OR UNACCEPTABLE IN LEADERS?
A House Oversight Committee meeting on whether to hold AG Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress descended into chaos spurred by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comment on Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s appearance. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez demanded Greene apologize (she refused), and Crockett clapped back with her own attack on Greene’s appearance.
This fight struck us because it is just so unusual to see in Congress (well, except a few months ago when Sen. Markwayne Mullin challenged the president of the Teamsters to a fistfight on the Senate floor). It is what we see on social media these days and increasingly in protests and even in our own disagreements. So many of us find it increasingly impossible to disagree without getting hostile and worse.
When it’s modeled in the halls of government and by our elected leaders that sets off alarm bells for me. I wonder – what do you think of this? Is it a sign that something is wrong with how we interact or just human moments? If the former what can and should our leaders do to shift and represent differently? Or are there times when provocateurs (MTG) require call outs and and forced boundaries? How would you explain this moment to a child you’re teaching to fight with ideas not personal attacks? Or how do you retain your calm when provoked in moments like this?
Please share your thoughts.
Arizona Court Bans and Criminalizes Abortion
The Arizona Supreme Court today banned and criminalized abortion in the state and ruled that life begins at conception based on a centuries old abortion law.
How did we get here?
After Roe v wade was overturned Arizona passed a 15 week abortion ban. It was challenged in court with some arguing that the original 1864 ban should be enforced instead. Today the justices agreed.
The justices wrote: “Physicians are now on notice that all abortions, except those necessary to save a woman’s life, are illegal.”
The justices gave a lower court two weeks to weigh in. Without further action, the near-total ban goes into effect in 14 days.
#womenshealth #arizona
In the video I get into larger implications – for contraception, pregnant women and the November election.
Comment your thoughts.
BIDEN TO NETANYAHU: “IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE”
After 6 months of providing unconditioned support and weapons to Israel in its war in Gaza, today President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that he should instruct negotiators to do what it takes to reach a deal for an immediate ceasefire. And if not, there will be a change in US policy. This is a dramatic shift in the White House’s tone and signals a change in the president’s approach to the US’s role in the war in Gaza.
White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the president also insisted Israel must act immediately to open more crossings and ensure a “dramatic increase” in humanitarian aid entering Gaza to feed the civilian population. Kirby said the US wants a better “deconfliction process” (i.e., the way Israel coordinates with humanitarian aid workers to ensure their safety). In addition, he stipulated that Israel must take “specific, concrete, and measurable steps” to ensure the safety of civilians and aid workers.
Kirby indicated the US expects Israel to announce policy changes “in the coming hours and days.”
Kirby says Biden warned that if Israel doesn’t comply, “the president will have to reconsider his policy with regard to Gaza.” Though Kirby wouldn’t offer specifics, the implication is that the US would withdraw or adjust allocation of some aid. Kirby later specified that the president is calling for a temporary ceasefire.
Thank you to News Not Noise family around the globe for sending in your stunning pictures of the Northern Lights. A reminder of the beauty in this world – we don’t always see.
To understand why we so many of us are able to see the Northern Lights right now, check out the latest newsletter. (Link in bio.)
Have a magical weekend!
#northernlights #auroraborealis
EARTHQUAKE HITS NJ, NY, PA
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 shook the Northeast Friday morning, with an epicenter about 50 miles west of Manhattan. It was felt in NYC, Philly, and Boston. Earthquakes this strong are highly unusual in the region.
Did the earthquake hit where you are? Tell us about it in the comments. We’ll update the post as information comes in.
AURORA AND ERUPTION
Iceland witnessed an incredible sight this week as the Northern Lights danced above the erupting Sundhnukagigar volcano on the southwest coast of the island country.
Sundhnukagigar, located just 30 miles southwest of Reykjavik, has been erupting on-and-off since December. The current eruption has been going for over a month.
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? What about an active volcano?
#volcano #volcaniceruption #lava #northernlights #aurora #auroraborealis #nature #iceland
WE DID IT! REAL-LIFE ROSIES RECOGNIZED
Congress honored a group of women who went to work during WWII, taking on traditional male-held occupations and earning the nickname “Rosie the Riveters,” with the Congressional Gold Medal.
According to the Defense Department, roughly 5 million civilian women worked during WWII, many building ships, planes, and weapons. Though many of these women were forced out of their jobs after the war, their efforts were critical not only for sustaining the US through the war but proving women could be just as impactful in the workforce as men.
About 2 dozen Rosies in their 90s and 100s attended the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony this week. Mae Krier, a Rosie who lobbied hard for recognition for years, accepted the medal on behalf of all Rosies. “I think they just got sick and tired of hearing from me,” she joked. “It’s just wonderful to finally get the award.”
Why do you think this took so long? Comment your thoughts.
#womenatwork #rosietheriveter #rosie
ABORTION BANS ROIL GOP
After Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled a Civil War-era abortion ban must come into force, abortion policy is sowing discord among Republicans.
Donald Trump suggested that he believes abortion policy should be left to the states. Now Arizona abortion rights advocates are moving to put on the November ballot an initiative to constitutionally protect the right to abortion in the state, and the powerful anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America issued a statement demanding GOP candidates oppose it (and a similar one in Florida). This seems to contradict Trump’s position.
Abortion protections are consistently popular among voters, especially since Roe fell, and now internal division is roiling the GOP ahead of the 2024 election. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for governor, came out against the Arizona Supreme Court ruling, and other state GOPs are scrambling to find ways to change the policy and avoid a tidal wave of pro-abortion rights voters turning out in November.
Meanwhile state AG Kris Mayes, a Democrat, vowed not to prosecute women or doctors for violating the ban which she called “a stain on our state.” Mayes won her 2022 election by just 280 votes.
#womenshealth #health #pregnancy
ABORTION BANS ROIL GOP
After Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled a Civil War-era abortion ban must come into force, abortion policy is sowing discord among Republicans.
Donald Trump suggested that he believes abortion policy should be left to the states. Now Arizona abortion rights advocates are moving to put on the November ballot an initiative to constitutionally protect the right to abortion in the state, and the powerful anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America issued a statement demanding GOP candidates oppose it (and a similar one in Florida). This seems to contradict Trump’s position.
Abortion protections are consistently popular among voters, especially since Roe fell, and now internal division is roiling the GOP ahead of the 2024 election. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for governor, came out against the Arizona Supreme Court ruling, and other state GOPs are scrambling to find ways to change the policy and avoid a tidal wave of pro-abortion rights voters turning out in November.
Meanwhile state AG Kris Mayes, a Democrat, vowed not to prosecute women or doctors for violating the ban which she called “a stain on our state.” Mayes won her 2022 election by just 280 votes.
#womenshealth #health #pregnancy
ABORTION BANS ROIL GOP
After Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled a Civil War-era abortion ban must come into force, abortion policy is sowing discord among Republicans.
Donald Trump suggested that he believes abortion policy should be left to the states. Now Arizona abortion rights advocates are moving to put on the November ballot an initiative to constitutionally protect the right to abortion in the state, and the powerful anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America issued a statement demanding GOP candidates oppose it (and a similar one in Florida). This seems to contradict Trump’s position.
Abortion protections are consistently popular among voters, especially since Roe fell, and now internal division is roiling the GOP ahead of the 2024 election. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for governor, came out against the Arizona Supreme Court ruling, and other state GOPs are scrambling to find ways to change the policy and avoid a tidal wave of pro-abortion rights voters turning out in November.
Meanwhile state AG Kris Mayes, a Democrat, vowed not to prosecute women or doctors for violating the ban which she called “a stain on our state.” Mayes won her 2022 election by just 280 votes.
#womenshealth #health #pregnancy
So many of you tell me you are so upset about the state of the world you don’t know how to manage your anxiety around the news. Overwhelmingly you said you’d like me to share some of the tips and tools I use to manage my news anxiety.
This first video is about breaking news situations. How to prevent yourself from going down the rabbit hole when you feel swept up in a breaking news story.
The key thing is to notice when it’s happening and get distance. I explain how in this video.
What do you think/ do you have news anxiety? Can or would you do what I suggest?
#wellness
The family says it was cancer.
In this clip he lays out what he describes as a hypothetical scenario for the night of the murders.
Since 1994 the U.S. has continually reauthorized the Violence Against Women act expanding protections for survivors and creating new policy. The measure was introduced by then Senator Joe Biden.
How do you think domestic violence policy has changed in the U.S. since oj’s trial? What do you recall from the trial? Comment your thoughts.
Israel/Iran: What just happened?
Saturday, Iran launched an unprecedented, coordinated missile and drone assault on Israel. Iran described the attack as an act of self defense and “responsible”. It was in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on a building in an Iranian diplomaticcompound in Syria. Why do Israeli officials and partner nations call this an escalation by Iran? And what could happen next?
I answer your questions with facts, context and calm.
It’s in the newsletter. Find a link in stories and in bio.
Note: hateful, self-righteous and uninformed, intentionally combative comments will be deleted, restricted or ignored to maintain civility and make this a pleasant place to learn. Thanks for rising to your higher self while engaging with the news.
#facts
Israel/Iran: What just happened?
Saturday, Iran launched an unprecedented, coordinated missile and drone assault on Israel. Iran described the attack as an act of self defense and “responsible”. It was in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on a building in an Iranian diplomaticcompound in Syria. Why do Israeli officials and partner nations call this an escalation by Iran? And what could happen next?
I answer your questions with facts, context and calm.
It’s in the newsletter. Find a link in stories and in bio.
Note: hateful, self-righteous and uninformed, intentionally combative comments will be deleted, restricted or ignored to maintain civility and make this a pleasant place to learn. Thanks for rising to your higher self while engaging with the news.
#facts
FDA APPROVES FIRST AI TOOL TO DIAGNOSE SEPSIS
The FDA approved an AI tool called Sepsis Immunoscore to help doctors diagnose sepsis in patients. This is the first time the FDA has approved an AI tool for diagnosing sepsis.
The new tool doesn’t administer treatment or make decisions about a patient’s care. Instead it monitors 22 vital signs including temperature, heart rate, and cell counts — all at the same time. Just one doctor can’t monitor all 22 parameters at once, but this AI can. It uses that data to score patients’ risk of deterioration. Doctors can see the score alongside a patient’s other health info, helping them evaluate whether or not the patient needs urgent treatment or monitoring for sepsis.
Sepsis is an extreme immune response to infection that can be deadly. It’s notoriously hard to detect and kills 350,000 American adults annually, according to the CDC. Chicago-based health tech startup Prenosis created Sepsis Immunoscore to help prevent these deaths. Early detection is key. Prenosis says it trained its AI on 100,000 blood samples from more than 25,000 patients.
Are you ready for doctors to incorporate AI in your treatment? Doctors, how do you feel about tools like these? Tell us in the comments.
AMERICA’S FIELD TRIP: APPLY NOW
Parents and teachers, take note: the US is giving free behind-the-scenes trips to US landmarks to students in grades 3-12. It’s all to commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary — and the deadline to apply is this Friday.
Kids or students who apply could get exclusive free access to some of the most historic and majestic sites in the country. I spoke to Rosie Rios, chair of America250 and former US Treasurer, to find out more.
America’s Field Trip is a part of Congress’s commission to plan a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They’re offering incredible experiences at US National Parks and monuments, government sites and museums — with perks the general public doesn’t typically have access to, like going up to the Statue of Liberty’s crown and torch, or going behind the scenes at the Smithsonian, and more. If your student is interested in this sort of experience, they can enter the contest now, submitting artwork, a video, or an essay about what America means to them.
The deadline is this Friday, May 17. Students can apply at america250.org.
🙌 #yellowstone #goldengatebridge #smithsonian #nationalarchives
Monday’s Total Solar Eclipse
On Monday, people in 15 US states will be able to see a rare total solar eclipse. For 3-5 minutes, the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, casting the world in an eerie shadow. And around the moon, people will be able to see the solar corona, the normally-invisible “atmosphere” of the sun that will look like a hazy halo of light around the edges of the moon. If you’re watching the eclipse, even if you’re outside the path of totality, you should use protective glasses (no, normal sunglasses aren’t enough). Your pets don’t need glasses (their instincts make them unlikely to look directly at the sun), but if possible you should keep them indoors to reduce anxiety. And if you won’t be in the path of totality on Monday, you can watch a livestream of the eclipse from Indiana University (totality will begin at 3:04 pm Eastern in this area).
A member of the #NNN team will be in the path of totality and we’ll bring you a report from the ground- in the newsletter.
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO FOR THE ECLIPSE? WHAT DOES THE ECLIPSE MEAN TO YOU? COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS!
Throughout history, total solar eclipses have held deep significance in myriad cultures. In the latest newsletter we cover a sampling of the stories different peoples have told about the total eclipse. That part of the newsletter is for paying subscribers. Monday we will share more information on eclipses and their meaning, for all subscribers. Sign up via link in bio and in stories.
Or go to News Not Noise on Substack.com
#eclipse #pathoftotality2024 #moon #sun #magic
MASSIVE FLOODING IN BRAZIL
Days of heavy rain have flooded southern Brazil, displacing over 150,000 people and killing at least 85. Over 130 are missing. Entire towns are under water in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The governor of Rio Grande do Sul called this “the worst disaster ever registered” in his state. Lakes and rivers have overflowed, bursting at least one dam and inundating homes, highways, and airports. More heavy rains are expected to continue this week.
Brazil’s President Lula declared an emergency in the state which should free up emergency relief funding, pending approval by Brazil’s legislature.
Overnight, Israel reportedly launched a retaliatory strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
We published a newsletter extra overnight to distill the information. Find a link in stories and in bio.
Friday morning local time, social media began filling with reports of explosions in Isfahan, a province of Iran that houses several of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. According to multiple reports, nuclear facilities were not hit. More on this below) Instead, according to the New York Times, a military base was the target of the attacks, possibly by drones. And CNN International quotes an Iranian state media report saying that
all facilities in the area are secure, including significant nuclear facilities. As of now,
this seems to be a very limited action.
Read more about it in the News Not Noise Letter. Link in bio.
Overnight, Israel reportedly launched a retaliatory strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
We published a newsletter extra overnight to distill the information. Find a link in stories and in bio.
Friday morning local time, social media began filling with reports of explosions in Isfahan, a province of Iran that houses several of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. According to multiple reports, nuclear facilities were not hit. More on this below) Instead, according to the New York Times, a military base was the target of the attacks, possibly by drones. And CNN International quotes an Iranian state media report saying that
all facilities in the area are secure, including significant nuclear facilities. As of now,
this seems to be a very limited action.
Read more about it in the News Not Noise Letter. Link in bio.
