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The creepy feeling in old buildings might have a surprising cause
A hidden force may be quietly shaping how you feel—and you’d never even know it. Infrasound, an ultra-low-frequency vibration below the range of human hearing, is everywhere from traffic to old buildings. In a small experiment, people exposed to it became more irritable, less engaged, and even showed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol—despite having no idea it was present. The findings suggest our bodies can “sense” these vibrations without conscious awareness, potentially explaining eerie sensations in places like basements or supposedly haunted buildings.
Malaria didn’t just kill early humans, it shaped who we became
Long before humans spread across the globe, a deadly disease may have quietly shaped where our ancestors lived—and even how we evolved. New research reveals that malaria didn’t just threaten early human survival; it actively pushed populations away from high-risk regions across Africa, fragmenting groups over tens of thousands of years. This separation influenced how different populations met, mixed, and exchanged genes, helping shape the genetic diversity we see today.
Bertelli to dazzle at Blue Hill house party
Vocalist Mia Bertelli will perform at Bagaduce Music’s Second Wednesday House Party on Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.
Bungie claims it has a Marathon story plan stretching ‘years’ into the future
But Marathon’s future narrative direction will partly be influenced by players…
Lucy Powell says Labour has ‘no magic bullet’ as MPs brace for heavy losses in local elections
Deputy leader plays down leadership talk and says party must focus on long-term challenges rather than personnel
Curing U.S. Health Care, Part II
On March 23, 2010 President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — usually referred to either as the Affordable Care Act or as Obamacare — into law. Joe Biden, then the vice president, could be overheard whispering “This is a big fucking deal.” And it was. The ACA, which went into full effect in 2014, created a system of subsidies and regulations designed to make health insurance available to many Americans who had previously been left out. It worked: In 2010 there were 47 million uninsured people in America, but by 2016 this number had dropped to 27 million. This still fell short of the universal health insurance that every other advanced nation has, but it was real progress. In 2017, during his first term, Donald Trump tried to destroy the ACA, replacing it with the American Health Care Act — legislation that would have eliminated most of the provisions that expanded health insurance under Obama. At the time the Congressional Budget Office projected that the G.O.P.’s replacement bill would nearly double the number of Americans without health insurance, increasing the total uninsured population by 23 million and undoing all of the progress achieved under the ACA. However, the attack on Obamacare failed by one vote in the Senate, and the ensuing public backlash against the G.O.P. delivered a large victory in the 2018 midterms to the Democrats. After these developments many observers assumed that the ACA had become a more or less permanent feature of American life. Such assessments, however, failed to take into account the deep hostility of the U.S. right toward policies that expand access to healthcare. As we’ll see, this hostility goes back generations. And the second Trump administration has taken actions that the CBO projects will add 16 million people to the rolls of the uninsured by 2034. How did we get here? And now what? Today’s primer will analyze the political economy of U.S. healthcare since the 1940s and the combination of danger and opportunity created by the current crisis. Beyond the paywall I will discuss the following: US health care on the eve of Trump II 80 years of US health politics The Obamacare story The new assault on healthcare
New Orleans youth gaming labs support social emotional skills and career exploration
Founded by Brent DeLarge, Unchained Realities transforms youth experiences in New Orleans by integrating esports labs, design workshops, and emotional learning in partnerships with local schools and rec centers.
New Orleans youth gaming labs support social emotional skills and career exploration
Founded by Brent DeLarge, Unchained Realities transforms youth experiences in New Orleans by integrating esports labs, design workshops, and emotional learning in partnerships with local schools and rec centers.
Life after basic income: More savings, but back to working two jobs
Cepia Harper, 43, received $850 a month between 2022 and 2024. She earned a new teaching certification, but is back at a part-time retail job.
Meet Delaware's Most Influential Delawareans in Industry for 2026
Meet the Delawareans making change happen in 2026 in industry and development, part of our Most Influential & Inspiring series
Sam Altman asked GPT-5.5 to plan its own party
Sam Altman asked GPT what it would like for its launch celebration. Its suggestions included toasts from its creators (but not the AI itself).
Polanski ‘not fit to lead a party’ after Golders Green tweet, says minister
Heidi Alexander criticises Green leader over retweet of post suggesting police used excessive force when arresting suspect
Months after the FDA's label change for Tylenol, what's changed?
In September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced it was issuing a safety change for the medicine...
Today’s Papers – Farewell Zanardi, the Superhero
La Gazzetta dello SportSuperheroFarewell to the man of impossible featsA driver living life always on the edge. The crash and his legs were amputated, then he won the gold medals at the Paralympic Gam...
Liao: Taiwan belongs at the World Health Assembly
Taiwan is a reliable partner and a force for good in the world, and global health cannot afford to ignore Taiwan. T
Business People
CEI Engineering Associates Inc. announced the expansion of its Local Development Department with the appointment of David Carroll as department manager.
Gatorade getting a rebrand targeting non-athletes
Sixty years after it invented sports drinks, Gatorade is making a surprising pivot: It’s no longer focusing primarily on athletes. PepsiCo, Gatorade’s parent company, says the brand wants to broaden
Polanski takes combative approach as Greens enter media spotlight
From legitimate scrutiny to lurid scare stories, the Green party’s rise has brought a sudden spike in attention
Britain enters the era of seven-party politics
Labour and the Conservatives combined account for barely a third of voters in polls — threatening the UK’s constitutional certainties
Buckner Children and Family Services event focuses on fatherhood, mental health and parenting
Briefs & Bikes: Leesport’s "Undy 500" raises awareness for colorectal health
Classic Harley-Davidson in Leesport hosted the 5th annual Undy 500 on Saturday in partnership with the nonprofit "My Gut Instinct."
FBI seizure of Fulton County election ballots happened quickly after criminal probe opened, new timeline shows
A newly released timeline from the Justice Department reveals the FBI seized 2020 election materials from Georgia just a few weeks after opening a criminal probe, which experts told CNN is an unusually fast pace for a case of its kind.
A Look At WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Valuation As Genies Partnership Expands 3D Avatar Opportunities
WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) recently announced a partnership with AI avatar company Genies to bring its English platform characters into interactive 3D chat experiences, digital collectibles, and creator tailored avatar tools. See our latest analysis for WEBTOON Entertainment. The Genies partnership arrives after a sharp pickup in momentum, with WEBTOON Entertainment’s 30-day share price return of 35.79% and 7-day return of 18.96% lifting the latest price to $13.24. The 1-year total...
Inside Democratic Fundraiser ActBlue’s Big Spending and Internal Drama
The group faces investigations from the Justice Department and congressional Republicans six months before the 2026 midterms.
Ronald Acuña Jr. exits game with apparent left hamstring ailment
Can the injury bug leave this team alone, already?
FOMO 10/40 Creamery to bring ice cream to small business across North Dakota
A grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture is helping a small business in Bismarck expand.
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field ‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field A field that once seemed like a direct path to stable, lucrative work is becoming less certain under AI, students and faculty told Spectator. By Ria Vasishtha and Arjun Menon May 3, 2026 Shanying Liu / Deputy Illustrations Editor Asia Genawi, SEAS ’29, first encountered artificial intelligence during her sophomore year at her high school in Indiana. Back in 2023, policies on AI varied widely—even within the same district—and some schools had no guidance at all. As Genawi began to see the effects of AI trickle into her classroom, she turned to guidance from her home state’s Department of Education, which she said she found “outdated and inaccessible.” Genawi spent the rest of her high school career dedicated to the issue, including writing a 15-page memo exploring varying AI policies across Indiana schools, which she sent to every Indiana state senator and representative whose contact information she was able to find. She later helped draft a bill that would have required public high schools to establish and share their own AI policies with students in an accessible format. But with so many other bills already awaiting referral, hers never made it to committee. When Genawi arrived at Columbia to study computer science, she found that the gaps she had spent years trying to address in Indiana had followed her there. Many students and professors were also grappling with what AI meant for the field. Across Columbia’s undergraduate schools, computer science has become the most popular major—accounting for around 11 percent of degrees awarded in Columbia College, 32 percent in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and 12 percent in the School of General Studies in 2024. While the number of computer science majors in SEAS grew from 166 to 173 during the 2024-25 academic year, the total number across the three schools fell around 4.5 percent from 393 to 375, driven by declines at Columbia College and General Studies. At Barnard, it has grown to become the second most popular major as of 2025, up from third the year prior. The number of degrees awarded have grown fivefold since 2016. Faculty members and students in the department told Spectator that the surge in the major’s popularity has been driven in large part by its apparent promise of a secure, well-paid career path. However, they noted that the recent rise of generative AI has compromised the sense of stability that once defined the field, even as interest in technical skills among students persists. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2024, out of 74 majors tracked, computer science had the fifth highest unemployment rate among majors at 7 percent, while computer engineering had the second highest at 7.8 percent. “Anecdotally, people are moving away from CS as a major,” Daniel Bauer, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, said. “They’re still taking some of our classes, right, because they think they need that, but they’re instead majoring in other things.” Bauer described a field that had shifted from what he called a “nerdy outlier discipline” to one that “everyone needs,” a sign that technical skills have become a baseline expectation across industries with the emergence of AI. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, it’s a guaranteed path to a stable income. You get a six-figure job right out of your undergrad,’” Bauer said. Now, companies may see AI as a way to reduce demand for entry-level programmers, especially in what he calls “code monkey jobs,” roles where a large number of employees are “just writing out code nine-to-five.” Chris Murphy, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, described the current moment as the convergence of two forces: the downturn of the job market and generative AI coming onto the scene. “Things kind of started to really pick up in 2014, 16,” he said, recalling the years after the weaker 2010 market. Murphy added that this was also a period where “students were getting more experience outside of class than they were inside of class” through internships, jobs, and side projects. Murphy suggested that the earlier momentum helped make computer science feel like both an academic program and a reliable pathway into work. That feeling is harder to sustain now as the industry reconfigures, which is a shift that students are seeing firsthand. Rebecca Yu, SEAS ’27, said that during a recent internship in Big Tech, she saw that “every single tech company was racing to integrate” large language models. She added that her manager said her intern class was the first to complete their assigned projects, which she attributed to the increased efficiency that comes with AI. Frank Liu, SEAS ’29, said that with AI lowering the barrier to coding, companies now expect everyone to write code. “A lot of companies outright say if you’re not using coding in your job, you might get fired for not being productive enough,” Liu said. Yu similarly expressed that students increasingly have to accept AI being a part of industry workflow, adding that many also “make use of it to maximize their productivity.” Richard Li, CC ’28, described a “franticness” among his peers as the pace of change accelerates. He explained how “some new tool” is released regularly, noting that tools rise and fall in prominence within weeks. He has come to believe that he doesn’t need to “match that speed all the time” and keep up with every development. Li has learned that AI tools allow him to “take a breath” and “get back into the loop much easier than before” when he needs to. While some companies specifically target Columbia when hiring, sending representatives to campus career fairs and recruiting large numbers from Columbia, a computer science degree cannot be treated as a static credential, Yu described. “You can’t just get your degree and stop learning after that. You have to always be learning,” Yu said. “That is something you basically have to expect for your job.” AI has not only affected students’ decisions to major in computer science, but also reshaped how the subject is taught. Across departments, faculty members no longer treat work done outside the classroom as a reliable measure of understanding, shifting instead toward in-person exams, quizzes, and attendance checks. While homework once made up as much as 60 to 70 percent of a student’s grade in computer science classes, Murphy said that breakdown has since flipped, with exams and quizzes now accounting for the majority. “The assumption—especially among pessimists—is that they’re using it to do their homework,” Murphy said. “They take the homework assignment. They put it into generative AI. Out comes the solution. Submit solution. The end.” Murphy said that faculty members ranged in their responses from fully prohibiting AI use to actively teaching students how to effectively work with AI. He said he shifted his approach this year after his teaching assistants called his belief that students weren’t using the technology “naïve,” and now permits students to use AI on assignments. His surveys of students in his introductory classes have told a more complicated story than the one so-called pessimists offer: Around 60 to 70 percent of students who reported using AI said they used it to have concepts explained to them, to clarify assignment instructions, to generate test cases, or to create practice questions. “Those are all ways that you might have had a tutor in the past to do that, and now you have this AI essentially as your tutor,” he said. Bauer has taken a different approach, teaching students how to use AI productively without sacrificing the core principles of the discipline. “People who are trained to actually use AI tools productively, while being in charge of designing the overall project, will be very much in demand in the next couple of years,” he said. Over the past year, a working group of computer science faculty has been redesigning the introductory and intermediate programming sequence to integrate generative AI as both a subject and a tool, representatives from SEAS wrote in a statement to Spectator. The effort is “coordinated” across the department, “not course-by-course,” with a systematic assessment of how AI integration is affecting student outcomes underway to shape the next round of changes. The goal, the department explained, is for students to be able to “read, verify, and reason about code, whether they or a model wrote it.” Tony Dear, senior lecturer in the computer science department, is piloting individualized AI feedback in a discrete mathematics course, while a machine learning course is also testing a Socratic AI dialogue system designed to “guide inquiry rather than supply answers,” the statement reads. Beyond individual courses, SEAS funded seven cross-departmental faculty projects in generative AI this past academic year, spanning biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science, according to the statement. This phenomenon extends beyond the computer science department. SEAS’ new AI minor, which it announced in November 2025, reflects the University’s attempt to adapt. The minor is specifically designed for noncomputer science majors and aims to provide “essential AI knowledge” while emphasizing practical and responsible use across disciplines, according to the SEAS website. At the center of the minor is AI in Context, a course taught by a team of faculty from the departments of computer science, applied mathematics, philosophy, music, literature, and the Writing Center, the representatives told Spectator. Bauer described it as targeted at students who want to bring AI into fields like economics or biology, rather than as a path into software engineering itself. At the graduate level, SEAS announced a new Master of Science in artificial intelligence in February, with the inaugural cohort starting in the fall. While recognizing how AI has helped them navigate coursework, students also described its rise as isolating, even among members of the Application Development Initiative, one of Columbia’s largest computer science clubs. “As people start to ask AI for questions that they would normally ask students and members, it starts to isolate people” Li said. Alexa Kafka, BC ’27, echoed Li’s sentiment, pointing out that computer science has always been a collaborative discipline with code reviews and pull requests, even as AI makes independent work easier. Despite this, Kafka noted that she hasn’t been to office hours “in at least a year.” Bauer added that faculty are exploring long-term solutions to the assessment problem. “One of the things that we’re trying to do at the department or school level is to maybe move towards computerized testing facilities,” Bauer said, referring to ideas in the department to revitalize computer labs as an alternative to pen-and-paper exams. “We have to accept that this is the reality, for better or worse.” But more exams, students say, does not mean better learning, nor does it reflect how computer science is actually done. “Code is so variable and can be approached in so many directions, there’s never just going to be one correct answer. There can be multiple optimal solutions,” Kafka said. Students also expressed concern that the shift toward exam-heavy grading pulls focus away from the applied, project-based work that better reflects both discipline and industry expectations. ADI has tried to respond more quickly than the curriculum can. Through a vibe coding workshop this past semester, club members said they wanted to help students understand not just that AI exists, but how to use it deliberately. “Vibe coding” refers to the practice of prompting AI to write code for a task or project, and has become widespread enough that ADI felt the gap in formal instruction was worth addressing, according to Sophia Huang, BC ’29. The workshop introduced students to the concept of context engineering, which Shaina Sahu, SEAS ’27, described as not just writing a prompt, but optimizing “the rest of the relevant information that you would feed into the model.” Without that, students said that AI-generated code can fail at scale or introduce difficult-to-detect bugs. Genawi said the shift toward AI has changed what it means to be good at computer science. “I think the shift has kind of gone towards what can you create and what can you do, instead of, what do you know,” she said. Indeed, during ADI DevFest, its annual hackathon, Li said more teams are trying to complete their projects than in years past. While sign-ups have historically outpaced submissions, Li said this is beginning to change because teams “have a tool that completes the vision for them.” While many students see AI as an equalizer that lowers the barrier to entry for coding and technical work, Murphy said it also creates new equity concerns inside the classroom around who can afford stronger tools and who already knows how to use them. “The equity issues I worry about are students who have access to paid versions of things versus free versions of things,” he said. Although popular AI models like ChatGPT and Claude have free versions available, both have paid models that can reach over $100 per month, which output different qualities of code. Murphy also pointed to differences in prior exposure to AI literacy itself. “Students who go to high schools or K-12 education, where they’re taught AI literacy, prompt engineering, context engineering, they understand how to do this, as opposed to students who go to schools who don’t teach that,” he said. “Then they come in, and then they’re somehow expected to know how to use these tools.” For Genawi, those disparities begin long before students arrive on campus. “It’s very interesting to consider how lucky you were geographically,” she said. “To be born where you were is influencing your ability to get access to these spaces.” Students like Yu, though broadly apprehensive about the future of computer science, are not without hope. “I’m optimistic, because I think if you’re truly passionate about CS, there will definitely be a place in the field to do something you want to do,” she said. Senior Staff Writer Ria Vasishtha can be contacted at ria.vasishtha@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Staff Writer Arjun Menon can be contacted at arjun.menon@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter and like Spectator on Facebook. Produced with Spectate by Emily Ta
Are your memories real? Physicists revisit the Boltzmann brain paradox
A new analysis of the “Boltzmann brain” paradox suggests our memories and sense of reality could, in theory, be random illusions born from cosmic chaos. By uncovering circular reasoning in how physicists think about time and entropy, the study raises fresh doubts about what we can truly know about the past.
Experts: Midwives are the solution to Black maternal health disparities
Midwives do more than birth babies, and their role in pregnancy and childbirth is being re-evaluated as a way to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality ...
One dead after shooting outside south Wichita business, police say
A man is dead following a shooting in the parking lot of a south Wichita business Saturday evening.
Delayed Louisiana Primaries Stoke Confusion at Ballot Box
On the first day of early voting, some glimpses of voter bewilderment came into focus, part of a dizzying scramble playing out days after a major Supreme Court ruling.
GameThread: Tigers vs. Rangers, 7:15 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (16-17) vs. Texas Rangers (16-16) Time/Place: 7:15 p.m., Comerica ParkSB Nation Site: Lone Star BallMedia: Detroit Sportsnet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio NetworkPitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 4.00 ERA) vs. RHP Kumar Rocker (1-2, 3.38 ERA)
Union Park turns into community hub Saturday as youth leagues open season with health fair
The Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association combined its Opening Day with the Health & Wellness Festival.Union Park... transformed into a community hub.Youth ba
Police seek suspect accused of business break-ins in Dauphin County
COLONIAL PARK, Pa. (WHTM) — Police are investigating a reported burglary at two Dauphin County businesses. According to Lower Paxton Township Police, someone broke into the Hibachi Buffet and…
Photos from the 152nd Kentucky Derby: the best day in horse racing, the 'Sport of Kings'
Once again, tens of thousands flocked to Churchill Downs, dressed to the nines, to partake in one of the grandest spectacles in sport and, perhaps, travel back in time.
MHS baseball takes senior day sweep over Liberal
Manhattan High baseball protected its home field on senior day at CiCo Park on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Liberal with 5-0 and 8-3 wins.
🔼 Up for good this time? Schalke seal Bundesliga return
And there’s a party in Gelsenkirchen!Schalke 04 are back among the elite of German football.They needed to beat Fortuna Düsseldorf this Saturday (2) to secure at least the second automatic promotio...
Sam Altman says Elon Musk can come to his ChatGPT 5.5 party
Sam Altman and Elon Musk, OpenAI cofounders turned rivals, are locked in a legal battle over the direction of the company.
Column: Mental Health Awareness Month demands more than awareness
Virginia’s behavioral health providers should deepen partnerships with public universities, William & Mary’s Kathleen Jabs and David Gosling write in a guest column.
Chahinkapa Zoo partners with colleges to enhance science education
Some of my favorite educational partners throughout the year are schools. Today, I write about our secondary education partners — colleges and universities. Science curriculums across the tri-state area vary in courses and focus. I am proud that Chahinkapa Zoo has been an associate to many.
Finally: After Years of Pressure, SeaWorld Is Changing Theme Park Entertainment
SeaWorld is finally changing course.
How The WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Narrative Is Shifting With Softer Growth And New Partnerships
WEBTOON Entertainment’s latest analyst update keeps the model fair value steady at US$12.21 per share, while published price targets across the Street are now clustering in a wider US$10 to US$15 range. That spread reflects a split between analysts who still see long term growth drivers and others who are more cautious given softer recent revenue trends, weaker guidance, and questions around monetization, competition, and partnerships. In the sections ahead, you will see how to interpret...
Veterans reminded about available resources during Mental Health Awareness Month
The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs wants to remind veterans and their loved ones about available resources during Mental Health Awareness Month.
LIVE in the DTL concert series kicks off May 29
As the days grow longer and summer settles in, the City of Lawrenceville is preparing to turn up the volume once again with the return of its LIVE in the
Country Style Ice Cream to open near TBK Bank Sports Complex
Another business is preparing to open in the area near the TBK Bank Sports Complex just in time for summer.
Everyone Who Could Be in Trump’s ‘Garden of Heroes’
President Trump plans to build a park along the Potomac River featuring life-size statues of 250 Americans.
New York Road Runners Mindful 5K focuses on mental health awareness
Over 6,000 adult athletes and hundreds of youths are estimated to participate in today's New York Road Runners Mindful 5K.
'We had to spoil the party'
Birmingham boss Chris Davies spoke to BBC Radio WM after the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Saturday, May 2
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
Patrick Wolff: Taking on the insurance crisis with experience, not politics
If elected Insurance Commissioner, I will be a Wolff on your side.
Sports Illustrated Revel at the Races party draws athletes, influencers
NFL athletes, dramatic actresses and rising influencers all showed up to the black carpet May 1 at Sports Illustrated's Revel at the Races party.
The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
Tyson, Shatner, and Science’s Next Great Frontier
The implications of such paradigm-altering evidence are well articulated by William Shatner in his interview.
2026 Cram for the Exam AP Government & Politics Exam Review
Former C-SPAN Teacher Fellow and Troy, Michigan teacher Ryan Werenka and Petaluma, California teacher Kevin Jackson answered students' questions about the upcoming Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics Exam and shared tips on how students can best prepare for the test.
🚨 PSG v Lorient XIs: Luis Enrique rings the changes!
PSG and Lorient meet on Matchday 32 of Ligue 1, with the Parisians fighting for the title and the visitors sitting comfortably in ninth place with nothing left to play for. For the match, this is how ...
Can the US Democrats beat Trump by becoming more like him?
Fighting fire with fire may deliver electoral wins, but risks hurting the party’s brand eventually, Chinese academic argues.
Saros Review
I will never dislike a game that looks this good and plays this well. But the lessons that Housemarque learned from Returnal resulted in a game that is less than the sum of its parts.
Dear Abby | Political posts could end longtime friendship
Dear Abby: I am a 38-year-old woman with no kids, a loving partner and puppy. I run a business my dad originally built. I'm at a high point in my
Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro Hits New Record Low Prices on Amazon
Amazon is offering a few all-time low prices on Apple's M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro, with up to $216 off select models. These deals join Amazon's discounts on the M5 MacBook Air from last week, which are seeing $150 in savings on multiple models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
2026 Best & Brightest MBA: Paramvir Singh, Hong Kong University Business School
Paramvir Singh, who is graduating from Hong Kong University, has been named a Poets&Quants Best & Brightest MBA for 2026
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking points
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, two teams with Europe on their minds, meet at Vitality Stadium on Sunday. The Andoni Iraola farewell party continues with the Cherries seeking to go unbeaten for a 15th consecutive Premier League match, the longest current such run in the top flight. Only two teams have had a 14-plus game unbeaten run within a season and finished outside the top six: that was Wimbledon in 1996-97 and Chelsea – who have been linked with a move for Iraola - in 2015-16.
Ruby Red Iowa Backed Trump by 13 Points in 2024. Now It’s a Battleground.
Iowa has trended red for a decade, but Democrats are showing signs of life, and that could help their party reclaim Congress and maybe even a governorship.
The long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic creeps into the race for Ohio governor
Democrat Amy Acton is running unopposed in her party’s primary for Ohio governor, but she’ll face some steep challenges in the November general election
The long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic creeps into the race for Ohio governor
Democrat Amy Acton is running unopposed in her party’s primary for Ohio governor, but she'll face some steep challenges in the November general election.
The long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic creeps into the race for Ohio governor
Democrat Amy Acton is running unopposed in her party’s primary for Ohio governor, but she'll face some steep challenges in the November general election.
Mathematicians Claim Significant Discovery Using ChatGPT
A 23-year-old has apparently found the solution to a famous difficult math conjecture called an Erdős problems by prompting ChatGPT.
Taco Mundo Kitchen y Cantina hosts eighth annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in North Myrtle Beach
At noon on Tuesday, May 5, Taco Mundo Kitchen y Cantina at Barefoot Landing kicks off the biggest Cinco de Mayo fiesta on the Grand Strand. General Manager Erin Parker said she expects that the celebration, now in its eighth year, will attract between 2,500 and 3,000 attendees.
Colorado Politics Calendar May 4-10
CoPo’s weekly political calendar will help you find political and public-policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances, water meetings, book signings, county commission hearings, city council meetings and more. As a subscriber, […]
Local politicians face threats, cost of security sparks debate
A spate of political violence and a rising number of threats had rattled state and local officials asking what should be done to protect those in public office.
Old-School iPods Are Making A Comeback Thanks To A Gen Z Loophole
Old-school iPods are popular with Gen Z, partly because they have no connectivity. That means they can be used in places that iPhones and other devices can't.
As local politicians face threats, the cost of security sparks debate
From hardened SUVs to home upgrades, officeholders are going to new lengths to protect themselves. The question is: Who pays?
"We are killing them all over again": Critics say history is being erased as Trump reshapes narratives at national parks
At national parks, visitors will be confronted with changes enacted after Trump’s order to remove or replace narratives that “disparage” Americans.
Columbia to hold event for children's mental health week
Columbia prepares for children's awareness week starting Sunday, which includes a community event on Tuesday.
Confirmed case of measles in DC as country faces significant resurgence
Officials with the District’s Department of Health announced a confirmed case of measles in the city on Thursday.
Trump’s Push for Electoral Retribution Heads to the Ballot Box
The president’s push to punish political enemies in his own party will play a starring role in a series of Republican primaries this month in which he has backed challengers.
Trump’s Push for Electoral Retribution Heads to the Ballot Box
The president’s push to punish political enemies in his own party will play a starring role in a series of Republican primaries this month in which he has backed challengers.
See celebrities at the Sports Illustrated Revel at the Races Derby party
Sports Illustrated hosted its popular 'Revel at the Races' Kentucky Derby Eve party, with 2026 headliner Tedesco. Here's what you missed.
Election battle for Birmingham council never been harder to call
The number of candidates and challengers from non-traditional parties make results hard to predict.
The rise of the Greens: is their popularity sustainable?
Zack Polanski’s party is riding high in the polls, but face challenges
Spirit Airlines closer to a shutdown
A person familiar with the matter said preparations were being made for a Saturday shutdown.
Gen Z Cares about Politics, We Just Don’t Believe Politics Cares about Us
As part of a collaboration between The Fulcrum's NextGen initiative and Made By Us, The Fulcrum is publishing Letters to America, a series created through the Youth250 project that invites Gen Z to reflect on the nation’s past, present, and future as the United States approaches its 250th anniversar...
Philadelphia-area sports bars, retailers prepare for packed playoff weekend
With multiple high-profile sporting events on the schedule, local businesses say they are bracing for a full day of customers.
Leaker indicates that Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 returns this June, retaining its 12GB VRAM offering
Reports from Chinese industry forums and leakers claim Nvidia will restart production of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB in June 2026, with add-in board partners targeting a July launch to offset delays and uncertainty around an entry-level RTX 50-series release amid ongoing GPU and memory shortages. The move would rely on newly fabbed Samsung 8nm Ampere chips rather than clearing old stock, but pricing and supply remain key uncertainties that will determine whether the card can credibly serve budget buyers.
Narges Mohammadi, imprisoned Iranian Nobel laureate, hospitalized after a health crisis
Mohammadi's family said in February that her health was worsening in prison, in part because of a beating she endured during her arrest in December.
Ben’s Chili Bowl is back in business
The grand reopening of Ben’s Chili Bowl transformed U Street NW into a block party on Friday.
Concerts in the Park returns, giving downtown Sacramento businesses an early summer boost
After-dark specials boost downtown as Concerts in the Park returns
Cirque du Luxe brings circus entertainment to Spartanburg
News, weather, sports for Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Pickens, SC and Asheville, Hendersonville, NC. CBS affiliate, Channel 7
El Pasoan hosting nearly a dozen BTS fans who couldn't find hotels, Airbnb
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Astrid Lind is a local El Paso resident who kindly made an El Paso miracle for nearly a dozen BTS fans coming from different parts of Mexico. Lind found a Facebook page where several BTS fans were looking for a place to stay this weekend in El Paso for the
Cirque du Luxe brings circus entertainment to Spartanburg
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – The circus is bringing high-flying acts and more to Spartanburg this weekend. Cirque du Luxe brought their big top tent to the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds to da…
Pitkin County discusses parking availability, traffic at Airport Business Center
Pitkin County is worried about traffic in the Aspen Airport Business Center.
Scientists sound alarm as dangerous amoebas spread globally
Free-living amoebae are emerging as a global health concern, fueled by warming temperatures and outdated water systems. While many are harmless, some can cause deadly infections and even protect other dangerous microbes. Their ability to survive heat and disinfectants makes them especially hard to control. Scientists say improved surveillance and water treatment are urgently needed.
DCED secretary tours Lewistown ahead of Small Business Week
LEWISTOWN — From storefront to storefront, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger spent Friday visiting Lewistown businesses, using the tour to spotlight small business growth and downtown revitalization efforts. Stops on the tour included Monument Square Center, Moon Dragon game store, Miller Cinemas and Kickin’ Cater as part of Pennsylvania Small […]
Longtime educator Sally Ostini remembered during Adapted Sports Day
More than 130 special education elementary school students came to Liberty Elementary School to participate in different sports Friday morning during Sally Ostini Adapted Sports Day.
North Texas school worries 'Parental Bill of Rights' will hurt mental health support
A North Texas non-profit says new legislation that ultimately caused many school districts to drop outreach-type campus clubs could hurt "at-risk" students.
Business owner and band members speak out following First Friday cancellation
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – For years, First Fridays has been a popular block party series in downtown Norfolk. However, following April’s event, the long-running party has been put on hold. The Do…
Third annual 'Swing Fore Cesar' event in Chico raises officer mental health awareness
The third annual 'Swing Fore Cesar' Golf Tournament at the Bidwell Park Golf Course took place in Chico on Friday, raising awareness for the mental health of fi
Tom Steyer rails against Chevron money — but it flows to his allies, too
A Sacramento Bee analysis found seven Steyer endorsers have received campaign money through PACs funded in part by Chevron.
Parklets return to Rutland and are expected to increase business downtown
The Downtown Rutland Partnership is also announcing six dates for its Friday Night Live events, starting July 10
Trump Tells Congress Why He Doesn’t Need Its Authorization for the Iran War
In letters to the House and Senate, the president asserted that the hostilities had “terminated,” in an apparent attempt to avoid having to seek congressional approval.