Zahra Hirji

Mysterious large steel cylinder suddenly emerges from the ground in Japan Japanese authorities were investigating Friday how a large steel cylinder suddenly emerged from the ground during sewer construction work and rose to the height of a four-storey building in the city o...

NOT NOW, MYSTERIOUS LARGE STEEL CYLINDER

It’s a big selling point

These ones are a hit in our family: www.walmart.com/ip/kidrox-ti...

The 51st is expanding D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.

We're about 25 new members away from reaching our goal to be able to expand The 51st's newsroom! If you've been waiting for a sign to join, this is it!

Borrowers Behind on Student Loans Load Up on Other Types of Debt Student loan borrowers in delinquency are now more likely to hold credit cards, auto loans and mortgages — and to miss payments on them, new data shows.

New from @bloomberg.com data team --> Borrowers who are behind on student loans appear to have loaded up on other debt during the federal payment pause, new data shows — and now they're straining under its weight.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

I Watched 6 Hours of DOGE Bro Testimony. Here's What They Had to Say For Themselves The hours of videos provide fascinating, or perhaps horrifying, insight into the thinking of someone inside DOGE.

I have watched 6 hours of a DOGE bro deposition. The whole thing, start to finish. It's a fascinating, and horrifying, look at the people who caused so much damage, didn't really achieve anything at all, while still being so sure they are right. Here's what they said: www.404media.co/i-watched-6-...

DHS Shutdown Puts High-Profile Report on FEMA in Limbo The shutdown of the US Department of Homeland Security has thrust into limbo a long-awaited report on how to revamp the nation’s top disaster agency, according to one of the report authors.

What’s happening with the FEMA Review Council? Florida’s Kevin Guthrie said it’s coming soon, but exact timing TBD because of the DHS shutdown. Story @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Green Cement Startup Slashes Staff After Trump Cuts Support Massachusetts-based Sublime Systems has cut two-thirds of its current workforce, casting doubt on a deal to supply Microsoft with low-carbon material.

Green cement startup Sublime Systems has laid off 2/3 of its current workforce after the Trump admin canceled a crucial grant that would have supported the producer’s first major manufacturing facility, @akshatrathi.bsky.social @emmarcourt.bsky.social report: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Extreme Heat Is Making Life Increasingly Unlivable The number of hours where it’s too hot for everyday activities has doubled since 1950, a new study found.

New: The number of days where extreme heat makes it too dangerously hot to walk the dog, sweep the porch and engage in other ordinary pursuits has doubled since 1950. Older people experience a month a year when heat prevents them from routine activities. Free link.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

OpenAI head of robotics just resigned over company deal with the Pentagon saying…

“Surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that deserved more deliberation than they got”

Police body cam footage shows DOGE knew Institute of Peace was private property during raid Footage obtained by The Handbasket’s lawsuit shows a hostile takeover on March 17, 2025.

SCOOP — Body camera footage obtained as a result of my lawsuit against the DC Metropolitan PD confirms DOGE and the Trump administration openly admitted they were entering private property when they raided the building on March 17, 2025. That didn't stop MPD from breaking down the doors.

My report:

Big BRIC news: Months after a district judge overturned FEMA's termination of the massive resiliency grant program BRIC, the court today ruled the agency has yet to take a series of steps to actually get the program up and running. Now FEMA has 21 days or less to get a move on.

Three Big Questions Facing FEMA With Kristi Noem Out The Department of Homeland Security oversees the nation’s main disaster response agency, which has undergone turmoil under Noem.

“It’s just a matter of time before FEMA is put to the test against something that stresses the nation,” former FEMA head Pete Gaynor says, pointing to wildfire risks & an upcoming hurricane season.

With Noem out, could FEMA get new leadership & other changes? www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Three Big Questions Facing FEMA With Kristi Noem Out The Department of Homeland Security oversees the nation’s main disaster response agency, which has undergone turmoil under Noem.

With Noem on the way out, here are questions disaster experts have shared with me & @laurenthal.bsky.social @bloomberg.com: what happens to the FEMA Review Council? Will there finally be an officially nominated FEMA head? And what happens to the 100k policy?

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Three Big Questions Facing FEMA With Kristi Noem Out The Department of Homeland Security oversees the nation’s main disaster response agency, which has undergone turmoil under Noem.

Trump ousted Kristi Noem as DHS head, a move announced Thursday that will also have major implications for the nation’s top disaster agency.

Experts say FEMA now faces big questions that will help determine how it responds to the next big disaster (gift link) www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Gas prices are now higher than when Trump took office.

Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared. ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis is the most detailed look yet into a rise in life-threatening complications for women experiencing pregnancy loss under Texas’ abortion ban.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the hundreds of pregnant women navigating this broken system in Texas.

Our team has reported data that shows a horrifying story: www.propublica.org/article/texa...

Trump’s Alaska Oil, Gas Lease Sale Draws Zero Bids From Drillers The Trump administration’s first oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet received no bids, according to the US Interior Department, indicating tepid interest from drillers in that region.

The Trump administration’s first oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet received no bids, according to the US Interior Department, indicating tepid interest from drillers in that region

New: The Trump admin confirmed in a court filing it will pay interest on any refunds it ultimately must make after SCOTUS struck the president’s contested tariffs.

This hasn't been a central issue, but underscores the financial stakes. Interest could total $700M/month, per Cato buff.ly/i4ybtNW

just thinking about how USAID was dismantled under the rationale of cost savings but there's an unlimited budget for war

Cornyn, Paxton Head to Texas GOP Senate Runoff, DDHQ Projects US Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are heading for a runoff in the Republican primary for the US Senate in Texas, while state Representative James Talarico defeated Congressw...

In the Texas GOP primary, US Sen. John Cornyn was leading w/~42% support, less than 2 points over Texas AG Ken Paxton as of early Wed. A third candidate, US Rep Wesley Hunt, won enough votes to deny either a majority, sending Cornyn & Paxton to a runoff in May. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Texas GOP Fight Intensifies as Democrats Eye Senate Takeover Texas Democrats selected a Senate candidate who has staked his campaign on appealing to independent and swing voters after a surge of enthusiasm fueled by opposition to President Donald Trump.

James Talarico, a Texas state lawmaker, bested US House Rep Jasmine Crockett in the Dem primary Tuesday. Voters chose a candidate who focused on broadening the party’s tainted brand w/independents & disaffected Republicans over a progressive rising star

Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

For the first time, we now know how many Black-owned bookstores exist in the U.S. The National Association of Black Bookstores has released the “first comprehensive national report” on the state of America’s Black-owned bookstores.

There has never been an official, comprehensive record of Black-owned bookstores across the United States — until now

All I can think about is Jeff Bezos saying that he slashed jobs at the Washington Post — including those of foreign correspondents in the Middle East — based on "the data," and a few weeks later a whole war breaks out in the Middle East that these laid off folks would have covered as true experts.

Rep. Sen. Tillis is 1st Congress person to really bring up FEMA in this Noem oversight hearing -- and not in a good way. After criticizing her 100K approval process, he goes on to say: "You've failed at FEMA ...and I have reason to believe you are violating the law, either knowingly or unknowingly"

You see this chart and you will likely go "Look, this is why we must move to clean energy."

Not so fast. Higher fossil fuel prices make green alternatives more attractive, but they can also make it harder to deploy renewables.

Story with @lauramillan.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

As Iran Crisis Upends Oil and Gas, Clean Energy Gets Complicated Higher fossil fuel prices could make green alternatives more attractive, but harder to deploy.

NEW: Here's what the crisis in the Middle East and turmoil in energy markets mean for renewable energy and the clean transition

Story w @akshatrathi.bsky.social @sharonchenhm.bsky.social via @bloomberg.com
FREE read:

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Texas AG Ken Paxton has declared that it is illegal for mental health providers and therapists to treat trans youth. It means that trans youth will be denied access to any mental healthcare that isn't conversion therapy. Paxton also threatens parents of trans youth with child abuse investigations.

Why California is Reconsidering Nuclear Energy After 50-Year Ban The state is one of several looking into allowing new nuclear reactors to meet climate goals as AI power demand surges.

New: Cracks are showing in California’s 50-year-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants as artificial intelligence spikes electricity demand and the state struggles to meet its climate goals. With @willwwade.bsky.social. Free link.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Why Patagonia Had to Swap Out Its Cult-Hit Tinned Mackerel Canned fish has one of the smallest carbon footprints among animal proteins — but sourcing it is getting harder with climate change.

Fished from abundant, well-managed stock off the coast of Spain & France, Patagonia’s canned Atlantic mackerel was once the epitome of sustainability.

But the species became overfished, so the company had to track down a new source, @emmarcourt.bsky.social reports: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...