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.
|
Listen To This Story
 |
Exclusive: Meta Lays Out Details of May Restructuring in Internal Document (Maria)
The author writes, “Meta detailed its layoff plans for this week in a memo shared with employees, saying cuts to its workforce globally would be accompanied by a fresh round of organizational changes aimed at improving the company’s AI workflows. The Facebook owner is planning to lay off 10% of its employees this week, with additional deep cuts later this year, Reuters reported.”
ICE’s Prison-for-Profit Machine May Be Undermining Its Own Deportation Push, Congresswoman Says (Reader Jim)
The authors write, “Accusations that ICE is a giant ATM machine for private prison contractors have been a common critique of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. But a key congresswoman in the fight against the agency has taken the criticism a step further. Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) says the push for profits within the mass deportation-industrial complex has put it at odds with the Trump administration’s goal of deporting millions of immigrants as quickly as possible.”
Politicians Bought by Zionism (Sean)
From Bought by Zionism: “Despite an overwhelming call by the American people for the U.S. to stop backing Israel’s genocide campaign in Gaza, U.S. politicians are prioritizing the demands of a foreign entity — Israel — over the interests of the U.S. population. Why? For decades, the Zionist lobby has bought out politicians to pass legislation solidifying U.S. support for Israel. Understanding the Zionist lobby machine is imperative for the liberation of Palestine. This resource page identifies some of the largest players in the Zionist settler-colonial project.”
Northern Wisconsin House Primary Tests Power of Trump Endorsement (Al)
From Wisconsin Public Radio: “In January, President Donald Trump endorsed [Michael] Alfonso, a 26-year-old who has never held office. Alfonso is the son-in-law of Sean Duffy, the U.S. transportation secretary who once represented the 7th Congressional District. An endorsement from Trump can be akin to a golden ticket in a Republican primary, but at least so far, his blessing in the race for this reliably red House seat has not had that kind of luster.”
How an ‘Impossible’ Idea Led to a Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough (Mili)
From The New York Times: “Pancreatic cancer is one of the most dire diagnoses in medicine. There are few available treatments, and they do little to help. For decades, experimental drugs flopped in trials. Many researchers believed the biological obstacles could not be surmounted. In what seems the blink of an eye, all that has changed. A drug nearing regulatory approval, daraxonrasib, is the first to substantially extend the lives of patients with pancreatic cancer.”
18 Silly Finalists From the Comedy Wildlife People’s Choice Awards (Dana)
The author writes, “The people have spoken… and chuckled. Fans of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards crowned Alison Tuck the winner of the Sterna People’s Choice Award. Tuck’s hilarious photo captures the relatable frustration of a gannet on a windy day.”