- Russia never stopped its cyberattacks on the United States (WaPo) "...the United States has failed to establish deterrence in the aftermath of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. We know we failed because Russia continues to aggressively employ the most significant aspect of its 2016 tool kit: the use of social media as a platform to disseminate propaganda designed to weaken our nation. This should alarm everyone — Republicans, Democrats and independents alike. Foreign governments, overtly or covertly, should not be allowed to play with our democracy. More troublingly, other countries are beginning to follow Russia’s lead on social media, according to research provided by the Alliance for Securing Democracy."
BUSINESS:
HEALTH:
- Scientists Just Solved a Major Piece of the Opioid Puzzle (Wired) "Scientists have identified four opioid receptors, which they've named mu, delta, kappa, and nociceptin. ...a growing body of evidence suggests that the right drug acting at the kappa receptor could trigger signaling pathways relevant to therapy, without activating those associated with sketchy side effects."
- U.S. Leads Rich Countries in Infant and Youth Mortality (Quartz) "A new study shows the U.S. infant mortality rate from 2001 to 2010 was 76 percent higher than the combined rate across 19 other rich countries. While some of that’s explained by different reporting standards for severely premature births, researchers mostly blamed America’s weak social safety net and complex, expensive health care system. Mortality rates for children and adolescents aged 1-19 were also 57 percent higher, primarily due to gun deaths. With no policy changes in sight, the gap is expected to widen further."
NEWS:
- Trump-appointed regulators reject plan to rescue coal and nuclear plants (WaPo) "The plan...was widely seen as an effort to alter the balance of competitive electricity markets that federal regulators have been cultivating since the late 1980s. And critics said that it would have largely helped a handful of coal and nuclear companies, including the utility FirstEnergy and coal-mining firm Murray Energy, while raising rates for consumers."
- Amid Signs of a Thaw in North Korea, Tensions Bubble Up (WSJ - Paywall) "U.S. officials are quietly debating whether it is possible to mount a limited military strike against North Korea without igniting an all-out war on the peninsula. The idea, known as a 'bloody nose' strategy, is enormously risky. The hope would be to make that point without inciting a full-bore reprisal from North Korea, which could decide to unleash an all-out artillery barrage on the South or even attempt to use a nuclear weapon."
SPORTS:
- North Korea to Send Athletes to Olympics in South Korea in Breakthrough (NYT) "The event will be the first time North Korea has participated in the Winter Games in eight years. The country has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1972, except the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and the 1988 Games in Seoul, both of which it boycotted. It was not immediately clear whether North Korea attached any conditions to its decision to attend."
TRUMPTEL:
- Mueller Is Said to Likely Seek to Interview Trump (NYT) "No formal request has been made and no date has been set. Mr. Trump’s lawyers have long expected that Mr. Mueller would eventually ask to speak with the president. Mr. Trump’s lawyers are expected to try to set ground rules for any interview or provide answers to written questions. One person familiar with the discussions said Mr. Mueller appeared most interested in asking questions about the former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, and the firing of the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey — not the broader question of possible collusion with Russia. Mr. Mueller will have three choices for questioning Mr. Trump: written questions, an interview with his investigators or a subpoena to appear before a grand jury."
- Trump has already authored his own tell-all (WaPo) "The president’s defenders, in perpetual pursuit of the bright side, argue for the value of unpredictability in political leadership — which is true enough. But Trump is not unpredictable. He is predictable in ways that make him vulnerable to exploitation. ...this presents a particular problem for elected Republicans. At the beginning, they could engage in wishful thinking about Trump’s fitness. Now they must know he is not emotionally equipped to be president. Yet, they also know this can’t be admitted, lest they be accused of letting down their partisan team. So GOP leaders are engaged in an intentional deception, pretending the president is a normal and capable leader. I empathize with their political dilemma. But they will, eventually, be exposed. And by then, the country may not be in a forgiving mood."
- The White House struggles to silence talk of Trump’s mental fitness (WaPo) "So far, Trump’s advisers have adopted a posture of umbrage and indignation. Rather than dignifying questions about whether their 71-year-old boss is fit to be president, they attack the inquisitors for having the gall to ask. White House officials are trying to present Trump as hard at work doing his job."
BOTTOM OF THE NEWS:
- The 'DO NOT DISTURB' Sign is an Endangered Privilege (Quartz) "The reason for this shift is, most likely, related to security. After the most deadly shooting in United States history was carried out from a Las Vegas hotel room—the shooter...had hung a do not disturb sign for three days as he planned the massacre—the promise of giving guests privacy for as long as they want it seems unwise. Interestingly, this change runs counter to a growing preference of modern travelers, who see privacy as the ultimate luxury."
- Talk to the cardboard cutout: Thai prime minister won’t be taking any more questions (WaPo) "'If you want to ask any questions on politics or conflict,' Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was quoted as saying by the Associated Press, 'ask this guy.'"
TODAY'S SONG:
- Cool (Basic Tape, ft. Hunter)
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