Author: Gist It

  • Climate change is our reality — so why wouldn’t it appear on reality TV?

    Reality TV shows are increasingly incorporating themes of climate change and sustainable living, with upcoming CW Network show “Recipe for Disaster” among those leading the trend. Shaping the narrative: “Recipe for Disaster” will feature chefs cooking with sustainable ingredients, competing in meat and dairy-free cooking challenges and making light of climate change realities. * The […]

  • Against all odds, the rare Devils Hole pupfish keeps on swimming

    The Devils Hole pupfish, a rare species living in a deep cavern in Nevada’s Death Valley National Park, is showing promising numbers after recovering from an all-time low population. The backstory: The Devils Hole pupfish has managed to survive in a harsh environment for thousands of years and in 2013, the population reduced to only […]

  • The CDC is helping states address gun injuries after years of political roadblocks

    The CDC is supporting states in tackling gun injuries after long-standing political setbacks, with a program called Firearm Injury Surveillance Through Emergency Rooms (FASTER) that gives real-time data on firearm injuries. Setting the stage: In Utah, the majority of unintentional injuries caused by firearms are a result of standard safety precautions being overlooked, with males […]

  • After days of destruction, Macron blames a familiar bogeyman: video games

    After days of nationwide unrest in France over alleged racial profiling and police accountability, President Emmanuel Macron has laid the blame on social media and video games, sparking international criticism. The backdrop: Lately, France has been rocked by protests and violence with thousands of cars and buildings set ablaze, resulting in an estimated $1.1 billion […]

  • An Iowa teenager receives life for the beating death of his high school teacher

    A teenager in Iowa has been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 35 years, for the beating death of his high school Spanish teacher. Crime details: Willard Miller was sentenced after a hearing that lasted over seven hours for his role in the 2021 attack on 66-year-old Nohema Graber, committed […]

  • ‘Forever chemicals’ could be in nearly half of U.S. tap water, a federal study finds

    Around 45% of U.S. tap water could be contaminated with at least one form of PFAS (“forever chemicals”), a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey suggests. The Big Picture: The study highlights the widespread presence of man-made ‘forever chemicals’ in tap water throughout the country. * PFAS are found in many places, from nonstick […]

  • After Vietnam, the Philippines could be next to ban ‘Barbie.’ Here’s why

    The Philippines might ban the upcoming Barbie movie due to a scene showing a map with China’s controversial nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. Tensions arise: The Warner Bros. Barbie movie roused a controversy due to a scene presenting a map implicitly reflecting China’s nine-dash line claim, which lays claim to the majority […]

  • Louis Armstrong’s dazzling archive has a new home — his

    Legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong’s personal archive, the world’s largest for any single jazz musician, has a new home at the Louis Armstrong Center in Corona, Queens. Historical context: Louis Armstrong, worldwide music star, was presented with a house by his wife, Lucille, in Corona, Queens, in 1943. * Armstrong filled the house with homemade […]

  • How the recent SCOTUS session renewed questions about the Court’s legitimacy

    The recent Supreme Court session has sparked questions about the Court’s legitimacy, as liberal members accuse the conservative supermajority of political motivations. Law and Politics: NY Times reporter Adam Liptak notes that liberal court members have accused their conservative colleagues of being politically driven. * According to Liptak, these liberal justices allege that the conservative […]

  • Judge considers releasing an alleged Jan. 6 rioter arrested near Obama’s home

    Federal prosecutors are contemplating new charges against Taylor Franklin Taranto, an accused January 6 Capitol rioter arrested near former President Barack Obama’s residence, who livestreamed threats against prominent Washington D.C. figures and locations. Case backdrop: Taranto, a US Navy veteran, faces four misdemeanor charges, including knowingly entering the US Capitol and engaging in disorderly conduct […]