Author: Gist It

  • ‘The Wind Knows My Name’ is a reference and a refrain in the search for home

    Isabel Allende’s new novel, “The Wind Knows My Name,” explores the theme of hope and decency in the face of despair with a focus on immigration. Plot overview: The story follows two child immigrants, one escaping Nazi-occupied Vienna in 1938 and the other fleeing military gangs in El Salvador in 2019. * The narrative intertwines […]

  • Sudan’s fighting risks reigniting war in Darfur, a site of atrocities 20 years ago

    Fighting in Sudan’s capital could reignite the Darfur conflict, which began two decades ago and saw widespread atrocities. The backdrop: The Darfur conflict began in 2003 with brutal ethnic violence, involving the Janjaweed Arab militia and resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The war officially ended in 2020, although sporadic incidents have occurred since. […]

  • Wall Street’s top cop is determined to bring crypto to heel. He just took a big shot

    SEC charges against crypto exchanges Coinbase and Binance could define the future of cryptocurrencies and their regulations. Key cases: The SEC’s lawsuits against both exchanges center around their failure to register with the agency, a step that crypto companies have resisted. * The outcome of these cases could potentially force crypto companies to register with […]

  • The latest Trump charges cast a new light on a growing Republican presidential field

    The charges against former President Trump have shed new light on the growing field of Republican presidential candidates. The big picture: As Trump’s legal predicament unfolds and alters the political landscape, the Republican presidential field expands. * New contenders include Mike Pence, Chris Christie, and Doug Burgum, all current or former governors. The significance: These […]

  • A Ukrainian nuclear plant is facing a water shortage

    A Ukrainian nuclear plant is facing a water shortage, putting more strain on the facility, which has been under Russian occupation. The backstory: The dam holding back the Kakhovka Reservoir, used by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station for cooling water, was destroyed June 6, and the water level has dropped over 20 feet. * The […]

  • Biden names a Border Patrol veteran in Texas to be the agency’s next chief

    President Biden has appointed 27-year Border Patrol veteran Jason Owens as the agency’s next chief. Leadership transition: Owens will assume office when current Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz steps down at the end of the month. * Ortiz announced his retirement following the expiration of Title 42 pandemic border restrictions last month. Owens’ experience: Currently, […]

  • Jack Smith, special counsel in classified documents case, defends his work

    Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith defended his work prosecturing former President Trump in a rare public statement on Friday. The indictment: Smith framed the indictment as an essential step towards preserving the rule of law and protecting democracy. * He emphasized that the U.S. has one set of laws that apply to everyone and […]

  • Florida families face confusion after gender-affirming care ban temporarily blocked

    Florida families and medical providers are facing confusion after the ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors was temporarily halted for three plaintiff families. The ruling: Federal Judge Robert Hinkle declared that Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care will likely be found unconstitutional but only specifically covered the three plaintiff families in his preliminary injunction. * […]

  • Texas plans a floating barrier in the Rio Grande. Here’s what we know about it

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott plans to install a floating barrier on the Rio Grande to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. What to know: The floating barrier will consist of a string of 4-foot-high, bright orange buoys in the middle of the Rio Grande. * The barrier will span 1,000 feet, with the first stretch […]

  • Pickleball has a noise problem. He’s trying to fix it

    Pickleball, America’s fastest growing sport, faces a noise problem, and engineer Bob Unetich aims to help solve it. The issue: Pickleball’s sharp, high-pitched noise has led to numerous lawsuits over its disturbing sound levels. * Participation in the sport increased 85.7% year-over-year in 2022 and 158.6% over three years, according to the Sports & Fitness […]