After suing to end eviction protections, an L.A. property owners association prepares for the day tenants attack.

In October, months before the East Palestine derailment, the company also directed a train to keep moving with an overheated wheel that caused it to derail miles later in Sandusky, Ohio.

A deeper look into the ties between a Soviet-era fantasy and very modern Russia.

The Mexican authorities say Tomás Zerón tortured witnesses and tampered with evidence in a crucial investigation into the 2014 disappearance of 43 students. A former Mexican official accused of orchestrating a cover-up of the infamous disappearance of 43 students is unlikely to be extradited from Israel, where he now lives, according to Israeli officials not authorized to speak publicly. The Mexican authorities say Tomás Zerón tortured witnesses and tampered with evidence during the investigation into the 2014 abduction, considered the worst human rights violations in the country’s recent history. For the past few years, though, Mr. Zerón has been living in Israel, where he told The New York Times that he has befriended “amazing people, starting with chefs, tour guides, artists, various entrepreneurs and simple workers.” Acquaintances say he is a regular at parties and upscale restaurants in Tel Aviv. Mexico asked for his extradition last year. But now, citing delays and missteps by the Mexican government, Israeli officials say the extradition request is all but dead — another major setback in an investigation riddled with problems.

ON OCTOBER 18, 2018, film executive Franklin Leonard’s phone started vibrating and would not stop. His eyes grew wide as his screen filled up with Twitter alerts from strangers hurling vicious, baffling insults at him, hundreds of tweets at a time. He was a rent boy for billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, they said, or he ran the Muslim Brotherhood alongside Huma Abedin. Some said they were eager to see him killed.

What is and isn’t “activism” depends entirely on how conservative the activism is. The line between “journalism” and “activism” is a sacred, cherished one for elite reporters, just don’t ever ask them to define what either of these concepts mean. It’s more of a vibe, not a consistent set of principles they apply on a day-to-day basis. Hundreds of current and former New York Times contributors, backed by the New York Times writers’ union, recently signed an open letter signed criticizing the Times’ miserable, inaccurate, and coy coverage on “trans issues.” (Disclosure: Technically I signed and am one? Not sure, it was web-only.) Today, dozens of more high-status Times reporters released their own open letter in response, effectively rejecting the premise and defending the alleged impartiality of their precious craft. “Our duty is to be independent,” they wrote. “We pursue the facts wherever they may lead. We are journalists, not activists. That line should be clear.” While I don’t have the time or resources to interrogate the political activism of everyone on this list, I do want to focus on New York Times Chief White House correspondent Peter Baker. Baker was the subject of our first post on The Column in August 2021, because he relied largely—and without disclosure—on a board member of Raytheon to explain why Biden needed to stay in Afghanistan in perpetuity. Indeed, the idea that Baker opposes “activism” is risible for anyone who follows his reporting output. Throughout the summer of 2021, Baker openly advocated for Biden to suspend his withdraw from Afghanistan, pushing out a non-stop torrent of scare stories and editorial content lobbying against the removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

The union drive in anime dubbing.

Thousands of ventilators de Blasio commissioned for $12 million sell as scrap metal for less than $25K.

Renowned University of Arizona Entomologist Justin Schmidt, also known as the "King of Sting," died Saturday evening from Parkinson’s Disease.

Moffat's annual experiment in switching off artificial lighting has had unexpected results.

Chicago’s boss is in danger of being thrown from office, in a warning sign for other Democrats.

The discourse around the Harry Potter game has encompassed J.K. Rowling’s rancid politics and the role of criticism itself

Civilization VI came out in 2016, which was a very long time ago

Joyce Carol Oates used her frequently chaotic and absurd Twitter account to refute transphobic talking points over the Presidents' Day long weekend.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to step into a legal fight over state laws that require contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel. The justices rejected an appeal on behalf of an alternative weekly newspaper in Little Rock, Arkansas, that objected to a state law that reduces fees paid to contractors that refuse to sign the pledge. The full federal appeals court in St. Louis upheld the law, overturning a three-judge panel’s finding that it violated constitutional free speech rights.

A metal sphere of unknown origin has washed up on a beach in Japan, prompting officials to block off the area in order to investigate it. A local woman reported the sphere to the police on Tuesday, Asahi News reported. The ball washed up on Enshu Beach in Hamamatsu City, the outlet reported, and it is described as being an "iron ball" with a diameter of 1.5 meters. Officials quickly restricted access to an area encompassing a 200-meter radius while they investigated. Asahi News noted that the object is rusted—hence the assumption that it is made of iron—and has a handle-like protrusion that would allow it to be hooked to something else. Footage from Fuji News Network (FNN) showed officials dressed in protective gear surrounding the object with equipment. According to the outlet, an X-ray scan revealed that it was hollow. Officials determined that there was no risk of an explosion and lifted restrictions at 4 p.m., but have not yet determined what it is, FNN reported.

A federal circuit court’s rejection of California’s unusual take on banning mandatory workplace arbitration contracts adds to a streak of losses for state lawmakers trying to rein in employer use of arbitration and raises doubts about whether any such state policy could escape federal preemption.

The court’s decision means police in Parma, Ohio, are protected by the legal defense of qualified immunity in a dispute over satirical posts.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced last week that the country is going to spend billions of dollars constructing a planned commercial downtown in Riyadh by 2030. It’s an effort to diversify an economy that has long been dependent on oil. Called New Murabba, the plan was launched alongside a website and videos promising wildly ambitious sci-fi concepts. The centerpiece of New Murabba will be the Mukaab, a gigantic cube big enough to fit 20 Empire State Buildings that will feature fantastical vistas, an asymmetrical tower of stacked dunes and what appear to be larger-than-life holograms, all in an effort to bring “hospitality, retail and leisure” to the city.

Marcus has remained in the hospital since Thursday. His nose was successfully reattached however, he will undergo another surgery, according to his wife.