Short Kevin Drum Tribute
Monthly Archives: March 2025
2025.03.11
Nightlife
Wisconsin’s oldest gay bar, co-owned by Trixie Mattel, has now closed
“It would’ve been irresponsible of us to think that throwing more money at the problem would fix it,” This Is It! co-owner George Schneider wrote.
Bernardo Sim
https://www.out.com/nightlife/trixie-mattel-owned-gay-bar-this-is-it-shutdown#rebelltitem1
‘Stolen off a donkey’: why is The White Lotus so obsessed with graphic penis footage?
From Jason Isaacs’ shocking flash to Theo James wearing a prosthetic he described as ‘ginormous’, the luxury resort drama is packed with male nudity. Why are so many men going full frontal?
Michael Hogan
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/11/the-white-lotus-graphic-penis-male-nudity
Male blue-lined octopuses inject females with venom during sex to avoid being eaten, study shows
Tetrodotoxin immobilises the female – who is about two to five times bigger than the male – so mating can occur, researchers observed
Donna Lu Science writer
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/11/blue-lined-octopus-sex-venom-tetrodotoxin
USDA cuts more than $1bn in local food purchases for schools, food banks
Millions of children could lose free school meals as food costs rise, warns School Nutrition Association president
Michael Sainato
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/usda-cuts-food-banks-schools
If only they actually cared and provided things like medical care, childcare, and support:
Pronatalists are ascendant on the right. Can they agree on how to make Americans have more babies?
The movement unites ‘family values’ conservatives and tech bro rightwingers. Will this incoherent coalition hold?
Carter Sherman
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/what-is-pronatalism-right-wing-republican
Only seven countries worldwide meet WHO dirty air guidelines, study shows
Annual survey by IQAir based on toxic PM2.5 particles reveals some progress in pollution levels in India and China
Ajit Niranjan Europe environment correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/11/only-seven-countries-worldwide-meet-who-dirty-air-guidelines-study-shows
Don’t need that science shit no more:
Nasa announces shuttering of two departments and office of chief scientist
Office of technology, policy and strategy and one covering DEI initiatives were eliminated in line with ‘efficiency’ cuts
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/10/nasa-cuts-firing-chief-scientist
Music flows as Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill lead tributes at Roberta Flack memorial
Grammy winner, who died last month at 88, remembered at New York service with series of star performers
Diana Ramirez-Simon and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/10/roberta-flack-memorial-stevie-wonder-lauryn-hill
K-pop singer Wheesung found dead at home aged 43
Tributes have been paid to singer who had a string of hits in South Korea including a cover of Craig David’s Insomnia
Sian Cain and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/11/k-pop-singer-wheesung-found-dead-at-home-aged-43-autopsy-cause
Kevin Drum died March 7, 2025
https://jabberwocking.com/health-update-100/
2025.03.10
Norfolk woman refuses to hand over 16th-century Italian painting identified as stolen
Exclusive: Barbara De Dozsa’s husband bought Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario in 1973 after it was stolen from a museum
Dalya Alberge
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/10/norfolk-woman-refuses-to-hand-over-16th-century-italian-painting-identified-as-stolen
JD Vance’s cousin says vice-president and Trump are ‘useful idiots’ to Putin Nate Vance reportedly spent three years trying to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and has been alarmed by his cousin’s remarks Ramon Antonio Vargas
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/10/trump-vance-putin
Kleptocrats to benefit from Trump DoJ’s anti-corruption pause, experts warn
Former prosecutors criticize Pam Bondi’s decision to halt enforcement of bribery laws as short-sighted and dangerous
Peter Stone in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/10/trump-doj-pam-bondi-corruption
Alzheimer’s research centers face Trump-imposed $65m funding delay across the US
Researchers report difficulties retaining staff as White House cost-cutting stresses US medical research system
Jessica Glenza
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/10/alzheimers-research-trump-funding-cuts
US added to international watchlist for rapid decline in civic freedoms
Civicus, an international non-profit, puts country alongside Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia
Anna Betts
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/09/watchlist-decline-civic-freedoms-civicus
Myanmar junta’s promise of elections denounced as ‘sham’ by experts
There are fears military will deploy further violence in run-up to any poll, which is unlikely to be viewed as credible
Rebecca Ratcliffe in Bangkok
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/10/myanmar-juntas-promise-of-elections-denounced-as-sham-by-experts
New treatment could cure one in 20 cases of high blood pressure
TTT therapy burns away nodules that lead to salt buildup in body, which increases risk of stroke or heart attack
Denis Campbell Health policy editor
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/09/new-treatment-could-cure-high-blood-pressure-due-to-primary-aldosteronism
Watch: Tropical storm erodes iconic Australian beach
Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred caused huge swells and flooding as it hit Australia’s east coast over the weekend.
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/ce8v6lzrn73o
Tourists leave India temple town after gang rape-murder
Imran Qureshi
BBC Hindi, Bengaluru
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9de6vqlwypo
Athol Fugard: Death of a great South African playwright
Farouk Chothia
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j0rk1kl8no
2025.03.09
I suspect Harris growing a penis and turning white would have helped more:
Tim Walz says he and Harris were too ‘safe’ during 2024 presidential campaign
Former vice-presidential candidate claims pair should have held more in-person events around the US
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/tim-walz-2024-presidential-campaign
Northern lights sightings expected in Scotland over weekend
Met Office says aurora borealis may be visible across north of country and possibly even further south
Donna Ferguson
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/08/northern-lights-sightings-expected-in-scotland-over-weekend
Wales on a plate: 10 of the best restaurants, hotels, pubs and food hubs
From market fare to fine dining – your gastronomic guide to the most delicious destinations around the country
Annabelle Thorpe
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/mar/09/wales-finest-food-10-best-restaurants-inns-hotels-and-gastro-hubs
Go outside, ditch the phone, get humble: my top 10 Scandi life lessons after a decade in Denmark
After 12 years, we’ve said goodbye to one of the happiest countries on Earth. From friluftsliv (the joy of the open air) to janteloven (realising you’re no better than others) here’s what I’ve learned
Helen Russell
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/mar/08/top-10-scandi-life-lessons-after-decade-in-denmark
Mass blackouts in storm-hit eastern Australia
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8y3xgkpw9o
Deadly floods engulf Argentine city after fierce storm
Robert Plummer and Henri Astier
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g07dqep0ko
A very camp environment’: why Alan Turing fatefully told police he was gay
Ubiquity of then-illegal relations at King’s College, Cambridge, explains puzzling 1952 admission, says scholar
Donna Ferguson
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/08/a-very-camp-environment-why-alan-turing-fatefully-told-police-he-was-gay
Can you solve these time puzzles from the ancient world?
Martha Henriques
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240228-leap-year-can-you-solve-these-time-riddles
Sole portrait of England’s ‘nine-day queen’ thought to have been identified by researchers
‘Compelling evidence’ suggests figure is Lady Jane Grey, making it only known depiction made before 1554 execution
Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/07/sole-portrait-of-england-nine-day-queen-lady-jane-grey-thought-to-have-been-identified-by-researchers
Shamelessly stolen from Andrew Ducker:
Game-Changing Vaccine Offers Long-Lasting Protection Against COVID-19 & Flu
https://scitechdaily.com/game-changing-vaccine-offers-long-lasting-protection-against-covid-19-flu/
2025.03.08
Dustin Nelson at Bring Me the News reports the Twin Cities Book Festival is saying farewell to the State Fairgrounds. The Rain Taxi-run event will host its 25th fest at St. Paul’s Union Depot, organizers announced on Thursday. Via MinnPost
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz bring Black art ‘Giants’ to the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Also this weekend: Digital art by a Japanese trans artist at FKM Gallery; art and poetry exploring the immigrant experience at Indigenous Roots, and a performance festival spotlighting composers of color at MacPhail Center for Music.
by Myah Goff
https://sahanjournal.com/arts/twin-cities-weekend-arts-events/
Texas cities run short of MMR vaccine as measles outbreak drives demand
Pharmacies are struggling with supplies as fatal outbreak expands and health secretary sows disinformation
Melody Schreiber
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/texas-mmr-vaccine-measles-outbreak
Mormon church rocked by child sexual abuse allegations in California
Look-back window results in nearly 100 allegations against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/mormon-church-child-sex-abuse-allegations-california
‘She is evil’: Amy Coney Barrett under attack by the right wing after supreme court USAid ruling
Conservative justice who frequently votes with the far-right side of the supreme court faces backlash for recent ruling
Adam Gabbatt
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/amy-coney-barrett-under-attack-by-right-wing
‘Etched in my mind’: witness to South Carolina firing squad execution describes killing
Brad Sigmon was executed on Friday for the murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001
Guardian staff
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/south-carolina-firing-squad
‘I’m on the side of the workers’: the Minnesota senator calling out Trump and Musk
Tina Smith is leaving at the end of her term, and says she would call Musk a dick even if she had to face re-election
Rachel Leingang
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/tina-smith-minnesota-senator-interview
Anora is nothing new – Hollywood has always been obsessed with sex workers
Anne Billson
Mikey Madison is the latest in a line of actors dating back to Janet Gaynor to win Oscars depicting the sex trade. Why this is, and whether it lessens the stigma of such work, is an open question
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/07/hollywood-obsessed-with-sex-workers-anora-mikey-madison
Athena spacecraft declared dead after toppling over on moon
Robotic private spacecraft touched down about 250 meters from its intended landing site on Thursday
Richard Luscombe
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/07/athena-spacecraft-mission-dead
‘We’re fairly different’: life in New Zealand’s remote self-declared ‘republic’
The tiny town of Whangamōmona on the North Island maintains some eccentric traditions – past ‘presidents’ have included a goat and a poodle
Anna Rankin in Whangamōmona
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/08/whangamomona-new-zealand-self-declared-republic-feature
This is how we do it: ‘After mutual cancer diagnoses we didn’t have sex for five years. Then we discovered toys …’
Jill and Bob became more like housemates than lovers during an illness-enforced break, but a delivery of sex toys brought back the fun
As told to Olivia Ladanyi
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/mar/08/this-is-how-we-do-it-mutual-cancer-diagnoses-sex-toys
2025.03.07
O! O! O! They haz sadz! MAGA loyalists seethe after ‘Hamilton’ cancels shows over Trump by Alix Breeden https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/6/2308425/-MAGA-loyalists-seethe-after-Hamilton-cancels-shows-over-Trump?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_9&pm_medium=web
The Wiggles on singing with Dolly Parton in their starry country era: ‘We are friends of Dorothy!’ From collaborating with Parton and Orville Peck to viral TikToks and, of course, the Tree of Wisdom: for their 63rd album (yes really), the Wiggles mean big business
Katie Cunningham https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/08/the-wiggles-wiggle-up-giddy-up-dolly-parton-interview
Patients with long Covid regain sense of smell and taste with pioneering surgery
Surgeons believe the technique called functional septorhinoplasty (fSRP) ‘kickstarts’ smell recovery in patients
Andrew Gregory Health editor
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/07/long-covid-patients-regain-sense-smell-taste-functional-septorhinoplasty-surgery
Adult infected with measles dies in New Mexico, health officials say
Person from Lea county had been unvaccinated and did not seek care but virus not yet confirmed as cause of death
Guardian staff and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/measles-death-new-mexico
The grannies who saved Albanian cuisine
Tristan Rutherford
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250305-the-grannies-who-saved-albanian-cuisine
Gene-edited non-browning banana could cut food waste, scientists say
Fruit variety developed in Norwich remains fresh for up to 12 hours after being peeled
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/07/gene-edited-non-browning-banana-cut-food-waste-tropic-norwich
2025.03.06
Betel nuts, fresh mangos and wild boar: Twin Cities’ first Karenni grocery opens in Maplewood
The market represents a milestone for the growing Karenni community in Minnesota, which is largely centered around St. Paul and Austin.
by Alfonzo Galvan
https://sahanjournal.com/business-work/maplewood-minnesota-first-karenni-grocery-store/
‘Reduced to nonsense’: JRR Tolkien’s irritation with typist revealed in archive
Exclusive: Important collection of author’s letters and manuscripts, being sold in April, reveals his loathing of sloppiness and love of language
Dalya Alberge
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/06/jrr-tolkien-irritation-with-typist-archive
‘The entire coastline will be cemented over’: the tiny Italian town set to become a dock for giant cruise ships
Only 20 miles from Italy’s capital, Isola Sacra was ignored for years but now Royal Caribbean has plans to turn it into a major new port
By Giorgio Ghiglione
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/06/italy-fiumicino-cruise-ship-port-bilancioni-conservation-royal-caribbean
Plan to skewer US sanctuary city mayors backfires on Republicans
New York, Chicago, Boston and Denver mayors use platform at Capitol hearing to reject claims about crime and gangs
Joseph Gedeon in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/05/mayors-sanctuary-city-immigration
Moment Blue Ghost spacecraft landed on the Moon
https://bbc.com/news/videos/cvg5v5deg8yo
Why drinking coffee can benefit your health
https://bbc.com/reel/video/p0kvt6g6/why-drinking-coffee-can-benefit-your-health
Sweden is ‘no longer a country that cannot be trusted’
Jorn Madslien
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjyxljyjxno
Scientists discover new part of the immune system
James Gallagher
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv4jww3r4eo
Roy Ayers, jazz-funk pioneer behind Everybody Loves the Sunshine, dies aged 84
Family announces on Facebook that the musician died in New York City after a long illness
Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/06/roy-ayers-jazz-funk-pioneer-everybody-loves-the-sunshine-dies
MN’s Korean Adoptees, ‘More Confused Than Ever,’ Look for Answers Plus the end of the ‘All Are Welcome Here’ sign, an Ann Kim x Target collab, and a list of local orgs losing federal funding in today’s Flyover news roundup. By Em Cassel and Jessica Armbruster https://racketmn.com/mns-korean-adoptees-more-confused-than-ever-look-for-answers
The sweet smell of grift in the morning: White House to overhaul $42.5bn Biden-era internet plan – likely to Elon Musk’s advantage Billionaire cost-cutter’s Starlink service the likely beneficiary of Trump plan to alter rural internet program Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/05/trump-musk-rural-internet-starlink
Packed Pacs: how billionaires in the US are bankrolling Republicans at the state level Republicans are relying on ‘nameless’ donors who want to push a rightwing agenda and gain long-term hegemony David Smith in Washington https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/05/billionaires-funding-republicans
Interview Peter Wolf on Faye Dunaway, David Lynch and Bob Dylan: ‘My mission was to be an observer’
Jim Farber
The frontman of the J Geils Band has had an extraordinary life, living and working with celebrities along the way, detailed in a fascinating new book
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/05/peter-wolf-j-geils-waiting-on-the-moon
Give Edinburgh fringe the same status as Olympics, departing head urges Shona McCarthy says public authorities have routinely ignored needs of world’s largest arts festival Severin Carrell Scotland editor https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/mar/05/edinburgh-festival-fringe-olympics-shona-mccarthy-chief-executive
Gordon and Jim after coming out to Gordon’s mum: Sage Sohier’s best photograph ‘They had been together for 21 years. They’re telling Margot, Gordon’s mum, that they’re about to appear in a Valentine’s Day issue of the local newspaper’ Interview by Lydia Figes https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/mar/05/sage-sohiers-best-photograph-valentines-day
World’s biggest iceberg runs aground after long journey from Antarctica Scientists are studying whether the grounded A23a iceberg might help stir nutrients and make food more available for penguins and seals
Agence France-Presse https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/05/a23a-iceberg-runs-aground-south-georgia-climate
2025.03.04
Janet Moore and Elliot Hughes at the Star Tribune reports: “A Republican-led bill to bar transgender girls from competing on girls and women’s elementary and secondary school sports teams in Minnesota was hotly debated on the state House floor Monday before failing to pass.” Via MinnPost
US Senate Democrats block bill to ban trans athletes from women’s sports
Democratic senator says trans athletes ‘deserve an ally’ after Republican-led bill quashed in razor-sharp 51-45 vote
Joseph Gedeon in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/democrats-block-trans-athletes-bill
‘I have witnessed people’s lives change’: How to find the colours that are perfect for you
Megan Lawton
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250303-how-to-find-the-colours-that-are-perfect-for-you
US supreme court weakens rules on discharge of raw sewage into water supplies
Ruling by the court, which has a Republican super majority, undermines the 1972 Clean Water Act
Nina Lakhani
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/epa-ruling-sewage-water
$5 a dozen: major egg companies may be using avian flu to hike US prices, new report finds
The highly concentrated egg market may be contributing to soaring consumer prices – and the spread of the virus, data shared exclusively with the Guardian shows
Nina Lakhani
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/04/egg-prices-bird-flu-corporate-profits
California charges 30 officers over ‘gladiator fights’ at juvenile facility
Staff at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall alleged to have allowed or encouraged nearly 70 fights involving young detainees
Associated Press
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/california-juvenile-detention-gladiator-fights-charges
New York City officials urge vaccination after two measles cases confirmed
Highly contagious respiratory illness was declared eliminated in US in 2000 but new cases have now risen
Marina Dunbar
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/new-york-city-measles
Scientists aiming to bring back woolly mammoth create woolly mice
Genetically modified mice have traits geared towards cold tolerance, in step towards modifying elephants
Nicola Davis Science correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/04/genetically-modified-woolly-mice-mammoth
Federal layoffs hit the deep-red, rural US west: ‘Our public lands are under threat’
As layoffs under Trump bleed out, workers in the Mountain West fear devastating consequences for their communities
Cy Neff
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/04/trump-doge-federal-layoffs-national-parks
Midwestern cities fear fallout of Trump revoking Haitian residents’ status
Looming end of TPS could wreak havoc in Ohio urban areas revitalised by immigrants from the Caribbean country
Stephen Starr in Lima, Ohio
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/ohio-haitians-immigration-tps
Why Elon Musk is targeting a free tax-filing software package
Musk plans cost-cutting – and Americans will end up footing the bill; the business of immigration surveillance; and a fond farewell to Skype
Blake Montgomery
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/03/techscape-elon-musk-skype
2025.03.03
‘I’m selling the Nazi mobile’: Tesla owners offload cars after Musk’s fascist-style salutes Tesla once appeared the future of vehicles. Then Musk’s salutes and support at Trump’s inauguration left owners feeling ‘saddled with a symbol of hate’ Dara Kerr https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2025/mar/02/tesla-owners-selling-musk
Mysterious and vulnerable: the secret lives of Australia’s giant worms Australia has a huge of diversity of worms on land, sand and sea such as the giant Gippsland earthworm which can stretch up to 3 metres Petra Stock https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/03/mysterious-and-vulnerable-the-secret-lives-of-australias-giant-worms
Earth’s strongest ocean current could slow down by 20% by 2050 in a high emissions future
Melting Antarctic ice is releasing cold, fresh water into the ocean, which is projected to cause the slowdown
Petra Stock
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/03/antarctic-circumpolar-current-slow-down-ice-melting-climate
Mine copper without destroying the planet? London-based project gives scientists hope Experts hope research can create greener methods of extracting the metal vital for renewable energy revolution and boom in electrical devices Robin McKie https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/mar/02/copper-scientists-london-energy-electrical
‘Gandalf’ accused of selling illegal medicinal cannabis in New Zealand
Outrage over targeting of one of New Zealand’s alleged ‘green fairies’ who provide cheaper medicinal cannabis without prescription
Eva Corlett in Wellington
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/gandalf-alleged-sale-medicinal-cannabis-new-zealand-charges-ntwnfb
From the simple to the spectacular: the 20 best dessert recipes to comfort and delight
From crumbles to cheesecake, sticky toffee to tiramisu – the sweetest ways to finish any meal
Compiled by Max Olesker
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/mar/03/from-the-simple-to-the-spectacular-the-20-best-dessert-recipes-to-comfort-and-delight
How to make the perfect Taiwanese scallion pancakes – recipe
Flaky, crunchy, moist in the middle … and totally irresistible
Felicity Cloake
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/mar/03/how-to-make-the-perfect-taiwanese-scallion-pancakes-recipe-felicity-cloake
Scottish painter Jack Vettriano dies aged 73
Artist found dead at his apartment in Nice in southern France on Saturday, his publicist says
Lanre Bakare Arts and media correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/mar/03/scottish-painter-jack-vettriano-dies
Scottish painter Jack Vettriano dies aged 73
Artist found dead at his apartment in Nice in southern France on Saturday, his publicist says
Lanre Bakare Arts and media correspondent
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/mar/03/scottish-painter-jack-vettriano-dies