Links for you. Science:

Mass whale strandings: what is behind the recent spate of ‘suicidal’ urges?
An Incurable Disease Is Coming for Deer: It rots their brains, weakens their muscles, and can linger in the environment for years.
Suffering from COVID and the flu: Double infections hit California hard
Polar bear dies from bird flu as H5N1 spreads across globe
COVID, flu severity similar, but Omicron BA.5 patients more likely to die, 2021-22 study suggests
Air purifier use at daycare centres cut kids’ sick days by a third

Other:

Christopher Rufo & Elise Stefanik understand the New York Times. When will the rest of us catch on?
The Existential Threat
Old Times There Are Not Forgotten. Why can’t politicians like Nikki Haley quit the Confederacy?
Rufo’s collaborators
A Much-Needed Win for Democracy: Israel’s Highest Court strikes a blow against autocracy
The Worst Of 2023
IN A DISINFORMATION WORLD, LEGAL DECISIONS ARE A TERRIBLE WAY TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH
Anti-Zionism isn’t the same as antisemitism. Here’s the history.
The Pitchfork Ruling: The Trap the Commentariat Sets for the Court
High Court ruling rebuffs gov’t claim that the will of the majority is all-powerful: The legacy of the reasonableness law ruling will be the huge 13-2 majority which asserted that the Knesset coalition has limits on its authority, cannot undermine Israeli democracy
Good Riddance, 2023: Mayor Bowser’s Long Year of D.C. Troubles
Things People Blame the Jews For, Volume LXIX: American Healthcare Inequities
I have a theory for why we hear the Vaturis, Saadas, Gamliels, Ben Gvirs, and other people who don’t make decisions talking mass murder, ethnic cleansing and stuff that in a normally functioning society would be immediately cracked down on, and in a normally functioning world merit an ICC indictment. (there are always domestic politics. Always.)
Republicans want you to forget they hate birth control
Whooping cough cases popping up around Tri-State Area prompt doctors to reiterate need for vaccines
YouTube’s richest star, MrBeast, rejects Elon Musk’s appeal to share content on X because the platform couldn’t ‘fund a fraction’ of his costs
The Arguments For Placing Trump Above The Constitution Are Glib And Shrinking. Of course he should be disqualified from the presidency
Nikki Haley deserves no grace for Civil War gaffe
Men who feel threatened by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Barbie deserve to feel bad
Will Detroit’s Comeback Benefit Detroiters?
Rejection of Irresponsible Statements on Resettlement of Palestinians Outside of Gaza
GOP’s Biggest Losers of 2023: Donald “Smells Like A Butt” Trump and his fellow insurrectionists: It ain’t over, but an avalanche of court losses exposed these would-be warriors as overcompensating clowns
Anti-Vaxxer All-Star Takes Charge of Kennedy Communications Shop
A boozy banana drink in Uganda is under threat as authorities move to restrict home brewers
My Non-Prediction Predictions For 2024: We’ll be extremely lucky if things turn out half this good
Republicans wage new war on their own constituents: Affordable internet