Links for you. Science:

Rare taxa modulate the emergence of dominants in microbial communities (very clever experiment!)
The Mystery of the Missing Porcupines
The Undermining of the C.D.C.
These very hungry microbes devour a powerful pollutant
Teens may have come up with a new way to detect, treat Lyme disease using CRISPR gene editing
One blind, aquatic salamander may have sat mostly still for seven years

Other:

FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations
RFK Jr.’s CDC panel: No more hepatitis B vaccine for some newborns. The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, stocked with anti-vaccine activists and loyalists to RFK Jr., voted Friday to stop recommending a birth dose of vaccine.
Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he believed 2020 election conspiracy theories
Most immigrants arrested in Trump’s D.C. crackdown had no criminal records
Trump Gave the Tech Bros Everything. Why Are They Still Crashing Out?
A coordinated campaign to drive trans people out of public life
For Many Contractors, Losing ACA Subsidies Means Losing Health Care
U.S. reinstates all canceled library grants after court order
JD Vance Welcomes All Jews To Participate In Christmas
Angst Permeates D.C. Real Estate As Bowser’s Exit Clouds Mayor’s Race
Is Gen X Actually the Greatest Generation?
Under Kennedy, America’s Health Department Is in the Business of Promoting Kennedy
Wilson Building Bulletin: The Chuck Brown post office is no-go
US Institute of Peace renamed for Donald Trump despite legal battle
Leigh H. Mosley is documenting the legacy of D.C.’s Black lesbian elders
Americans More Likely to Accept Guidance from AMA than CDC on Vaccine Safety
Republicans in the era of Late Trumpism
The renamed ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace’ hosts first event
DCPS middle-schoolers should be reading novels
Cloudflare Has Blocked 416 Billion AI Bot Requests Since July 1
“Rage bait” as Word of the Year? It’s a reason for hope
AI Slop Is Ruining Reddit for Everyone. Reddit is considered one of the most human spaces left on the internet, but mods and users are overwhelmed with slop posts in the most popular subreddits.
Olivia Nuzzi’s Much-Hyped Book Was Always Going to Be Self-Serving. It’s So Much Worse Than That.
RFK Jr. is very worried about anti-Christian bias at HHS…under Biden
Al Gore’s case for optimism
Vital Cat Update (this is about AI)
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Mamdani Vows to Sweep Out Crackdowns on Homeless Camps
Eggs, Lies and Gasoline: The unbearable lightweightness of being Kevin Hassett (cubic model guy!)
Kash Patel ordered FBI detail to give girlfriend’s pal a lift home