Snippet of my Bluesky bio
Hi! This is another edition of Link Roundup here at Forney’s Findings. If you follow me on Bluesky or Instagram (or happen to be in a Discord server with me), you’ll know I love me some links. Pullquotes will cite the author of the article above, not necessarily the quote's speaker. Here are a handful—all read in their entirety by me before adding—that I wanted to share:
Government:
Graham Platner has dropped out of the Maine Senate race following explosive allegations of rape by a former partner (CNN)
The story that set it all off (Politico)
Historians reject White House’s claim that the Smithsonian is guilty of “extreme ideological activism,” whatever that means (New York Times)
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Prince George’s county approves a moratorium on new data centers (WJLA)
Pro-data center advocates came in matching shirts while reading from identical scripts. They wouldn’t say who paid them
Montgomery County Council has a new at-large member in an extremely narrow margin of victory (Baltimore Banner)
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Trump resorts to name-calling after Iranian ceasefire talks fall through once again (Washington Post)
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The Supreme Court was one vote away from upending birthright citizenship (Vox gift link)
After causing irreparable harm to people’s lives and American government, DOGE is officially shut down (The Hill)
DC reached a settlement in favor of the man detained for playing the Darth Vader theme behind a National Guard member’s back (Associated Press)
“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests,” the suit says.
Muppet down! No one knows if Mitch McConnell is alive or not. His representatives spoke to reporters (USA Today)
White supremacists openly and brazenly marched the streets of DC for the Fourth of July (WUSA9)
Transgender troops secure a major victory in legal battle with the Trump administration (Advocate)
Learn about the new laws going into affect in the DMV including access to menstrual products, contraceptives codified into law and more (WTOP)
Trump’s appeal to a 2019 case was denied and he’ll have to pay $5 million after sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll (CNN)
Will Jawando announces victory in Montgomery County Executive Democratic primary while current county executive, Marc Elrich, eyes a county council seat (Bethesda Magazine)
The Supreme Court has given Trump broad leeway to fire heads of federal agencies (CNN)
Education:
Maryland parents are not potty-training their kids as much as before. Public school staff are at their limit (Baltimore Banner)
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These four Black women did what they were supposed to: got advanced degrees. Now they can’t find work (Washington Post gift link)
Johns Hopkins University lays off more than 100 employees, citing federal cuts (Baltimore Banner)
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Rich people are letting AI teach their kids (The Verge)
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It’s also concerning that Alpha School cofounder MacKenzie Price has said she plans to keep “hot-button social issues” out of the classroom. Which, in the current political climate, could cover women’s rights, America’s history of slavery, and our immigrant past. That might not seem like a major issue when you’re talking about kindergarten, but in some locations, Alpha School goes through high school.
Companies like Forge also don’t share performance metrics, so there’s no evidence that these AI-guided private schools are improving educational outcomes.
Technology:
Is AI causing more harm than good for Black Americans? (Yes) See responses from both sides (Word in Black)
Comcast will split between itself and NBCUniversal (The Verge)
California makes obnoxiously loud streaming ads illegal (Ars Technica)
Ford hired AI to replace workers but ended up needing them to be rehired after repeated mistakes (The Independent)
Dish files for bankruptcy but won’t shut down for some reason (The Verge)
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Companies are limiting their employees’ AI usage after getting the bill (404 Media)
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Google loses multi-billion dollar fight over EU antitrust fine (CNBC)
The company who stole the work of thousands of authors, journalists and researchers wants the courts to stop Chinese AI companies from stealing their software (Ars Technica)
Spotify pulls a popular song after allegations that people were betting on its play numbers (Hollywood Reporter)
As AI bots crawl the internet, some companies are looking to charge them, specifically, for access (Semafor)
Communities across the country are pushing back against data centers (Prism)
WhatsApp announces usernames to replace phone numbers for individual accounts (BBC)
Google releases an Independence ad for Gemini that asks if the founding fathers had used AI (The Verge)
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For some reason, they don’t question slavery
Books:
Hachette Book Group employees vote to unionize demanding wage increases and AI protections (New York Times gift link)
After years without, Houston is finally getting another Half Price Books (Chron)
The best horror novels of 2026 so far (Darker Times)
Literacy crisis be damned. Bookstores are coming back (Axios)
Five books that define America, according to Vox (gift link)
Supreme Court justices have their outside income capped for most things, but not book revenue (CNN)
[Podcast] Some publishers are “modernizing” existing titles, but it might be more patronizing than empowering (Slate via YouTube)
Sports:
Trump directly reached out to FIFA’s president to overrule the suspension of an American player before a critical World Cup match (New York Times gift link)
A World Cup escape is only temporary for Haitian families after their temporary protected status is revoked (Capital B)
The world unites in its hatred of FIFA’s commercial breaks cosplaying as hydration breaks (The Guardian)
The Supreme Court ruled against two trans athletes, leaving the door open for similar bans nationwide (the 19th)
Additional coverage (The Guardian)
NBC will show MLB games for at least one day a week. This could change how broadcast access works forever (Front Office Sports)
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is now the all-time winningest coach in WNBA history (The Athletic gift link)
The Las Vegas Aces have waived Chennedy Carter (USA Today)
Caitlin Clark and her “fans” continue to make the WNBA fan experience insufferable (The Athletic gift link)
Inspirational! Caitlin Clark address the death threats and doxing that Alyssa Thomas received after their interaction without mentioning the word “racism” once (The IX Sports)
Due to clerical errors, less than half of eligible WNBA players voted for the All-Star game starters (ESPN)
Two Lynx players are named All-Star starters, including rookie phenom, Olivia Miles (Hitting the Hardwood)
The WNBA may never have a time as fun as when the StudBudz were on the same team (Them)
WNBA officiating this season is a mess. Hear some of the complaints (The Athletic gift link)
NBA free agency is starting to get complicated
Tim Hardaway Jr. signs with his dad’s former team, the Miami Heat (ESPN)
Ja Morant has been traded to the Trail Blazers (The Athletic gift link)
DeMar DeRozan has been waived by the Kings (ESPN)
Khris Middleton is returning to the Wizards in a six-team sign-and-trade (ESPN)
The Celtics traded Jaylen Brown for Paul George and everyone is confused (The Athletic gift link)
This made one child cry (CBS Boston via YouTube)
Kawhi Leonard is going back to the Raptors (via Shams Charania on Twitter)
Two former NBA players have been indicted in a federal gambling investigation (ESPN)
People and Relationships:
Meet the woman behind the chilling photo of white supremacists on the DC Metro (Washington Post)
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No goalkeeping here. Learn the hair ties Norway’s Erling Haaland uses for his signature bun (The Strategist)
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Gay men are falling for AI-generated thirst traps (Vox gift link)
At the heart of this are serious questions about profiting off the likenesses of others and what recourse those affected have, legally speaking
Could speed-friending events help older people, especially men, become less lonely (Washington Post)
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The people have spoken: let men wear shorts to the office (The Atlantic gift link)
People fired over their Charlie Kirk posts are getting huge settlements as their cases finally wrap up (NPR)
For those obsessing over what their exes do online, Instagram Plus might be for you (The Atlantic gift link)
MAGA grifters are shocked that their own talking points are leading to rising extremism in their ranks (Vox)
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Rich boomers don’t feel like they should help their struggling millennial children financially, even if it wouldn’t affect their own quality of life (The Cut)
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Nina, a 38-year-old publicist based in California, knows that her parents have created an estate plan that will divide their wealth — which is considerable — among her and her two siblings. But they don’t know when that’ll happen, and they’re all feeling the pinch now. “My siblings and I all have young children and financially, we could really use some help,” she says. They’re all working hard and making a decent living. “But between thousands of dollars in child care, student loans, and groceries costing $200 a week at least, it’s just crazy.” She especially wishes that they could afford more child care; she’s constantly rushing to finish work in time for pickup. “I would rather have, hypothetically, $100,000 right now than a million dollars in 20 years,” she says. “It’s embarrassing to say, but it’s true.”
[Podcast] Is MAGA losing young men? (Vox)
Art, Culture, Food and Entertainment:
This Richmond museum hopes people will look Confederate history in the face and learn from it (Washington Post)
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The Great American State Fair sounded like anything but (The Guardian)
Minions & Monsters director breaks his silence on if the Minions canonically helped cause WWII (Polygon)
If you click this, please look at the URL
Is this the horniest season of Love Island ever? (The Cut)
The massive popularity of Heated Rivalry led to a surge in interest in gay romance stories—specifically yaoi—for mainstream audiences (CNBC)
Melania Trump’s biopic earned the Trump family millions in licensing fees (USA Today)
Crabs might get a lot more expensive this year (Baltimore Banner)
Meet the baker behind A’Ja Wilson’s viral Pride Month ally cakes (Sports Illustrated)
To whom it may concern: The Wendy’s on Georgia Avenue in DC is finally open again (Prince of Petworth)
A live-action TV series based on the Persona video game series has been announced at Netflix (Variety)
Video Games:
“Obsidian wasn't just a workplace, it was where I built a career, formed lasting friendships, and had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most talented and passionate people in the industry,” he wrote. “We are clearly at a turning point in the games industry. These past months have been difficult for so many talented people, and unfortunately, it seems the challenges aren't over yet.”
Nearly half of id Software’s team have been laid off (Game Developer)
Xbox Game Pass deals are stuck in limbo as the company reevaluates its financials (Eurogamer)
Dbrand pulled a Portal-inspired Steam Machine case because they forgot to ask Valve for permission to (Aftermath)
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Upcoming fighting game Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will be blocked in 132 countries (Eurogamer)
Related: the full launch roster has been announced (VGC)
Sony drew major backlash after announcing its plans to stop selling physical discs (Aftermath)
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GTA 6 will have a physical edition that’s just a code in an empty box (Polygon)
Ubisoft thanked the studio behind Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced for launching the game by laying off a chunk of the studio the same day (Kotaku)
Science, Critters, Environment and Healthcare::
An immigrant held in a detention facility was denied proper mental healthcare for his anxiety and paranoia until tragedy struck. His family wants answers (ProPublica | Texas Tribune)
CW: self-harm, suicide, xenophobia, child sexual abuse
Trump directly overruled safety guidance to evacuate the National Mall during his Fourth of July celebrations (Washington Post)
Most Texas data centers have ignored surveys about their water usage (Texas Tribune)
An unusually high number of similar public comments on environmentally friendly legislation have prompted some to wonder if they’re AI-generated campaigns (Bloomberg)
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California’s unusually high energy prices may have saved it from the data center boom (Los Angeles Times)
Vox will be bringing its science podcast, Unexplainable, to Netflix (via YouTube)
Catch up on episodes here (Vox)
Trump, who recently learned how much water data centers use, wants to fast track AI development (Inside Climate News)
[Video] Learn the science of why fireflies light up (NBC4 Washington)
After Zohran Mandani recommended keeping thermostats higher, the White House deleted thousands of web pages that cited the same suggestions he made (The Verge)
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California is trying to use its World Cup experience as an audition to rewrite its climate legacy (Clean Energy Wire)
Against the backdrop of a national administration focused on advancing fossil fuels, comparatively green California faces much pressure. Los Angeles published its Climate Action plan in April, with an entire section dedicated to using major sports events to accelerate “climate investments that extend well beyond the closing ceremonies”. The plan commits the city to net zero by 2045, 100 percent clean energy by 2035, and to host a “transit-first” Games which should upgrade mobility options in underserved neighbours.
Yet those working to make LA County more climate resilient are unconvinced by the level of ambition or the speed of progress. Following the wildfires, LA Mayor Bass dropped the requirement to build new homes without fossil fuel-powered systems.
“The people and the trauma make this all very complicated quite honestly, but it was an opportunity to truly do things in a way that is more sustainable and the region chose not to,” says Cassie Rauser, who heads the advocacy group TreePeople, which educates, plants and cares for trees across Southern California.
Following Trump’s Fourth of July fireworks display, DC air quality drops from dangerous to moderate (WUSA9)
The administration was warned well in advance that the display would severely worsen air quality for people in the area (Washington Post)
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Could urban farming help with rising Black suicide rates in Arizona? (Capital B)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s railings against antidepressants and mental health medication may hurt those who need it most (Prism)
A new method analyzes how PFAS particles are released (Chemical & Engineering News)
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Unexpected rain pushes back Corpus Christi’s water crisis (Texas Tribune)
The Trump administration’s war on science might get much worse if this proposed rule goes into effect (The Verge)
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The rule change would require political oversight of more than $1 trillion of federal grants across 42 different agencies. Federal grants are what pay for most of the scientific research, and the researchers, at universities across the country, from research into new vaccines to studies on natural hazards. If the rule passes, political appointees could look over and veto any grant, for any reason, at any time. Scientists could not collaborate with colleagues in many other countries. They could not go to conferences without preapproval, and would be prevented from using their research money to publish their work so the public could access it. All federal grants must align with “the President’s policy priorities,” and all mentions of “DEI” (diversity, equity, and inclusion) or “gender ideology” are immediately off the table. People applying for research funding who can’t fulfill these demands, the rule change says, are welcome to get funding elsewhere. If you don’t like it, the document implies, leave.
News Media:
Trump is making quite a bit of money suing news organizations (The New Republic)
NPR accidentally posts that Samuel Alito was retiring before retracting the story (Mediaite)
Worth noting the reporter involved is 82 years old
The Washington Post wins its defamation case against President Trump (Washington Post)
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BBC staff are unhappy with a proposed 1% pay increase, far below inflation (The Guardian)
The New York Times’ publisher wrote on the urgent need for the press to advocate for itself (Dallas News)
The Guardian is creating new, digital-focused roles (Editor and Publisher)
Economics:
USPS is raising the price of Forever stamps again (NBC4 Washington)
The ongoing ping-pong of the Iran war is upsetting the shareholders (CNBC)
A series of “unknown unknowns” make widespread AI usage even more precarious (New York Times)
American housing infrastructure wasn’t built for our current times (Vox)
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According to a new study, DC has officially run out of neighborhoods to gentrify (Emerald Book)
Nothing to see here: Trump made billions in 2025, most of it from crypto, according to recent disclosures (New York Times)
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Texas-based stock exchange—aka Y’all Street—is preparing to launch (American City Business Journals)
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Four takeaways on Black unemployment under Trump 2.0 (Washington Post gift link)
Trump vowed to save “Black jobs” when he ran for president in 2024. But in his first year in office, The Post found that one of the biggest causes for the rise in Black unemployment was his administration’s policies. Cuts to the federal workforce disproportionately impacted the Black community, where government jobs have long been viewed as a stable path to the middle-class. Tariffs and concern that accusations of “DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion) practices could draw extra scrutiny have slowed hiring. By December 2025, White Americans were largely keeping their paychecks. Black Americans were losing them.
Trump said taxpayers wouldn’t pay for his renovations. Looks like he was lying again (New York Times)
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Homebuyers feel slightly less bad about their chances than they did last year (American City Business Journals)
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