David Lidsky's Blog, page 324

Who’s who in the new Trump administration

From chief of staff to border czar, here’s a look at who Trump has selected so far for his new administration.

Fresh off his victory in the 2024 election, Donald Trump has already started making his picks for key members of his new administration. It’s a largely different lineup than the one he had at the end of his last term, but there are a couple familiar names.

How the GI Bill excluded Black veterans

White Southern politicians designed the distribution of benefits under the GI Bill to uphold their segregationist beliefs.

When President Franklin Roosevelt signed the GI Bill into law on June 22, 1944, it laid the foundation for benefits that would help generations of veterans achieve social mobility.

Some New Yorkers support Trump and AOC. Their reasons offer insights into split-ticket voting

On Instagram, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked split-ticket voters about the issues they care about in an attempt to better understand what fueled their decisions.

Donald Trump’s win in the 2024 election revealed an overwhelming nationwide shift to the right. Interestingly, though, in several states where Trump prevailed over Vice President Kamala Harris in the general election, constituents chose down-ballot Democratic candidates over their Republican counterparts.

How China’s lagging economy has affected its Singles’ Day shopping festival

While Singles’ Day was previously a one-day event, shopping platforms in China now kickstart the festival weeks ahead to drum up sales volume.

Businesses and consumers in China found the annual Singles’ Day shopping festival less attractive this year amid a sluggish economy, forcing e-commerce firms to look abroad for growth.

China is building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Here’s what you need to know

Developing nuclear propulsion for its next generation of warships would eventually give China more power to run advanced systems, such as electromagnetic launchers, radars, and new technology weapons.

China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery and Chinese government documents provided to The Associated Press.

3 simple steps for freeing up Gmail storage space in minutes

Reclaim storage and keep your inbox running smoothly with these easy Gmail clutter-reducing tips.

One of the Gmail accounts in the Aamoth household just started showing the dreaded “Account storage is full” banner, which means it’s time for a good scrubbing.

Teens learn a new conspiracy theory every week on social media, yet most schools aren’t teaching media literacy

Teens who use social media see conspiracy theories come across their feed at least once per week, according to a new study.

How often do you come in contact with a conspiracy theory? 

3 ways to create a more useful to-do list

Simple tweaks can boost your productivity, allowing you to finish the year strong.

As we approach the holiday season, your calendar is probably filling up. And undoubtedly your to-do list is as well.

Why bad bosses think they are doing a great job

Even if you think you are crushing it, you should read this.

Google “bad bosses,” and most of what pops up are survival guides for employees—like how to “survive a bad boss,” as if bad leadership is just another natural disaster we need to ride out. We shouldn’t have to survive our day jobs. Leaders shouldn’t be someone we brace for every morning. A boss should bring out your best—not send your stress levels through the roof.

This instant privacy inspector exposes the web’s tracking secrets

One fast scan will open your eyes to what’s happening beneath the surface of your favorite websites.

A blacklight can reveal all sorts of secrets that are invisible to the naked eye.