Idiocracy

The Associated Press reports: Indian police have arrested a 24-year-old American Youtuber who visited an off-limits island in the Indian ocean and left an offering of a Diet Coke can and a coconut in an attempt to make contact with an isolated tribe known for attacking intruders. Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, from Scottsdale, Arizona, was arrested two days after he set …

The New York Post reports: A teenage Bloods gang member, a sex offender and an alleged cop assaulter hiding under a bed were nabbed Wednesday in a multi-agency raid in Newark — led by the US Marshals with newly minted Interim New Jersey US Attorney Alina Habba in tow. The Post witnessed the arrest of Zakiyy Houser, 18, a gangbanger …

“So we’re actually in the process of tracking down two specific documents, and also too Jesse, I would like to actually tell the American people it was made aware to me this evening that NBC actually has a video that’s never been seen before. We’re actually going to be sending a letter requesting that from NBC because it allegedly shows …

The Associated Press reports: Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over opposition from dentists and national health organizations who warn the move will lead to medical problems and disproportionately affect low-income communities. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation Thursday that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their …

Jeffrey Goldberg writes for The Atlantic: The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen. I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted …

NBC News reports: On Wednesday, a woman gave birth in a Lubbock, Texas, hospital in the middle of a deadly and fast-growing measles outbreak. Doctors didn’t realize until the young mother had been admitted and in labor that she was infected with the measles. By that time, other new moms, newborn babies and their families at University Medical Center Children’s …

Bloomberg Government reports: The Justice Department officially will stop buying paper straws for its buildings and operations, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced. Justice is ending “the procurement and provision” of paper straws throughout the department and plans to scrap any policies “designed to disfavor plastic straws,” according to the March 11 memo sent to employees and obtained by Bloomberg Government.  …

“We can have a fashion show with Valentino, the top designer in the world, in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy. That would be very glamorous. You can seat a couple thousand people for a gala, who pay $200 a ticket, and people will go, and the center will make money. “We can franchise the Kennedy Center’s name in Europe and Asia …

“I have chickens in my backyard and yesterday I went out – they just started laying – and yesterday I got five eggs. Is part of the solution more small farms, because when avian flu hits, you have these giant industrial farms? I don’t think the eggs are as good anyway.  Isn’t part of it just investing in smaller farms, …

The Guardian reports: While Texas grapples with its worst measles outbreak in decades, its Republican lieutenant governor has moved for the state’s restaurants and groceries to change the name of the “New York strip” steak cut to the “Texas strip” in what he evidently hopes is a blow to liberals. Dan Patrick announced on Friday on social media that he …

Ars Technica reports: A Texas health authority is warning against “measles parties” as the outbreak in West Texas grew to at least 146 cases, with 20 hospitalized and one unvaccinated school-age child dead. In a press briefing hosted by the city of Lubbock, Texas, Ron Cook, chief health officer at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, offered …

The Texas Tribune reports: Texas is facing its worst measles outbreak in decades, as cases have jumped from two to 146 in just one month. A child is dead, 20 more are hospitalized and the worst is likely still ahead, public health experts say. But neither Gov. Greg Abbott nor lawmakers from the hardest hit areas have addressed the outbreak …

ABC News reports: FBI Director Kash Patel, whose proclaimed plans to overhaul the nation’s premier law enforcement agency have rattled many within the bureau, has proposed enhancing the FBI’s ranks with help from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the martial-arts entertainment giant whose wealthy CEO, Dana White, helped boost Trump’s reelection. On a teleconference Wednesday with the heads of the FBI’s …

From the MAGA evangelical site Charisma News: God is still in the business of doing miracles today. At Bethel Church, the supernatural is not only embraced but often experienced in profound and awe-inspiring ways. One of the most fascinating phenomena to capture attention is the appearance of a “glory cloud”—a swirling mist filled with gold dust that has been witnessed …

Rolling Stone reports: On Tuesday afternoon, Musk, who did qualify for a private pilot certificate in 2002, seemed baffled by some of the basics of air travel. In a post on X — the misinformation-heavy social media site Musk shaped from the remains of Twitter, after buying the platform for $44 billion in 2022 — supply chain company CEO Ryan …

Law & Crime reports: A 23-year-old “online content creator” in New Hampshire is facing a felony charge of criminal mischief for allegedly contaminating food products at a grocery store “with her urine” and filming it for social media. Kelli Tedford, 23, is accused of making “disturbing videos” of her pee antics on Feb. 10 and posting them to an undisclosed …

NBC News reports: The United States Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said that, over the weekend, it accidentally fired agency employees who are working on the federal government’s response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. In a statement, the agency said it is trying to quickly reverse the firings. The error is the latest in the Trump administration’s efforts to …

Sen. Bill Cassidy today links to this Fox News report: An outbreak of measles in the South Plains of Texas is continuing to grow, with the number of cases doubling in less than a week. At least 48 cases were identified with symptom onset within the last three weeks, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. More than …

CNN reports: The Trump administration has started firing hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration probationary employees who maintain critical air traffic control infrastructure, according to their union. An exact number of firings is not yet known, but the head of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, said that “several hundred” workers started getting firing notices on Friday — and that they …

CNN reports: Trump administration officials fired more than 300 staffers Thursday night at the National Nuclear Security Administration — the agency tasked with managing the nation’s nuclear stockpile — as part of broader Energy Department layoffs. Sources told CNN the officials did not seem to know this agency oversees America’s nuclear weapons. The agency began rescinding the terminations Friday morning. …