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Why the #Democrats Are Likely to Rule the Next Couple of Decades
Part 1 of 3
#Republicans currently (Nov 1, ’26) control the White House, both chambers of #Congress and a majority on the #SupremeCourt. Yet a closer look at the popular vote, the composition of the electorate, ggests that it’s the Democrats who are likely to have a durable advantage in upcoming national elections.
The chart below (Wikipedia data) shows the results of this century’s presidential elections. Though the Republicans won most of them, the Democrats received more votes five times, the Republicans only twice. The Electoral College and the #Senate’s equal state representation have repeatedly converted Democratic popular-vote pluralities into Republican victories or near-misses. The Democrats’ failure has not been due to unpopularity but to concentration of support in the largest states, in a system designed to limit the power of large states.
The Democrats’ 2024 defeat was demoralizing but was not what it seemed. Rather than being the beginning of a new era of Republican popularity it was a local manifestation of an international anti-incumbent anomaly.
Part 1 of 3
#Republicans currently (Nov 1, ’26) control the White House, both chambers of #Congress and a majority on the #SupremeCourt. Yet a closer look at the popular vote, the composition of the electorate, ggests that it’s the Democrats who are likely to have a durable advantage in upcoming national elections.
The chart below (Wikipedia data) shows the results of this century’s presidential elections. Though the Republicans won most of them, the Democrats received more votes five times, the Republicans only twice. The Electoral College and the #Senate’s equal state representation have repeatedly converted Democratic popular-vote pluralities into Republican victories or near-misses. The Democrats’ failure has not been due to unpopularity but to concentration of support in the largest states, in a system designed to limit the power of large states.
The Democrats’ 2024 defeat was demoralizing but was not what it seemed. Rather than being the beginning of a new era of Republican popularity it was a local manifestation of an international anti-incumbent anomaly.
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'The Surprising Link Between Sunlight and #Blood Sugar', by Dominique Mosbergen, #Time
An August #study ('Sunlight exposure is associated with lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetes') of more than 420,000 #people in the U.K. linked greater sunlight exposure to lower blood sugar. The same study found that people who use tanning beds—which, like the sun, emit UV radiation—had significantly lower likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes.
In addition to getting sun-like #light from the devices themselves, past research has shown ('Association of sun-seeking behaviors with indoor tanning habit in US #females') that people who use tanning beds also get more sun exposure compared to non-users.
The researchers found that people who regularly used tanning beds had a roughly 20% reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to non-users over the course of their lifetime.
Research indicates that even though people exposed to more sun had a higher risk of skin #cancer, they also had an overall lower risk of dying and disease. ('Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern #Sweden cohort')
A growing number of studies have linked more sunlight exposure with improved cardiovascular health ('Sunshine and the cardiovascular benefits – a dose of sunshine!') and a lower risk for #obesity ('The Effects of Sun Intensity during Pregnancy and in the First 12 Months of Life on Childhood Obesity'). #HealthTips
The evidence from these recent studies is supporting the idea that daytime light is a signal that can strengthen the circadian system.
Exposure to light during night hours can cause blood sugar levels to increase ('Exposure to Artificial Light During Sleep May Increase Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes').
In laboratory experiments ('Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Production of Nitric Oxide: A multi-cell and multi-donor analysis') researchers have found that exposure to UVA, a type of ultraviolet light from the sun, triggers stores of nitrite in the skin to turn into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide widens blood vessels, which could potentially lower blood pressure and increase blood flow in ways that could improve glucose regulation.
“Go #outdoors more during the day. If you cannot go outdoors, position yourself near a #window, and cut down on artificial light in the few hours before and during sleep,"
- Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Harvard Medical School @harvardsleepmed neuroscientist #sleeping
An August #study ('Sunlight exposure is associated with lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetes') of more than 420,000 #people in the U.K. linked greater sunlight exposure to lower blood sugar. The same study found that people who use tanning beds—which, like the sun, emit UV radiation—had significantly lower likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes.
In addition to getting sun-like #light from the devices themselves, past research has shown ('Association of sun-seeking behaviors with indoor tanning habit in US #females') that people who use tanning beds also get more sun exposure compared to non-users.
The researchers found that people who regularly used tanning beds had a roughly 20% reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to non-users over the course of their lifetime.
Research indicates that even though people exposed to more sun had a higher risk of skin #cancer, they also had an overall lower risk of dying and disease. ('Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern #Sweden cohort')
A growing number of studies have linked more sunlight exposure with improved cardiovascular health ('Sunshine and the cardiovascular benefits – a dose of sunshine!') and a lower risk for #obesity ('The Effects of Sun Intensity during Pregnancy and in the First 12 Months of Life on Childhood Obesity'). #HealthTips
The evidence from these recent studies is supporting the idea that daytime light is a signal that can strengthen the circadian system.
Exposure to light during night hours can cause blood sugar levels to increase ('Exposure to Artificial Light During Sleep May Increase Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes').
In laboratory experiments ('Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Production of Nitric Oxide: A multi-cell and multi-donor analysis') researchers have found that exposure to UVA, a type of ultraviolet light from the sun, triggers stores of nitrite in the skin to turn into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide widens blood vessels, which could potentially lower blood pressure and increase blood flow in ways that could improve glucose regulation.
“Go #outdoors more during the day. If you cannot go outdoors, position yourself near a #window, and cut down on artificial light in the few hours before and during sleep,"
- Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Harvard Medical School @harvardsleepmed neuroscientist #sleeping
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Why the #Democrats Are Likely to Rule the Next Couple of Decades
Part 2 of 3
The chart below shows changes in incumbent parties’ vote share across wealthy democracies since 1950. There’s only one year in which all governing parties’ support declined: 2024. The red marker for year sits near the top of the range, indicating that Democrats lost less ground than most of their incumbent peers abroad.
Analysts and contemporaneous polling attributed the backlash primarily to the post-pandemic #inflation surge—the sharpest sustained rise in consumer prices most voters had experienced. Inflation and the economy ranked as the foremost concern for #American voters.
Validated-voter studies, including those from @pewresearch, indicate that the shift from Biden 2020 victory to Trump’s 2024 win was driven mainly by changes among nonwhite voters rather than among white voters. Trump’s share of the white vote remained roughly stable in the mid-to-high 50s. Turnout patterns also mattered: a higher share of 2020 Trump voters returned to the polls than Biden voters.
If the Democrats’ 2024 loss was part of an inflation-fueled anti-incumbent wave, why did it impact minority voters in particular? One plausible economic mechanism is differential exposure to inflation. Consumer-price inflation eroded real purchasing power for everyone, but asset-price gains in housing and equities disproportionately benefited those who already owned them. White households hold most #corporate equities and #MutualFund shares and have higher homeownership rates and housing equity; #Black and Hispanic households own far less of both. Households with less wealth tied to appreciating assets experienced the inflation shock more purely as a loss of buying power, which is consistent with higher rates of 2020 Democratic voters sitting out 2024 or switching among minority groups.
By 2028, and possibly as soon as the midterm elections now under way, inflation will no longer be the Democrats’ problem, and earlier trends should resume. #Election2026
@jburnmurdoch
Part 2 of 3
The chart below shows changes in incumbent parties’ vote share across wealthy democracies since 1950. There’s only one year in which all governing parties’ support declined: 2024. The red marker for year sits near the top of the range, indicating that Democrats lost less ground than most of their incumbent peers abroad.
Analysts and contemporaneous polling attributed the backlash primarily to the post-pandemic #inflation surge—the sharpest sustained rise in consumer prices most voters had experienced. Inflation and the economy ranked as the foremost concern for #American voters.
Validated-voter studies, including those from @pewresearch, indicate that the shift from Biden 2020 victory to Trump’s 2024 win was driven mainly by changes among nonwhite voters rather than among white voters. Trump’s share of the white vote remained roughly stable in the mid-to-high 50s. Turnout patterns also mattered: a higher share of 2020 Trump voters returned to the polls than Biden voters.
If the Democrats’ 2024 loss was part of an inflation-fueled anti-incumbent wave, why did it impact minority voters in particular? One plausible economic mechanism is differential exposure to inflation. Consumer-price inflation eroded real purchasing power for everyone, but asset-price gains in housing and equities disproportionately benefited those who already owned them. White households hold most #corporate equities and #MutualFund shares and have higher homeownership rates and housing equity; #Black and Hispanic households own far less of both. Households with less wealth tied to appreciating assets experienced the inflation shock more purely as a loss of buying power, which is consistent with higher rates of 2020 Democratic voters sitting out 2024 or switching among minority groups.
By 2028, and possibly as soon as the midterm elections now under way, inflation will no longer be the Democrats’ problem, and earlier trends should resume. #Election2026
@jburnmurdoch
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Why the #Democrats Are Likely to Rule the Next Couple of Decades
Part 3 of 3
The bar chart below (Wikipedia data) makes the underlying arithmetic concrete. Minority #Democratic votes start from a smaller base and grow at a higher rate across the series; white Republican votes ore slowly. The gray bars mark the two Republican popular-vote victories. The 2028 bars are a projection that continues the pre-2024 growth rate in minority Democratic votes while showing almost no additional growth in white Republican votes. #Republicans
In all this century’s presidential elections, the Republicans received a little less than three-fifths of the white vote. The white Republican total can no longer expand through #population growth – which has recently turned negative. It would rise only if the Republican share of the white vote significantly exceeded the three-fifths level, something that hasn’t happened since 1984. In other words, if this century’s voting trends continue, Democrats will enter future presidential contests with a growing popular-vote cushion. Similar pressures would apply in Congress.
Part 3 of 3
The bar chart below (Wikipedia data) makes the underlying arithmetic concrete. Minority #Democratic votes start from a smaller base and grow at a higher rate across the series; white Republican votes ore slowly. The gray bars mark the two Republican popular-vote victories. The 2028 bars are a projection that continues the pre-2024 growth rate in minority Democratic votes while showing almost no additional growth in white Republican votes. #Republicans
In all this century’s presidential elections, the Republicans received a little less than three-fifths of the white vote. The white Republican total can no longer expand through #population growth – which has recently turned negative. It would rise only if the Republican share of the white vote significantly exceeded the three-fifths level, something that hasn’t happened since 1984. In other words, if this century’s voting trends continue, Democrats will enter future presidential contests with a growing popular-vote cushion. Similar pressures would apply in Congress.
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'For the first time in more than 100 years, a long-lost #animal has returned to the San Mateo Coast; Motion-activated cameras captured photographs of the elusive species in July, August and September south of Pescadero' by Paul Rogers @PaulRogersSJM The Mercury News
In a promising sign of #wildlife #recovery in the #BayArea, researchers have observed a river otter living along the San Mateo coast, the first documented sighting there since the 1800s.
Once numerous across the #UnitedStates, river otters — a more slender cousin of sea otters who spend their time mostly in inland streams, creeks and bays — were hunted for their dense fur in the 1800s and also experienced population declines due to development and #toxic chemicals. #seaotter
In recent years, river otters have made a comeback across Northern #California, with sightings increasingly common along the shores of #SanFrancisco Bay, the #Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and #Marin and Sonoma counties. #SonomaCounty
But they have been slow to expand their range down the coast south of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The recovery of creeks and wildlife habitat across the Bay Area in recent decades has made it possible for river otters and other species to make a comeback.
Across California and the United States, many other species that were once in decline, from bison on the Great Plains to gray whales, elephant seals, and brown pelicans in the Pacific Ocean to bald eagles, American alligators and peregrine #falcons, have rebounded in number once environmental protections were put in place.
Megan Isadore, of the River Otter Ecology Project, urged people who see river otters in the wild to take a photo and upload it to her group’s website, riverotterecology.org by clicking "report an otter sighting."
In a promising sign of #wildlife #recovery in the #BayArea, researchers have observed a river otter living along the San Mateo coast, the first documented sighting there since the 1800s.
Once numerous across the #UnitedStates, river otters — a more slender cousin of sea otters who spend their time mostly in inland streams, creeks and bays — were hunted for their dense fur in the 1800s and also experienced population declines due to development and #toxic chemicals. #seaotter
In recent years, river otters have made a comeback across Northern #California, with sightings increasingly common along the shores of #SanFrancisco Bay, the #Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and #Marin and Sonoma counties. #SonomaCounty
But they have been slow to expand their range down the coast south of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The recovery of creeks and wildlife habitat across the Bay Area in recent decades has made it possible for river otters and other species to make a comeback.
Across California and the United States, many other species that were once in decline, from bison on the Great Plains to gray whales, elephant seals, and brown pelicans in the Pacific Ocean to bald eagles, American alligators and peregrine #falcons, have rebounded in number once environmental protections were put in place.
Megan Isadore, of the River Otter Ecology Project, urged people who see river otters in the wild to take a photo and upload it to her group’s website, riverotterecology.org by clicking "report an otter sighting."
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'Newsom brushes aside escalating federal probe into travel expenses as Trump retribution', by Alene Tchekmedyian @AleneTchek & Phil Willon @philwillon
#FederalGovernment #PresidentTrump
Subpoenas were issued in early September seeking records from the California State Protocol Foundation. The nonprofit pays for Newsom's travel expenses and is funded primarily by corporate #donations and run by a board Newsom appoints.
The Democratic governor is considering a 2028 run for president.
The protocol foundation was created as a tax-exempt #charity during Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration in 2004, and was intended to defray taxpayer costs for the governor's travel.
When Schwarzenegger left office, his supporters turned the protocol foundation over to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown’s backers, who in turn handed it over to Newsom's team.
Among the donors to the foundation are healthcare giants Centene and CVS Pharmacy. Others include the clean-energy nonprofit U.S. Energy Foundation, which donated $150,000 for the California delegation to attend COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation donated $300,000 in a 2023 behested payment earmarked for the California delegation traveling to China for the meetings on climate change. UC Berkeley gave $220,000 for the governor’s office's trip to the Vatican in 2024.
#FederalGovernment #PresidentTrump
Subpoenas were issued in early September seeking records from the California State Protocol Foundation. The nonprofit pays for Newsom's travel expenses and is funded primarily by corporate #donations and run by a board Newsom appoints.
The Democratic governor is considering a 2028 run for president.
The protocol foundation was created as a tax-exempt #charity during Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration in 2004, and was intended to defray taxpayer costs for the governor's travel.
When Schwarzenegger left office, his supporters turned the protocol foundation over to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown’s backers, who in turn handed it over to Newsom's team.
Among the donors to the foundation are healthcare giants Centene and CVS Pharmacy. Others include the clean-energy nonprofit U.S. Energy Foundation, which donated $150,000 for the California delegation to attend COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation donated $300,000 in a 2023 behested payment earmarked for the California delegation traveling to China for the meetings on climate change. UC Berkeley gave $220,000 for the governor’s office's trip to the Vatican in 2024.
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"Salmon Are Thriving After Klamath River Dam Removals, Study Finds; The first fall runs of chinook salmon since the project in California and Oregon was completed have surpassed researchers' expectations," New York Times #CaliforniaNorte
The Klamath River, cleared of big barriers for the first time in more than a century after the largest dam removal project in American history, is experiencing a significant rebound of native chinook salmon, according to a new study ['#Rewilding the upper Klamath River Basin: rapid recolonization of Chinook salmon following the world’s largest dam removal', @CalTrout].
Thousands of the salmon were recorded passing a former dam site in 2024 and 2025, researchers say, and have reoccupied nearly the full extent of their known historical range.
The river, which flows about 260 miles through Oregon and California, was spanned by four major hydroelectric dams for decades. The last of those dams was removed in 2024.
The Klamath River, cleared of big barriers for the first time in more than a century after the largest dam removal project in American history, is experiencing a significant rebound of native chinook salmon, according to a new study ['#Rewilding the upper Klamath River Basin: rapid recolonization of Chinook salmon following the world’s largest dam removal', @CalTrout].
Thousands of the salmon were recorded passing a former dam site in 2024 and 2025, researchers say, and have reoccupied nearly the full extent of their known historical range.
The river, which flows about 260 miles through Oregon and California, was spanned by four major hydroelectric dams for decades. The last of those dams was removed in 2024.
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"UC Berkeley students doxed, threatened with deportation following 'Kirkversary' celebration," The Daily Californian @dailycal
On Sept 10, students who opposed Charlie #Kirk's politics turned out to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the conservative #political activist and Turning Point USA founder's [murder].
At 6 p.m., a bustling crowd of students gathered on the glade for the "Kirkversary." The event, advertised by an Instagram account, brought students together to sing, cheer and boo at Kirk's memory.
The crowd kicked off the Kirkversary by singing a rendition of the viral AI-generated anthem, "We Are Charlie Kirk." Students, some of whom came dressed in Kirk-related costumes, also chanted slogans such as "Jerk for Kirk," while one student brought a "Kirk-ified" drawing of the "Mona Lisa," in which the painting's original face had been replaced with Kirk's own.
"I think the whole event is just super funny because it’s celebrating the anniversary of a bad person’s death," said junior Sihan Cheng, who attended the Kirkversary.
Cheng said the memeification of Kirk serves as a way to prevent him from becoming a "martyr" for the right-wing causes he supported.
Many students, though outspoken about their disagreement with Kirk's politics, also described great concern with the idea that someone could be killed for exercising their right to free speech.
Freshman Emily Salib said political violence "shouldn’t be normalized" and that it pushes the country onto a dangerous path in its current polarized state.
On Sept 10, students who opposed Charlie #Kirk's politics turned out to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the conservative #political activist and Turning Point USA founder's [murder].
At 6 p.m., a bustling crowd of students gathered on the glade for the "Kirkversary." The event, advertised by an Instagram account, brought students together to sing, cheer and boo at Kirk's memory.
The crowd kicked off the Kirkversary by singing a rendition of the viral AI-generated anthem, "We Are Charlie Kirk." Students, some of whom came dressed in Kirk-related costumes, also chanted slogans such as "Jerk for Kirk," while one student brought a "Kirk-ified" drawing of the "Mona Lisa," in which the painting's original face had been replaced with Kirk's own.
"I think the whole event is just super funny because it’s celebrating the anniversary of a bad person’s death," said junior Sihan Cheng, who attended the Kirkversary.
Cheng said the memeification of Kirk serves as a way to prevent him from becoming a "martyr" for the right-wing causes he supported.
Many students, though outspoken about their disagreement with Kirk's politics, also described great concern with the idea that someone could be killed for exercising their right to free speech.
Freshman Emily Salib said political violence "shouldn’t be normalized" and that it pushes the country onto a dangerous path in its current polarized state.
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this year's best contemporary classical cuts, so far #ClassicalMusic open.spotify.com/playlist/6aITa…
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'The Emerging Democratic Majority' (2002), by John B. Judis @JohnBJudis & Ruy Teixeira
Judis & Teixeira were right about many things in this 2002 book. Post-industrial society makes the members of some groups more numerous and liberal and makes the members of some liberal groups more numite-collar professionals, college graduates, unmarried women and ethnic minorities. #liberals
At the same time, the share of "white working-class" voters – a Republican-leaning group – was correctly predicted decline. Christians wouldn't be a growth demographic for the GOP (correct: secularism increased). All this would benefit the Democrats. #workingmen
The authors believed that if the Dems maintained their political orientation of Bill Clinton-style "progressive centrism" the party's (minority) share of white working-class voters could be maintained. This would lead to a Dem-dominated political realignment around 2010.
Obama's success seemed to fulfill this prophecy but then things went wrong for Team Blue. The Dems have 'won' the popular vote in five of this century’s seven presidential elections, so they actually *have* been the majority party, but the its voters are disproportionately from large states, in a system designed to limit the power of large states. The political realignment this book predicted has not occurred. The Democrats lost a significant share of their white working-class voters, and then, to a lesser extent, Hispanic and #Asian. Currently (September 2026), the GOP runs all three branches of the federal government.
If this book’s analysis is correct, what must have happened is that the Dems abandoned progressive centrism. But was that the problem? Candidates associated with progressive centrist Bill Clinton – Al Gore and Hillary Clinton – lost presidential and primary elections. And four of the past five presidential elections were won by candidates who positioned themselves as outside of the political establishment and promising change.
Non-college educated voters have embraced the populist right in many Western countries, not just in the USA, so it seems that the Dem’s post-2012 failure may have been due to something international and structural.
Judis & Teixeira were right about many things in this 2002 book. Post-industrial society makes the members of some groups more numerous and liberal and makes the members of some liberal groups more numite-collar professionals, college graduates, unmarried women and ethnic minorities. #liberals
At the same time, the share of "white working-class" voters – a Republican-leaning group – was correctly predicted decline. Christians wouldn't be a growth demographic for the GOP (correct: secularism increased). All this would benefit the Democrats. #workingmen
The authors believed that if the Dems maintained their political orientation of Bill Clinton-style "progressive centrism" the party's (minority) share of white working-class voters could be maintained. This would lead to a Dem-dominated political realignment around 2010.
Obama's success seemed to fulfill this prophecy but then things went wrong for Team Blue. The Dems have 'won' the popular vote in five of this century’s seven presidential elections, so they actually *have* been the majority party, but the its voters are disproportionately from large states, in a system designed to limit the power of large states. The political realignment this book predicted has not occurred. The Democrats lost a significant share of their white working-class voters, and then, to a lesser extent, Hispanic and #Asian. Currently (September 2026), the GOP runs all three branches of the federal government.
If this book’s analysis is correct, what must have happened is that the Dems abandoned progressive centrism. But was that the problem? Candidates associated with progressive centrist Bill Clinton – Al Gore and Hillary Clinton – lost presidential and primary elections. And four of the past five presidential elections were won by candidates who positioned themselves as outside of the political establishment and promising change.
Non-college educated voters have embraced the populist right in many Western countries, not just in the USA, so it seems that the Dem’s post-2012 failure may have been due to something international and structural.
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'New California law restricts Alameda County discretionary funding', KTVU
The Brief:
- A new California state law imposes new restrictions on how Alameda County allocates its discretionary funding.
- The measure requires county supervisors to approve discretionary funds—which often go toward non-profits or community organizations—by a majority vote.
- Alameda County supervisors called the bill political retaliation, pointing out that the restrictions apply exclusively to Alameda County.
The bill was authored by former State Senator and current Congresswoman Aisha Wahab @SenAishaWahab, who said the regulation was needed to improve transparency after heightened scrutiny over county spending.
The Brief:
- A new California state law imposes new restrictions on how Alameda County allocates its discretionary funding.
- The measure requires county supervisors to approve discretionary funds—which often go toward non-profits or community organizations—by a majority vote.
- Alameda County supervisors called the bill political retaliation, pointing out that the restrictions apply exclusively to Alameda County.
The bill was authored by former State Senator and current Congresswoman Aisha Wahab @SenAishaWahab, who said the regulation was needed to improve transparency after heightened scrutiny over county spending.
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new blundetto mini-playlist, celebrating the covers album open.spotify.com/playlist/2a8jm…
#albumsyoumusthear
#albumsyoumusthear
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'Summer Box Office Breaks All-Time Record With $4.67 Billion', Variety
The summer box office has become the highest-grossing of all time. Domestic ticket sales from May 1 through Labor Day on Sept. 7 stand at $4.76 billion, according to Rentrak @Comscore. Revenues surpassed the long-held record set in 2013 with $4.755 billion.
This comes with two major caveats: Ticket sales from more than a decade ago weren’t adjusted for inflation, and popcorn season was slightly longer (running at 130 days compared to 123 days in 2013) because of Labor Day’s placement on the calendar.
This summer is also notable as the first in history where each of the four months generated above $1 billion.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Home” was No. 1 for the sixth consecutive frame with $23.5 million during the four-day holiday frame. It will soon surpass 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($936 million, not adjusted for inflation) as the highest-grossing movie of all time at the domestic box office. Meanwhile, it’s already the third-biggest release ever globally behind 2009’s “Avatar” ($2.9 billion) and “Avengers: Endgame” ($2.7 billion).
“The Odyssey” secured second place with $17.3 million over the holiday after eight weekends on the big screen. Imax has contributed $486 million globally, representing a massive 30% of the film’s total box office tally. #MovieTalk
The summer box office has become the highest-grossing of all time. Domestic ticket sales from May 1 through Labor Day on Sept. 7 stand at $4.76 billion, according to Rentrak @Comscore. Revenues surpassed the long-held record set in 2013 with $4.755 billion.
This comes with two major caveats: Ticket sales from more than a decade ago weren’t adjusted for inflation, and popcorn season was slightly longer (running at 130 days compared to 123 days in 2013) because of Labor Day’s placement on the calendar.
This summer is also notable as the first in history where each of the four months generated above $1 billion.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Home” was No. 1 for the sixth consecutive frame with $23.5 million during the four-day holiday frame. It will soon surpass 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($936 million, not adjusted for inflation) as the highest-grossing movie of all time at the domestic box office. Meanwhile, it’s already the third-biggest release ever globally behind 2009’s “Avatar” ($2.9 billion) and “Avengers: Endgame” ($2.7 billion).
“The Odyssey” secured second place with $17.3 million over the holiday after eight weekends on the big screen. Imax has contributed $486 million globally, representing a massive 30% of the film’s total box office tally. #MovieTalk
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'The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters', by Priya Parker (2018, @riverheadbooks)
I heard Priya Parker interviewed on the Conversations with Tyler @cowenconvos podcast & was interested enough to read ‘The Art of Gathering’. Socializing is an important part of life and osting events is important. This isn’t my usual type of book, but Parker has expertise & passion, so it was thought-provoking & worthwhile. But it’s advanced stuff. A follow-up how-to book for beginners would be useful. #bookworm
I heard Priya Parker interviewed on the Conversations with Tyler @cowenconvos podcast & was interested enough to read ‘The Art of Gathering’. Socializing is an important part of life and osting events is important. This isn’t my usual type of book, but Parker has expertise & passion, so it was thought-provoking & worthwhile. But it’s advanced stuff. A follow-up how-to book for beginners would be useful. #bookworm
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'Polls Show 5 Democratic Socialist Positions Have Traction With Republicans', Dan Gooding @DanGooding, Newsweek #socialists
A February Pew Research Center @pewresearch survey found that 59% of Republicans support requiring employers to provide paid family leave. The findings are based on a survey conducted between September 2-8, 2025, among 8,750 U.S. adults.
Morning Consult polling @MorningConsult found that 75% of Republicans support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The poll surveyed 1,100 Americans between March 17-18, 2026.
A June Heatmap poll found that 63% of Trump voters oppose construction of a data center near their homes, driven by concerns over electricity costs, water use, environmental impacts and quality-of-life issues. The poll of 4,118 American registered voters was conducted by Embold Research via text-to-web responses from May 15-28, 2026. #ConstructionJobs
A February Pew Research Center @pewresearch survey found that 59% of Republicans support requiring employers to provide paid family leave. The findings are based on a survey conducted between September 2-8, 2025, among 8,750 U.S. adults.
Morning Consult polling @MorningConsult found that 75% of Republicans support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The poll surveyed 1,100 Americans between March 17-18, 2026.
A June Heatmap poll found that 63% of Trump voters oppose construction of a data center near their homes, driven by concerns over electricity costs, water use, environmental impacts and quality-of-life issues. The poll of 4,118 American registered voters was conducted by Embold Research via text-to-web responses from May 15-28, 2026. #ConstructionJobs
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'Rewilding brings beaver boom to former dairy farm', BBC #Somerset @bbcsomerset
Three years ago, charity Heal Rewilding bought a 460-acre site between Frome and Bruton in Somerset, with the aim of returning the land to its natural state.
Since then, a beaver colony has dammed River Frome, creating its own personalised pond and welcoming five kits this year.
The charity's first report [Heal Somerset State of Nature report] reveals 94 species of birds have been informally recorded since 2023, including 21 red-listed and 28 amber-listed species.
The number of butterfly species also doubled from 11 to 24, along with a significant increase in mice and vole populations.
Beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain 400 years ago, but have been making a comeback in the past two decades, with about 500 thought to be living in England.
The dams they build slow the flow of rivers and #streams and create habitats where other creatures can thrive. They can also help reduce flooding further downstream.
Healthy ecosystems can help store carbon, improve soil and water health and strengthen resilience to climate-related pressures like flooding, heat and drought.
Three years ago, charity Heal Rewilding bought a 460-acre site between Frome and Bruton in Somerset, with the aim of returning the land to its natural state.
Since then, a beaver colony has dammed River Frome, creating its own personalised pond and welcoming five kits this year.
The charity's first report [Heal Somerset State of Nature report] reveals 94 species of birds have been informally recorded since 2023, including 21 red-listed and 28 amber-listed species.
The number of butterfly species also doubled from 11 to 24, along with a significant increase in mice and vole populations.
Beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain 400 years ago, but have been making a comeback in the past two decades, with about 500 thought to be living in England.
The dams they build slow the flow of rivers and #streams and create habitats where other creatures can thrive. They can also help reduce flooding further downstream.
Healthy ecosystems can help store carbon, improve soil and water health and strengthen resilience to climate-related pressures like flooding, heat and drought.
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'New York school pauses plan to deploy humanlike AI robot teacher after backlash', by PHILIP MARCELO @philmarcelo, AP #SchoolSafety #AIart️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️ #HumanBeforeAI
A school district state New York is hitting pause on plans to deploy an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns, including the maker’s ties to a company that produces hyper realistic sex bots. #EducationNews #Teachersof𝕏
The Salamanca City Central School District’s board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix @RealbotixCorp with visions that “Sally,” as the stationary robot with long dark hair has already been nicknamed, would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
The company pushed back at suggestions that “Sally” was simply a repurposed sex doll, saying it was a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no modified hardware.
A school district state New York is hitting pause on plans to deploy an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns, including the maker’s ties to a company that produces hyper realistic sex bots. #EducationNews #Teachersof𝕏
The Salamanca City Central School District’s board approved the nearly $60,000 purchase from Realbotix @RealbotixCorp with visions that “Sally,” as the stationary robot with long dark hair has already been nicknamed, would enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields.
The company pushed back at suggestions that “Sally” was simply a repurposed sex doll, saying it was a “newly manufactured, purpose-built educational unit” with no modified hardware.
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