ᴿᵉˢᵉᵃʳᶜʰᵃᵍᵃᶦⁿ @Researchagain

There is shock, anger and mourning in Spain after the second fatal train crash this year. At least 68 people have died in what is now the deadliest collision there in more than a decade. @WmBrangham reports.

More than 1,300 cases of a popular plant-based butter product have been recalled after testing found potential contamination with yeast, mold and E. coli, according to the FDA. abc7ne.ws/hxXApQ

Jill and I are mourning the loss of our friend Dolores Huerta, a giant of the American labor and civil rights movements. For more than seventy years, Dolores fought for working people. She organized in the fields, she walked the picket lines, and she sat across the table from people who never expected to have to negotiate with her. I say often the middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class. Dolores understood that in her bones. Well into her nineties she was still traveling, marching and organizing for working families, for women, for immigrants, for LGBTQ Americans. Even this year, she showed a different kind of courage, telling a painful truth she had carried for sixty years so others would not have to carry theirs alone. America is fairer and more decent because of Dolores Huerta. Jill and I send our love to her entire family, and to everyone who found their voice because of her. May God bless Dolores Huerta. Sí, se puede.

Last night I photographed the Moon and Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. Near the bottom of the image, Messier 11 (M11), also known as the Wild Duck Cluster. Containing nearly 3,000 stars, it is one of the most compact and structurally dense open clusters discovered.

Daily N95 wear has been a life-changer for me. Not being sick for 6 years was like getting 14-21 days back per year from a single acute illness. Let’s say 84-126 extra healthy days. It’s incredible when you think about it. Masks on planes =no brainer. Daily public masking? Same.

Jon Douglas @atranscendedman

a day ago

University of Hong Kong researchers analyzed 40 airplane outbreaks of COVID-19 and flu. Infection risk was highest near infected passengers. Models found N95 masks nearly eliminated transmission, while doubling ventilation alone was insufficient. pubs.acs.org/esthag/article…

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Dolores Huerta was a pioneer and one of the most influential leaders of our time. For over 70 years she dedicated her life to our community, created and supported multiple great organizations, was honored with many awards, and changed many lives. I had met her before I started to get involved in community work long ago, and recently had the great honor of reconnecting with her to catch up. She impacted my life and so many others, we will miss you Dolores 💔 We will never forget all you have done, and we will see your work continue! God Bless the Huerta family. REST IN POWER 🕊

🚨BREAKING: A Texas county Republican Party is asking a federal court to stop certification of the state’s upcoming election results unless officials first hand count every paper ballot in the state. democracydocket.com/news-alerts/te…

Delores Huerta was at the first protest I ever attended. I was in high school and we marched with farm workers to boycott lettuce because human beings were being sprayed with poison. She was breathtaking. Over the years, if there was a righteous cause you knew she’d be there majestic in her ferocious positivity. She taught me nothing is impossible, not to be lazy and the magic of calling upon the energy the ancestors. She will always be with us to lend her shoulders to serve and upon. Don’t fuck it up.

Ukraine Is Burning John Sweeney The very latest fashion is to stick a cuddly toy koala bear or capybara on your prosthetic leg: “This way, it makes it less frightening for kids!” a one-legged veteran, grinning from ear to ear, tells me. It’s the caring about how others will react to your disability that makes your eyes well up. That, and the laughter. The most striking thing about the Halychyna Rehab Centre, just outside Lviv, is not the fact that the vast majority of the 250 or so veterans have lost limbs but the humour, much of it dark, some of it just plain silly. “Slavik”, 37 has been playing farmer on a micro-scale, planting beetroot and onion seeds in small trays and watching his crop grow. Asked to explain what he was holding in his left hand, Slavik gets a fit of the giggles and says, helplessly: “Beetroot, onions.” Slavik hasn’t got any other limbs. He lost two legs and an arm on the Zaporizhzhia front this April: “a fellow soldier was blown up by a mine, so I ran to help him. While evacuating him, I stepped on a mine myself.” He sent me a photo of his injuries when he was at the Mash medical unit just behind the frontlines but the image is too brutal to share. His time in intensive care wasn’t easy because he was severely wounded in the buttocks and couldn’t move. Like most of the veterans in the rehab clinic, Slavik is waiting for his wounds to fully heal before his prosthetics are fitted so, for the moment, he is stuck in an electric wheelchair. The rehab clinic is on six floors but the lifts can only hold two electric wheelchairs at one go, so traffic jams are a constant misery for the veterans. The director of the state clinic has appealed to the health ministry for the money to build new lifts but Ukraine is broke and there are, always, other priorities. On occasion, the ministry pays nurses in the clinic late or not all they are owed. My trip to the clinic is hosted Tanya Tsapun and Yuliia Denisova, workers from @fierce__calm, a small British charity set up to support long term rehabilitation for veterans, families and children affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Their team help the veterans with all sorts of stuff: the physical and the mental challenges that face young men whose lives have been changed so radically. Just the simple fact of the Fierce Calm team being at the clinic, having a laugh with the lads: you can see the good they are doing. Before the war, Slavik worked in electroplating. He was a proud soldier, who worked as a scout and was tasked with moving around, getting to know the locality of where they were fighting. That meant he got to meet a lot of abandoned dogs and his favourite was an Alabai or Central Asian Wolfhound: “I was very fond of him.” The dog was killed by a Russian First Person View or FPV Molniya drone. These are dirt cheap, going for $1,600 a pop, made of cheap plywood, plastic and foam, sitting on a A-frame of aluminium tubing and powered by a moped engine. The Russians manufacture 50,000 a month. FPV drones are controlled by an operator who has clear optics of what the target is: that means that a Russian soldier meant to kill the dog. His appalling injuries are not the worse thing for Slavik by a long chalk: “I wasn’t especially worried. I’m someone who looks to the future with hope. My family and loved ones support me both emotionally and physically.” Before the big war, he lived in a town in the far east of Ukraine, a few miles from the Russian border. His three kids are in occupied territory or Russia proper: “What saddens me is not knowing when I’ll see my children again.” And Trump’s informal ambassador to the Kremlin, Steve Witkoff, calls Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian.” *** On Day Two of the Big War, I was arrested by a Ukrainian soldier on suspicion of being a Russian spy. “Give me your passport!” said the soldier. “You’re not a policeman.” Good job I didn’t get shot for being a dickhead. Four years on, it’s wonderful to catch up with my great friend Vlad Demchenko. Vlad is in Special Forces now and has the army’s permission to go on holiday every year. Last year he and his lovely girlfriend Olga stayed at my old flat in Perugia. On the first night I took them to La Taverna where we all drank like fishes. On the third night we went to Turreno where the barman was an old friend. Olga declined a fancy red and asked for a cappuccino with her dinner. In Italy, this is a crime. “What?” asked the barman. He went away and Vlad leaned towards me: “We’ve told no-one else. It’s a secret. But we’ve just found out that Olga’s pregnant.” The barman returned and I said: “she’s pregnant!” Spoiler alert: I am bad at keeping secrets. And here is Baby Eva. When Vlad arrested me on Day Two, he phoned Ukrainian Intelligence and they asked for me to be brought to their HQ. Of the four men in the car that took us to Intelligence, only Vlad and I are still alive. He’s lost so many friends he is almost averse to making new ones, lest he lose yet more. A brave and good soldier, he is bitterly contemptuous of the West’s fine words and lack of concrete action to combat the Russian invader: “if Europe wants millions more refugees, they are doing exactly the right thing.” Still, playing goo-goo with Baby Eva is wonderful. You could almost forget there is a war on. *** Vlad has warned me that trains are being targeted by the Russians. The odds of being killed are slim but the chances of hanging out on a stopped train for seven hours have grown. My Czech friend Petr Pavelec, a former body-building champ in Britain, drives a taxi in Prague and volunteers to drive me across Ukraine to Kyiv for the fifth Vladimir Putin: Do Fuck Off! Festival which we will hold in the capital. It’s a monster journey, made more fun by the two of us playing against each other in chess.com. I spend mile after mile mocking body-building so imagine just how crestfallen I am when he beats at chess something hollow. How embarrassing… *** The open air café halfway down St Andrew’s Descent in Kyiv is probably the loveliest in the whole world. The Dnipro shimmers through the trees in the autumnal sun as I sip my coffee. The city’s defencelessness against Russian ballistic missiles and rocket drones makes me wonder whether this cup will be my last. I was in the Ukrainian capital in February 2022 when the Russian army attacked and stayed while the enemy got close, within twelve miles of the city centre, and only returned to Blighty after Vladimir Putin pulled his forces out in early May. True, Russian rockets did target the Kyiv TV Tower and kill five civilians. True, in the northwest suburb of Bucha, the Russians butchered civilians wholesale. But, so long as you were on the Ukrainian side of the frontline, you felt safe-ish. Now, you can get killed wherever you are in Kyiv – and that is grim. Ukraine is fighting three wars. The first is on the front line and the Ukrainians have fought the Russian army to a standstill. The second is the war of the cities and Ukraine is losing that. The third is the war for Donald Trump’s support and Ukraine has lost that. Trump’s decision to break the embargo and import Russian diesel is astonishing. Worse is the throttling of Starlink, making it all but impossible for Kyiv to defend itself. Whether the idea of making Ukraine suffer more was Trump’s or that of Elon Musk, it cannot be excused. On the worst night of the London Blitz in May 1941, the Luftwaffe killed 1,400 people. For now, the scale of the suffering in Kyiv is nothing like that. In September, 32 people were killed. Still, the cheap Chinese rocket drones are proving hard to combat and the pressure is relentless. The Ukrainians’ own air defence alert system feels, to me at least, to be part of the problem. The alerts are continuous and make normal life impossible. After a time, I muted them on my phone. My partner Jenny, safe home in Stratford-upon-Avon, is worried sick about my safety. To assuage her fears, I let economy go hang and check myself into the Kyiv Intercontinental where the foreign movers and shakers stay and blessed with its own deep bomb shelter. But I prefer sleeping in a bed and do that. After Trump announces an energy ceasefire, the Russians bomb one of the major power suppliers in Kyiv and the city is hit by a blackout. I should be fine in my five star citadel but the hotel’s generator has conked out and the lifts are not working. I walk down eight floors down the stairs in total darkness, the only light from my phone, more than a little afraid. Trump’s take on reality is drafted in Russian. *** I catch up with old friends. In February 2023 Yaroslav Lodygin took me for my first (and probably last) trip to the banya in Kyiv. Extreme heat, lots of naked men, their bits wobbling all over the shop, some bloke thrashing my tail feathers with a big chunk of a beech tree, and then a dip in the Dnipro, ice on its banks. It was teeth-shatteringly cold. No, thank you: not again. Yaroslav is now directing a romcom in Kyiv called “Pause”, about two lovers trying to sort out whether they should settle down for good or split up. Yaroslav tells me: “The plot is about couple of mid-30s Kyivans from Golden Gates area, five years into a relationship, suddenly decided to go for a break after Danya, the man felt like he doesn't miss Iva. While he's trying to figure out what's going on with him, they agree to meet each month 28th, to decide what to do next.” The film is being produced by ForeFilms and stars pop-star singer Volodymyr Dantes, who is also a writer and producer and talented young rising star Nastya Nesterenko. The shoot is so continually interrupted by air raid alerts, Russian rocket drones and ballistic missiles that Yaroslav and the crew just keep on filming, making “Pause” the first ever romcom shot in an active war zone. Yaroslav: “I decided to let all the drone attacks and danger into the scenes just to show how the war affects love and relationships, but also that we're still carrying on, holding conversations about love and having a laugh, just like any couple going through turbulence anywhere in the world. The result is a pretty interesting mix of classic romantic comedy, love, drama, absurdity, despair and the war in the background as we teach ourselves to live and love under the grimmest possible circumstances. It is surreal, and sometimes we joke that we might be the last film about Kyiv.” My great old pal Liza Kozlenko now runs a successful business, looking after foreigners who spend time in Ukraine, helping them sort out official paperwork. The Soviet mentality still clings to parts of Ukrainian bureaucracy and it’s to that which Liza and her generation are swinging their axes. Putin is dragging Russia back into Stalin’s shadow while Ukraine is fighting for their lives to stay in the light. *** Walk down the rum case stairs of the Buena Vista in Kyiv as the Russian jet drones circle the city and you will come across a dozen couples doing the cha-cha-cha, the foxtrot and the tango. In Kyiv, as death comes from the sky, life goes on – and that is a thing of beauty. Max runs the bar and is an optimist about the war: “all of my friends are still alive. The morale of the soldiers is high. We are not going to give up.” For what it is worth, I share Max’s optimism but I fear the consequences of Donald Trump’s betrayal. It’s in the Buena Vista where we hold our fifth Vladimir Putin: Do Fuck Off! Festival, raising money for a basket of charities. The electricity cuts out, twice. Our star speaker, Paul Conroy, died this year in Devon. Still, the show must go on and it does. You can watch it on YouTube below. And if can, please help us help Ukraine. Vladimir Putin: Do Fuck Off! Fierce Calm: Sweeney visit youtu.be/KUkD7dsz_JE?si… VPDFO! 2026 youtu.be/FbGl8Doyc_4?si… youtu.be/kd7mFNs0sPg?si… youtu.be/bYZFMhOQIk8?si… youtu.be/beAnb-LwxoI?si… CROWDFUNDER crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/VlDvrKKn?…

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Putin and his botskis think we're idiots. Don't let them get away with stealing our democracy. apnews.com/article/midter…

87 pounds of foreign coins collected from Fort Wayne parking meters over the last 20 years have been donated to help children in need. Read more about how the serendipitous exchange came to fruition here: wane.com/news/local-new…

Trucks, equipment, and a child-made bracelet that says “❤️1dad” left abandoned by ICE, inviting local grifters and questions from families overseas.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that Elon Musk wants to send me to prison. I assure you I’m not going to be intimidated. My response. ⬇️ robertreich.substack.com/p/musk-wants-m…

A Redondo Beach bar is staying open despite flood damage after seawater inundated businesses along the International Boardwalk during unusually high tides. The owner hopes the flooding will bring attention to the need for a more permanent solution. ktla.com/news/local-new…

@SenWhitehouse Crying Damn Shame @SenWhitehouse

Actress Susan Saint James has died. She was 80. Saint James won an Emmy in 1969 for her role in "The Name of the Game" and co-starred with Rock Hudson in the 1970s crime series "McMillan & Wife." Then, in the 1980s, she starred in "Kate & Allie," a sitcom about two divorced mothers. Saint James portrayed the free-spirited Kate who moves in with the straight-laced Allie, played by Jane Curtin. Outside of acting, Saint James was a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics and served on its board of directors. Saint James died Monday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Emmy Award-winning voice actor Eric Bauza, best known for voicing Bugs Bunny and many other beloved "Looney Tunes" characters, has died. He was 46. Born in Canada, Bauza went on to log more than 400 acting credits across TV and film during his 25-year career. He was also the first person of color to voice Bugs. Recently, he helped to get "Coyote vs. Acme" into theaters after it was initially shelved by the studio. The movie went on to make over $100 million worldwide. Los Angeles County officials say Bauza died from a form of heart disease at his home.

Wonder whether Trump is more offended by being lumped in with the Cheesecake Factory than by being associated with Saddam Hussein's taste in decor [below]?

I will be live tonight at 5:30 ET with Don Lemon I'm telling the story of my Tennessee voting scare. The machine kept switching my pick, and I had to fix it three times. I'm not sugarcoating where this country is headed. WATCH HERE: youtube.com/live/KL0pu8jqn…

I bought this photograph online of a little girl from 1972 who was a member of my tribe (Ponca). She is named on the caption, and it may have probably been a media photo for a newspaper, but unfortunately, she died last year, so I am hoping to give it to one of her children