'Shut these dangerous and parasitical robots down before it's too late'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
'The staggering environmental toll of artificial intelligence'
Liza Featherstone in The New Republic
The threat that artificial intelligence could worsen "misinformation, democratic dysfunction, and systemic racism" could be "obscuring the more direct" problems the technology creates, says Liza Featherstone. AI data centers use an "unconscionable" amount of water to cool their computers, "in desert regions that can ill afford to squander it." Generative AI also voraciously consumes energy and critical minerals, and generates mountains of toxic "e-waste." All this puts our planet "under existential threat, for no good reason."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Trump's running mate will make 2024 a different contest from 2020's Biden matchup'
Daniel McCarthy in the New York Post
"Donald Trump is beating Joe Biden" in polls, although "the race is close," says Daniel McCarthy. But Trump's running mate pick could increase his edge. Leaders on his short list — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott — could boost Trump's appeal with suburban women or Black voters. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are the same old 2020 Democratic ticket, "four years worse for wear."
'No, Oregon's drug decriminalization law was not a failure'
Robert Gebelhoff in The Washington Post
It's unfair to write off Oregon's drug decriminalization as a "disaster," says Robert Gebelhoff. Measure 110 protected people from arrest for minor drug possession and called for $100 citations instead. Critics argue that turned bus shelters into "smoking dens" and worsened the state's addiction epidemic. Drug overdoses surged, but no worse than in other states. And the law undeniably reduced imprisonment for substance use, which is important because people face "higher risk of overdose after incarceration."
'There's another way Trump could get immunity'
Mona Charen in The Bulwark
The Supreme Court sided with former President Donald Trump by ruling states can't keep him off the ballot, says Mona Charen. His "presidential immunity claim is another matter." Backing Trump on that "would essentially gut the Constitution" and let presidents take bribes, torture critics — you name it. But there's another way Trump can get immunity. If he wins in November, voters will be granting him "absolution" for everything from mishandling secret documents to threatening election officials.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Supreme Court about to criminalize homelessness?
Talking Points The court will decide if bans on outdoor camping are 'cruel and unusual'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published