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‘The trickle of shutdowns could soon become a flood’
A “wave of closings” of liberal arts colleges “would be devastating,” says Kevin Carey. In “parts of the country that have already been rocked by globalization, the nearby college is one of the few places left where young people can climb the ladder of opportunity.” Students “could attend public universities and community colleges instead, but those programs rarely have the same focus on civic responsibility, the humanities and student discussion as liberal arts schools.”
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
‘The White House didn’t need a Mar-a-Lago makeover’
Nia-Malika Henderson at Bloomberg
The “pictures of a digger tearing into the White House are nothing less than shocking, a symbolof Trump’s disregard for American institutions and values — and his embrace of a new Gilded Age,” says Nia-Malika Henderson. Other “presidents have managed to host and honor foreign leaders and dignitaries just fine for all these many years.” The “White House is supposed to be the ‘The People’s House,’ not a palace — special, yet accessible.”
The “principle that all citizens deserve equal protection has been abandoned,” says Steven Burg. We “seem to be reviving an ethos where certain people are excluded from public spaces based on their identity.” Banning “Jewish fans and performers normalizes discrimination instead of preventing violence.” If “safety is the paramount issue, then put safeguards up to stop those threatening the safety of citizens; don’t penalize those being attacked.” That is “backward thinking that only serves to embolden the bullies.”
‘Will the AI boom lead to water and electricity shortages?’
Katrina vanden Heuvel at The Nation
Amid the “artificial intelligence boom — or bubble, as seems increasingly likely — tech companies are pouring money into AI infrastructure,” says Katrina vanden Heuvel. It’s “no wonder that companies are often silent about exactly how much water their facilities use.” Around the “country, communities are increasingly aware of the shortcomings common to many data center deals.” AI “became mainstream with astonishing speed, while everyday Americans have had little power to halt its encroachments.”
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
