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Is Facebook polarizing Americans? It depends on whom you ask and how they’d frame it. A multi-year research collaboration between Meta and a group of scholars who investigated Facebook and Instagram’s role in the 2020 presidential election complicates that question. 👤 Short-term changes to the platforms’ algorithms had no measurable impact on political polarization, according to this study. Meta states the research shows its platforms aren't to blame for polarization, but the study’s academics say it's not that simple. 🎧 Listen to Morning Edition’s interview with Talia Stroud, a lead researcher in this study. 👤 In other news on political discourse, voting rights groups say they are still waiting to hear from Meta about how it will ensure accurate election information on the Threads app, which has drawn millions of users.
The U.S. might have another COVID wave this summer. Dr. Brendan Jackson, the COVID-19 Incident Manager at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tells NPR that after about seven months of consistent declines, several Covid-19 indicators, including hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and test positivity, are once again on the rise. 😷 Here are some tips on how to minimize the risk of contracting the virus while flying.
Ever chickened out of ordering food online because the price almost doubled with all those "inflation-fees"? NPR's Stacey Vanek Smith experienced it when she wanted a burger and fries. The price jumped from $14.07 to $27.80. Restaurants say these fees are vital for their survival, and the White House estimates Americans spend over $65 billion on fees annually. 🌾 Pro tip: Go for lentils with rice on a lazy day, delicious and budget-friendly!
Starting next year, if you’re a U.S. passport holder traveling to an EU country, you will need electronic authorization called ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System. It includes an online application, and it’s for everyone — no age exceptions. While it’s not exactly a full-blown visa, it’s going to be linked to your passport. So without it, airport security won't let you board. Here's all you need to know about the cost and how to apply once it kicks in. |
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| Extreme heat is dangerous for everyone, especially for kiddos who love playing outside. From physical traits to sometimes not even realizing they’re getting too hot. But don't worry, we’ve got tips for keeping them safe under the hot sun. Adults can learn from them too: 👶 Think of kids as small potatoes. You know how those tiny potatoes cook way quicker than the big ones? 🥔 Same deal with kids! They're more vulnerable to the heat.
👶 Look for changes in how they act: It could signal that the child is in distress from too much heat.
👶 Hydration is key. Water is great. Milk can also be a good choice. |
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| A new way to give: NPR+With NPR+, your recurring donation through plus.npr.org can unlock sponsor-free listening, early access, and even bonus episodes for popular NPR podcasts like Fresh Air, Planet Money, The NPR Politics Podcast, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! and more. |
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My family and I have spent a lot of time listening to Tony Bennett this week. Perhaps you have, too. Tony left us, at the age of 96, while we were on deadline for last week’s show. I was blessed to do a book with him when he turned 90 in 2016. So I was interviewed by my Up First colleague Ayesha Rascoe, and did my own weekly essay.
I’ve been asked this question a lot: what are my favorite Tony songs. May I say — all of them? But I do have a few personal favorites, which I know to be among Tony’s:
I’ll Be Seeing You, by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal, a 1938 song that became a kind of wartime anthem for those at home and overseas who missed loved ones. Tony often sang this when performing for troops in Europe in an entertainment division after serving in the Battle of the Bulge.
Ben Webster and Johnny Green’s 1930 Body and Soul, especially the version he recorded with Amy Winehouse on his Duets II album. Tony revered Amy Winehouse’s talent and character. He knew something of the troubles that bedeviled her. What you hear in this haunting recording is two souls reaching out for each other.
Tony thought his best work was his two albums with Bill Evans, the jazz great, who would also leave us too soon. Listen to their 1977, A Child is Born, with lyrics by Alec Wilder. Tony puts the magnetism of a child into song. |
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Many thanks to Erika Aguilar for sprinkling her editing magic on this newsletter, and to Anandita Bhalerao for her awesome production skills. |
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