The News
May 17, 2017
It’s Wednesday, the midpoint of the week. Yesterday, The New York Times broke news that President Trump requested that former FBI director James Comey cease the Bureau’s investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Flynn’s ties to Russia during a meeting with Comey back in February, according to an internal memo that the FBI kept on the details of the director’s meetings.
"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the…www.nytimes.com
Meanwhile, anonymous intelligence officials revealed that Israel was the source of the intelligence report unceremoniously disclosed to Russian diplomats by President Trump; homeland security advisors are debating the expansion the current ban on laptops on flights from selected Middle Eastern nations to include European and American airlines; federal officials will release Private Chelsea Manning from a military prison today after having her sentence for leaking intelligence cables to WikiLeaks back in 2010 commuted by former President Obama; and the Boston Celtics won the no. 1 overall pick in upcoming the NBA draft.
Finally, check out our NBA Conference Finals preview breaking down the remaining games before the Finals begin in June.
Cheers,
The Wonks Team
Politics and Public Policy
- The Washington Post reports on how the EternalBlue computer code developed by the National Security Agency became the WannaCry virus used by hackers in a global ransomware operation launched over the weekend.
When the National Security Agency began using a new hacking tool called EternalBlue, those entrusted with deploying it…www.washingtonpost.com
- FiveThirtyEight writes about the dispute between the Humane Society and environmental groups over regulatory policy at the EPA, as the two groups disagree over how the agency should test for toxic chemicals and their effects on humans.
The Humane Society and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families seem like two groups that could, conceivably, coexist in…fivethirtyeight.com
Business and Economy
- The New York Times reports on the accusations of fraud brought against health insurers affiliated with Medicare Advantage, noting the opportunities the program presents for insurers to overcharge the government when compared to the standard Medicare program.
In the first interview since his allegations were made public, the whistle-blower, Benjamin Poehling of Bloomington…www.nytimes.com
Science and Health
- The New Yorker writes about the benefits of swearing on physical health, explaining how shouting profanities can relieve stress at work and to overcome physical impediments during exercise.
By several accounts, Donald Trump has spent a decent amount of time in recent weeks screaming at his television. Almost…www.newyorker.com
Sports and Culture
- Sam Walker excerpts his book “The Captain Class” in Deadspin and presents his case against Derek Jeter among all-time team captains, arguing that Jeter lacked the competitive drive of a team leader yet embodied the corporate ethos of the Yankees.
Whenever I tell a New York Yankees fan that my new book, The Captain Class , is a profile of the greatest team leaders…deadspin.com
- Wonks This Way previews the NBA Conference Finals in for both the East and West.
