Is Melania the vortex of ALL political issues? * Immigration: how did she — and her parents — get visas? (Answers: "Einstein" visa — seriously! — and "chain migration") * Epstein: how did she meet her current husband? (Ask author Michael Wolff) 1/2

#LastFourWatched #LetterboxdFriday Problematic titles? * "Klute" was less about Sutherland's Klute & more about Fonda's Bree * Source novel for "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" was just "McCabe" — but the character names are not as interesting as McCabe's quandary * And ... "It's Chinatown, Jake" #FilmSky

In an NFL players' survey of the overall quality of the teams they play for — including facilities, work conditions, etc., the Pittsburgh Steelers came in last. The Steelers' locker room was graded an F. Players reported that it "has only five bathroom stalls for the entire team."

No spoilers but I very much enjoyed today’s Wordle

I don't like to be doom-and-gloom when it comes to climate, but facts are facts and we're fighting not only the scientific realities but a corrupt political machine that says the whole thing is a hoax. Here's just one set of facts to illustrate the point (H/T: Climate Change Resources newsletter):

New Harvard study: "Proximity to Nuclear Power Plants Associated with Increased Cancer Mortality" Translation: Living near nuclear power plants increases the likelihood of getting cancer.

Are you working on an idea that reduces methane emissions? If so, you could be one of eight winners of the inaugural Climate Curve Prize: Methane (CCP:M) — and win $25k. (Total $200k will be allocated to eight winners in four categories.)

View from our rear window in Brooklyn

DAD JOKE WARNING: Just watched the USA v Canada gold medal hockey game. That is quite the heated rivalry.

For private-sector institutions like Paul, Weiss, Goldman Sachs, and Hyatt, the inclusion of senior executives in the Epstein Files seems to have crossed a reputational red line, making their continued leadership unsustainable. Where is that red line for the U.S. and its highest-ranking executive?

My #LastFourWatched for #LetterboxdFriday. Continuing with my "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls" festival. Both "Blue Collar" and "The Irishman" feature Harvey Keitel, family bowling scenes, and union shenanigans (not an insight into my politics, just noting what's in the films) #FilmSky

Vote for the weirdest sports story of the week: 1) MLB players' union chief resigns after revealing improper relationship with ... sister-in-law

Come to Kenya with BSL How do we actually move the needle on the daunting global challenges ahead — especially at a moment when governments (most notably the U.S.) are pulling back?

"When a nuclear depository is built somewhere in the West [of the United States], the Department of Energy's method of shipping [nuclear] fuel there is primarily by rail. There are 76 sites in the United States, and over 100,000 tons of nuclear fuel sit at these 76 sites."

About a decade ago, I started a partnership with a nonprofit that has been game-changing — for the planet, and for me, personally.

As holidays go, Presidents’ Day is, like most American presidents themselves, imperfect.

Ooops! I did it wrong, trying again: #lastfourwatched 🍿 #letterboxdfriday 🍿 #letterboxd 🍿 #films 🍿 #movies Head Knife in the Water The Battle of Algiers The Conversation

My #LastFourWatched on #letterboxd: Shampoo The Conversation Knife in the Water The Battle of Algiers (Note: been re-reading "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls")

Great moments in Homeland Security history: The El Paso airport is shutdown when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection — without telling the FAA — shoots at what it believes to be a drug-cartel drone. But in fact it is a party balloon.

The nuclear industry and some policymakers have been pushing a misleading narrative that nuclear power should be considered a “green” or “zero-emissions” alternative to fossil fuels.

As of this posting, only 20 countries have medaled in the ongoing XXV Winter Olympic Games, a.k.a. Milano Cortina 2026. www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...

Sam Darnold entered the NFL in 2018 as a highly coveted prospect, the number 3 overall draft pick.

Hope those paint tubes above Mariah don’t create a “Carrie” moment

My nephews were over for dinner, and one of them said, “James Harden just got traded to Cleveland for Garland.” And I said “Straight up?” And my teenage daughter cringed, *thinking* that I was like “No CAP, for realz?” (But really I just meant was the trade straight up, no extras, etc.)

From the Epstein files: Epstein: Trump claims to have had relations with Nikki Haley

College football scandals. AI agents out of control. A corrupt U.S. president. Bizarre running rituals. In this month's "Friends of Brooklyn Story Lab," we celebrate three nonfiction books and a podcast.

Various names have appeared in the released Epstein files, and, rightfully, those names have drawn scrutiny. But why is one name that keeps coming up — often depicting vile, criminal behavior — getting a “nothing to see here” pass: Donald Trump?

Boycotts work: Spin: Kennedy Center will close for 2-year construction project Reality: No one credible will play there Keep the pressure on this shameful, corrupt, and dangerous administration.

FBI. CIA. Boston Blue. Sheriff Country. NCIS. CBS’ current lineup of TV shows. Coming soon: Tango and Kash Patel. #grammys

1/ This week, after re-reading Peter Biskind’s “Easy Riders, Raging Bulls,” I fell into a ’60s and ’70s movie rabbit hole and ended up watching “Z” and “The Battle of Algiers” back to back. (They were on HBO, and I didn’t feel like giving Amazon the satisfaction right now.)

Greenland was allegedly named by Erik the Red, said to have christened it as a real-estate scam to entice settlers, when it really should have been named Iceland. In Davos this week, another authoritarian leader known for real-estate scams confused Iceland for Greenland: Donald the Orange.

Globally, governments are pulling back from funding and supporting vital development work. That reality leaves a gap — but also a leadership opportunity.

Pro tip for people who have NOT won a Nobel Peace Prize: Toppling a regime and then receiving a prize from an actual winner trying to curry favor with you does NOT count as winning one. Thank you.

When I emceed an event in Denmark in 2017 featuring then-Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the United States wasn’t just an ally to Denmark but the anchor of NATO, the guarantor of a rules-based order, and a cultural force whose power was widely perceived as stabilizing rather than threatening.

In this month's edition of "Friends of Brooklyn Story Lab," we spotlight four works by the talented people in the greater BSL ecosystem:

Brooklyn Story Lab has updated our website with new case studies mapped to the UN Sustainable Development Goals — at least one project we helped produce for each of the 17 Goals. Including:

Shocking labor practices. Insecure supply chains. Reliance on bad actors. There are clear reasons why an extractive approach to obtaining the minerals we need to power the next wave of this digital age — like Rare Earth Elements (REEs) or critical raw materials (CRMs) — isn't working.

My former boss and mentor Pranay Gupte passed away this weekend in Florida.

TONGA's NEW 'BOSS' "Tonga is, as you know, a Big Ocean State," noted Tonga's Lord Fatefehi Fakafanua when he participated on our "First Fridays" video-podcast "Live from Dubai" during COP28 two years ago.

COME TO KENYA WITH BSL! The Convergence Residency is an exclusive retreat (May 20-24, 2026) for leaders from both the corporate and nonprofit sectors who want to elevate their impact.

A soaring novel about a Ghanaian family. A solutions-oriented podcast, offering fixes “from cow farts to cocoa-less chocolate to carbon-free cement.” Never-before-seen photos from an important American photographer. And insights on the lost art of connecting.

The "hoax" of climate change is likely to change the taste of your coffee... www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Was COP30 ALL bad? An agreement was indeed reached by 195 countries and entities. But the U.S. was not one of them, the agreement was weak, and lowlights included fossil-fuel lobbyists, sweltering heat, love hotels, a biome near collapse, and a fire that broke out in the plenary.

Latest phishing text I just got: "Your skincare routine is always so impeccable. I want to take my skin as seriously as you do, but I'm busy at work and don't have the time to manage it."

AI is transforming the private sector exponentially, but in the nonprofit sector, there is a sizable readiness gap.

"A fascinating blend of horror and magical realism, [a] spine-tingling thriller" that "explores the complex relationship between women, their bodies, and the natural world."

It's safe to say that, in the last century, geopolitical realities have changed ... a lot. So why, then, does the UN Security Council — the international body best equipped to address geopolitical challenges — look essentially the same now as it does when it was mandated 80 years ago last week? **

RIP, Christmas Island shrew Beautifully written obit for a species that "never weighed more than a spoonful of sugar."

"After the 2024 election, many feared the 'purpose economy' would fade the way 'woke' did. Instead, the opposite happened. [Now] sustainability, social impact, and inclusion are growth levers instead of moral imperatives."