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Farmers sued to get their climate data back, and won. What can we learn?

Farmers sued to get their climate data back, and won. What can we learn?

Yahoo19-05-2025

The Trump administration is attacking climate science - from scrubbing data farmers use for their crops to cutting personnel from the National Weather Service. They are dismantling the best tools we have for mitigating climate change. 'Climate change is not just a public health issue, it's not just about forest fires or drought,' says Fmr. Washington Governor Jay Inslee. 'It's about economics… This is going to cost Americans' bottom line.' Whether you are a farmer trying to protect your crops, a parent trying to protect your child from air or water pollution, a homeowner trying to keep your home safe from flood or fire… the only hope we have to protect ourselves starts with understanding the threats we face.

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LA protests: California questions Trump's military response
LA protests: California questions Trump's military response

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

LA protests: California questions Trump's military response

The Pentagon mobilized 700 Marines and doubled the National Guard troops in response to immigration enforcement protests Marines expected to reach Los Angeles by Tuesday morning California Governor Gavin Newsom sues the Trump administration over deployment of the National Guard and Marines Australia speaks to US over reporter shot with rubber bullet while covering anti-Ice protests This blog covers the latest developments in the United States on Tuesday, June 10, as President Donald Trump's administration deploys active-duty Marines to deal with the LA protests: Australia has raised concerns with the United States government after a reporter was seemingly targeted and shot with a rubber bullet while covering protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred," Albanese said. The incident during which Australia's Nine News US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was shot live on camera. Albanese said he also spoke to Tomasi. She wrote on Sunday that she was a "bit sore" but otherwise well, adding it was "important we keep on telling the stories that need to be told." President Donald Trump's administration has announced the deployment of 700 active-duty US Marines and an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. The move has drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who described the deployment as "deranged" and accused the President of using the military to serve his own political interests. "This isn't about public safety," Governor Newsom said. "It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego." The deployment of active-duty military personnel within US cities is highly unusual and has raised concerns among local officials. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the arrival of Marines without prior coordination posed a significant logistical and operational challenge. He expressed confidence in the police department's ability to manage large-scale demonstrations independently. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also condemned the move, calling it a "deliberate attempt to create disorder and chaos in our city." "I feel like we are part of an experiment that we did not ask to be a part of," she said. About 700 active-duty Marines are heading to Los Angeles on Tuesday - a move that state and city officials say will only make things worse. What started as peaceful demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on Friday has become more heated. The situation escalated after President Donald Trump ordered in the National Guard, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's opposition. Protesters and law enforcement clashed, with cars set on fire in the streets. It's the first time in 60 years that a president has deployed active-duty troops to back up the National Guard at home. Stay with DW for real-time news, analysis, and insights from our correspondents on the ground as we continue to cover the LA protests.

Why Waymo's Self-Driving Cars Became a Target of Protesters in Los Angeles
Why Waymo's Self-Driving Cars Became a Target of Protesters in Los Angeles

Time​ Magazine

time34 minutes ago

  • Time​ Magazine

Why Waymo's Self-Driving Cars Became a Target of Protesters in Los Angeles

As protesters and police clash across Los Angeles and beyond, a striking image from the mayhem has been that of graffiti-strewn white cars engulfed in flames. But these aren't ordinary cars. They've got sensors protruding from the top and sides—and, critically, they've got no drivers. Waymo, a robotaxi company, found itself at the center of the demonstrations against the Trump Administration's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids after a group of protesters over the weekend, according to the Los Angeles Times, approached a parked row of the autonomous vehicles and smashed their windows, slashed their tires, spray-painted them with anti-ICE slogans, and set them on fire. While eye-catching, the trend is also extremely dangerous. Electric vehicles, like those in Waymo's fleet, have lithium-ion batteries, and in a post on X, the L.A. Police Department warned: 'Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby.' According to Scientific American, first responders exposed to the fumes of burnt lithium-ion batteries without protection historically 'have developed throat burns and breathing difficulties upon arriving,' and, depending on the hydrogen fluoride levels, individuals can start coughing up blood within minutes of exposure. At least six Waymo vehicles across the county have reportedly been the target of vandalism, resulting in the company temporarily suspending operations in the area 'out of an abundance of caution.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have condemned the violence and destruction, which Newsom attributed to 'insurgent groups' and 'anarchists' who have infiltrated otherwise peaceful protests. President Donald Trump, who mobilized the National Guard to respond to the situation, has called the demonstrators ' troublemakers ' and ' paid insurrectionists.' Here's what to know. What is Waymo? Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company, and grew out of the Google Self-Driving Car project that began in 2009. It launched its robotaxi business in 2020 in limited markets, which grew to include Los Angeles in 2024. While the company says its mission 'is to be the world's most trusted driver,' a national survey earlier this year found that '6 in 10 U.S. drivers still report being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle' while the proportion of people enthusiastic about the development of the technology has actually decreased from 18% in 2022 to 13% in 2025. Waymo vehicles were involved in 696 accidents across the U.S. between 2021 and 2024, or about one accident every other day. MKP Law Group, a Los-Angeles based firm that represents clients involved in accidents, acknowledged in a blog post that this statistic 'is not necessarily indicative of Waymo causing those accidents, as some may have been the fault of the other involved drivers.' Studies show that self-driving technology is likely safer than most human drivers. Waymo has also reportedly annoyed some people, including those who find self-driving vehicles to be an eyesore as well as locals where the vehicles routinely get stuck. Neighbors near a Waymo charging station in Santa Monica have complained about noise pollution caused by the driverless vehicles honking at each other in the parking lot. Waymo vehicles as well as other self-driving cars have previously been the target of vandals, particularly in California, where Waymo is headquartered. In January, a Waymo car was torn apart in Los Angeles. In February 2024, another Waymo car was smashed and set ablaze in San Francisco. And in July 2024, a man was charged with slashing the tires of 17 Waymo cars in San Francisco. Why is Waymo being targeted in the L.A. protests? Several potential explanations have emerged for why Waymo vehicles were targeted during the protests in Los Angeles. The Wall Street Journal reported that part of the reason the cars were vandalized was to obstruct traffic—a traditional, albeit controversial, protest tactic. Some social media users have suggested that self-driving vehicles in particular have become a new target because they are seen by protesters as ' part of the police surveillance state.' Waymo's cars are equipped with cameras that provide a 360-degree view of their surroundings, a tool that has been tapped by law enforcement, according to reports. Independent tech news site 404 Media reported in April that the Los Angeles Police Department obtained footage from a Waymo driverless car to use as part of an investigation into an unrelated hit-and-run. And Bloomberg reported in 2023 that police have increasingly relied on self-driving cars and their cameras for video evidence. Chris Gilliard, a fellow at the Social Science Research Council, told Bloomberg that self-driving vehicles are 'essentially surveillance cameras on wheels,' adding: 'We're supposed to be able to go about our business in our day-to-day lives without being surveilled unless we are suspected of a crime, and each little bit of this technology strips away that ability.' Waymo told Bloomberg at the time that it 'carefully' reviews every request from police 'to make sure it satisfies applicable laws and has a valid legal process.' Some activists have also suggested that the burning of Waymo vehicles should garner less sympathy from onlookers. 'There are people on here saying it's violent and domestic terrorism to set a Waymo car on fire,' racial justice organizer Samuel Sinyangwe posted on X. 'A robot car? Are you going to demand justice for the robot dogs next? But not the human beings repeatedly shot with rubber bullets in the street? What kind of politics is this?' 'There is no human element to Waymo,' climate and labor organizer Elise Joshi similarly posted on X. 'It's expensive and bought-out politicians are using it as an excuse to defund public transit. I pray on Waymo's downfall.'

Jon Stewart to Los Angeles: ‘Is Your City Ever Not on Fire?'
Jon Stewart to Los Angeles: ‘Is Your City Ever Not on Fire?'

New York Times

time35 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Jon Stewart to Los Angeles: ‘Is Your City Ever Not on Fire?'

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night's highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Fire and I.C.E. Things have been tense for days in Los Angeles, where President Trump deployed the military in response to protests against immigration raids. Jon Stewart called the situation 'the very predictable result of a liberal city, reliant on an immigrant population, colliding with a heavy-handed MAGA migrant-trawling operation looking to hit its quota of brown Pokémen. Gotta catch 'em all!' 'Is it too much to ask to have one weekend where I don't have to Google 'when count as martial law'?' — STEPHEN COLBERT 'It's an explosive situation, on the cusp of federalism vs. states' rights, border control vs. due process, terrifyingly militarized sweeps vs. hard-working people in local communities, the United States Marines vs. the Postmates guy who brought you an egg sandwich.' — JON STEWART 'Trump's actions are shocking because this troop deployment is in defiance of the California government. Normally, the governor is in charge of the National Guard, and in Los Angeles, local and state authorities had not sought help in dealing with the protests. So nobody asked for this, and it's only going to make things worse. And in Los Angeles, there's a word for that: 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'' — STEPHEN COLBERT 'There has been some pelting of police and I.C.E. agents with rocks and garbage. For instance, people began throwing objects at law enforcement in a protest that started when demonstrators took over the 101, though locals were quick to point out they should've taken over the 405 to the 5, saved at least 10 minutes on the road to fascism.' — STEPHEN COLBERT 'Also, if you're against property damage and protesters flying un-American flags, you guys would've hated Jan. 6.' — SETH MEYERS 'And quick question for those of you who live in that area: Is your city ever not on fire? Whether you win a basketball championship, a World Series championship, whether you have an exploding piñata gender reveal gone wrong — congratulations, it's a boy and an evacuation! — or you're just protesting the Trump administration's expanded deportation raids, L.A. continues to be our most flammable city.' — JON STEWART The Punchiest Punchlines (The Long Breakup Edition) 'Everybody's still talking about Trump's feud with Elon Musk, and apparently, Trump is considering getting rid of the Tesla that he bought a few months ago — although that's the same feeling every Tesla owner has.' — JIMMY FALLON 'Giving up the car makes sense. I mean, after a breakup, you always get rid of things that remind you of your ex.' — JIMMY FALLON 'I wouldn't worry. The dude has plenty of breakups. You know his policy — don't cry because it's over, frown because it happened.' — SETH MEYERS Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

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