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NASA: The East Coast Is Sinking

Your unbiased daily news brief

Author

James Kratch
February 22, 2024

Good morning and happy Thursday. Society's aversion to waiting in line has become a big business. Companies are now making billions offering services that eliminate waits. Over 19M people have Clear memberships (at almost $200 a pop) to avoid security lines while theme parks charge for line-cutting passes and more. How much would you pay to get going faster somewhere important? Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

  • Florida: More Epstein docs coming

  • Venezuela: Illegal mine disaster

  • Biden: New national poll on age issue

  • Boeing: Executive out amid turmoil

  • Travis Kelce: On his way down under

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Taking a dive

The U.S. East Coast is sinking, according to NASA.

  • The metrics: Researchers say satellite data and GPS ground sensors indicate the land under major cities like Baltimore and New York sunk 1-2mm each year between 2007 and 2020. Some Mid-Atlantic areas, such as Charleston, South Carolina, sank at double or triple that rate. 

  • The issue: Land subsidence does not move anywhere near as fast as sea levels rise, but its concurrent occurrence can only contribute to growing risks for flooding and damage to infrastructure. Water on the coasts is expected to rise a foot by 2050 in most areas.

  • Next steps: The project will use the same methods to examine the Gulf Coast next. It hopes to analyze every coastal area in the world eventually.

2) British botch

The United Kingdom has suffered another military embarrassment.

  • What happened: The recent test firing of a Trident missile -- which carries nuclear warheads -- from a Royal Navy submarine failed with the UK Defense Secretary in attendance. The UK also experienced a Trident test failure in 2016; it has not successfully tested its nuclear deterrent in over a decade. The Pentagon has had no issues testing its Tridents, which are pulled from the same manufacturer.

  • Also remember: The UK had to scrap plans for the HMS Queen Elizabeth warship to participate in NATO war games earlier this month. The ship was not operational due to a propeller issue.

  • Big picture: A recent Parliament report expressed concern the UK is not equipped to fight an all-out war as tensions rise with China, Russia and in the Middle East. The UK is one of only three NATO members with nuclear weapons; the U.S. and France are the others.

3) Safe crossings

A bipartisan bill wants to force states to do more to protect pedestrians on busy roads.

  • The legislation: The Save Our Pedestrians Act, introduced by two Ohio House members, would require 5% of all funds -- about $100M annually -- from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program to go toward high-risk street crossings safer. 

  • Jarring numbers: Pedestrian deaths increased 77% between 2010 and 2021, triple the 25% rise in traffic deaths over the same period. About 7.5K pedestrians were killed in the U.S. in 2022, a 40-year high.

  • Big picture: The bill contains suggestions to improve safety, such as roundabouts and buffer areas between sidewalks and roads. But local governments would be free to use the funds as they see fit.

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Quick Tips

U.S. News

  • Florida's state legislature passed a bill to release transcripts from a 2006 grand jury investigation of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill will take effect July 1, but a media lawsuit could prompt an earlier release (More)

  • A private U.S. lunar lander will attempt to land on the moon this evening. If successful, it will be the first American moon landing since the Apollo program ended in 1972 and the first-ever by a private company (More)

  • James Biden said President Joe Biden was never involved in his business dealings. The president's brother gave a closed-door deposition for House Republicans' ongoing impeachment inquiry (More)

World News

  • Dozens are believed dead after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Venezuela. The mine is located in a remote area; workers may still be trapped inside (More)

  • A Navy chief has been held on espionage charges since May. Chief Fire Controlman Bryce Pedicini is alleged to have provided classified national defense information to an employee of an unspecified foreign government (More)

  • Only 10% of European Union citizens believe Ukraine can defeat Russia, according to a poll. Ukrainian support remains high as the war's two-year anniversary approaches, but respondents think the EU should work toward a peace treaty (More)

Campaign News

  • Almost 70% of Americans think President Biden, 81, is too old to serve a second term, according to a Quinnipiac poll. Almost 60% think former President Donald Trump, 77, is too old; Biden leads 49% to 45% in head-to-head matchup (More)

  • Former CNN political analyst John Avlon will run for a House seat in New York. Avlon filed as a Democrat in the 1st Congressional District; Trump won the district in 2016 and 2020 (More)

  • Trump said former GOP primary opponent Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is on his vice presidential shortlist. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and others were also acknowledged (More)

Business & Markets

  • Major indexes closed mixed yesterday. The Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes indicated the central bank is concerned about cutting interest rates too early (Dow +0.13%, Nasdaq -0.32%, S&P 500 +0.13%).

  • Boeing is replacing the head of its 737 Max program after a slew of safety issues. Ed Clark is out less than two months after an Alaska Airlines flight experienced a mid-flight panel blowout, leading to an FAA grounding of the fleet (More)

  • Amazon will replace Walgreens in the Dow Jones Industrial average on Feb. 26. The company will move from the S&P 500, gaining more exposure to retail consumers (More)

Entertainment & Sports

  • Travis Kelce will attend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour show in Australia tomorrow. It will be the second time the Chiefs star has attended one of his girlfriend’s concerts (More)

  • Jimmy Kimmel said George Santos' lawsuit against him is "preposterous." The disgraced former lawmaker alleges the late-night host, ABC and Disney deceived him into making humiliating Cameo videos (More)

  • Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe finalized a $1.65B deal to buy a stake in Manchester United. The businessman will control soccer operations for the Premier League club (More)

Quick Hitters

  • Feel Good: Reggie McKenzie felt isolated growing up deaf with no family members who knew sign language. That is why he has become an ASL advocate, using social media to educate and help kids like him.

  • Be Safe: Toshiba has recalled almost 17M laptop AC adapters. There have been almost 700 reports of the product overheating or causing a fire.

  • Snack Time: If you want to chow down on fruit, go with berries. Blueberries are considered the healthiest fruit with raspberries and strawberries close behind.

  • Best Friend: All dog owners have been there. Here are some tips to get your pet to go to the bathroom outside in bad weather.

  • Life Hack: Think twice before you put a water-logged iPhone in a bag of rice. Apple cautions grain particles can cause damage to your device.

  • Be Well: Pop quiz: What’s the body’s most abundant protein? The answer: Collagen. NativePath's Certified Grass-Fed Collagen Powder is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows and contains 18 grams of protein per suggested serving. Start incorporating it daily to support skin elasticity, joint health, bone strength, and muscle growth and maintenance.*

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The fentanyl epidemic is America’s greatest drug crisis. This video explains why.

Looking Ahead …

It is almost time for more Capitol Hill shutdown talk. The government will partially shut down on March 1 without congressional action, with a complete shutdown coming March 8. House GOP members reportedly expect a shutdown behind closed doors.

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