Mike Minded

A political roundup covering recent events including a Washington Post columnist’s reinstatement after wrongful termination, Supreme Court allowing construction on Trump’s controversial bunker/ballroom project despite lower court rulings, Pentagon firing journalists at Stars and Stripes for defending editorial independence, and ongoing U.S. military strikes in the Pacific. The piece uses a point system to track…

Washington DC lost 83,000 jobs and $10.9 billion in worker earnings since 2020. The article argues DC’s recovery depends on strengthening export sectors (federal contracting, consulting, advocacy, law, higher ed) that bring money into the city, plus building enough housing to avoid displacing workers as the economy recovers. The author criticizes focusing on flashy real…

A curated digest tracking institutional failure across disaster response, diplomacy, climate, and accountability systems. The piece connects literal navigational loss (GPS dependency) with cultural anxiety about AI removing friction from decision-making, while documenting how verification and accountability mechanisms are collapsing simultaneously in education, government, and science. Teaching: • Use the GPS/getting lost metaphor to explain…

Arepa Zone, a 12-year-old Venezuelan restaurant in DC, is facing severe financial strain after permitting delays and construction overruns at their new College Park location, compounded by slower sales across all locations. The owners are publicly asking their community to purchase gift cards or store credit to provide immediate cash flow, marking a vulnerable departure…

A cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to pre-packaged lettuce has caused over 24,000 cases across 47 US states, triggering a 16% drop in lettuce prices and a consumer exodus from salad. The Trump administration’s chaotic response, including potential conflicts of interest with Taylor Farms (a major donor), has been criticized by lawmakers as incompetent and corrupt. The…

A brief article from The Georgetowner about Tony Powell, likely a local photographer or figure in the Georgetown community. The piece appears to be part of a regular ‘In Focus’ feature but contains minimal substantive content beyond contact information and copyright notice. Teaching: • Attention practice: notice when scanning yields no substance—this is data about…

404 Media tracked a rare book shipment using an AirTag and discovered it ended at Amazon’s VGT3 facility in Las Vegas, where employees cut bindings off books to scan them for AI training data, destroying the originals in the process. Amazon confirmed it purchases books through commercial channels to improve products and services. AI companies…

A Washingtonian news roundup from August 2026 covering three local stories: a Kentucky woman arrested for vandalizing the World War II Memorial, preparations for an upcoming DC Grand Prix race, and a beaver attack on a child at a Maryland state park. The piece is a snapshot of regional news mixing civic disruption, urban spectacle,…

A Washington, D.C. news roundup covering local events (Grand Prix, weather), national politics (Iran ceasefire deadline, military exercises, DOJ independence questions), and miscellaneous items including an actual National Mall vandal who live-streamed spray-painting the WWII Memorial. The piece is a typical morning newsletter digest with scattered topics ranging from geopolitics to local restaurant reviews. Teaching:…

A short restaurant guide highlighting Chicago dining spots, from BBQ and bakeries to breakfast cafes and steakhouses. The list includes historic establishments like Lem’s Bar-B-Q (a James Beard America’s Classic) and newer venues such as the Alston, plus Obama family favorites at Tafari’s Kitchen. Teaching: • Use the idea of ‘classic with a twist’ (cornbread…