Columbia College settlement; Trump’s AI insurance policies : NPR

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Right this moment’s high tales

The Justice Division and the Home Oversight Committee are looking for to interview Ghislane Maxwell, a convicted affiliate of Jeffrey Epstein. This inquiry comes as questions in regards to the Epstein information proceed to mount, in addition to details about President Trump’s ties to Epstein, the financier and convicted intercourse offender who died by suicide whereas in jail 5 years in the past.

• 🎧 It isn’t identified what new data Maxwell would offer or what she might get out of testifying, if something, NPR’s Domenico Montanaro tells Up First. The federal government, inspired by Trump, tried to launch grand jury transcripts from the Epstein case. However a federal choose yesterday denied a kind of requests. A report, damaged by the Wall Avenue Journal, said that Trump was briefed in Might that his identify appeared a number of instances within the Epstein information. Montanaro says you will need to notice that the looks of the president’s identify would not point out wrongdoing, as Trump and Epstein had been associates for years.

Columbia College has settled with the federal authorities and pays over $220 million to resolve a number of investigations. The settlement, which comes after months-long negotiations, will even restore entry to lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in frozen analysis funding. The college will pay $200 million over the span of three years to the federal government and one other $21 million to the Equal Employment Alternative Fee. Columbia’s appearing president, Claire Shipman, says the settlement additionally addresses considerations about admissions and hiring, although she did not present particulars on how.

• 🎧 Columbia’s determination to settle is a unique strategy from Harvard College, which has rejected the federal government’s calls for and sued the administration, says NPR’s Elissa Nadworny. Todd Wolfson, the president of the American Affiliation of College Professors, says the settlement is a devastating blow to educational freedom and freedom of speech at Columbia. In March, the Trump administration despatched Columbia calls for, together with requesting strict controls over its worldwide research division and adjustments to pupil self-discipline insurance policies. The administration alleged there was antisemitism on campus associated to pupil protests over the Gaza battle. Trump expressed that Columbia would wish to adjust to the calls for if it needed its funds to be unfrozen and be eligible for extra federal funding sooner or later.

Trump signed an govt order yesterday requiring synthetic intelligence firms that do enterprise with the federal authorities to take away “ideological agendas” from their AI fashions. The order prohibits federal businesses from contracting with expertise firms that function AI chatbots exhibiting partisan bias. This bias is outlined within the order as associated to ideas equivalent to range, fairness and inclusion, important race concept, and “transgenderism.”

• 🎧 The president’s initiatives purpose to scale back the pink tape for AI firms, permitting them to construct huge knowledge facilities quicker, ship AI {hardware} and software program abroad with extra ease and eradicate AI chatbots which have adopted a liberal worldview, in keeping with NPR’s Bobby Allyn. The president’s order states that tech firms would primarily should certify that their chatbots are politically impartial earlier than receiving federal authorities work. Some within the tech business say this exhibits that each one the warming they’ve achieved to the president is paying off. Critics of Trump’s plan say it exhibits that the administration is permitting the tech business to make its personal laws.

Right this moment’s pay attention

Michael Vargas in his room on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Miami.

Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR

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Eva Marie Uzcategui for NPR

Michael Vargas Arango, who gained NPR’s 2023 School Podcast Problem, just lately despatched NPR a brand new podcast, The Monsters We Saved, discussing the stunning response he acquired worldwide from his story. His profitable entry, The Monsters We Create, was an emotional and private story about shifting to the U.S. from Colombia to review whereas residing with a uncommon psychological well being situation. Vargas Arango used audio results to assist listeners perceive what residing with schizoaffective dysfunction is like for him. The podcast helped him discover a reference to a brand new group, new alternatives and led him on a journey of self-discovery. Take heed to his new podcast or learn extra about his journey.

Life recommendation

Making an attempt to beat the warmth? There are different strategies that dropping the thermostat.

George Frey/Getty Photos

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George Frey/Getty Photos

This summer season has been no stranger to warmth, and it seems prefer it is not about to ease up. A protracted-lasting warmth dome is predicted to convey triple-digit temperatures over giant areas of the Midwest and Jap U.S. within the coming days. Air conditioners are positive to be on, and other people might attempt precooling their houses to remain snug. This entails reducing your property’s temperature throughout off-peak hours and permitting the cool air to final by means of when the solar is at its strongest and vitality prices are increased. Relying on whom you ask, it might or will not be efficient. However don’t fret, listed below are some tricks to preserve you cool this summer season.

• 🌡️ Use giant, heat-generating home equipment like ovens, dishwashers and garments dryers throughout off-peak hours.
• 🌡️ Hold the solar out throughout peak hours by closing the curtains and blinds.
• 🌡️ Set your AC system to extend the temperature once you’re away.
• 🌡️ Block drafts from home windows and doorways in your house utilizing caulk or climate stripping.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

A 2023 Mannequin X sports-utility car sits outdoors a Tesla dealership Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Englewood, Colo.

David Zalubowski/AP

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David Zalubowski/AP

1. Tesla yesterday reported its web earnings dropped 16% year-on-year throughout its second quarter, regardless of CEO Elon Musk pivoting again to specializing in his firms after working with the Trump administration.
2. The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating its 250th anniversary this weekend. To commemorate this milestone, it launched new stamps yesterday. (through Hawaiʻi Public Radio)
3. In 2019, Alek Hermon confronted the heartbreaking determination to take his father, who had suffered complete mind loss of life, off life help. After he died, Hermon left the working room the place his father’s organ donation process was set to start. As he walked down the hallway, a nurse named Ray, who had been by his father’s facet, adopted him. Hermon’s unsung hero embraced him and made positive he wasn’t alone together with his grief.

This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.