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<title>18 March, 2023</title>
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<title>Covid-19 Sentry</title><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/><link href="styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="../styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.css" rel="stylesheet"/><script src="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.js"></script></head>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="covid-19-sentry">Covid-19 Sentry</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-preprints">From Preprints</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-pubmed">From PubMed</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-patent-search">From Patent Search</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-preprints">From Preprints</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>A general computational design strategy for stabilizing viral class I fusion proteins</strong> -
<div>
Many pathogenic viruses, including influenza virus, Ebola virus, coronaviruses, and Pneumoviruses, rely on class I fusion proteins to fuse viral and cellular membranes. To drive the fusion process, class I fusion proteins undergo an irreversible conformational change from a metastable prefusion state to an energetically more favorable and stable postfusion state. An increasing amount of evidence exists highlighting that antibodies targeting the prefusion conformation are the most potent. However, many mutations have to be evaluated before identifying prefusion-stabilizing substitutions. We therefore established a computational design protocol that stabilizes the prefusion state while destabilizing the postfusion conformation. As a proof of concept, we applied this principle to the fusion protein of the RSV, hMPV, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. For each protein, we tested less than a handful of designs to identify stable versions. Solved structures of designed proteins from the three different viruses evidenced the atomic accuracy of our approach. Furthermore, the immunological response of the RSV F design compared to a current clinical candidate in a mouse model. While the parallel design of two conformations allows identifying and selectively modifying energetically less optimized positions for one conformation, our protocol also reveals diverse molecular strategies for stabilization. We recaptured many approaches previously introduced manually for the stabilization of viral surface proteins, such as cavity-filling, optimization of polar interactions, as well as postfusion-disruptive strategies. Using our approach, it is possible to focus on the most impacting mutations and potentially preserve the immunogen as closely as possible to its native version. The latter is important as sequence re-design can cause perturbations to B and T cell epitopes. Given the clinical significance of viruses using class I fusion proteins, our algorithm can substantially contribute to vaccine development by reducing the time and resources needed to optimize these immunogens.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.16.532924v1" target="_blank">A general computational design strategy for stabilizing viral class I fusion proteins</a>
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<li><strong>Antibodies generated in vitro and in vivo elucidate design of a thermostable ADDomer COVID-19 nasal nanoparticle vaccine</strong> -
<div>
COVID-19 continues to damage populations, communities and economies worldwide. Vaccines have reduced COVID-19-related hospitalisations and deaths, primarily in developed countries. Persisting infection rates, and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) causing repeat and breakthrough infections, underscore the ongoing need for new treatments to achieve a global solution. Based on ADDomer, a self-assembling protein nanoparticle scaffold, we created ADDoCoV, a thermostable COVID-19 candidate vaccine displaying multiple copies of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif (RBM)-derived epitope. In vitro generated neutralising nanobodies combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) established authenticity and accessibility of the epitopes displayed. A Gigabody comprising multimerized nanobodies prevented SARS-CoV-2 virion attachment with picomolar EC50. Antibodies generated by immunising mice cross-reacted with VOCs including Delta and Omicron. Our study elucidates nasal administration of ADDomer-based nanoparticles for active and passive immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 and provides a blueprint for designing nanoparticle reagents to combat respiratory viral infections.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.17.533092v1" target="_blank">Antibodies generated in vitro and in vivo elucidate design of a thermostable ADDomer COVID-19 nasal nanoparticle vaccine</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>How have mathematical models contributed to understanding the transmission and control of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings? A systematic search and review</strong> -
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<b>Background:</b> Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, mathematical models have been widely used to inform public health recommendations regarding COVID-19 control in healthcare settings. <b>Objectives:</b> To systematically review SARS-CoV-2 transmission models in healthcare settings, and summarise their contributions to understanding nosocomial COVID-19. <b>Methods:</b> Systematic search and review. <b>Data sources:</b> Published articles indexed in PubMed. <b>Study eligibility criteria:</b> Modelling studies describing dynamic inter-individual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings, published by mid-February 2022. <b>Participants and interventions:</b> Any population and intervention described by included models. <b>Assessment of risk of bias:</b> Not appropriate for modelling studies. <b>Methods of data synthesis:</b> Structured narrative review. <b>Results:</b> Models have mostly focused on acute care and long-term care facilities in high-income countries. Models have quantified outbreak risk across different types of individuals and facilities, showing great variation across settings and pandemic periods. Regarding surveillance, routine testing - rather than symptom-based testing - was highlighted as essential for COVID-19 prevention due to high rates of silent transmission. Surveillance impacts were found to depend critically on testing frequency, diagnostic sensitivity, and turn-around time. Healthcare re-organization was also found to have large epidemiological impacts: beyond obvious benefits of isolating cases and limiting inter-individual contact, more complex strategies such as staggered staff scheduling and immune-based cohorting reduced infection risk. Finally, vaccination impact, while highly effective for limiting COVID-19 burden, varied substantially depending on assumed mechanistic impacts on infection acquisition, symptom onset and transmission. Studies were inconsistent regarding which individuals to prioritize for interventions, probably due to the high diversity of settings and populations investigated. <b>Conclusions:</b> Modelling results form an extensive evidence base that may inform control strategies for future waves of SARS-CoV-2 and other viral respiratory pathogens. We propose new avenues for future models of healthcare-associated outbreaks, with the aim of enhancing their efficiency and contributions to decision-making.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.17.23287403v1" target="_blank">How have mathematical models contributed to understanding the transmission and control of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings? A systematic search and review</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of mRNA COVID-19 boosters in the UK vaccination programme, during the Spring-Summer (monovalent vaccine) and Autumn-Winter 2022 (bivalent vaccine) booster campaigns: a prospective test negative case-control study</strong> -
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Background Understanding the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of new COVID-19 vaccine formulations against SARS-CoV-2 infection is an urgent public health priority. A precise comparison of the rVE of monovalent and bivalent boosters given during the 2022 Spring-Summer and Autumn-Winter campaigns, respectively, in a defined population has not been reported. We therefore assessed rVE against hospitalisation for the Spring-Summer (fourth vs third monovalent mRNA vaccine doses) and Autumn-Winter (fifth BA.1/ancestral bivalent vs fourth monovalent mRNA vaccine dose) boosters. Methods A prospective single-centre test-negative design case-control study of ≥75 year-olds hospitalised with COVID-19 or other acute respiratory disease. We conducted regression analyses controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, patient comorbidities, community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, vaccine brand and time between baseline dose and hospitalisation. Results 682 controls and 182 cases were included in the Spring-Summer booster analysis; 572 controls and 152 cases for the Autumn-Winter booster analysis. A monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as fourth dose showed rVE 46∙9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 14∙4-67∙3) versus those not boosted. A bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as fifth dose had rVE 46∙4% (95%CI 17∙5-65), compared to a fourth monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose. Interpretation Both fourth monovalent and fifth BA.1/ancestral mRNA bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses demonstrated benefit as a booster in older adults. Bivalent mRNA boosters offer equivalent protection against hospitalisation with Omicron infection to monovalent mRNA boosters given earlier in the year. These findings support the current UK immunisation programme that advises the use of bivalent booster doses.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.16.23287360v1" target="_blank">Relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of mRNA COVID-19 boosters in the UK vaccination programme, during the Spring-Summer (monovalent vaccine) and Autumn-Winter 2022 (bivalent vaccine) booster campaigns: a prospective test negative case-control study</a>
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<li><strong>Molecular Neuropathology and Cerebrospinal Fluid Diagnostic Biomarkers of SARS-Cov2 Infection in Central Nervous System: A Scoping Review Protocol</strong> -
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Introduction Despite the broad spectrum of neurological symptomatic manifestation in COVID19 patients, the brain tissue susceptibility and permissiveness to SARS-Cov2 infection is yet uncertain. This critical appraisal aims at bridging the gap by consolidating the body of evidence for meticulous evaluation of molecular neuropathological pathways and CSF diagnostic signatures of SARS-Cov2 infection in the central nervous system (CNS) that will underpin further strategic approach for neuroprotection and treatment of neurological COVID19 Methods and Analysis We have developed the protocol of this review according to the provisions of Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer Manual for Evidence Synthesis ,2015 and Arksey and O Malley Methodological Framewotk ,2005.The articles for this review will be sourced from several electronic databases including EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane, Crossref Metadata and Semantic scholar. Herein we generated the search strategy using the medical subject headings [ MeSH Terms] , term in all field bibliography at all permutations in conjunctions with boolean operators Ethical Clearance and Dissemination plan Herein the review will not involve the human participants henceforth the ethical clearance approval is not applicable .We will disseminate the final findings of this review to scientific conferences at local and international level. The manuscript for final findings will be published on reputable journal of neuroscience. Keywords: Molecular, Neuropathology, CSF biomarkers, SARS-Cov2
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.17.23287405v1" target="_blank">Molecular Neuropathology and Cerebrospinal Fluid Diagnostic Biomarkers of SARS-Cov2 Infection in Central Nervous System: A Scoping Review Protocol</a>
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<li><strong>Serial SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers in vaccinated dialysis patients: prevalence of unrecognized infection and duration of seroresponse</strong> -
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Rationale &amp; Objective: SARS-CoV-2 infections are likely underdiagnosed, but the degree of underdiagnosis among maintenance dialysis patients is unknown. Durability of the immune response after third vaccine doses in this population also remains uncertain. This study tracked antibody levels to 1) assess the rate of undiagnosed infections and 2) characterize seroresponse durability after third doses. Study Design: Retrospective observational study Setting &amp; Participants: SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated patients receiving maintenance dialysis through a national dialysis provider. Immunoglobulin G spike antibodies (anti-spike IgG) titers were assessed monthly following vaccination. Exposure(s): Two and three doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Outcome(s): Undiagnosed and diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections; anti-spike IgG titers over time Analytical Approach: “Undiagnosed” SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified as an increase in anti-spike IgG titer of ≥100 BAU/mL, not associated with receipt of vaccine or “diagnosed” SARS-CoV-2 infection (by PCR or antigen test). In descriptive analyses, anti-spike IgG titers were followed over time. Results: Among 2660 patients without prior COVID-19 who received an initial two-dose vaccine series, 371 (76%) SARS-CoV-2 infections were diagnosed and 115 (24%) were undiagnosed. Among 1717 patients without prior COVID-19 who received a third vaccine dose, 155 (80%) SARS-CoV-2 infections were diagnosed and 39 (20%) were undiagnosed. In both cohorts, anti-spike IgG levels declined over time. Of the initial two-dose cohort, 66% had a titer ≥500 BAU/mL in the first month, with 23% maintaining a titer ≥500 BAU/mL at six months. Of the third dose cohort, 95% had a titer ≥500 BAU/mL in the first month after the third dose, with 76% maintaining a titer ≥500 BAU/mL at six months. Limitations: Assays used had upper limits. Conclusions: Among maintenance dialysis patients, 20-24% of SARS-CoV-2 infections were undiagnosed. Given this population9s vulnerability to COVID-19, ongoing infection control measures are needed. A three-dose primary mRNA vaccine series optimizes seroresponse rate and durability.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.16.23287322v1" target="_blank">Serial SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers in vaccinated dialysis patients: prevalence of unrecognized infection and duration of seroresponse</a>
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<li><strong>Pandemic telehealth flexibilities for buprenorphine treatment: A synthesis of evidence and policy implications for expanding opioid use disorder care in the U.S.</strong> -
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Buprenorphine is a highly effective treatment for opioid use disorder and a critical tool for addressing the worsening U.S. overdose crisis. However, multiple barriers to treatment, including stringent federal regulations, have historically made this medication hard to reach for many who need it. In 2020, under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, federal regulators substantially changed access to buprenorphine by allowing prescribers to initiate patients on buprenorphine via telehealth without first evaluating them in person. As the Public Health Emergency is set to expire in May of 2023, Congress and federal agencies can leverage extensive evidence from studies conducted during the wake of the pandemic to make evidence-based decisions on the regulation of buprenorphine going forward. To aid policy makers, this review synthesizes and interprets peer-reviewed research on the effect of buprenorphine flexibilities on uptake and implementation of telehealth, and its impact on OUD patient and prescriber experiences, access to treatment and health outcomes. Overall, our review finds that many prescribers and patients took advantage of telehealth, including the audio-only option, with a wide range of benefits and few downsides. As a result, federal regulators, including agencies and Congress, should continue non-restricted use of telehealth for buprenorphine initiation.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.16.23287373v1" target="_blank">Pandemic telehealth flexibilities for buprenorphine treatment: A synthesis of evidence and policy implications for expanding opioid use disorder care in the U.S.</a>
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<li><strong>Importation of Alpha and Delta variants during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Switzerland: phylogenetic analysis and intervention scenarios</strong> -
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The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the emergence of various variants of concern (VoCs) that are associated with increased transmissibility, immune evasion, or differences in disease severity. The emergence of VoCs fueled interest in understanding the potential impact of travel restrictions and surveillance strategies to prevent or delay the early spread of VoCs. We performed phylogenetic analyses and mathematical modeling to study the importation and spread of the VoCs Alpha and Delta in Switzerland in 2020 and 2021. Using a phylogenetic approach, we estimated 383-1,038 imports of Alpha and 455-1,347 imports of Delta into Switzerland. We then used the results from the phylogenetic analysis to parameterize a dynamic transmission that accurately described the subsequent spread of Alpha and Delta. We modeled different counterfactual intervention scenarios to quantify the potential impact of border closures and surveillance of travelers on the spread of Alpha and Delta. We found that implementing border closures after the announcement of VoCs would have been of limited impact to mitigate the spread of VoCs. In contrast, increased surveillance of travelers could prove to be an effective measure for delaying the spread of VoCs in situations where their severity remains unclear. Our study shows how phylogenetic analysis in combination with dynamic transmission models can be used to estimate the number of imported SARS-CoV-2 variants and the potential impact of different intervention scenarios to inform the public health response during the pandemic.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.13.23287198v1" target="_blank">Importation of Alpha and Delta variants during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Switzerland: phylogenetic analysis and intervention scenarios</a>
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<li><strong>Statistical Challenges when Analyzing SARS-CoV-2 RNA Measurements Below the Assay Limit of Quantification in COVID-19 Clinical Trials</strong> -
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Most clinical trials evaluating COVID-19 therapeutics include assessments of antiviral activity. In recently completed outpatient trials, changes in nasal SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels from baseline were commonly assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) or mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) with single-imputation for results below assay lower limits of quantification (LLoQ). Analyzing changes in viral RNA levels with singly-imputed values can lead to biased estimates of treatment effects. In this paper, using an illustrative example from the ACTIV-2 trial, we highlight potential pitfalls of imputation when using ANCOVA or MMRM methods, and illustrate how these methods can be used when considering values &lt;LLoQ as censored measurements. Best practices when analyzing quantitative viral RNA data should include details about the assay and its LLoQ, completeness summaries of viral RNA data, and outcomes among participants with baseline viral RNA ≥LLoQ, as well as those with viral RNA &lt;LLoQ.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.13.23287208v1" target="_blank">Statistical Challenges when Analyzing SARS-CoV-2 RNA Measurements Below the Assay Limit of Quantification in COVID-19 Clinical Trials</a>
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<li><strong>Modelling the impact of hybrid immunity on future COVID-19 epidemic waves</strong> -
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Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), there have been multiple waves of infection and multiple rounds of vaccination rollouts. Both prior infection and vaccination can prevent future infection and reduce severity of outcomes, combining to form hybrid immunity against COVID-19 at the individual and population level. Here, we explore how different combinations of hybrid immunity affect the size and severity of near-future Omicron waves. To investigate the role of hybrid immunity, we use an agent-based model of COVID-19 transmission with waning immunity to simulate outbreaks in populations with varied past attack rates and past vaccine coverages, basing the demographics and past histories on the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPR). We find that if the past infection immunity is high but vaccination levels are low, then the secondary outbreak with the same variant can occur within a few months after the first outbreak; meanwhile, high vaccination levels can suppress near-term outbreaks and delay the second wave. Additionally, hybrid immunity has limited impact on future COVID-19 waves with immune-escape variants. Enhanced understanding of the interplay between infection and vaccine exposure can aid anticipation of future epidemic activity due to current and emergent variants, including the likely impact of responsive vaccine interventions.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.12.23287174v1" target="_blank">Modelling the impact of hybrid immunity on future COVID-19 epidemic waves</a>
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<li><strong>Quantitative LC-MS study of compounds found predictive of COVID-19 severity and outcome</strong> -
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INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in December 2019 multiple metabolomics studies have proposed predictive biomarkers of infection severity and outcome. Whilst some trends have emerged, the findings remain intangible and uninformative when it comes to new patients. OBJECTIVES In this study, we accurately quantitate a subset of compounds in patient serum that were found predictive of severity and outcome. METHODS A targeted LC-MS method was used in 46 control and 95 acute COVID-19 patient samples to quantitate the selected metabolites. These compounds included tryptophan and its degradation products kynurenine and kynurenic acid (reflective of immune response), butyrylcarnitine and its isomer (reflective of energy metabolism) and finally 3,4-didehydro-3-deoxycytidine, a deoxycytidine analogue, (reflective of host viral defence response). We subsequently examine changes in those markers by disease severity and outcome relative to those of control patients levels. RESULTS &amp; CONCLUSION Finally, we demonstrate the added value of the kynurenic acid / tryptophan ratio for severity and outcome prediction and highlight the viral detection potential of ddhC.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.17.23287401v1" target="_blank">Quantitative LC-MS study of compounds found predictive of COVID-19 severity and outcome</a>
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<li><strong>Impact of COVID-19 and effects of booster vaccination with BNT162b2 on six-month long COVID symptoms, quality of life, work productivity and activity impairment during Omicron</strong> -
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Background: Longitudinal estimates of long COVID burden during Omicron remain limited. This study characterized long-term impacts of COVID-19 and booster vaccination on symptoms, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and Work Productivity Activity Impairment (WPAI). Methods: Outpatients with ≥1 self-reported symptom and positive SARS-CoV-2 test at CVS Health United States test sites were recruited between 01/31-04/30/2022. Symptoms,EQ-5D and WPAI were collected via online surveys until 6 months following infection. Both observed and model-based estimates were analyzed. Effect sizes based on Cohen9s d quantified the magnitude of outcome changes over time, within and between vaccination groups. Mixed models for repeated measures were conducted for multivariable analyses, adjusting for covariates. Logistic regression assessed odds ratio (OR) of long COVID between vaccination groups. Results: At long COVID start (Week 4), 328 participants included 87 (27%) Boosted with BNT162b2, 86 (26%) with a BNT162b2 primary series (Primed), and 155 (47%) Unvaccinated. Mean age was 42.0 years, 73.8% were female, 26.5% had ≥1 comorbidity, 36.9% prior infection, and 39.6% reported ≥3 symptoms (mean: 3.1 symptoms). At Month 6, among 260 participants, Boosted reported a mean of 1.1 symptoms versus 3.4 and 2.8 in Unvaccinated and Primed, respectively (p&lt;0.001). Boosted had reduced risks of ≥3 symptoms versus Unvaccinated (observed: OR 0.22, 95% CI, 0.10-0.47, p&lt;0.001; model-based: OR: 0.36, 95% CI, 0.15-0.87, p=0.019) and Primed (observed: OR 0.29, 95% CI, 0.13-0.67, p=0.003; model-based: OR 0.59, 95% CI, 0.21-1.65, p=0.459). Results were consistent using ≥2 symptoms. Regarding HRQoL, among those with long COVID, Boosted had higher EQ-5D Utility Index (UI) than Unvaccinated (observed: 0.922 versus 0.731, p=0.014; model-based: 0.910 versus 0.758, p-value=0.038) and Primed (0.922 versus 0.648, p=0.014; model-based: 0.910 versus 0.708, p-value=0.008). Observed and model-based estimates for EQ-VAS and UI among Boosted were comparable with pre-COVID since Month 3. Subjects vaccinated generally reported better WPAI scores Conclusions: Long COVID negatively impacted HRQoL and WPAI. The BNT162b2 booster could have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk and burden of long COVID. Boosted participants reported fewer and less durable symptoms, which contributed to improve HRQoL and maintain WPAI levels. Limitations included self-reported data and small sample size for WPAI.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.15.23286981v1" target="_blank">Impact of COVID-19 and effects of booster vaccination with BNT162b2 on six-month long COVID symptoms, quality of life, work productivity and activity impairment during Omicron</a>
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<li><strong>Effectiveness of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Bivalent Vaccine</strong> -
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<b>Background.</b> The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine protects against COVID-19. <b>Methods.</b>. Employees of Cleveland Clinic in employment when the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine first became available, were included. Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 over the following 26 weeks was examined. Protection provided by vaccination (analyzed as a time-dependent covariate) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression, with change in dominant circulating lineages over time accounted for by time-dependent coefficients. The analysis was adjusted for the pandemic phase when the last prior COVID-19 episode occurred, and the number of prior vaccine doses. <b>Results.</b> Among 51017 employees, COVID-19 occurred in 4424 (8.7%) during the study. In multivariable analysis, the bivalent vaccinated state was associated with lower risk of COVID-19 during the BA.4/5 dominant (HR, .71; 95% C.I., .63-.79) and the BQ dominant (HR, .80; 95% C.I., .69-.94) phases, but decreased risk was not found during the XBB dominant phase (HR, .96; 95% C.I., .82-.1.12). Estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) was 29% (95% C.I., 21%-37%), 20% (95% C.I., 6%-31%), and 4% (95% C.I., -12%-18%), during the BA.4/5, BQ, and XBB dominant phases, respectively. Risk of COVID-19 also increased with time since most recent prior COVID-19 episode and with the number of vaccine doses previously received. <b>Conclusions.</b> The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine given to working-aged adults afforded modest protection overall against COVID-19 while the BA.4/5 lineages were the dominant circulating strains, afforded less protection when the BQ lineages were dominant, and effectiveness was not demonstrated when the XBB lineages were dominant.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.17.22283625v4" target="_blank">Effectiveness of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Bivalent Vaccine</a>
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<li><strong>Management of the COVID-19 health crisis: A survey in Swiss hospital pharmacies</strong> -
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of strain on health systems since 2020. A review of the Swiss hospital pharmacies responses during the first wave was performed to improve the quality of the pharmaceutical management of future health crises. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to all head of hospital pharmacies in Switzerland. The questionnaire was organized into eleven clusters of questions and covered many topics regarding the management of the first wave of COVID-19. Data collection was conducted from May to June, 2020. Results: Analyses were performed with 43 responses (66%) out of 65 questionnaires sent (at least one answer per questionnaire). 41% (17/41) of pharmacies had existing standard operating procedures or pandemic plans and 95% of them (39/41) created a steering committee to manage the crisis. 67% (29/43) created new activities to respond to the specific needs of the crisis. 67% (26/39) created new drug lists for: COVID-19-specific treatments (85% of pharmacies; 22/26), sedatives (81%; 21/26), anaesthetics (77%; 20/26) and antibiotics (73%; 19/26). Drug availability in COVID-19 wards was managed by increasing existing stocks (54% of pharmacies; 22/41) and creating extra storage space (51%; 21/41). Two drugs generated the most concern about shortages: propofol (49% of pharmacies; 19/39) and midazolam (44%; 17/39). Remdesivir stocks even ran out in 26% of pharmacies (10/39). Specific new documents were drafted to respond to medical needs with regards to drug administration (28% of pharmacies; 12/43), drug preparation (28%; 12/43) and treatment choices (23%; 10/43). Conclusions: Swiss hospital pharmacies encountered many challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis and had to find solutions quickly, effectively and safely. The survey highlights the key role played by Hospital Pharmacy9s in many aspects during the pandemic by providing logistical and clinical support to medical and care teams. The lessons and experiences outlined could be used to improve the quality of the preparation for similar future events.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.08.20237339v2" target="_blank">Management of the COVID-19 health crisis: A survey in Swiss hospital pharmacies</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Excess death estimates from multiverse analysis in 2009-2021</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Excess death estimates have great value in public health, but they can be sensitive to analytical choices. Here we propose a multiverse analysis approach that considers all possible different time periods for defining the reference baseline and a range of 1 to 4 years for the projected time period for which excess deaths are calculated. We used data from the Human Mortality Database on 33 countries with detailed age-stratified death information on an annual basis during the period 2009-2021. The use of different time periods for reference baseline led to large variability in the absolute magnitude of the exact excess death estimates. However, the relative ranking of different countries compared to others for specific years remained largely unaltered. The relative ranking of different years for the specific country was also largely independent of baseline. Averaging across all possible analyses, distinct time patterns were discerned across different countries. Countries had declines between 2009 and 2019, but the steepness of the decline varied markedly. There were also large differences across countries on whether the COVID-19 pandemic years 2020-2021 resulted in an increase of excess deaths and by how much. Consideration of longer projected time windows resulted in substantial shrinking of the excess deaths in many, but not all countries. Multiverse analysis of excess deaths over long periods of interest can offer a more unbiased approach to understand comparative mortality trends across different countries, the range of uncertainty around estimates, and the nature of observed mortality peaks.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.09.21.22280219v2" target="_blank">Excess death estimates from multiverse analysis in 2009-2021</a>
</div></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Clinical Performance Evaluation of the CareSuperb™ COVID-19 Antigen Home Test</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Device: CareSuperb COVID-19 Antigen Home Test Kit<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   AccessBio, Inc.<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Use of E-health Based Exercise Intervention After COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: Exercise training using an e-health tool<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Norwegian University of Science and Technology;   University of Oslo<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Effect Of Calcitriol On Neutrophil To Lymphocytes Ratio And High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Covid-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Calcitriol;   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Universitas Sebelas Maret<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Clinical Study for the Efficacy and Safety of Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b in Moderate COVID19.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: P1101 (Ropeginterferon alfa-2b);   Procedure: SOC<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   National Taiwan University Hospital<br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Phase I Clinical Trial of Recombinant Variant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) (WSK-V102)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Recombinant variant COVID-19 vaccine(Sf9 cell)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Phase II Clinical Trial of Recombinant Variant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cell) (WSK-V102)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Recombinant variant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cell);   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (CHO cell);   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cell)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study to Compare QLS1128 With Placebo in Symptomatic Participants With Mild to Moderate COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: QLS1128;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Short-term Effects of Transdermal Estradiol on Female COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   Hormone Replacement Therapy<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Climara 0.1Mg/24Hr Transdermal System;   Other: Hydrogel patch<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC);   Turkish Menopause and Osteoporosis Society;   Karakoy Rotary Club;   Rebul Pharmacy<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Effect of Kinesio Tape Versus Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise In Post COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Post COVID-19 Condition<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Pursed lip breathing;   Other: Cognitive Behavior Therapy;   Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercise;   Other: Kinesio tape<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Cairo University<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hydrogen-Oxygen Generator With Nebulizer for Adjuvant Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Covid19;   Hydrogen-oxygen Gas;   AMS-H-03<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Device: Hydrogen-Oxygen Generator with Nebulizer, AMS-H-03;   Device: OLO-1 Medical Molecular Sieve Oxygen Generator<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Oxygen Atomizing Inhalation of EGCG in the Treatment COVID-19 Pneumonia in Cancer Patients</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19 Pneumonia;   Neoplasms Malignant<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: EGCG;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Use of Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Oral Complaints of Long COVID-19.A Randomized Controlled Trial.</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Xerostomia;   COVID-19;   Long COVID;   Persistent COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Combination Product: Institutional standard treatment for xerostomia and Long Covid;   Radiation: Photobiomodulation Therapy;   Radiation: Placebo Photobiomodulation Therapy<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Nove de Julho<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Balneotherapy for Patients With Post-acute Coronavirus Disease (COVID) Syndrome</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Post-COVID-19 Syndrome<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: Balneotherapy and aquatic exercises<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Parc de Salut Mar;   Caldes de Montbui’s City Council;   Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER);   European Regional Development Fund<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study to Assess the Efficacy of HH-120 Nasal Spray for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adult Close Contacts of Individuals Infected With SARS-CoV-2</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: HH-120 nasal spray 1;   Drug: HH-120 nasal spray 2;   Drug: Placebo Comparator 1;   Drug: Placebo Comparator 2<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Beijing Ditan Hospital<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Lactoferrin for COVID-19-Induced Taste or Smell Abnormality</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Covid19;   Taste Disorder, Secondary;   Taste Disorders;   Dysgeusia;   Smell Disorder;   Ageusia;   Anosmia<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Dietary Supplement: Lactoferrin<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Wake Forest University Health Sciences<br/><b>Withdrawn</b></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-CoV-2 NSP8 suppresses type I and III IFN responses by modulating the RIG-I/MDA5, TRIF, and STING signaling pathways</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 has developed a variety of approaches to counteract host innate antiviral immunity to facilitate its infection, replication and pathogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms that it employs are still not been fully understood. Here, we found that SARS-CoV-2 NSP8 inhibited the production of type I and III IFNs by acting on RIG-I/MDA5 and the signaling molecules TRIF and STING. Overexpression of NSP8 downregulated the expression of type I and III IFNs stimulated by poly (I:C) transfection…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) and COVID-19: A review of the potential use of ASM inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2</strong> - In the last 2 years, different pharmacological agents have been indicated as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Specifically, drugs termed as functional inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs) have proved to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication using different types of cells. Those therapeutic agents share several chemical structure characteristics and some well-known representatives are fluoxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, and others. Most of the FIASMAs are primarily used as…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Artificial intelligence-based optimization for chitosan nanoparticles biosynthesis, characterization and in‑vitro assessment of its anti-biofilm potentiality</strong> - Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) are promising biopolymeric nanoparticles with excellent physicochemical, antimicrobial, and biological properties. CNPs have a wide range of applications due to their unique characteristics, including plant growth promotion and protection, drug delivery, antimicrobials, and encapsulation. The current study describes an alternative, biologically-based strategy for CNPs biosynthesis using Olea europaea leaves extract. Face centered central composite design (FCCCD),…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-CoV-2 E protein-induced THP-1 pyroptosis is reversed by Ruscogenin</strong> - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an emerging pathogenic coronavirus, has been reported to cause excessive inflammation and dysfunction in multiple cells and organs, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we showed exogenous addition of SARS-CoV-2 envelop protein (E protein) potently induced cell death in cultured cell lines, including THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells, endothelial cells and bronchial epithelial cells, in a time- and…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The enzymatic hydrolysate of fucoidan from Sargassum hemiphyllum triggers immunity in plants</strong> - Fucoidans are polysaccharides that consist predominantly of sulfated L-fucoses, from which, fucoidan oligosaccharides (FOSs) are prepared through different methods. Fucoidan has versatile physiological activities, like antiviral functions against SARS CoV-2 and bioactivitiy in enhancing immune responses. Although fucoidan or FOS has been widely used in mammals as functional foods and new drugs, its application in plants is still very limited. Moreover, whether fucoidan or its derived hydrolytic…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A confirmed COVID-19 in a patient with newly diagnosed hypertension and preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case report</strong> - CONCLUSION: Poor blood glucose management in the case of COVID-19 may increase the pathogen’s susceptibility, the likelihood that patients will be admitted to the hospital, and the likelihood that mortality will be enhanced.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Zilucoplan in immune-mediated necrotising myopathy: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial</strong> - BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is an autoimmune myopathy characterised by proximal muscle weakness, high creatine kinase (CK) values, and autoantibodies recognizing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) or the signal recognition particle (SRP). There are currently no approved therapies for IMNM and many patients experience active disease despite off-label treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressants. Detection of…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Delivery of anti-microRNA-21 by lung-targeted liposomes for pulmonary fibrosis treatment</strong> - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disorder with a low survival rate. Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the complications of COVID-19 and has a high prevalence in COVID-19 patients. Currently, no effective therapies other than lung transplantation are available to cure IPF and post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that mediate the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis, thus making them potent drug candidates for this serious disease….</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Insights of different analytical approaches for estimation of budesonide as COVID-19 replication inhibitor in its novel combinations: green assessment with AGREE and GAPI approaches</strong> - Simple, direct, rapid, and sensitive HPLC and spectrophotometric methods were established for simultaneous estimation of a novel combination of budesonide and azelastine (BUD/AZL) in their laboratory-prepared mixture and dosage form according to the medicinally recommended ratio 1:4.28. Budesonide is an important inhalation corticosteroid that plays a vital role in the inhibition of COVID-19 replication and cytokine production. The first chromatographic method was created for the simultaneous…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A multi-organoid platform identifies CIART as a key factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection</strong> - COVID-19 is a systemic disease involving multiple organs. We previously established a platform to derive organoids and cells from human pluripotent stem cells to model SARS-CoV-2 infection and perform drug screens^(1,2). This provided insight into cellular tropism and the host response, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating SARS-CoV-2 infection remain poorly defined. Here we systematically examined changes in transcript profiles caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection at different multiplicities of…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Colchicine reduces the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19 patients</strong> - CONCLUSION: Treatment with colchicine inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, an event triggering the ‘cytokine storm’ in COVID-19.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Teicoplanin derivatives block spike protein mediated viral entry as pan-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors</strong> - The rapid emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants poses serious threat to the efficacy of vaccines and neutralizing antibodies. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new and effective inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 and future outbreaks. Here, we have identified a series of glycopeptide antibiotics teicoplanin derivatives that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, interrupt its interaction with ACE2 receptor and selectively inhibit viral entry mediated by S protein….</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Paving New Roads Using <em>Allium sativum</em> as a Repurposed Drug and Analyzing its Antiviral Action Using Artificial Intelligence Technology</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered interest among researchers to conduct future research on molecular docking with clinical trials before releasing salutary remedies against the deadly malady.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Brevicillin, a novel lanthipeptide from the genus Brevibacillus with antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral activity</strong> - CONCLUSION: This study provides detailed description of a novel lanthipeptide and demonstrates its effective antibacterial, antifungal and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluation of residual humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 by a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) 9 months after BNT162b2 primary vaccination</strong> - The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has shown to be temporary, although may be more prolonged in vaccinated individuals with a history of natural infection. We aimed to study the residual humoral response and the correlation between anti-Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) IgG levels and antibody neutralizing capacity in a population of health care workers (HCWs) after 9 months from COVID-19 vaccination. In this cross-sectional study, plasma samples were screened for anti-RBD IgG using a…</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The G.O.P. and the Ghosts of Iraq</strong> - Ukraine shows that Republicans have moved a long way from the Party of George W. Bush. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-bidens-washington/the-gop-and-the-ghosts-of-iraq">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hip-Hop at Fifty: An Elegy</strong> - A generation is still dying younger than it should—this time, of “natural causes.” - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/hip-hop-at-fifty-an-elegy">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Allure of Exotic Animals in Strange Places</strong> - Thefts from the Dallas Zoo made headlines. But Texas is a hotbed for ownership of all kinds of rare species. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-southwest/the-allure-of-exotic-animals-in-strange-places">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>What’s the Path Forward for Haiti?</strong> - As the international community contemplates another armed intervention, a reckoning with history is long overdue. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/whats-the-path-forward-for-haiti">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>What if the Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action?</strong> - The conservative majority may strike down consideration of race in school admissions. What will that mean for colleges? Plus, how the culture wars came to the Catholic Church. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/what-if-the-supreme-court-ends-affirmative-action">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Save the “massive, living, beautiful, breathing, majestic boxes of carbon” known as whales</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="Two whales swimming, seen from above." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9TbMKv4V-J4q1AoEJCPjxh3rSVM=/230x281:2242x1790/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72088573/1243858461.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Ships, noise, and climate change are killing whales. Here’s how to change that.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pj7F9M">
It has been a bad winter for the whales.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cutq7c">
While the total number of whales washed ashore — beached — on the East Coast since January is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/nyregion/east-coast-whale-deaths.html">lower than in recent years</a>, the quick succession of deaths over the past few months is “unusual,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the body that monitors and sets regulations to protect whales in the US, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/nyregion/east-coast-whale-deaths.html">told the New York Times</a> late last month.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DITvtb">
The majority of the <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2360641-why-are-so-many-whales-getting-stranded-on-us-beaches/">22 beached whales</a> on the East Coast found this season died from ship strikes, or collisions with vessels. Every year, cargo, cruise, and fishing vessels kill an estimated <a href="https://friendofthesea.org/marine-conservation-projects-and-awareness/save-the-whales-2/">20,000</a> whales. These ship strikes are a result of the overlap between whale feeding grounds and maritime shipping lanes, and an increase in vessels on the ocean, says Douglas McCauley, the director of the University of California Santa Barbara’s <a href="https://boi.ucsb.edu/">Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory</a>. Other human-caused dangers — namely noise pollution and climate change — are also contributing to whale deaths, McCauley added.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Douglas McCauley sits on the edge of a boat in a wetsuit and snorkeling gear." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SFHHpEzuNmQPraMrMu-CdGTr65w=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24509881/Whales.jpg"/> <cite>Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory</cite>
<figcaption>
Douglas McCauley is the director of UC Santa Barbara’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Sg7cwK">
McCauley’s lab allows anyone anywhere to <a href="https://boi.ucsb.edu/the-ideas">submit issues of concern affecting our oceans</a>, like ship strikes, on its website. The laboratory team then selects submissions, studies them, and builds solutions to address the issues.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ckeIyS">
“It’s a big ocean, but, unfortunately, in many parts of the world, ships and whales overlap in the same space,” said McCauley. This is why the laboratory, along with a team of scientists from around the world, developed <a href="https://whalesafe.com/">Whale Safe</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eIN4ZX">
Whale Safe is a tool that tracks both whales’ and cargo ships’ movements, and then shares this data publicly and with shipping companies. Speed matters. When ships go slower, they’re able to avoid or at least decrease the severity of collisions with whales. Shipping companies receive grades from Whale Safe based on how well they adhere to NOAA-recommended speeds in waters where whales are active.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uKMfLX">
I spoke with McCauley to discuss ship strikes, the science behind Whale Safe, and the importance of ocean conservation.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3djPwu">
<em>This interview has been edited for length and clarity.</em>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2jNA3F">
<strong>How is this data collection preventing collisions between whales and ships?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ktxjtk">
On the front end, for detecting the whales, Whale Safe uses a three-part system. One is an underwater hydrophone that is equipped with some onboard computing and AI that is constantly listening for whales, and then automatically detecting when they’re present.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LzZYzs">
The second tech node is a remote sensing feature, sort of like a weather forecaster for whales. Then based on past tracking where people have put microsensors on whales, we use that data to build a forecast of whether it’s more or less likely to expect to see endangered whales — specifically blue whales, one of the most endangered whales — in the area. Lastly, humans are some of the best technology out there for whale detection. So we use a citizen science app that actually pulls in data when people see whales.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TYB7EO">
On the back end, we track the ships to tell when they slow down and what companies they’re connected to. And then the same way that on campus we assign grades, we assign grades here, transparently, to the different companies based on whether they slow down when there are whales present. We publish those grades and have conversations with the companies about ways that they can actually do better for whale conservation.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NYYAPh">
<strong>I was hoping you could explain why you think it is just as important to collaborate with private entities as it is to work on the public policy side of things. </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EuA5WL">
Some of this has been a learning process for me, as someone who knows a lot about whales and other creatures of the sea, and not so much about how things work with our own species. But part of that learning journey was understanding the real power and opportunity there is for the private sector to be a force for change.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="p6bwwt">
So realizing that, we really tried to jump in and engage with the businesses. By and large, it has been really positive. We create these report cards at the company level, and we share them with the companies. Many companies don’t want to run over whales, they want to know how to help, and they want to know how well they’re doing.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="rSxXY8">
We have some A’s and we have some F’s; it’s been a little bit of a challenge to try to figure out how we get the companies that don’t seem to care about whale conservation to care the way their peers care.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YcjWzC">
<strong>It’s great to hear that some of these companies are really wanting to collaborate. I’m sure we’ve just skimmed the surface of what the laboratory has worked on, but is there anything else that you think is important to mention? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Blqfm0">
Whales themselves are massive, living, beautiful, breathing, majestic boxes of carbon that capture and sequester carbon and then lock it away when they die in the deep ocean. Healthy whale populations create what’s called a whale pump, which means that when they eat at depth and then poop at the surface, they fertilize the surface waters, which then are more productive and suck down and sequester more carbon.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ROUDcd">
These ships that we’re asking to slow down when whales are around actually reduce their emissions the same way that cars driving a little bit slower drive more efficiently. One of the outcomes of this particular solution is that you get a win for the whales, but you also are getting a win for climate.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lg9f9m">
<strong>Outside of ship strikes, what other human-caused threats to whales are there?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WaNc1R">
Getting entangled by fishing gear is another leading cause of whale injury and death. Whales that get wrapped up in gear like the ropes of lobster pots or discarded nets can get horrific lacerations and sometimes end up starving or drowning.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Vfe9J7">
Another major threat is underwater noise pollution generated from ships, oil and gas exploration, or military activities. These damaging and disorienting sounds can disrupt their ability to feed and communicate with one another.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1hCow8">
But the elephant in the room is climate change. Climate change is causing the oceans to warm, become more acidic, and less rich in oxygen. This affects the food chains whales depend upon and will certainly impact how well whales are able to hang on.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="a1xdIV">
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/nyregion/east-coast-whale-deaths.html?partner=slack&amp;smid=sl-share"><strong>The New York Times</strong></a><strong> reported that this year on the East Coast, there has been what NOAA considers an unusual, quick succession of whale deaths. What factors, or combination of factors, do you believe are contributing to this concerning trend?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EBRlCs">
I think this article actually did a good [job] debunking suggestions (sometimes funded by oil and gas) that offshore wind development is linked to these whale deaths. <a href="https://www.mmc.gov/">The Marine Mammal Commission</a>, a coalition of some of the best whale experts in the US and world, noted that there is no evidence to link this recent bout of deaths to offshore wind. This is not to say that we don’t need to be extremely careful where we site offshore wind installations and to monitor and control their impacts on marine life. This type of caution is needed with any new invasive development we put in the ocean. But carefully and intelligently installed offshore wind, in some areas, can be part of a solution to fight climate change. which in the long run poses a greater threat to ocean health.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="B7Rcfv">
Ship strikes and entanglement were noted to be associated with many of the dead whales that could be examined by marine mammal experts.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CiGOl3">
<strong>How can we continue to limit human-caused dangers to whales? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uOcUPw">
The good news is that these are solvable problems. Ship collisions with whales can be controlled by working with marine shipping to slow ships down to safer speeds in areas where there are lots of whales.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kXoVJI">
And there are new kinds of technologies available that reduce entanglement. For example, there are some very exciting new innovations that allow lobster fishers to continue to do business without all the ropes that have proven to be so lethal to whales.
</p></li>
<li><strong>Why is it so hard to charge electric vehicles on the road?</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="The charging port of a BMW i3." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bhj7Jh9MD9x266DljczGQKx7uZA=/206x0:5331x3844/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72088536/GettyImages_1246122398.0.jpeg"/>
<figcaption>
The US is struggling to deploy fast-charging stations as electric cars grow more popular. | Julian Stratenschulte/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Electric car owners are finding out how hard it can be to charge EVs at public charging stations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QPukgk">
A loud pop echoed through the Walmart parking lot, an alarming sign that something was wrong.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HndbfK">
Cass Tippit had plugged his 2017 Chevrolet Bolt into an Electrify America public charging station in Chipley, Florida, and after about 15 minutes, he heard the noise and saw that the screen on the charger had gone dark. “The dashboard of the car lit up like a Christmas tree,” he said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4Pw5qd">
Tippit unplugged the car, but the Bolt wouldn’t start. It left him stranded for hours and was the start of an ordeal that would last weeks.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5xPfss">
Across the country, Anson Long found himself in an eerily similar predicament. He connected his 2022 Rivian R1T truck to an Electrify America charging station at the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego. As he and his friend started to head to the mall, “We hear a loud boom, an explosive-type sound,” Long said. “We look back and see a black cloud of smoke come out” of the power unit next to the charging station.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jjolub">
Long rushed back to his car and stopped the charging. He tried to remove the plug from the charging port, but it wouldn’t come out. He, too, was stranded for hours and found himself chasing a solution for weeks.
</p>
<div id="1lhtVg">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
hey <a href="https://twitter.com/ElectrifyAm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="ElectrifyAm">@ElectrifyAm</span></a> i just plugged in my <a href="https://twitter.com/Rivian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="Rivian">@Rivian</span></a> r1t and 1 minute later i hear a loud boom and now i have a bunch of error codes and i can’t even unplug my car…. took you guys 7 hours to get a guy out and that even wasn’t help. what’s the deal???? now my car is fried too… <a href="https://t.co/6I7RsmZG0S">pic.twitter.com/6I7RsmZG0S</a>
</p>
— Anson (<span class="citation" data-cites="snkrticians">@snkrticians</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/snkrticians/status/1619674591131242497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2023</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5ggNs4">
Both Tippit and Long had fallen into one of the biggest cracks in the United States’ electric vehicle infrastructure. As battery-powered cars and trucks transform from local runabouts to cross-country road-trippers, drivers are becoming increasingly reliant on public charging stations. In many cases, however, they’re pulling up to plugs only to find them inoperable. Even worse, a handful have had their cars bricked. And when something goes wrong, it’s hard to figure out who’s responsible.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VaQyZk">
According to a <a href="https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-public-charging-study">2022 J.D. Power survey</a>, one in five EV drivers didn’t charge their vehicle during a visit to a public charging station last year, mainly due to outages or malfunctions.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NBxJmn">
“The dirty secret of EV charging is how unreliable public networks can actually be,” said John Lawrence, senior sales manager at <a href="https://www.sparkcharge.io/">SparkCharge</a>, a company developing mobile charging systems.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GIaWBe">
These gaps are emerging at a critical time for the industry. Electric cars are more popular than ever. Almost <a href="https://www.kbb.com/car-news/new-car-sales-fell-in-2022-but-new-electric-car-sales-rose-dramatically/">6 percent of cars</a> sold in the US last year were electric, topping 800,000 vehicles.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WsPu1u">
These vehicles demand more chargers. There are currently more than <a href="https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-are-there-in-the-us/">148,000 EV charging points across 56,000 stations</a> in the US. The White House wants to nearly triple that number by building a national network of <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-standards-and-major-progress-for-a-made-in-america-national-network-of-electric-vehicle-chargers/">500,000 EV chargers</a>, and the 2021 <a href="https://www.vox.com/22772701/biden-infrastructure-law-environmental-funding">Bipartisan Infrastructure Law</a> includes $7.5 billion to fund their construction. Earlier this month, Tesla also announced it would open <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2023/02/15/tesla-supercharger-ev-network-white-house/11263341002/#:~:text=What%20is%20Tesla's%20supercharger%20network,those%20are%20in%20the%20U.S.">7,500 chargers</a> in its proprietary supercharger network to all EVs. This is all a key part of the US strategy for reducing the climate impact from transportation, the largest source of greenhouse gases in the country.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Vice President Kamala Harris plugs a Prince George’s County electric vehicle into a charging station at the Brandywine Maintenance Facility on December 13, 2021 in Brandywine, Maryland." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AKR8jFFDR4SIg6i3YjgRUjAMWJk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24516012/GettyImages_1358798104.jpeg"/> <cite>Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Vice President Kamala Harris charges up an electric car in Maryland. The White House is aiming to deploy 500,000 EV chargers across the US.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZVfDTG">
Meanwhile, EVs have moved beyond the realm of tech-savvy early adopters willing to shell out for new Teslas. Plenty of EVs now have six figures on their odometers and are in the hands of second or third owners. And many of those vehicles depend on public charging because the owners don’t have chargers at home.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zT6OOf">
It’s these owners who will make or break the transition to cleaner vehicles. Most Americans buy cars secondhand, and they’re not looking for a toy. They need a reliable way to get around. So the experiences of EV drivers now, good or bad, will shape public perception and the pace at which more people switch to cleaner vehicles, regardless of whatever subsidies the government offers. Unreliable chargers threaten to drive the transition off course. According to a <a href="https://www.autolist.com/news-and-analysis/2022-survey-electric-vehicles">2022 survey by Autolist</a>, the top three reasons people decided against buying an EV were cost, concerns about range, and worries about where to charge them.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qzxs5x">
The clock is ticking for widespread EV adoption, too. States like <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/23320166/california-gasoline-ban-electric-vehicle-car-diesel-climate">California and New York</a> have now set 2035 as the final year to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ivUJZk">
There are solutions, however. Companies are working to bridge the gaps in EV charging infrastructure by increasing availability and lowering installation costs. But red tape, competing charging standards, and inadequate consumer protections mean that regulators will likely have to step in as well to smooth the road ahead.
</p>
<h3 id="30XlfD">
The emerging divide in EV ownership
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Q5leVY">
While Tippit and Long saw their charging problems start in similar ways, they played out differently.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pOWLIG">
Long spent hours on the phone with Electrify America and Rivian, going through both of their troubleshooting steps. No dice. It was around 8 pm on Saturday. An Electrify America technician finally arrived at midnight. The technician went through the checklist again, then tried to pry out the plug with a crowbar. Nada. Long called it a night, left the truck at the station, and took a two-hour Uber ride home.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tM5EUK">
The following Monday, he went back to the mall along with four people from Electrify America and three from Rivian. The Rivian team disassembled the front of the car and disabled the power system, while the Electrify America technicians provided mechanical persuasion to the plug.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tTjlG2">
Finally, the plug relented. The charge port looked burned, and the plug was discolored. “It looked like one of the [charging] pins was welded,” Long said.
</p>
<div id="zLmNBD">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Update: Rivian and EA came, both talked and EA was able to rip the charger out. Rivian towed car away and will inspect and replace everything then proceed.But look what happened…. lol. <a href="https://t.co/IxTgCmgA2y">pic.twitter.com/IxTgCmgA2y</a>
</p>
— Anson (<span class="citation" data-cites="snkrticians">@snkrticians</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/snkrticians/status/1620196574940000258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lHZYs7">
Long had purchased his truck new for $100,000 just two months before the incident. Rivian towed the truck to their service center and offered Long a loaner car as well as ride-hail credits while they investigated. The company ended up replacing the battery and charge port, and Long had his truck back three weeks later. “I paid not a dime,” he said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CzIVJM">
Tippit wasn’t so lucky. After he found that his car wouldn’t budge, other Walmart customers reported seeing sparks and smoke from the nearby power unit, the gray metal boxes near the charging station that take in electricity from the grid. Then the smell wafted over. “You could smell burning electricals. It just smelled like a fried thing,” Tippit said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KsSyqq">
Electrify America told him to tow the car at his own expense to the nearest dealer, where it sat for more than a week. He paid $350 to replace a high-voltage fuse in the car just so the dealer could diagnose it. The battery was toast. It would cost more than $20,000 to fix. He’d bought the car used a month earlier with 25,000 miles on the clock for $23,000.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XOoiql">
The 2017 Bolt has an <a href="https://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/bolt-ev/2017.tab1.html">eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty</a>, but General Motors, the parent company of Chevrolet, blamed the charging station for the problem. All the while, no one offered a loaner car or travel reimbursements. Electrify America eventually told Tippit that the company would reimburse him if he fronted the cost of the repair. He ended up totaling it out with the insurance company.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Photo of woman in front of Chevrolet Bolt" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/60t4BDsWhs9hr_kOoh5i7BDXvnA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24516035/messages_0.jpeg"/> <cite>Cass Tippit</cite>
<figcaption>
Sarah Tippit, wife of Cass Tippit, stands in front of their electric Chevrolet Bolt on the day they bought it.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4TERDE">
While manufacturers love to advertise their new EVs, used electric vehicles are poised to become a larger market. In 2021, there were <a href="https://electrek.co/2022/08/24/current-ev-registrations-in-the-us-how-does-your-state-stack-up/">1.4 million EVs</a> registered in the US, not including plug-in hybrids. Americans buy about <a href="https://www.kbb.com/car-news/despite-soaring-prices-americans-bought-record-number-of-used-cars-in-2021/">40 million used cars in a year</a>, compared to about <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/06/2022-us-auto-sales-are-worst-in-more-than-a-decade-.html">17 million new cars</a>. The average car in the US stays on the road for 12 years.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Buy645">
But as Tippit found out, used EV owners may be on their own if something goes wrong. That could deter more budget-conscious buyers.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="d34PGD">
“This isn’t 2010,” he said. “Everyone who has an electric vehicle is not some hedge fund manager who has it because it’s a flashy way to show off some sort of status. We bought this car because it was economical and because it’s the way the future is moving.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GDNX3R">
A spokesperson for Electrify America said the company is still investigating its charging problems.
</p>
<h3 id="ko3jGs">
The basics of EV charging, explained
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TSamNU">
Given the ubiquity of cellphones, laptops, and wireless headphones, it’s easy to overlook the fact that charging a battery is actually a sophisticated operation. On the scale of small devices, it’s as simple as plugging a cord into a wall outlet and letting the small bits of electronics in the power brick handle the job. But when it comes to managing the energy needed to propel a 4,500-pound vehicle, the complexity and risk grows.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iid8L8">
The fundamental challenge is that the power grid operates on an alternating current (AC) while almost all battery-powered devices run on direct current (DC). Strictly speaking, the electronics that perform this task compose the charger, and when it comes to public charging stations, there are two types of chargers at play: the ones built directly into the EV and the ones in the stations themselves.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="An Electrify America electric vehicle (EV) charging station on display at AutoMobility LA ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pvfpY17mdvXnKpAuTf2X5JC5jIc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24516053/GettyImages_1236661666.jpeg"/> <cite>Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Electrify America currently operates the largest public charging network in the US.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="C0yg0C">
The on-board charger faces space and weight restrictions. “That is limited in how much power it can realistically convert,” said <a href="https://www.engineering.columbia.edu/faculty/matthias-preindl">Matthias Preindl</a>, an associate professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oT8rsi">
If you’re on the road and only have a few minutes, you need to be able to inject a lot more power into the battery than the on-board charger can handle. That’s where DC fast chargers, like the systems from Electrify America and the Tesla Supercharger network, come in.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tio9Yv">
In these systems, the task of converting electricity is offboarded to the charging station. The plugs at the charging stalls are just dispensers. The actual DC chargers are in gray metal utility cabinets nearby, which look similar to the pad-mounted transformers you can find scattered across cities near power lines. They provide a huge amount of power directly to the battery, topping it off in as little as 20 minutes. But DC chargers require sophisticated hardware to connect directly to the grid, adding to their cost.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="e4YcZP">
EVs also have different plug shapes to worry about. There are two main fast charging standards in North America: Tesla and Combined Charging System, or CCS, which is used by just about every other manufacturer. (There’s also CHAdeMO, but no new EVs use this standard.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="epIY2K">
For Tesla, the workflow is pretty straightforward. The company makes both the fast chargers and the EVs. This helps keep mishaps to a minimum, and drivers know exactly who to call if something goes wrong. This will soon change as Tesla charging stations accommodate other carmakers.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A driver stops to charge a Tesla vehicle at a Sheetz gas station in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, US, on Thursday, June 16, 2022." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ck0dZUXvnO-TyenKEMt99XQALgQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24516007/GettyImages_1241921496.jpeg"/> <cite>Nate Smallwood/Bloomberg via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Tesla now plans to open its supercharger network to other automobile marques.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="m41HLf">
Electrify America and other public DC chargers, on the other hand, are designed to be able to charge everything from BMW’s tiny i3 to the monstrous Hummer EV. Each manufacturer has different needs, so communication between the car and the charging station is critical. If something is lost in translation, bad things can happen, as Tippit and Long found out. It can also be difficult to figure out whether the problem was due to the car or the charging station, and thus who is accountable.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5tUkt9">
Preindl said any number of potential hardware or software issues could have caused their chargers to malfunction, but when dealing with the massive amount of electricity in a DC fast charger, something as trivial as leaving a tiny gap between the plug and the charge port on the car can be dangerous.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hwYTp4">
“If a plug doesn’t make good contact, locally it creates high current and acts effectively like a welder,” Preindl said. “It welds the receiver and the plug together.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HIqIb1">
But it’s important to put these public charging stations into context with their competition. Conventional gas stations come with their own risks but rarely get national news coverage. Every year, there are about <a href="https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Building-and-Life-Safety/Service-or-Gas-Station-Fires">4,000 fires at gas stations</a> across the US, leading to as many as 43 injuries, three deaths, and $30 million in damages, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
</p>
<h3 id="0XcXaD">
The road ahead for EV charging
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uMFXHb">
Of course, gas stations have their benefits, too. Since they’re so common, if one pump is out at a gas station, a working pump is usually not too far away. Drivers can also shop around for the cheapest fuel.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LJm5XZ">
EV drivers, on the other hand, have to plan carefully and keep close track of which public fast chargers are operating and have open slots. Otherwise, they could end up waiting a while to recharge or, worse, stranded. They may also need separate apps or accounts with every charging provider, making the process more tedious than it needs to be.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="R7m0sK">
Electrify America currently operates the largest public EV charging network, with more than 800 stations hosting 3,500 individual chargers. The company was formed by Volkswagen in 2016 as part of its punishment for <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-volkswagen-declared-defeat-in-diesel-cars/">cheating on emissions tests</a>. Drivers have complained of poor maintenance and a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/16/business/energy-environment/electric-vehicles-broken-chargers.html">high rate of outages</a> across the network. The stations also seem to <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2022/12/25/why-are-some-of-electrify-americas-stations-failing-in-the-cold/">struggle in the cold</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6fpX3U">
Other public networks, like ChargePoint and EVgo, have experienced similar reliability issues.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="US3bnX">
So beyond safety, a nationwide EV charging network — particularly one that offers fast charging — needs to be abundant, reliable, accessible, and cheap in order to compete with gasoline and diesel. Right now there’s progress on all of these fronts: Thousands more charging stations are in the works; new designs are bringing down costs and installation timelines, and plugging in gaps with new types of charging systems. Still, there are some annoying problems that the government will have to step in to resolve as well.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm speaks during an event to discuss investments in the U.S. electric vehicle charging network, outside Department of Transportation headquarters on February 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zm6aBOGFvE4yL0OKR_NQsOENBqQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24516105/GettyImages_1238357864.jpeg"/> <cite>Drew Angerer/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Flanked by two electric Ford Mustangs, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announces new US investments in EV charging infrastructure.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="itCFDS">
So what comes first, the electric cars or the charging stations?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BvuIMx">
“What we’ve seen is that there’s a lot of interest to deploy infrastructure ahead of the market as a sort of way to hold real estate on the expectation that EVs will come,” said <a href="https://guidehouseinsights.com/team/scott-shepard">Scott Shepard</a>, research director at the consulting firm Guidehouse, studying vehicle electrification.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="l7QKm5">
Electrify America is planning to expand to 1,800 stations with 10,000 individual chargers in the US and Canada by 2026. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-02-07/bp-earnings-don-t-say-it-out-loud-but-bp-is-back-into-petroleum">Oil companies like BP</a> are even starting to invest in EV charging. They already own the gas stations, and many are sitting on record profits and looking for places to stash their cash.
</p>
<aside id="1isx5E">
<div>
</div>
</aside>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="E70DTQ">
DC fast chargers, however, have to climb over additional hurdles. They require specialized equipment to connect since they use so much electricity at once. In particular, they often need <a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/distribution-transformer-shortage-appa-casten/639059/">medium-voltage transformers</a> that step down voltage from the power grid to a level cars can use. There’s a shortage of these devices that could take up to two years to resolve, according to Shepard. Fast charging stations also require special permits, which can add three to six months to their construction timeline. The building costs can easily amount to millions of dollars.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ahyif0">
FreeWire is a company trying to get around this problem by integrating energy storage into fast charging stations. That allows the station to dispatch much more power while charging than it actually draws from the grid at any given moment.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Msapxf">
“Our golden ratio is 10 to 1, so we have a 200-kilowatt charger but we use 20 kilowatts of input power, and the battery just acts as a buffer,” said<a href="https://freewiretech.com/team/arcady-sosinov/"> Arcady Sosinov</a>, CEO of FreeWire. “It works just like the hot water tank in your home.”
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Electric car charger charging two cars. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6I-Dm4CccmXnZPzQZRiHrS10sFU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24516070/FreeWire_Boost_Charger_Dual_Charging.jpg"/> <cite>FreeWire</cite>
<figcaption>
FreeWire’s fast charging stations integrate energy storage, which allows them to deploy faster and cheaper.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qxMwE1">
This speeds up the deployment time. Sosinov said his company deployed 30 fast charging sites in British Columbia in 30 days in December.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="w76LYn">
Mobile charging is another way to close gaps, according to Lawrence at <a href="https://www.sparkcharge.io/">SparkCharge</a>. Rather than driving to a charging station, EV owners can request electricity to be delivered to them while they eat at a restaurant or go to a concert, “almost like the UberEats of EV charging,” Lawrence said. Essentially giant portable batteries, mobile charging sites can serve as waypoints to extend the range of EVs, even when there’s no connection to the grid.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xN2a3N">
Regulators can also pave over some of the potholes in EV charging. The government could force the charging networks to be <a href="https://www.eei.org/-/media/Project/EEI/Documents/Issues-and-Policy/Electric-Transportation/Final-Joint-Interoperability-Paper.pdf">interoperable</a> so users don’t have to register separately for each station.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pbifZk">
They could also make manufacturers stick to a narrow set of plug standards. While Tesla and CSS represent the two main types of charging ports, CCS is more of a set of guidelines than a binding rulebook. (“It’s super loosey-goosey,” according to Sosinov.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OCa1PD">
Regulators could impose tighter standards to make charging more consistent across different cars and charging networks. The government could also establish clear rules about who is liable if a car ends up damaged or bricked at a charging station.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6HykRX">
These are important issues to resolve not just for safety reasons, but to ensure that drivers remain confident in electric cars and trucks. The goal is not to prevent every possible problem, but to make sure that a negative experience won’t put an owner off EVs forever.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gdCbBG">
Long said he comes from a family of EV owners and his R1T truck was the second EV he’s personally owned. His ordeal at the charging station hasn’t dissuaded him at all.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TsmEDK">
Tippit’s Bolt was his first EV. He grew to appreciate its convenience and fuel savings. But getting his car bricked and totaled made him more skeptical of public charging stations. He replaced it with a used Tesla Model 3, granting him access to the Tesla supercharger network. “So far, so good,” he said.
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The brewing war over who goes hungry in America — and how to feed them</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RJ2-cls96WsOwj9SngknyBTbwRA=/432x0:3992x2670/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72088524/GettyImages_1239645282.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
A worker organizes food on shelves at the West Alabama Food Bank in Northport, Alabama, on March 28, 2022. | Andi Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Republican fight over SNAP benefits has deep historical roots.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1IBn4b">
At the onset of the pandemic, as <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/jobs-report-april-2020.html">tens of millions</a> of Americans found themselves suddenly out of work and food bank lines <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/business/economy/coronavirus-food-banks.html">stretched for miles</a>, Congress passed <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act-summary-of-key-provisions/">lifeline legislation</a> to keep people in distress fed. The emergency spending injected billions of extra dollars into food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xfzQtn">
A year later, President Biden <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/blog/reversing-trump-policy-biden-administration-includes-lowest-income-households-in-emergency">boosted</a> those expanded benefits to ensure they went to the lowest-income participating households. Thanks in part to that aid and other <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22213822/will-americans-get-another-stimulus-check">assistance programs</a> launched or expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic, food insecurity avoided the sharp increase that <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=58378">occurred</a> during the Great Recession.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WoZe0k">
But at the end of this past month, the pandemic-era expanded SNAP benefits <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy/2023/3/4/23625015/snap-poverty-covid-benefits">expired</a> for more than<strong> </strong>30 million people in 35 states and territories, slashing the average participant’s monthly food assistance from around <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/us/politics/food-stamps-benefits-decrease.html">$251 to $169</a>, with some groups suffering much steeper benefit cuts. Food banks are once again bracing for a surge in need, with one in Kentucky reporting a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/04/pandemic-food-stamps-ending/">mile-long line</a> days after the cuts. Advocates fear that the loss of the extended benefits — which were killed by a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/21/school-meals-pandemic-snap/">congressional deal</a> made in December to keep the government running — could send millions of additional Americans off the <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/3887554-cuts-to-snap-benefits-will-push-millions-over-the-hunger-cliff/">“hunger cliff.”</a>
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A long line of people waiting in the rain at a food bank." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c2rfYpDj6T7P-dwFLhxA9JW_eIc=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24510409/GettyImages_1217884375.jpg"/> <cite>Mario Tama/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
People wait outside a food bank in Van Nuys, California, on April 9, 2020.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bIRom1">
And while Biden’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/budget_fy2024.pdf">proposed spending budget</a> announced earlier this month includes funding for breakfast and lunch in low-income school districts and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, the budget has zero chance of passing the Republican-controlled House intact. Indeed, the House GOP has its <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/08/us/politics/house-republicans-deficit-budget-biden.html">sights set</a> on restricting SNAP access and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2023/02/16/food-stamps-gop-proposed-cuts/">reducing its benefits</a>, having introduced a work requirement bill on March 14 with more bills to come, <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-agriculture/2023/03/13/scoop-the-gops-first-move-on-snap-00086731">per Politico</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UMFVPW">
It should shock the American conscience that in the wealthiest and one of the most agriculturally productive countries — awash in <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/this-map-shows-how-much-each-country-spends-on-food/">cheap food</a>, no less — one in 10 households still live with food insecurity, a grim reality with which we’ve become startlingly comfortable. But hunger, as we learned during the pandemic and in its aftermath, is a policy choice.
</p>
<h3 id="WGZOZy">
Defining hunger in America
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MIY65q">
In the 2021 fiscal year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) spent <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-security-and-nutrition-assistance/?topicId=d7627f77-6cee-4ab9-bbb9-8c74d4778941">$182.5 billion</a> across its 15 food assistance programs, the vast majority on SNAP — virtually double what it spent before the pandemic in <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/99026/eib218_summary.pdf?v=46.5#:~:text=Spending%20for%20USDA%27s%2015%20domestic,%24109.2%20billion%20in%202013%20dollars).">2019</a>. On top of programs like SNAP, the agency also <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/about-us/press-room/new-USDA-investment#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20USDA%20foods%20made,for%20community%20members%20in%20need.">supports</a> part of the sprawling network of some <a href="https://moveforhunger.org/hunger-facts">400 food banks</a> nationwide — where donated food is stored — along with more than 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens where that food is distributed.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZKyC29">
Despite its enormity — and despite the fact that hunger has always been a problem in the land of plenty — this network of food assistance is relatively new. St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, Arizona, the US’s first real food bank, opened its doors in 1967, and while the food stamp program has its <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap">origins</a> in the late 1930s, it didn’t start to resemble its current form of SNAP until the 1960s and ’70s.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="knbhz0">
The government wasn’t comprehensively <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11578/chapter/4">measuring hunger</a> at the time, and there wasn’t even consensus on how to define it, but that all began to change in the late 1980s. An expert panel of nutritionists, working with the US Department of Health and Human Services, straightforwardly <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11578/chapter/4">defined hunger</a> as the discomfort and pain brought on by lack of food. They also defined “food insecurity,” a much more important metric in understanding hunger in America — a country in which prolonged hunger is rare but the more nuanced and temporal state of food insecurity isn’t. And that state is defined as occurring whenever there is “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited and uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="85frxO">
In 1995, the US Census Bureau and the USDA <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11578/chapter/4#30">began</a> to extensively measure food security with an <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/">18-question survey</a> about households’ food intake and access over the prior 12 months, and in 2006 began to place households on a <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/measurement/">continuum</a> based on their answers. It ranges from high food security — meaning zero problems or anxiety about consistent food access throughout the year — to very low food security, meaning that during some points of the year, one or more members of the household reduced their portions or skipped meals because of a lack of money.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WKYnqW">
The survey isn’t perfect — it relies on self-reported data over 12 months, so there’s a lag and a level of uncertainty — but it gives anti-hunger advocates and policymakers a broad understanding of food insecurity in America. And early on in the pandemic, the Census Bureau launched the regular <a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey.html">Household Pulse Survey</a>, which includes questions on <a href="https://frac.org/foodinsufficiencycovid19">“food insufficiency”</a> — meaning sometimes or often not having enough to eat — which gave somewhat more real-time data on food access.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XnsOaN">
The main <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-security-and-nutrition-assistance/#:~:text=Food%20insecurity%20rates%20are%20highest,and%20very%20low%20food%20security.">findings</a> from food insecurity surveys? The groups most likely to experience food insecurity are people who live below the poverty line, Black and Hispanic households, single parents, and households that include an <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=105136#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20for%20U.S.%20households,24%20percent%20were%20food%20insecure.">adult with a disability</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5eAwVc">
Rural Americans experience food insecurity at higher rates than those in cities, and food security can vary widely by state. <a href="https://frac.org/hunger-poverty-america">For example</a>, 15.3 percent of Mississippi households experience food insecurity, while only 5.4 percent of New Hampshire households do (food insecurity is highest in the South).
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XIlA7Z">
“When we talk about food insecurity numbers, we’re talking about people who are concerned — really facing a constant struggle — with whether or not they can afford sufficient food for themselves and their families,” said Ellen Vollinger, SNAP director for the Food Research &amp; Action Center, an organization that advocates for stronger food assistance policy.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CpHygh">
For some, that concern can wax and wane with one’s financial standing, said Priya Fielding-Singh, a sociologist and assistant professor at the University of Utah who closely followed food insecure families for her book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-the-other-half-eats-the-untold-story-of-food-and-inequality-in-america-priya-fielding-singh/17210634"><em>How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America</em></a>. During some periods in a year, a parent might be able to take on more shifts at work and feel more confident about their ability to pay for groceries, but emergencies — like car accidents or broken appliances or a sudden pandemic — can quickly plunge them back into food insecurity.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Abz82i">
“Those kinds of acute crises often precipitate food insecurity, where you have to spend the money that you were going to be devoting toward your food toward something else,” Fielding-Singh said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1R5R30">
And surveys can’t tell us about the psychological burden of food insecurity, she added: “Feeling like you don’t know if you have enough money to pay for your groceries over the course of a month, or you don’t know if you’re going to be paid on time in order to pack your kid’s lunch … I think that living with that kind of underlying uncertainty is really psychologically damaging.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oO3pkw">
<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/interactive-charts-and-highlights/">Food insecurity rates</a> hovered around 10 to 12 percent of households from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, peaking in 2011 at 14.9 percent in the wake of the Great Recession and falling back down to pre-recession levels by 2017. Thanks to the slate of food assistance programs over the course of the pandemic, they didn’t climb back up.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qzo43AV_N4lCEHGU23MtSKa8s10=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24510149/YxKdW_one_in_10_americans_experiences_food_insecurity.png"/>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yvqVJT">
However, the forecast ahead for food insecurity is murky. As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, workers are benefiting from <a href="https://www.atlantafed.org/chcs/wage-growth-tracker">strong wage growth</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/03/10/business/jobs-report-economy-news">low unemployment</a>, <a href="https://qz.com/us-states-minimum-wage-increases-2023-1849943768#:~:text=Nebraska%20is%20the%20state%20that%20boasts%20the%20biggest%20hike&amp;text=1%2C%202023%2C%2023%20states%20and,by%20more%20than%20%245%20billion.">minimum wage hikes</a>, and slowing inflation, each of which will affect how much people can spend on food. But for many low-income households, their future will also depend on the future of SNAP and other food assistance programs, which are under threat from a brewing war in Congress.
</p>
<h3 id="0RxkTo">
Hunger is a policy choice
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7hb4br">
That it’s obvious doesn’t make it any less true: The most effective way to reduce food insecurity is to reduce poverty, the ebbs and flows of which practically <a href="https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-275.pdf">mirror food insecurity rates</a>. <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-prices-and-spending/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20U.S.%20consumers%20spent,from%20home%20(5.1%20percent).">According to the USDA</a>, the average consumer spends 10.3 percent of their disposable income on food, but for the lowest-income households, it’s a staggering 30.6 percent, and around 15 percent for the second-lowest bracket.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HKyBxV">
While the long-term war on poverty is waged, there are some shorter-term battles to be fought as well.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WNi3fG">
The Food Research &amp; Action Center has a <a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/FRAC-Transition-Recommendations-to-Address-Hunger-in-US-2020.pdf#page=11&amp;zoom=100,422,90">long wish list</a> for the Biden administration and Congress to strengthen federal food assistance, from big-ticket items like increasing benefits to expanding SNAP access for low-income college students.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mELZso">
Simply increasing enrollment could go a long way. SNAP participation among eligible people is relatively high (<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/usamap">82 percent</a>), but that’s not the case for WIC: In 2019, enrollment was at just <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/national-state-level-estimates-eligibility-program-reach-2019">57 percent</a> due to a <a href="https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/Making-WIC-Work-Better-Full-Report.pdf">variety of factors</a>, including confusion around eligibility and restrictions on what can be purchased. And until 2020, WIC benefits were still issued on paper vouchers in many states, instead of a debit card, which increased stigma (SNAP has been issued via debit cards since 2004).
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2gHAsX">
One of the most significant achievements would be a return to <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23618443/school-lunch-kids-pandemic-debt-shaming">universal free school lunch</a>, a pandemic-era policy that lapsed late last year. “If a child is hungry, that is all they think about all day,” a director of food and nutrition at a Connecticut public school district <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23618443/school-lunch-kids-pandemic-debt-shaming">told</a> Vox’s Anna North. “If we don’t prioritize hungry children, I don’t know what we prioritize. I don’t know what else is more important than that.”
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A student eats from a plate of beans, apples, and tortilla chips." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kN5vyoxctLYdUDbmkyaPnrm1s1k=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24510422/GettyImages_1368642744.jpg"/> <cite>Michael Loccisano/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
A student at one of New York City’s public schools, which instituted universal free school lunch in 2017.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cg8O0Q">
Universal free school lunch wouldn’t just reduce food insecurity but could also help improve childhood education: After New York City launched universal free school lunch in 2017, students’ <a href="https://ny.chalkbeat.org/2019/10/15/21121847/universal-free-lunch-is-linked-to-better-test-scores-in-new-york-city-new-report-finds">math and reading test scores</a> improved.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GUVxDq">
If Congress doesn’t move on the issue, the burden will fall to the states. Some states, like <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/26/1129939058/end-of-nationwide-federal-free-lunch-program-has-some-states-scrambling">Massachusetts and Nevada</a>, extended universal free school lunch to the end of the 2023 school year, while <a href="https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/cauniversalmeals.asp">California</a> and <a href="https://www.centralmaine.com/2022/09/30/with-free-meals-available-for-all-students-in-maine-officials-say-there-are-still-hurdles-to-offering-better-food/">Maine</a> went further, making universal free school lunch and breakfast permanent, which went into effect at the start of this current school year (New Mexico’s governor is expected to sign similar legislation into law <a href="https://www.foodservicedirector.com/operations/new-mexico-universal-free-meals-bill-heads-governors-desk">soon</a>).<strong> </strong>Most <a href="https://co.chalkbeat.org/2022/12/2/23490749/free-meals-colorado-school-lunch-proposition-ff-denver-jeffco-douglas-aurora">Colorado</a> public school students will receive free school lunch and breakfast next school year, and <a href="https://www.cityandstatepa.com/policy/2023/03/pennsylvania-joins-several-other-states-pushing-universal-free-breakfasts-kids/384111/">other states</a> are mulling free breakfast and lunch programs, too.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bJkTvj">
“That is a really exciting trend,” said Fielding-Singh. “And before the pandemic, that was completely politically unfeasible.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aagnyC">
But the massive, pandemic-era expansion of the welfare state has <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/03/snap-benefits-food-stamps-biden-welfare-poverty.html">shrunk significantly</a> over the last year as the immediate threat of Covid-19 has receded. The House, now under GOP control, has <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-agriculture/2023/03/13/scoop-the-gops-first-move-on-snap-00086731">called</a> to reduce SNAP benefits for adults without children, and Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1581?s=1&amp;r=1">legislation</a> on Tuesday that raises the maximum age for work requirements from 49 to 65, changes that would all but guarantee an uptick in child and adult food insecurity.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A person holds a sign that reads “SNAP CUTS ARE SINFUL” at a press conference." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S4i_DtSc2U16r0X_unxxy1hn1lA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24510167/GettyImages_955751674.jpg"/> <cite>Sarah Silbiger/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
A SNAP supporter at a press conference held by Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) in 2018, urging lawmakers to rejected proposed cuts to SNAP.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nTOXDQ">
It’s the first shot fired in what could be an ugly fight over adjustments to SNAP in negotiations for this year’s Farm Bill, which is rewritten every five years (SNAP accounts for nearly <a href="https://www.snaptohealth.org/farm-bill-usda/snap-in-the-farm-bill/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20the%20nutrition%20title,budget%20for%20the%20Farm%20Bill.">80 percent</a> of the bill’s spending).
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ppb2u2">
That frustrates advocates like Vollinger, who points to <a href="https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/fdd090122.pdf">strong support</a> for food assistance programs, even among conservatives. “It’s not as if this is an issue where we don’t know what to do,” Vollinger said. “There are strategies that are pretty clear and workable and doable, if there’s the political will to do them.”
</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Vyasa, Fearless Joey, Moon’s Blessing and Dawn Rising please</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Baby Bazooka and Irish Gold impress</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Boxing World Championships | Nitu, Preeti, Manju enter pre-quarters</strong> - Nitu, who lost in the quarter-final during the last edition, opened her campaign in the best possible way.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>NZ vs SL, 2nd Test | Double centuries for Williamson, Nicholls put New Zealand on top</strong> - New Zealand declared its first innings at 580-4 on the second day</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Bracewell replaces injured Will Jacks in RCB squad for upcoming IPL season</strong> - Jacks, who was bought by RCB for ₹3.2 crore at the player auction in December last year, suffered a muscle injury while fielding during England’s second ODI against Bangladesh</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Dairy cattle require special care to augment milk production during summer: experts</strong> - There is a 20-25% reduction in milk production during summer, say farmers</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Children in romantic relationships are at risk for online bullying and abuse, says helpline</strong> - Out of 491 distress calls over the last six months, mostly from young girls, the RATI Foundation helpline registered 117 cases of cyberbullying and 31 cases where intimate content was shared non-consensually</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Will you vote for party that supports PFI, asks C.T. Ravi</strong> - BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi has said that it was left to the people to decide whether they wanted a party that protected the nation or a party that supported jihadi forces</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>KTU permits Type 1 diabetic students to carry medicines, snacks to exam halls</strong> - The students will have to obtain prior permission from the college authorities</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A few retd judges, some activists want judiciary to play role of Opposition: Rijiju</strong> - Mr. Rijiju also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in London on democracy in India, saying the person who speaks the most says he is not allowed to speak.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Putin arrest warrant: Biden welcomes ICC’s war crimes charges</strong> - The International Criminal Court accuses the Russian leader of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Can Vladimir Putin actually be arrested?</strong> - BBC correspondents Anna Holligan and Steve Rosenberg on the difficulties of detaining a president.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>France pension protests: Crowd clashes with police over government reform by decree</strong> - A second night of unrest grips France after the government pushed through pension changes without a vote.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Italy leaves children of same-sex parents in limbo</strong> - Italy’s right-wing government prompts an outcry by halting registration of children of same-sex parents.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Turkey’s Erdogan seals deal on Finland joining Nato</strong> - A vote on Finland’s membership now goes to Turkey’s parliament, but Sweden’s bid is still held up.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Google won’t honor medical leave during its layoffs, outraging employees</strong> - Ex-Googler says she was laid off from her hospital bed shortly after giving birth. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1924998">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Anthropic introduces Claude, a “more steerable” AI competitor to ChatGPT</strong> - Anthropic aims for “safer” and “less harmful” AI, but at a higher price. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1924161">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Bent nails at Roman burial site form “magical barrier” to keep dead from rising</strong> - Cremated remains were also covered in brick tiles and a thick layer of lime. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1924926">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Google tells users of some Android phones: Nuke voice calling to avoid infection</strong> - If your device runs Exynos chips, be very, very concerned. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1925040">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Microsoft is testing a built-in cryptocurrency wallet for the Edge browser</strong> - Crypto wallet would join coupons, cash back, and “buy now, pay later” add-ons. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1924980">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>What Asian stereo type do you hear the most?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Personally I’ve got a Yamaha surround sound system.
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/CaptainBeans_"> /u/CaptainBeans_ </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11u2dtl/what_asian_stereo_type_do_you_hear_the_most/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11u2dtl/what_asian_stereo_type_do_you_hear_the_most/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A chemist froze himself at -273.15 °C, everyone said he was crazy</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He was 0K
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/RuthlessWolf"> /u/RuthlessWolf </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11u05q5/a_chemist_froze_himself_at_27315_c_everyone_said/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11u05q5/a_chemist_froze_himself_at_27315_c_everyone_said/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Nobody upvotes a cake joke on cake days anymore</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Feeling desserted
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/appleboi_69420"> /u/appleboi_69420 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11uldc7/nobody_upvotes_a_cake_joke_on_cake_days_anymore/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11uldc7/nobody_upvotes_a_cake_joke_on_cake_days_anymore/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A man and his wife are having trouble with their sex life</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
So the man goes to the new sex toy shop, walks up to the counter and explains his situation.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The clerk says “I’ve got just the thing for you, it’s called magic penis” and retrieves it from the shelf behind him.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Man: how does it work? Clerk: I’ll show you… “magic penis, counter!” <em>magic penis flips out and starts schlupping all around the counter</em>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Man: wow! That’s great, I’ll take it!
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The man goes home and shows his wife. Man: honey I got something that will help us in the bedroom! It’s called magic penis! Wife: ok, how does it work? Man: I’ll show you… magic penis, table!
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
<em>magic penis starts schlupping around the table</em>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The wife gets excited. The next day, the man goes to work and the wife stays home. She starts to get ready.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Wife: magic penis, pussy!
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The magic penis goes to work and she has the time of her life and has orgasm after orgasm… but she doesn’t know how to stop it or turn it off. So she gets into the car and starts driving to the hospital and starts to speed. A cop pulls her over, walks up to the car and says “why were you going to fast?!”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Wife: I can explain! Cop: well let me hear it? Wife: I have this magic penis… Cop: magic penis my ass!
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/SteamyPork"> /u/SteamyPork </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11tmuhe/a_man_and_his_wife_are_having_trouble_with_their/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11tmuhe/a_man_and_his_wife_are_having_trouble_with_their/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Einstein, Newton and Pascal play hide and seek together</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF --></p>
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Einstein, Newton and Pascal play hide and seek together.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
It’s Einstein’s turn to count, and he closes his eyes. After counting to 10, Pascal runs away and hides.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Newton, on the other hand, very calmly draws a square on the ground, 1 meter on each side, in front of the place that Einstein counted, and goes to the middle of it and starts to wait.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
When Einstein reaches 10, he opens his eyes and immediately says, “Newton, I found you!!” he shouts.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Newton smiles and says calmly: “You didn’t find me, you found Newton per square meter. So you found Pascal.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/CyberKommandant"> /u/CyberKommandant </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11ujye1/einstein_newton_and_pascal_play_hide_and_seek/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/11ujye1/einstein_newton_and_pascal_play_hide_and_seek/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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