Kristi Noem claimed #antifa is “just as dangerous” as Hamas and ISIS. But the facts don’t back that up. Antifa isn’t an organization: it’s a loose movement with no hierarchy, membership or centralized funding. The other two groups are organizations that have membership and central direction. “Comparing these groups is like comparing apples and bricks,” says a social-movements expert.
The Conversation
Why the Trump administration’s comparison of antifa to violent terrorist groups doesn’t track
Kristi Noem’s claim that antifa is like the Islamic State group blurs the line between protest and terrorism – a political move unsupported by ...
#OTD 41 years ago, Eleanor Bumpurs, a Black woman with mental health challenges, was killed by the NYPD. Her death still drives calls for police accountability. Historian Ashley Farmer, Bumpurs’ former neighbor, explores why people continue to #SayHerName. https://buff.ly/j8S3oQP
The Federal Reserve faces a blind spot: with the government shutdown halting release of economic data, policymakers must rely on indirect indicators. But the Fed still has a range of private, internal and public data to help it read the pulse of the economy. https://buff.ly/EBHoigA
U.S. reading scores are dropping, and one educator says the culprit might be the "Goldilocks approach" most schools have used for 80+ years. New research shows kids learn MORE from challenging texts, not books they can already read easily. 90% of parents think their child reads at grade level. In reality, 1 in 3 is below.
The Conversation
Children learn to read with books that are just right for them – but that might not be the best approach
Reading achievement has been stagnant in the US for decades, raising questions about what other methods might work to help kids learn to read.
6 years after Trump and Xi last met, their agenda looks familiar: trade, Taiwan and now, Russia. As the leaders prepare to talk on Oct. 30, experts say U.S. policy on Taiwan has shifted, Trump’s trade leverage has weakened and China continues its cautious balancing act with Moscow. Quick overview of what to expect:
The Conversation
Xi-Trump summit: Trade, Taiwan and Russia still top agenda for China and US presidents – 6 years after last meeting
The leaders of the world’s two most powerful nations are set for a rare sit-down together on Oct. 30.
How the explosion of prop betting risks threatening the integrity of pro sports https://buff.ly/qnh68fE
About half of Americans believe ghosts and demons are real, according to a 2020 poll. An English scholar explores the literary record to uncover how people have imagined ghosts and demons — and what sets them apart.
The Conversation
What’s the difference between ghosts and demons? Books, folklore and history reflect society’s supernatural beliefs
Artists often turn to the supernatural to reflect on and speak to the anxieties brought about by social, religious and political upheaval.
 #Halloween 👻
The ancient art of basketweaving could lead to better high-tech materials, for damage-resistant robots and protective clothing that withstand severe impacts, according to structures and materials scientists who have studied them https://buff.ly/Zy7Muq7
Deportations can reduce the housing construction workforce, leading to fewer units built and higher costs - contrary to claims that they lower prices, according to a sociologist who studies housing. #immigration https://buff.ly/Dfakz6o
Trump claims the US economy is in a "golden age," yet pushes the #Fed for sharp interest rate cuts typically used to boost a weak economy. That’s a weird contradiction, according to a macroeconomist: https://buff.ly/QaB0IPA