Inside Trump’s purge at the agency that saves millions of lives
What’s even more damning than kneecapping research that could save lives? It’s targeting the US Agency for International Development, which is responsible for key projects like the Malaria Initiative, which funded 36.8 million bednets and 48 million doses of malaria-preventing medication in 2023 alone. The programs USAID implements aren’t hypothetical in terms of their beneficial impact — they’re proven successes. What’s happening at USAID also serves as a testing ground for what it would take to dismantle government agencies.
Eggs are pricey again. What’s the government doing about it?
I had to phase eggs out of my diet a while ago because of hereditary cholesterol (thanks, Dad), but I was shook when I saw the price of a carton a few weeks ago. $11! WHAT! And there were barely any cartons! But being an editor at Future Perfect — where we cover factory farming and existential risks like pandemics — I knew that bird flu played a role in the scarcity we’re seeing at the grocery store. This piece distills why bird flu is spreading the way it is, and how the US is handling it.
The beginner’s guide to building an emergency fund
Every December, my friends and I do a vision board night, where we plan out the vibes for the new year. My 2025 board features The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White (I want to chef it up more), fresh tortillas at a Mexico City taqueria (birthday plans, maybe?), and cold hard cash (I don’t need to explain this one to y’all). I’ve been building out my emergency fund for a few years now, but I still found the tips here valuable. At the end of the day, money is a mindset, not just something you have.
🎧 What’s hiding under the Antarctic ice?
Where are my X-Files nerds at? Do you remember the beginning of the movie where the cavemen find the alien lifeform in the ice, and then start to get infected with the infamous black oil virus from the show? Well, do I have an Unexplainable episode for you!
The salty, briny, lemony, garlicky rise of “pick me” foods
I would consider myself a pretty open-minded eater, but I’m not a huge fan of pickles or olives or anything briny. When I learned that that family of flavors is now home to some of the latest culture-signaling among young people, well, I felt out of the loop. Turns out, a lot of the it-girl packaging you see from food DTC companies is part of a larger effort to make previously uncool foods cool.
