Today’s Big Story

Pro-Palestinian Protests Intensify

The movement and crowds are growing on college campuses and other locations

Tensions are rising. A wave of pro-Palestinian protests spread and intensified on Wednesday as students gathered on campuses around the country, in a widening showdown over campus speech and the war in Gaza. The Associated Press reports that police peacefully arrested student protesters at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, hours after police at a Texas university aggressively detained dozens in the latest clashes between law enforcement and those demonstrating.

The events of the past week are the latest crescendo in a movement that has seen more than 8,000 pro-Palestine protests in over 850 cities and towns across the U.S., according to data compiled by researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Connecticut. Organizers, law-enforcement officials and political leaders are now girding for a summer of protests, potentially culminating with July’s GOP convention in Milwaukee and August’s Democratic convention in Chicago, the same city marred by violence during anti-Vietnam War activism in 1968.

The movement began at Columbia University in New York where dozens of arrests were made last week after university authorities called in police to quell an occupation that Jewish students said was threatening and anti-Semitic. The events have triggered suggestions from a senior Republican leader that the National Guard could be brought in. The comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson are likely to evoke strong emotions in a country where the 1970 killing by National Guardsmen of unarmed students protesting the Vietnam war lives on in the nation’s memory.

Protesters on several campuses said their demands included divestment by their universities from companies connected to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, disclosure of those and other investments and a recognition of the continuing right to protest without punishment. According to the New York Times, the demonstrations spread overseas as well, with students on campuses in Cairo, Paris and Sydney, Australia, gathering to voice support for Palestinians and opposition to the war.

Do We Know Better Now?

More cows are being tested and tracked for bird flu

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza among U.S. dairy cows, first reported at the end of March, has now spread to at least 33 herds in eight states. On Wednesday, the FDA said samples of milk taken from grocery stores have tested positive for remnants of the virus. The agency says it's confident the milk in stores is safe, but the findings suggests the virus is spreading more prevalently among cows than previously thought.

According to NPR, at least one person who was in contact with presumably sick animals also caught the virus. To help slow the spread, the USDA announced that dairy cattle must now be tested for the virus before moving to a new state.

The Associated Press reports that this strain of what’s known as highly pathogenic avian influenza has been circulating in wild birds for decades. In recent years, it has been detected in scores of mammals around the world. And, of course, flu viruses are notorious for adapting to spread among new species, so detection in dairy cows raises concerns it could spread to people, said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. And while it’s concerning, there’s no need to panic just yet. David O’Connor, a virology expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, likened recent bird flu developments to a tornado watch versus a warning.

AI Is Causing Trouble Again …

The industry’s thirst for data and boundless options are leading to serious problems

In a case of “just because you can … doesn’t mean you should,” Tupac Shakur’s estate is threatening to sue Drake over a recent diss track against Kendrick Lamar that featured an AI-generated version of the late rapper’s voice, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the law and a “blatant abuse” of his legacy. The entire situation might seem silly from a distance, but The Verge says the song is one of the bigger examples of what’s coming out of the AI-generated music boom that’s flooded social media and raised questions about how record labels plan to respond. Interestingly, Drake has a history of publicly decrying AI-generated music while also seeming like one of the more likely sources of “Heart on My Sleeve,” the viral, AI-generated song attributed to anonymous TikTok user ghostwriter977.

In a different, but no less strange, corner of the internet, a study recently published in the peer-reviewed American Psychologist journal claims that a combination of facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology can accurately assess a person’s political orientation by simply looking at that person’s blank, expressionless face. According to Gizmodo, the AI pointed out that liberals and conservatives have markedly different facial morphology.

One thing is clear: the thirst for more ways to use AI isn’t drying up anytime soon. The only thing holding it back? Supply bottlenecks, slowing the scramble to build bigger, more powerful data centers to serve the exploding demand. Apparently, you can’t get enough parts, property and power that the sprawling warehouses of supercomputers require. But maybe a throttling is coming at the right time.

More Fees Are Coming to Amazon Prime

Could it become too much? What’s it worth?

Companies like Amazon are tacking on new fees and surcharges on top of the regular subscription fees they already charge. Axios says subscription fatigue is real and growing—testing the limits of consumer appetites for the convenience these services provide.

This week, Amazon announced the launch of a $9.99 a month unlimited grocery delivery subscription benefit that’s available in more than 3,500 cities and towns across the U.S. It works on orders over $35 from Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and local grocery and specialty retailers available on the site. But adding on the grocery feature will cost $120 a year for the average Prime member who already pays $139 a year, or $14.99 a month.

Wall Street Journal personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen was a Prime customer and recently quit. “I felt like I wasn't getting as much as I wanted to out of it for the price,” she said. “Then I realized I didn't stop shopping at Amazon after I canceled my Prime membership and I realized that I could continue getting free shipping on Amazon without having to pay for a Prime membership, which is the main reason why I had it.” Though consumers have been increasing the scrutiny over their growing number of subscriptions, analysts say there's still room for the ones that check the right boxes. Convenience always comes at a price—but what’s it really worth to you?

Upgrade Your Training Gear

Are you ready for warm-weather workouts?

We’re heading into the heart of spring, which means it’s time to start enjoying the outdoors again. Whether you’re planning open-air workouts or simply looking to get out on the weekends for some seasonal adventures, make sure you’re geared up with pieces that are engineered for optimal performance and comfort. Huckberry’s training shop is filled with well-vetted and tested pieces that are as comfortable as they are stylish. Items that are built to keep you going while allowing you to be as active as you want. We’re big fans of Proof’s technical clothes and Norda’s trail runners. And don’t step outside without some quality shades that can be worn both for workouts and when you’re dressed up.

Find your joy.