Algorithms Can Be Racist, But At Least They Can Be Fixed
Octavio Jones | Times/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA The Washington Post reports today on a piece of research that detected a racial bias in a widely-used algorithm that predicts which patients need extra medical attention: The algorithm wasn’t intentionally racist — in fact, it specifically excluded race. Instead, to identify patients who would benefit from…
How Lynching Became the Favorite Metaphor of Embattled, Powerful Men
President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Having campaigned and governed as an avatar of embattled whiteness, Donald Trump did the inevitable on Tuesday and compared the lawful impeachment inquiry into his administration to a “lynching.” This was met with immediate ire from people who know something…
Here’s What Baltimore’s Lawsuit Against Energy Companies Could Mean for Future Climate Cases
The Baytown Exxon gas refinery in Baytown, TX.Benjamin Lowy/Getty A court case between the city of Baltimore and a group of energy companies will be permitted to continue after the Supreme Court earlier this week rejected the latter’s attempt to freeze the case. The litigation, which the city initiated in 2018, alleges that the energy…
South Dakota Is Dropping Its Draconian “Riot Boosting” Law Targeting Pipeline Protests
A crowd gathers at Standing Rock in December 2016, after an easement was denied for the Dakota Access Pipeline. President Trump later granted the easement.David Goldman/AP In a major victory for Indigenous groups, local environmentalists, and free speech advocates, the Governor and Attorney General of South Dakota on Thursday submitted a settlement agreement that would stop…
Trump’s Crowdstrike Conspiracy Isn’t Striking with the Crowd
Keith Srakocic/AP President Trump made an appearance at a pro-fracking conference in Pittsburgh yesterday, and I went downtown to keep an eye on the protests and demonstrations. One thing that I’ve been reporting on a bit lately is the crazy Crowdstrike conspiracy theory that President Trump apparently believes. To recap: When the White House released…
IG Says VA Whistleblower Office Mostly Screwed Whistleblowers
Brittany Murray/SCNG via ZUMA Ukrainegate is deservedly monopolizing the headlines right now, but let’s not forget all the garden variety corruption still going on under the Trump administration. Take the Department of Veterans Affairs, for example. A couple of years ago President Trump set up an office to protect VA whistleblowers and encourage them to…