Widespread Drought Adds to Stresses for U.S. Farmers. Food Prices Are a Focus. Just in time for the start of the growing season, the National Drought Mitigation Center’s latest data says that 51% of U.S. states and Puerto Rico are in moderate drought or worse.

www.barrons.com/articles/dro...

Drought conditions in many of the nation’s growing regions are raising concerns that they could drive food prices even higher.

@droughtcenter.bsky.social ’s latest U.S. Drought Monitor says 51% of the U.S. and Puerto Rico are in moderate drought or worse …

6. Everyone’s in pain.

If you didn’t know that before, you know it now. People you meet casually, those you’ve known all your life, the ones you’ll never see — everyone’s in pain. If you need an excuse for being kind, start with that.-Roger Rosenblatt

I agree wholeheartedly. Recommend you drop everything and treat yourself to @caity.bsky.social’s Best Free Bread in America”

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

I used to promise students in my 8 am classes Dunkin Donuts after they all practiced their elevator pitches in front of the class, Valentine’s Day cookies after they all turned in their research papers, etc. The possibility of snacks definitely helped boost attendance on snowy winter days. 😉

my 8am course next fall didn't have enough students in it and they asked me to write an exciting blurb to entice students to register. I promised snacks. And now it is full. 😂

Whistleblower says Trump officials thought USAID did 'just abortions,' asked for 'Barney-style' slides before gutting agency, per new book Read an exclusive excerpt from Nicholas Enrich's "Into the Wood Chipper"

NEW—I got an exclusive excerpt from a USAID whistleblower's new book that made me gasp multiple times. It details Trump's dismantling of the humanitarian aid agency & his team/DOGE's shocking ignorance to public health.

'Into the Wood Chipper' by Nicholas Enrich is out tomorrow. Read excerpt here:

Stock, Oil Futures Poised to Open Amid Blockade Threats, End to Iran Talks President Donald Trump said Sunday that the U.S. Navy would begin blockading “any and all” ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz.

www.barrons.com/articles/sto...

U.S. stock and oil futures are poised to open on Sunday night amid fresh uncertainties in the Middle East after President Trump said the U.S. Navy would begin blockading “any and all” ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway …

Today’s Wild Sunrise in Cleveland, Ohio

The Trump administration wants to sanitize George Washington’s role in slavery at President’s House The federal government uploaded digital renderings of 11 new panels that it was preparing to display at the President's House. They reframe George Washington's role in upholding slavery.

share.inquirer.com/7MUPmB?utm_s... [gift link]

Levi Strauss Posts Quarterly Earnings Beat, Raises Full-Year Guidance The jeans maker said its strategic transformation is translating into higher returns and more profitable growth.

www.barrons.com/articles/lev...

Jeans and apparel maker Levi Strauss & Co. reported better-than-expected revenue and earnings and raised its fiscal year guidance.

“We delivered very strong financial performance… driven by broad-based growth across channels,” CEO Michelle Gass said. @barrons.com

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg All Lost Money in the First Quarter of 2025 Among the top 10 richest people in the world, only Bill Gates and Warren Buffett added to their fortunes in this period, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

www.barrons.com/articles/elo...

The first quarter of 2025 hasn’t been kind to the world’s billionaires.

Among the top 10 richest people in the world, only Bill Gates and Warren Buffett added to their fortunes in this period, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. …
@barrons.com

Universal’s ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ Rockets to Top of Global Box Office The PG-rated animated adventure about Nintendo game characters Mario, Luigi, and friends was estimated to sell $190 million over the five-day holiday weekend.

www.barrons.com/articles/uni...

Universal Pictures and Nintendo notched the biggest box office weekend this year with ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,’ with $372.5 million in global ticket sales.

It racked up nearly as much in its first weekend as ‘Project Hail Mary’ has sold over three weekends. …

FEMA Official Says He Teleported to Waffle House. Experts Are Dubious.

Look, I'm all for criticizing their headlines usually, but this is a hilarious way to approach this story. The whole article is gold: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/u...

Trump Shifts Tariffs on Steel, Other Imported Metals. Here’s Why. Policy experts say the latest changes were likely in response to the pushback the administration has received.

www.barrons.com/articles/tru...

The Trump administration is changing how it assesses tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, copper, and products containing those metals.

Policy experts said the latest changes are likely in response to the pushback the administration has received over its tariffs ...

The ‘God Squad’ Waives Environmental Rules for Offshore Drilling

I’m the author of this article and here is a gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/c...

Jamie Dimon Says Success in Iran ‘Much More Important’ Than What Market Does Stock markets were up sharply Tuesday afternoon on hopes the conflict in Iran could be coming to an end.

www.barrons.com/articles/jam...

JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon said a successful completion to the conflict in Iran is “much more important” than what stocks are doing.

The CEO of the biggest U.S. bank said: “It’s much more important that this be successfully completed, than what the market does.” …

Universal’s ‘Super Mario’ Aims for Blockbuster Debut. What It Means for Hollywood. The latest in the animated franchise by Comcast’s Universal Pictures is expected to be the first film of 2026 to break the $100 million threshold in its opening week.

www.barrons.com/articles/hol...

Hollywood is eager to see if Comcast’s Universal Pictures can bring back the box office magic with ´The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.´
The next animated adventure based on the Nintendo video game opens Weds in what is expected to be the year’s biggest box office debut. …

Monday’s Heavenly Sunrise over Cleveland, Ohio

McDonald’s Hitches on to ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden Moment The burger chain has been working on its affordability and value, boosting same store sales in the recent quarter.

www.barrons.com/articles/mcd...

McDonald’s is hoping to hitch on to the recent success of Netflix’s Oscar-winning #KPopDemonHunters with adult breakfast and lunch/dinner meals featuring characters from the animated movie.

McDonald’s will begin selling the Demon Hunters-themed meals on Tuesday…

A viral dog rescue from 2016 is now immortalized with a statue in Kazakhstan. When a dog fell into the Sayran reservoir, bystanders formed a human chain to pull him to safety. The statue is a reminder of the value of unity, solidarity and collective action. 14/10 for all

Have your student ask their students (not just the school tour guides): Why did they chose that school over other options? What do they wish they had known about it before they arrived on campus? What do students there complain about the most? What is their favorite unusual/unique campus tradition?

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, says it’s increasingly likely that average gas prices will reach $4 a gallon this week.

“Until the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened and ships are able to move freely, there’s a rising risk that prices could go higher,” he told @barrons.com

Think Gas Prices Are High Now? Brace for More Sticker Shock. GasBuddy’s live price-tracker says the average gas price nationwide is $3.984 a gallon. That’s $1.01 higher than last month as fuel prices continue to climb.

www.barrons.com/articles/gas...

With gas prices averaging a whisker below $4 a gallon nationwide on Tuesday, drivers are wondering how high prices can go.
Turns out, higher than you think.
Some drivers in California, where average prices are highest, are seeing record highs of nearly $7 a gallon. …

Why Norwegian and Other Cruise Stocks Are Rallying Today Cruise stocks have seen the sharpest declines since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.

www.barrons.com/articles/nor...

Cruise stocks were surging on Monday at the prospect of a five-day delay in military strikes in Iran and “productive” talks about potentially ending hostilities in the Middle East.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings was among the biggest gainers in the S&P 500…

Amazon’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ Delivers Biggest Box Office Hit of 2025 The Ryan Gosling space adventure delivered the biggest hit of 2026, and Amazon MGM Studios’ best opening weekend of all time.

www.barrons.com/articles/ama...

Ryan Gosling’s heroic space adventure Project Hail Mary overdelivered on its already galactic expectations.

The Amazon MGM Studios’ film about a science teacher who wakes up alone in a spaceship on a mission to save the planet not only delivered at the box office...

The Postal Service may be out of cash in 2027 without Congress' help, postmaster says The U.S. Postal Service's leader says it is set to run out of money in less than a year and may have to stop deliveries because of declining mail volume and what USPS sees as burdensome requirements.

UPDATED @npr.org: If the Postal Service doesn't change how it runs as a self-funded agency, Postmaster General David Steiner says it may be out of money as soon as October — or by February 2027 if it defaults on more obligations. Steiner says "everything" is under consideration, including layoffs

BREAKING: huge summary judgment win in our Voice of America case

EVERYONE put on admin leave is ordered rehired & all other decisions made by the Trump admin to gut agency down to "statutory minimum" r "vacated and set aside"

Kudos to r amazing partners & clients in labor, democracy & journalism

Airline CEOs Urge Congress to End Government Shutdown, Pay Airport Workers Americans “are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown,” the CEOs wrote to Congress.

www.barrons.com/articles/air...

Ten CEOs from the nation’s largest passenger and cargo airlines urged Congress to end the partial government shutdown that has led to long airport security lines …

“Once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,” the CEOs said. …

Airports Seeking Donations for TSA Workers Denver International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, and Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Ohio are asking travelers to donate gift cards to Transportation Security Administration o...

www.barrons.com/livecoverage...

Denver International Airport, Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas, and Cleveland Hopkins Airport are asking travelers to donate gift cards to TSA officers and other airport employees who are working without pay during the partial government shutdown. …

“If you have any trips planned for spring break and summer, buy your plane tickets now,” said @aviationqueen.bsky.social journalist and travel blogger Benét J. Wilson. “Prices are only going to get higher. If you’ve been hoarding airline miles, start using them instead of paying higher fares.” …