#127: Within Reach

Some of my cis friends say they’re open to trans issues — that is, until they misgender someone or stumble over the singular they. Sometimes the problem is a lack of background knowledge. This article by Nicole Pasulka offers several entry points to learn more about the transgender community. Tip: If you hit a paywall, copy and paste the link into incognito mode. ⏳⏳

Unless you’re a Millennial (#124), in which case you may not care about the pencil’s imminent extinction, you’ll suffer pangs of nostalgia while taking in this essay’s stunning images by photographer Christopher Payne. Are you sad to see pencils disappear forever? Share your thoughts on The Highlighter Forum! ⏳

Crime in America is down. But do the ends justify the means? Proponents of predictive policing (#28) say yes. Sacrificing a potential criminal’s privacy to ensure our safety seems like a good deal. But no data set is neutral, this special report suggests, and no algorithm can prevent institutional racism. ⏳⏳

From Anne: Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States has been the undisputed superpower of the world. Evan Osnos (a favorite of mine) argues it will be a short-lived reign since President Trump is easy for China to manipulate. Does the world benefit from having America lead, or would it be best for all to have the United States take a step back? Imagine we’re all sitting in a room chatting about this and jump into the conversation over on The Highlighter Forum. ⏳⏳

It was great to have Alvin Chang (#125, #126) on the show to talk about school resegregation. In his role at Vox as senior graphics reporter, Mr. Chang creates explainers that include data, cartoons, and history. He believes that our society’s most challenging problems emerge from the everyday decisions that we make. Listen and subscribe! ⏳