President Biden approved a secret strategy in March to prepare the United States for possible coordinated nuclear confrontations with China, Russia and North Korea. / The New York Times [+]
Condoleezza Rice: US-China relations badly need new procedures and lines of communication to prevent an accidental catastrophe. / Foreign Affairs
Political influence campaigns are found to be “running wild” around the globe on Elon Musk's X. (Eighty-two countries will see elections in 2024.) / rest of world
Musk's Twitter takeover is now the worst buyout for banks since the financial crisis. / The Wall Street Journal [+]
Related: X is the most popular app for 30 percent of 7- to 9-year-olds who use tablets. / TechCrunch
Unrelated: The reddest (“Hattie”) and bluest (“Fiona”) baby names. / nameberry
Federal authorities are looking to approve updated Covid vaccines late next week. / The Washington Post [+]
People are overdosing on semaglutide drugs they receive from compounding pharmacies. / Scientific American
Brett Scott: When you really think about it, the idea that corporations represent free markets is kinda ridiculous. / Altered States of Monetary Consciousness
A look at what it takes to manufacture a cotton T-shirt in the United States—not Bangladesh—and manage to sell it at Wal-Mart for $12.98. / GQ
“He looks like an NPR tote bag come to life.” People confess to crushing on Ezra Klein. / Bustle
From earlier this month: What it was like to be a phone psychic for Miss Cleo. “I can't quickly explain the guilt I still carry.” / Electric Literature
A new daily puzzle challenges you to find a quote in a crossword (of sorts). / Ironic Sans
Winners announced for this year's worst fictional opening lines. “She had a body that reached out and slapped my face like a five-pound ham-hock tossed from a speeding truck.” / The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest