Links for you. Science:

Magical thinking will not prevent future pandemics or improve public health
Maine’s shellfish harvesters are caught up in climate-related closures
Review of 200 novel human viruses over a century a reminder that pathogen emergence isn’t rare (paper here)
Black bears aren’t hibernating like they used to. Are bird feeders to blame?
Glaciers are melting. It may reawaken the world’s most dangerous volcanoes
Scientists Identify Remains of the Earliest Human Ancestor

Other:

Dispatch from the occupation. What life is like in Minneapolis now (must-read)
Musk Won’t Fix Grok’s Fake AI Nudes. A Ban Would
‘Things don’t look great’: Chaos as armed gangs terrorize Caracas streets after invasion
‘Neighborhood is gone’: The moment I had to tell Katie Miller the L.A. fires had destroyed her in-laws’ home
Elon Musk’s “Grok” is undressing women and showing them in swastika bikinis
‘Whata Bod’: An AI-generated NWS map invented fake towns in Idaho. Amid a big agency push to use AI models in weather prediction, an AI-generated forecast graphic with errors was pulled from NWS sites.
Calls for Trump’s Impeachment Gain Momentum Amid Fallout Over Venezuela Operation
In ‘minibus’ spending package, lawmakers reject deep budget cuts, limit agency reorganizations
X users tell Grok to undress women and girls in photos. It’s saying yes.
Section 230 Doesn’t Cover Elon Musk’s Ass When It Comes to Deepfake Abuse, Senator Says
NYC congestion pricing has more support than ever as Trump deadline looms, new poll finds
Lawmakers boost funding for NIST after proposed cuts
An Anti-Obamacare Amendment Just Saved Abortion In Wyoming
Distraught woman says ICE killed her wife in video after deadly Minneapolis shooting
How Bribery Became Legal. U.S. Code 666 and the John Robert’s Court.
The Democrats Have a Superweapon. They Use It to Beg
APSU to pay $500,000 to professor fired, then reinstated over Charlie Kirk post
How Gavin Newsom can give Republicans a taste of their own medicine
Rhode Island Eyes Tax on Rich to Counter Trump Policies
Iowa doesn’t have enough OB-GYNs. The state’s abortion ban might be making it worse.
Housing built for other people saves you money
VW’s New Year’s Resolution Is to Bring Back Physical Buttons
Gov. Wes Moore endorses 3 bills to address Maryland housing
Older Americans Quit Weight-Loss Drugs in Droves
ICE Agent Kills Woman, DHS Tells Obvious, Insane Lies About It
Meet The New Boss
What Would Republicans Do?
Who’s Ready To Pull Out Of World Cup And Humiliate Trump? Spain? Colombia? Denmark?
Béla Fleck cancels Kennedy Center appearance, says it’s become ‘charged and political’
Whether the Epstein files or the attack on Venezuela, it’s all rooted in Trump’s corruption
Life Under a Clicktatorship