Is this history’s strangest White House? (The Washington Post)
by Andrew Rudalevige
How weird was the anonymous “resistance” op-ed by one of President Trump’s senior officials? Historically, leaks and infighting in the White House are nothing new. But the nature of the criticism, and the things it reveals about the current administration, are unprecedented.

How lemons grew the Mafia (Aeon)
by Ola Olsson
What made the Sicilian Mafia such a powerful force starting in the mid-nineteenth century? Weak, unrepresentative government played a role, but so did citrus fruit.

The end of sperm? (GQ)
by Daniel Noah Halpern
Human sperm counts have declined precipitously, and there’s good reason to think they may keep falling. That could mean to future where humans disappear, or where reproduction is only available to people with the means to go a high-tech route.

The Roberts Court and Reconstruction (The Atlantic)
by Adam Serwer
In the years after Reconstruction, the Supreme Court allowed white southerners to defend and strengthen white supremacy. The potential parallels in today’s emerging conservative Supreme Court are striking.

Is Alzheimer’s disease contagious? (NPR)
by Bret Stetka
Could Alzheimer’s disease be caused by a virus or bacteria? A growing body of research suggests it may be at least partially a product of something that can be transmitted from person to person. Now a doctor is offering a $1 million prize to anyone who can prove it is.

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