Speaker Saga, Meta Lawsuit, and the Year's Best Inventions

Speaker Saga Continues

House Republicans yesterday evening selected House GOP Vice Chair Mike Johnson (R, LA-4) as the latest speaker nominee—the fourth since Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20) was ousted as speaker three weeks ago. The full House is set to vote on a speaker this afternoon; Johnson will need 217 votes to take the gavel. House Democrats unanimously support Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D, NY-8).

Johnson secured the speaker nomination after winning 128 votes in closed-door balloting. Johnson's late night nomination came after Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R, MN-6) beat him in a previous internal caucus vote earlier in the day by a vote of 117 to 97. Hours later, Emmer withdrew from the race after a subsequent private roll call showed not enough Republicans would back Emmer had his nomination proceeded to a full House floor vote. Former President Donald Trump also had objected to Emmer's nomination. 

Emmer was the third Republican speaker nominee to fall short, following Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R, OH-4) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R, LA-1). See timeline of events here.

States Sue Meta

Attorneys general from 41 states and the District of Columbia filed lawsuits

yesterday alleging Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, built addictive product features geared toward children despite knowing their negative impact on mental health. The filing specifically calls out the platforms' recommendation algorithms, use of social comparison, collection of young users' data without consent, and more (read here). 

Surveys have revealed an increasingly dire outlook for teenage mental health in the US (see page 58 of the report). Forty-two percent of high schoolers say they experience persistent hopelessness, while almost one in five says they've made a suicide plan at some point. The problem is particularly acute among girls—30% report having seriously considered suicide. At the same time, more than half of teens say they spend roughly five hours per day on average across all social media platforms. 

Some researchers have argued studies show correlation, not causation, between the trend and social media use. See arguments here and here.

Superfog Strikes Louisiana

At least eight people have been killed and at least 63 others injured after a wall of dense fog, known as a "superfog," reduced visibility to near zero on an interstate in southeastern Louisiana Monday, causing a 168-car pileup. The rescue operations, which continued through yesterday, were complicated by multiple vehicles catching fire and a truck transporting an undisclosed "hazardous liquid."

Superfog forms when cool, saturated air mixes with smoke and moisture from wildfires—especially burning damp materials like brush, leaves, and trees—intensifying the fog's density and coverage. Louisiana has been grappling with severe weather conditions this year, including wildfires, extreme heat, and exceptional drought. The city of New Orleans said it is currently monitoring an underground fire blazing in forested wetlands.

The rare weather phenomenon can reduce visibility to less than 10 feet and is often found in the southern US near creek beds, drainage ditches, or swampy areas. It can be particularly dangerous on highways and has caused several large pileups, including one in central Florida last year.

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Explore Time's 200 best inventions of 2023. 

America's top young scientist crowned for skin cancer-treating soap.

Nearly a quarter of adults worldwide feel lonely. 

Gazing Royal Bengal tigress tops mangrove photo awards.

Find your next read with this map of over 100,000 books.

One-eyed terrier mix pup named cutest rescue dog. 

Park City, Utah, breaks world record for longest shot ski. 

Own a share of Micky Mantle's childhood home for $7. 

Clickbait: Lil Wayne's response to his new wax figure: "You tried tho." 

Historybook: Artist Pablo Picasso born (1881); Benjamin O. Davis Sr. becomes first Black general in US Army (1940); Katy Perry born (1984); Hall of Fame golfer Payne Stewart dies in plane crash (1999).