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US workers with remote-friendly jobs are still working from home nearly half the time, 5 years after the pandemic began

Radostina Purvanova, Drake University; Alanah Mitchell, Drake University

That’s a huge change from 2019, when remote work accounted for only 7% of the nation’s paid workdays, even if it’s a big decline from 2020.

What happens when leaders have loyalists in charge of men with guns: Lessons for the US from Nicaragua, Syria and other authoritarian countries

Joe Wright, Penn State; John Joseph Chin, Carnegie Mellon University

Donald Trump’s moves to install loyalists in US security agencies and the military echo the actions of strongmen worldwide who prioritize personal loyalty over competence and respect for the law.

Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry faces urgent labor shortage − and latest immigration policies will likely make it worse

Hazel Velasco Palacios, Penn State; Kathleen Sexsmith, Penn State

Kennett Square, Pa., is considered the mushroom capital of the world. The industry depends heavily on immigrants, who work physically demanding jobs in tough conditions.

Saudi Arabia’s role as Ukraine war mediator advances Gulf nation’s diplomatic rehabilitation − and boosts its chances of a seat at the table should Iran-US talks resume

Environmental protection laws still apply even under Trump’s national energy emergency − here’s why

Middle age is a time when women are vulnerable to eating disorders

How do researchers determine how toxic a chemical is? A toxicologist explains alternatives to animal testing

Radioisotope generators − inside the ‘nuclear batteries’ that power faraway spacecraft

How Trump’s foreign aid and diplomatic cuts will make it harder for the US to wield soft power to maintain its friendships and win new ones

The psychology behind anti-trans legislation: How cognitive biases shape thoughts and policy

You’ve likely heard the Serenity Prayer − but not its backstory

America’s clean air rules boost health and the economy − here’s what EPA’s new deregulation plans ignore

The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation

Here’s the first question of this week’s edition:

Amazon MGM Studios recently paid about a billion dollars to acquire creative control of which movie icon?

1. A. Godzilla
2. B. Humphrey Bogart
3. C. James Bond
4. D. Only Murders in the Building

Test your knowledge