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Atlantic
Alexis Madrigal is a staff writer at the Atlantic and author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.
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Alexis Madrigal
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FROM Alexis Madrigal
To the Point
Millions of powerless Floridians await recovery In the aftermath of Irma, some daunting figures: between 6.5 and 15 million Floridians are without power; Florida Power and Light has some 16,000 workers laboring to repair the lines. Worst hit is the Florida Keys, where 25 percent of the homes have been destroyed. Florida Governor Rick Scott said officials are doing everything they can to get power back on. Alex Madrigal is keeping track of all this for the Atlantic .
To the Point
Google Joins Race for a Drone Delivery System The technological arms race in Silicon Valley is soaring into the air as Amazon and Google vie to be first with deliveries using unmanned drones. The pilot project has already delivered a first aid kit, candy bars dog treats and water—in Australia. The competition for drone delivery has been super-secret, but Alexis Madrigal was given access to Google’s Project Wing, a pilot project that’s being tested in Australia. He describes it in detail in the Atlantic magazine, where he’s Deputy Editor.
Which Way, L.A.?
Intelligence Analysts Look for Deeper Meaning in Language US intelligence agencies want to know how people use language, people who speak not just English but Spanish, Russian and Farsi. Specifically, it wants computer programs developed that can provide keys to how people think by the way the use metaphors. The ultimate grant could run to nine figures. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, IARPA, is a small research arm of the US intelligence establishment. It's ready to spend big money on The Metaphor Program , to analyze common turns of phrase to learn "in a deep and fundamental way [how] humans make sense of the world." That's according to Alexis Madrigal in The Atlantic magazine.
To the Point
Intelligence Analysts Look for Deeper Meaning in Language US intelligence agencies want to know how people use language, people who speak not just English but Spanish, Russian and Farsi. Specifically, it wants computer programs developed that can provide keys to how people think by the way the use metaphors. The ultimate grant could run to nine figures. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, IARPA, is a small research arm of the US intelligence establishment. It's ready to spend big money on The Metaphor Program , to analyze common turns of phrase to learn "in a deep and fundamental way [how] humans make sense of the world." That's according to Alexis Madrigal in The Atlantic magazine.
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To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.