Good afternoon.
Saudi Aramco poised to become the world’s biggest IPO. CNN reports Saudi Arabia will value its state-owned oil company at $1.7 trillion, the high-end of the range and still short of the $2 trillion goal it was hoping for.
Monopolizing deportation
The sole airline willing to deport high-risk immigrants is price-gouging ICE. There is only one carrier willing to take on US deportation flights and they're charging the US government nearly double the normal price, making flights as expensive as $33,500 per hour in November.
A basic lesson in supply and demand, as seen through the lens of ICE Air ops in an unredacted ICE document we obtained. ICE can only obtain the Boeing 767s required for its so-called SHRC (special high-risk charter) flights from one company in the entire country, because it's the only firm willing to
A basic lesson in supply and demand, as seen through the lens of ICE Air ops in an unredacted ICE document we obtained. ICE can only obtain the Boeing 767s required for its so-called SHRC (special high-risk charter) flights from one company in the entire country, because it's the only firm willing to take the contract for fear of negative press. But last month, those 767s were tied up with other, richer customers (i.e. the Dept. of Defense). So ICE was forced to take whatever the carrier offered—a 777 that was a couple of hundred seats bigger than what ICE needed, and double the price: $33,000/flight hr vs $17,000/flight hr. The company knows it's the only game in town and has no incentive to meet ICE halfway, according to ICE's primary charter broker, explaining why it can't put any pressure on the subcontractor to come down on its rate.
This is a super illuminating piece that shows the complexity of immigration control, public protest, and the business of deportation. Because ICE has garnered so much criticism few companies want to risk a public backlash and run the agency's charters. In fact, only one does it, which means it can charge
This is a super illuminating piece that shows the complexity of immigration control, public protest, and the business of deportation. Because ICE has garnered so much criticism few companies want to risk a public backlash and run the agency's charters. In fact, only one does it, which means it can charge whatever it wants.
Justin shows here how much this lack of competition is costing US taxpayers. It doesn't mean we should support all of ICE's activities but it does expose a dark side to an already dark law enforcement project.
Every now and then, my faith is restored that the markets really know how to do their job. I'll use this as a lesson tonight to teach my kid the basics about supply and demand, and about how actions have consequences.
The impeachment report report
SpaceX takes off
SpaceX launches a mission to the International Space Station. The Dragon spacecraft is carrying more than two tons of supplies and research cargo. It succeeded on its second try on Thursday after winds made launching a bad idea on the original Dec. 4 date. A NASA official declined to confirm if any holiday surprises for the astronauts are onboard.
It's the most wonderful time of the year?
Phones aren't always our friends
Uber everywhere
The way we age now
New planet, same problems
The start of an epidemic
Obscure state regulations gave birth to the opioid crisis. Five states—California, Idaho, Illinois, New York, and Texas—were subject to a "triple threat" of conditions that left them particularly susceptible to a flood of painkillers.
Economists use different kinds of experiments to test theories, and a particularly effective type is a "natural experiment," where otherwise similar companies or countries might use different strategies or policies. That's what happened with US states at the birth of the opioid crisis, when some states
Economists use different kinds of experiments to test theories, and a particularly effective type is a "natural experiment," where otherwise similar companies or countries might use different strategies or policies. That's what happened with US states at the birth of the opioid crisis, when some states made it harder for doctors to prescribe drugs like oxycontin, while others had no such barriers. According to a new paper, Purdue Pharma understood the difference, and eagerly exploited it.
Disrupting dementia
Science can’t fix dementia’s most heartbreaking problem. No matter how far science advances, it will never be able to tell you how to personally deal with a dementia diagnosis. ✦
As a science journalist, I believe there's always an answer for how to do things. That's why reporting this story was so hard: I learned there IS no guidebook for taking care of a person with dementia. It's scary and lonely and heartbreaking.
I cried while interviewing my parents for this story, and
As a science journalist, I believe there's always an answer for how to do things. That's why reporting this story was so hard: I learned there IS no guidebook for taking care of a person with dementia. It's scary and lonely and heartbreaking.
I cried while interviewing my parents for this story, and choked up talking to my friend, and a stranger. It was an eye opening experience, and I'm grateful they shared their stories.
An excellent journalistic piece that integrates the human element successfully with the stakes of the successes of scientific research (here finding cures for the many forms of dementia). Also, an excellent example of why science journalists are essential in bridging the gap between the hard reality
An excellent journalistic piece that integrates the human element successfully with the stakes of the successes of scientific research (here finding cures for the many forms of dementia). Also, an excellent example of why science journalists are essential in bridging the gap between the hard reality of patients and their families, and the surgical/cold eye of scientists and healthcare practitioners on these devastating diseases.
Bitcoin crime doesn't pay
Laundering money through bitcoin is a classically dumb crime. It leaves a permanent trail because transactions involving cryptocurrencies are recorded on a permanent, public, and immutable ledger. Defendants have repeatedly been undone because they’ve relied on bitcoin for some part of their nefarious activities.
Visit Rwanda, Again!
The US jobs report is coming
Tomorrow is the big day. At Quartz, we amuse ourselves by predicting what the US labor market data will say. CNN thinks jobs could bounce back—get out your crystal ball and leave your official November jobs report prediction below.
The consensus estimate is 180k jobs added in November. I'm feeling a little pessimistic, mostly because I somehow injured my back and got the flu on the same day this week. I'm taking it as a sign: 140k is my prediction.
Our crystal ball says you'll be back
Biogen’s latest Alzheimer’s drug trials will change dementia drug research
Quartz
The sole airline willing to operate “high-risk” deportation flights is price-gouging ICE
Quartz
How to redeem America’s frayed faith in capitalism
Quartz
The problems we’re solving for on Earth will only follow us to Mars
Quartz
Africans receive more spam texts than mobile users everywhere else
Quartz Africa
It’s not just you. Netflix really is doubling its Christmas content every year
Quartz
How the best teams deal with failure
Quartz at Work
Decades after his disappearance, unions still suffer from Jimmy Hoffa’s legacy
Quartz
The “right” amount to spend on Christmas gifts, according to an economist
Quartz
Bitcoin money laundering is a classically dumb crime
Quartz
