Government
Afroman wins legal battle over songs mocking US police
US rapper Afroman has defeated seven sheriff's deputies in a court case after they sued him for releasing songs and videos that mocked them and a raid they carried out on his home. The officers broke down the musician's door in 2022 as part of a drug and kidnapping investigation, but the raid didn't lead to any charges. Afroman, best known for his 2000 hit Because I Got High, responded by using home security footage in viral videos that ridiculed the deputies. His video for the song Lemon Pound Cake was inspired by a deputy apparently eyeing a cake in his kitchen, while another video attributed personal and sexual transgressions to the officers. They sued him for defamation, but a jury has sided with the colourful rapper after a three-day trial. Afroman yelled outside the Ohio court, surrounded by supporters, in a clip posted on social media after the verdict.
The Download: Quantum computing for health, and why the world doesn't recycle more nuclear waste
The Download: Quantum computing for health, and why the world doesn't recycle more nuclear waste Plus: The FBI has admitted it's buying Americans' location data. In a laboratory on the outskirts of Oxford, a quantum computer built from atoms and light awaits its moment. The device is small but powerful--and also very valuable. Infleqtion, the company that owns it, is hoping its abilities will win $5 million at a competition next week. The prize will go to the quantum computer that can solve real health care problems that conventional "classical" computers are unable to solve. But there can be only one big winner--if there is a winner at all.
The Men Obsessed With 'High T'
Fueled by the manosphere, men are boosting their testosterone levels through natural and synthetic means, with some competitively swapping test results on a regular basis. Mark Holman was skinny and depressed when he was working a 9-to-5 job as an air quality engineering consultant in 2018. "I felt weak, like a boy," says the 33-year-old New Orleans native. Determined to turn things around, he spent the next few years becoming a health coach and getting chiseled abs. But in 2021, after becoming perplexed as to why he was disinterested in sex with his partner at the time, he decided to test his testosterone levels.
US startup advertises 'AI bully' role to test patience of leading chatbots
The job's only prerequisite is having an'extensive personal history of being let down by technology'. The job's only prerequisite is having an'extensive personal history of being let down by technology'. US startup advertises'AI bully' role to test patience of leading chatbots Imagine a day at work where your main task is to pick a fight with a computer. No meetings, no emails - just you, a chair and a chatbot with the maddening tendency to think it has the cleverest mind in the room. The job title alone raises an eyebrow: "AI bully".
Rep. Swalwell, candidate for California governor, has an AI side gig
Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Rep. Swalwell, candidate for California governor, has an AI side gig This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Rep. Eric Swalwell co-founded Findraiser, an AI tool that analyzes campaign fundraising data. Findraiser is being paid by dozens of campaigns, including his own.
The Fight to Hold AI Companies Accountable for Children's Deaths
The Fight to Hold AI Companies Accountable for Children's Deaths After a series of suicides allegedly linked to AI chatbots, one lawyer is trying to hold companies like OpenAI accountable. Cedric Lacey relied on a camera to check on his kids while he was working as a commercial van driver going to and back from Alabama. Each morning, he would tune into the feed of his living room to make sure his teenage son, Amaurie, and his 14-year-old daughter were packing up their bags and getting ready to leave for school. But one morning last June, Lacey didn't see Amaurie up and about. Concerned, he called home, only to find out that his 17-year-old had hanged himself.
Gamified math. Video read-alouds. Why parents are saying no to screens in class
Things to Do in L.A. Kate Brody's 7-year-old son plays at home in North Hollywood on March 14. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Early childhood experts say excessive screen time displaces hands-on learning and peer interaction critical to development. At least 11 states have considered legislation limiting technology in the classroom this year.
California used faulty DUI tests for nearly 10 years, state Justice Department says
Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. A police officer in Germany uses a pipette to transfer urine from a sample cup to a rapid drug test last month. A small percentage of alcohol tests used in California have shown accuracy problems. This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here .
Get Ready for a Year of Chaotic Weather in the US
Despite being declared the third-hottest year on record, 2025 was a relatively quiet year for climate disasters in the US. No major hurricanes made landfall, while the total number of acres burned in wildfires last year--a way of measuring the intensity of wildfire season --fell below the 10-year average. But starting this week, the West is experiencing what looks to be a record-breaking heat wave, while forecasting models predict that a strong El Niño event is likely to emerge later this year. These two unrelated phenomena could set the stage for a long stretch of unpredictable and extreme weather reaching into next year, compounding the effects of a climate that's getting hotter and hotter thanks to human activity. Beginning this week and heading into next, a massive ridge of high-pressure air will bring record-breaking temperatures to the American West.