⚡ Potential Fallout From Dismantling the Department of Education
The Trump administration’s plans to eventually slash the Department of Education were previewed by the conservative policy playbook “Project 2025.” Despite several outstanding lawsuits, the administration largely made good on that promise in the last year with a massive reduction in force hitting the department. Between November 2024 and November 2025, the number of employees fell by 42 percent, according to analysis from The New York Times.
The official rationale for the cuts is that they “empower states to take charge and advocate for and implement what is best” for students’ education, according to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
There is skepticism from experts across both sides of the aisle on the feasibility of actually dismantling the Department of Education. Chester E. Finn Jr., president emeritus and distinguished senior fellow at right-leaning Thomas B. Fordham Institute, believes Congress will not approve a full cut and that the move is more “symbolic” than anything. Aaron Loewenberg, senior policy analyst at left-leaning think tank New America, believes the swath of lawsuits could slow down actual implications seen this year.
“This could be tied up in courts for a long time. The courts typically aren’t known for their speed,” he says. “It’s both not right to say it’s a huge deal, and also not right to say it’s nothing. We really just don’t know yet.”
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“I’m not hopeful that these changes will lead to good things for students and families,” Loewenberg adds. “But maybe it’ll be less disruptive than some of us think.”
Even the threat of a shuttered department could bring consequences.
“It’s already having a negative effect on the field in terms of the confusion and delays right now,” says Elena Silva, president of the research nonprofit Learning Policy Institute. “It’s going to impact states, of course, it’s going to impact localities. It’s going to impact districts and students and families.”
Experts previously expressed concerns to EdSurge about special education services, which are housed under the Department of Education. Advocates fear that the reduced federal workforce erodes the ability to provide students with accommodations and undermines processes for reviewing complaints about potential accessibility violations. Last month, civil servants who had been laid off were called back to help with the backlog of discrimination cases.
“There’s both this question of which states will be affected most deeply by this, which states will have the most capacity to be able to manage it, but then there’s also the question of which students the federal government is set up to protect and to provide services for,” Silva says, pointing toward students with disabilities, in high poverty areas and those for whom English is a second language. “Those will be affected most because there won’t be the protections and the oversight necessary to ensure that they really do have a high-quality education.”
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Finn says his “biggest worry” with the Department of Education is less about cutting the department itself and more on the fate of the data housed within the department. In March, nearly all staff were laid off at the National Center for Education Statistics, which collects a wide range of school-related data including on academic performance, population and literacy rates.
“NCES was the worst possible place to start gutting; it’s the oldest, and in my opinion most central, part of the Department of Education,” he says. “It’s the most objective, the least political, it’s just gathering information that is of universal interest to people: It’s not Republican or Democratic, it’s not red state [versus] blue state.”
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, better known as NAEP or the Nation’s Report Card, also saw cutbacks with several of its assessments.
“I can’t even think of a good analogy; it’s like going to the Department of Agriculture and cutting corn and pigs,” Finn says. “In terms of overall well-being to education, the data is absolutely essential.”
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Loewenberg pointed toward some reports of attempts to walk back some of the data collection cuts, but still has concerns.
“I think it’s a small comfort, but I think people who aren’t working on education policy day in and day out don’t understand how much the education field depends on that good data that is collected by them,” he says.
We have to admit, we didn’t know that we wanted a desktop electric jellyfish until seeing [likeablob]’s Denki-Kurage, but it’s one of those projects that just fills a need so perfectly. The need being, of course, to have a Bladerunner-inspired electric animal on your desk, as well as having a great simple application for that Cheap Yellow Display (CYD) that you impulse purchased two years ago.
Maybe we’re projecting a little bit, but you should absolutely check this project out if you’re interested in doing anything with one of the CYDs. They are a perfect little experimentation platform, with a touchscreen, an ESP32, USB, and an SD card socket: everything you need to build a fun desktop control panel project that speaks either Bluetooth or WiFi.
We love [likeablob]’s aesthetic here. The wireframe graphics, the retro-cyber fonts in the configuration mode, and even the ability to change the strength of the current that the electric jellyfish is swimming against make this look so cool. And the build couldn’t be much simpler either. Flash the code using an online web flasher, 3D print out the understated frame, screw the CYD in, et voila! Here’s a direct GitHub link if you’re interested in the wireframe graphics routines.
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We’ve seen a bunch of other projects with the CYD, mostly of the obvious control-panel variety. But while we’re all for functionality, it’s nice to see some frivolity as well. Have you made a CYD project lately? Let us know!
Need something new for your reading list? Here are two titles we think are worth checking out. This week, we’ve got Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary and The Thing on the Doorstep, an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation for Image Comics.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-revisiting-project-hail-mary-and-the-thing-on-the-doorstep-190000250.html?src=rss
Google has announced a new mechanism in Android called Advanced Flow, which will allow sideloading APKs from unverified developers for power users in a more secure manner.
The new system, scheduled to roll out this August, aims to allow installing Android apps from unverified developers while minimizing the risk of malware infections and scams, which caused an estimated $442 billion in losses last year, according to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).
Distinct APK sideloading pathways Source: Google
Power users who want to install APKs on their devices will have to go through a one-time process involving the following steps:
Turn on Developer Mode from system settings
Confirm they are not being coached by threat actors
Restart the phone and reauthenticate
Wait one day and then confirm that the modifications are legitimate
Then users can install apps from unverified developers and enable them for a week or indefinitely. Android will display a warning that the app is from an unverified developer.
Overview of the Advanced Flow procedure Source: Google
The process is designed to add friction and disrupt typical scamming tactics that trick people into installing unsafe apps on their devices by playing on the urgency of the operation.
“This flow is a one-time process for power users – it was designed carefully to prevent those in the midst of a scam attempt from being coerced by high-pressure tactics to install malicious software,” explains Google.
“In these scenarios, scammers exploit fear – using threats of financial ruin, legal trouble, or harm to a loved one – to create a sense of extreme urgency.”
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“They stay on the phone with victims, coaching them to bypass security warnings and disable security settings before the victim has a chance to think or seek help.”
Google frames the Advanced Flow system as a safe compromise between Android’s openness and user protection, needed for a smooth transition to the new developer verification requirements scheme, first announced last August.
Developer verification is meant as an anti-malware measure, requiring all Android app publishers, regardless of the distribution method they use, to have their identity verified by Google; otherwise, the installation of their software on certified Android devices will be blocked.
Although Google retracted the original timeline for applying the new rule after backlash from the community, it didn’t abandon plans to implement the identity verification system.
Hachette Book Group said it will not be publishing a novel called “Shy Girl” over concerns that artificial intelligence was used to generate the text.
The novel was scheduled to be published in the United States this spring. Hachette said it will also discontinue the book in the United Kingdom, where it’s already available.
Although the publisher claimed the decision came after a thorough review of the text, reviewers on GoodReads and YouTube had been speculating that the book was likely AI-generated. And The New York Times said it asked Hachette about the “Shy Girl” concerns the day before the announcement.
In an email to the NYT, author Mia Ballard denied using AI to write her novel, instead blaming an acquaintance she’d hired to edit the original, self-published version of “Shy Girl.” Ballard said she’s pursuing legal action, and that as a result of the controversy “my mental health is at an all time low and my name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do.”
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Writer Lincoln Michel and other industry observers have noted that U.S. publishers rarely do extensive editing when they acquire titles that have already been published in other forms.
Apple may be preparing a major upgrade for the iPhone’s camera, and this time, it’s not just about hardware. According to The Information, Apple explored acquiring Lux Optics, the studio behind the popular Halide camera app, as part of its efforts to improve the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera experience.
Jeremy Bezanger / Unsplash
The talks reportedly took place in 2025 but didn’t result in a deal. Still, the intent is clear: Apple wants its default Camera app to catch up with pro-level tools, especially as its hardware continues to improve.
Why is Apple suddenly focusing on camera software?
Let’s be real, hardware alone isn’t enough anymore. Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to push closer to professional-grade camera hardware, but that also raises the bar for software. Right now, many advanced users rely on third-party apps like Halide to unlock manual controls, RAW shooting, and deeper exposure adjustments.
Halide
Halide, in particular, is known for offering precise manual control over iPhone camera hardware, something Apple’s default app still lacks. By potentially integrating similar features directly into iOS, Apple could eliminate the need for third-party apps and make pro-level photography more accessible to everyday users.
What does this mean for iPhone users?
Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but the direction is pretty obvious. If Halide’s influence kicks in, the iPhone could get manual focus, exposure controls, advanced RAW capture, long-exposure shots, and pro-level video tools. Basically, turning the Camera app from “tap and pray” to “dial it in like a pro.”
Unsplash
What makes this more interesting is that Halide co-founder Sebastiaan de With is now at Apple, which feels less like a coincidence and more like a soft rollout of ideas. The iPhone camera might soon think a little less like Apple… and a little more like a photographer. For users, this could be a big shift. Instead of jumping to third-party apps for serious shooting, the default Camera app might finally do it all. And if Apple gets the balance right, the iPhone 18 Pro could stop playing catch-up and start setting the pace again.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
For today’s Connections: Sports Edition, the purple category came to me right away, and it’s usually the toughest. I also got a kick out of the green category. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Same-same.
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Green group hint: Otto, Anna.
Blue group hint: He ain’t heavy…
Purple group hint: The DMZ is one.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s not too tough, but 7-Across made me stop and start thinking of five-letter beverage brands. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Samsung’s next generation of foldable phones could bring some changes to charging, though not all of them might be what fans are hoping for. According to recent certification listings spotted via SammyGuru, upcoming devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and a new “Wide Fold” variant have appeared on China’s 3C database, hinting at potential updates to charging capabilities.
Samsung
These listings typically reveal wired charging specs ahead of launch, making them an early indicator of what to expect. But here’s the catch: the “upgrade” might not be as big as it sounds.
What do the leaks actually reveal?
Two upcoming devices, SM-F9710 and SM-F9760, are believed to be the Chinese variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and a new “Galaxy Z Wide Fold.” These listings show support for 15V at 3A charging, which translates to 45W wired charging. If accurate, that would mark a noticeable jump over previous Fold models, which have typically been limited to 25W wired charging.
SammyGuru
However, a separate listing for what’s believed to be the Galaxy Z Flip 8 shows 9V at 2.77A (~25W) charging, essentially unchanged from its predecessor. So while the Fold lineup may finally see a boost, the Flip series appears to be sticking with the same charging speeds for now.
How big of an upgrade is this?
For the Fold lineup, this is actually a meaningful upgrade. Samsung has stuck with 25W charging for years, so moving to 45W would finally bring it closer to its Galaxy S Ultra devices and noticeably cut down charging times. That said, these numbers only apply to wired charging, as 3C listings don’t reveal wireless speeds.
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
For buyers, this is a welcome but uneven improvement. The Fold 8 and Wide Fold could see a solid boost, while the Flip 8 may remain unchanged, creating a clear divide in the lineup. It’s a step in the right direction, but not quite the full upgrade many were hoping for. Especially when you already have players like OnePlus and other Chinese brands that go well beyond 100W.
Elon Musk made a game-changing announcement hours ago when he revealed plans for Tesla’s Terafab during a live event, taking its work on vehicles and robots literally out of this world. The initiative is a game changer, bringing together SpaceX and xAI to create the world’s largest chip factory. The sheer scale of the operation is mind-boggling, since Terafab will be capable of producing 1 trillion watts of finished chips every year, all under one gigantic roof that will house logic circuits, memory storage, and final packaging.
All of this is important because we desperately need a reliable mechanism to generate solar energy that can be beamed back from space. Terafab is specifically built to accomplish just that. We’re talking about launching an incredible 100 million tons of capture equipment into orbit EVERY YEAR. To accomplish this, we must be able to move millions of tons of material year after year. Once in orbit, solar-powered satellites will conduct all of the AI heavy lifting, with millions of Tesla Optimus robots on hand to erect and maintain those structures well above the good old earth.
Each of those Optimus robots is a significant undertaking, as they require between 100 and 200 billion watts of chips just to function. When you factor in the satellites, you can see the tremendous demand we’re talking about: trillions of watts of chips that no existing chip manufacturer can possibly offer, at least not yet. According to projections, we will have the same shortage until 2030.
That is where Terafab comes in, since it is specifically designed to bridge that gap, with the kind of huge capacity that has the ability to overcome the hurdles that have been holding back both ground-based robot fleets and processing power in orbit. To get it erected, the construction team will use established launch techniques to transport the enormous cargo into place. To get the factory up and running, robots that are already in development will take on assembly tasks that are simply too dangerous for humans to do on a regular basis. As a result, we will have a consistent supply of chips to meet our rising requirements on Earth and beyond.
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ELON MUSK: “We’re starting off with an advanced technology fab here in Austin, and I’d like to thank @GregAbbott_TX and the state of Texas for the support.
So in the advanced technology fab, we will have all of the equipment necessary to make a chip of any kind logical memory,… pic.twitter.com/kQ1r5pCgcn
The driving factor behind all of this is a strong desire to explore the universe, not just envision what’s out there, but to experience it firsthand. As one of the speakers put it, “understanding comes only from direct experience out there in the universe,” and Terafab is the first step in translating that idea into something concrete, something that anyone can track, from the start of creation to the end of delivery.
The decision, made public on Thursday, concludes that Apple’s latest implementation of pulse-oximetry functionality falls outside the scope of Masimo’s asserted rights. The full ITC commission will now review the judge’s ruling and decide whether to adopt it – a step that will determine whether the redesigned watches remain protected… Read Entire Article Source link
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