This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. If you drove by one of the 2,990 data centers in the United States, youd probably think little more than Huh, thats a boring-looking building. You might not even notice it at all. However, these facilities underpin our entire digital world, and they are responsible for tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. New research shows just how much those emissions have skyrocketed during the AI boom. Since 2018, carbon emissions from data centers in the US have tripled, according to new research led by a team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. That puts data centers slightly below domestic commercial airlines as a source of this pollution. That leaves a big problem for the worlds leading AI companies, which are caught between pressure to meet their own sustainability goals and the relentless competition in AI thats leading them to build bigger models requiring tons of energy. The trend toward ever more energy-intensive new AI models, including video generators like OpenAIs Sora, will only send those numbers higher. A growing coalition of companies is looking toward nuclear energy as a way to power artificial intelligence. Meta announced on December 3 it was looking for nuclear partners, and Microsoft is working to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant by 2028. Amazon signed nuclear agreements in October. However, nuclear plants take ages to come online. And though public support has increased in recent years, and president-elect Donald Trump has signaled support, only a slight majority of Americans say they favor more nuclear plants to generate electricity. Though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pitched the White House in September on an unprecedented effort to build more data centers, the AI industry is looking far beyond the United States. Countries in Southeast Asia, like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, are all courting AI companies, hoping to be their new data center hubs. In the meantime, AI companies will continue to use up power from their current sources, which are far from renewable. Since so many data centers are located in coal-producing regions, like Virginia, the carbon intensity of the energy they use is 48% higher than the national average. The researchers found that 95% of data centers in the US are built in places with sources of electricity that are dirtier than the national average. Read more about the new research here. Deeper Learning We saw a demo of the new AI system powering Andurils vision for war Were living through the first drone wars, but AI is poised to change the future of warfare even more drastically. I saw that firsthand during a visit to a test site in Southern California run by Anduril, the maker of AI-powered drones, autonomous submarines, and missiles. Anduril has built a way for the military to command much of its hardwarefrom drones to radars to unmanned fighter jetsfrom a single computer screen. Why it matters: Anduril, other companies in defense tech, and growing numbers of people within the Pentagon itself are increasingly adopting a new worldview: A future great power conflictmilitary jargon for a global war involving multiple countrieswill not be won by the entity with the most advanced drones or firepower, or even the cheapest firepower. It will be won by whoever can sort through and share information the fastest. The Pentagon is betting lots of energy and money that AIdespite its flaws and riskswill be what puts the US and its allies ahead in that fight. Read more here. Bits and Bytes Bluesky has an impersonator problem The platforms rise has brought with it a surge of crypto scammers, as my colleague Melissa Heikkil experienced firsthand. (MIT Technology Review) Techs elite make large donations to Trump ahead of his inauguration Leaders in Big Tech, who have been lambasted by Donald Trump, have made sizable donations to his inauguration committee. (The Washington Post) Inside the premiere of the first commercially streaming AI-generated movies The films, according to writer Jason Koebler, showed the telltale flaws of AI-generated video: dead eyes, vacant expressions, unnatural movements, and a reliance on voice-overs, since dialogue doesnt work well. The company behind the films is confident viewers will stomach them anyway. (404 Media) Meta asked Californias attorney general to stop OpenAI from becoming for-profit Meta now joins Elon Musk in alleging that OpenAI has improperly enjoyed the benefits of nonprofit status while developing its technology. (Wall Street Journal) How Silicon Valley is disrupting democracy Two books explore the price weve paid for handing over unprecedented power to Big Techand explain why its imperative we start taking it back. (MIT Technology Review)

My parents have given me subtle and not-so-subtle hints that they want me to have kids.But honestly, I have no interest in having kids of my own.Being child-free has allowed me to have friends of different ages and backgrounds.A few years ago, when I was in my late 30s, my dad sent me two birthday cards with the identical message "Have a child. It's the best investment you can make in your life!"My dad's wishes for grandchildren weren't new. Over my adult years, I've received subtle and maybe not-so-subtle proddings of having progeny from both my parents. That said, they didn't stir any newfound desire in me to have children. Maybe it's the simple fact that I love having plenty of alone time and pursuing my passions, but having a family has never really been a bucket list item for me.And while I appreciate, love, and respect my friends and cousins who have decided to have children, I've found that asking whether I want kids is like asking whether I want a peanut butter and sardine sandwich not on my radar, and doesn't stir up any interest or intrigue.As a proud childless cat lady, I've found that I have a greater capacity for different types of friendships.I'm able to have friendships with friends of different ages and backgroundsI can say that being child-free has likely allowed me to have the time, space, and energy to make friends of all ages and backgrounds.For example, I am friends with folks in their late 50s through 80s from my morning water fitness class. My good friends Sally and Melanie and I have co-hosted nature healing parties and other gatherings at their house, and we go out to eat when we can.I've also developed close relationships with fellow stationery and sticker lovers. We're a gaggle of folks in our 20s to 50s who are single, married with kids, divorced, or recently separated from their partners. We try to get together in person every few months to exchange "happy mail" and engage in sticker chatter and snobbery.I can make the time to maintain longer-distance friendshipsFor a while, I was able to trek across Los Angeles County to see my friend Marie, which would often take an hour each way and back.When I first got to know Marie, she was newly widowed. We met at a meditation sangha when I lived in West LA. In her 80s, she had acquired a new friend: a then-late 20-something-year-old me. What started as short conversations after meditation blossomed into a decadeslong friendship. Despite our over 40-year age difference, we were kindred spirits. Over the years, we enjoyed many happy hours, meditation retreats, and camping trips together.Despite moving from West Los Angeles to Pasadena, which meant hourlong drives to see one another, our friendship endured. And when she passed at 88 several years ago, it hit me hard.I have more time to volunteerSince I am not busy raising a family, I've had more free time to contribute to community efforts that are important to me. I'm an active participant in my Buy Nothing group, where I've been deemed "The Sicker Fairy" for delivering happy mail to the neighborhood kids during holidays throughout the year.My mom and I also volunteer at a local botanical garden. We get to dig in the dirt and spend time in nature, and we've both made new friends through the program.On occasion, I help out on an on-call basis at a food pantry. On a given day, 200 people wait several hours to receive their weekly allotment of groceries. In the coming months, I'll be putting together a money workshop for women in transition. Giving back to the community in different capacities has been greatly rewarding, and I hope to continue volunteering as much as possible.Not having kids has afforded me greater space to be present for others as a friend, daughter, partner, cousin, and "auntie." Growing up in a single-parent household where my mom worked two full-time jobs, time could be scarce. I can practice the tenets of compassionate presence and deep listening and cultivate relationships with the potential for an authentic connection.

Beth Graham and her brothers cared for their mother for four years after she had a stroke.After their mom died, the siblings decided to spend the $75,000 inheritance on a trip to South Africa.Spending quality time with her brothers helped her deal with the loss.I grew up in one of those weirdly close families where we all genuinely enjoyed spending time together. My dad died young, at 56, leaving my adventurous, spirited mother a widow. I'm the youngest of three kids, with two older brothers, and we all share a love of travel.Five years ago, during a visit back home to Florida to see my mom, she came into my room early in the morning complaining about "the worst headache of her life." It was confirmed later, at the hospital, that she had a stroke.For the next four years, we were her caregivers. Thankfully, her long-term insurance covered most of the expenses, but my brothers and I chipped in to cover things like round-the-clock caretakers and a new stereo so she could listen to soothing music. As a wealth manager, my middle brother managed her larger assets and took care of things like selling her home, paying off her mortgage, and settling her estate. After she died and all of her outstanding expenses were covered, we were left with about $75,000 of inheritance. Our initial thought was to split that among her three grandchildren to help jump-start their young adult lives. But one of my brothers doesn't have children, so it didn't seem fair. We began talking about how best to honor her with those remaining funds. While it may sound selfish to some, we determined that she would have wanted to treat us with something she was the kind of mom who always put our needs ahead of her own.Caregiving is hard, and we all experienced burnout at different times, both emotionally and physically, so we wanted to find a way to unwind from the past few years.Including grandkids was too complicated As my brothers and I all enjoy traveling I suggested we take a trip in her memory. Getting everyone to agree to that was actually the easy part. Deciding where to go proved more difficult.The original plan was to include everyone on the trip: my husband, my sister-in-law, and the three grandkids. I suggested we rent a chateau in the south of France or a villa in Italy since my mom was such a foodie. But because of our range of interests some like museums, others like organized tours, and others crave adventure we concluded that a relaxing vacation in a home wouldn't work. The family celebrated their mother during the safari sunset in South Africa. Beth Graham We settled on a trip to South Africa that would include a one-week safari and another week in Stellenbosch wine country paying tribute to my mom's love for great wine.We soon realized that including our kids, some still in college and others just starting new careers, would not work. They wouldn't be able to take two weeks off. So, as disappointing as it was, we decided to leave them behind. We were also very aware that this would give us the extra money to plan a more luxurious trip.A trip to honor our momWe flew business class from New York to Cape Town and spent two days exploring the region with a local guide. Then we traveled to Kruger National Park to our luxury resort in the private Sabi Sands Game Reserve and spent five days tracking the Big 5. We saw all five almost every day. Graham made keychains filled with her mother's ashes. Beth Graham I ordered three small memorial key chains. Each sibling was to bring along some of my mother's ashes so that she could join us on the trip. One evening, we gathered at the resort's bar, poured a glass of wine for her, surrounded by our keychains, and toasted her for our amazing lives and sibling relationships.After a memorable and emotional week, we journeyed on to our luxury Airbnb in Stellenbosch to toast her some more as we sampled the wines of the region. The end of our trip was bittersweet because we knew our time together honoring her with this trip was coming to an end.We spent all of that money and then some, but none of us had any doubt that she was looking down on us and smiling. As an adult, it's rare that I get time to properly catch up with my own siblings. That quality time together was special and, hopefully, exactly what our mom would have wanted.Got a personal essay about reconnecting with family that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.

Floating fish farms used to be a common sight along Singapore's coast.But now, their numbers are dwindling: As of October, there were 74 sea-based fish farms left, down from 98 in 2023.Local farmers say they face high operational costs and cheaper imports from regional competitors.Once a week, Alvin Yeo hops onto a small, white skiff at Lim Chu Kang jetty and heads out to a farm on the water owned by his dad.It's a breezy five-minute journey that takes him past dozens of similar floating farms along the Straits of Johor, which separates Singapore from the neighboring country of Malaysia.Formed by interlocking planks held together with thick nails and buoyed by floating barrels, these platforms are living relics of the country's fishing village past. Towering buildings loom in the far distance. Amanda Goh. The sun is harsh on most days, but the water is surprisingly calm, save for the waves created by the passing coastal guard boats patrolling the area. Towering apartment buildings loom in the background, a stark contrast to the weatherworn wooden platforms bobbing in the water.Yeo's father a former civil engineer has been in the farming industry for almost 30 years, having started a fish farm in the '90s with his brother out of passion. These floating platforms are formed by interlocking pieces of wood held together with thick nails. Amanda Goh. "My father is a hobbyist. He likes to rear fish," Yeo, 35, told Business Insider. "But he's not exactly a businessman, so the farm wasn't really making any money."For small businesses like theirs, it's a constant struggle to stay afloat. Amid rising costs, environmental challenges, and a growing reluctance among younger generations to take on the demanding job, traditional farming in Singapore almost feels like a sunset industry.Yeo is a rare exception.Dwindling fish farm numbersAround 2020, Yeo a freelance musician decided to join the trade. Together with his father, the duo separated from the original business to start Heng Heng Fish Farm.Like most traditional farms, the fish are reared in open-net cages lowered directly into the sea.While his father oversees the farm's day-to-day operations, Yeo mainly handles the business side of things. Alvin Yeo (right) and his dad at Heng Heng Fish Farm. Amanda Goh. Yeo is also trying to adopt more modern and sustainable techniques to their traditional farm, such as using solar panels for energy and introducing pelleted feed, which pollutes the water less than typical fish feed made from expired confectionary and other food by-products."I just felt that I needed to do it because I have feelings for the sea I grew up in. So I didn't want to see it just deteriorate as years go by," he said.Much like street peddlers and traditional villages, the floating fish farms are a part of Singapore's cultural and economic identity that is rapidly disappearing as the city-state evolves past its fishing village origins.The country's "kelongs" offshore wooden platforms used to trap fish used to be a common sight along the coast. The government stopped issuing new licenses in 1965.Now, there are only four "kelongs" left in Singapore."With the dwindling catch from the wild and increasing cost of raw materials for maintenance of the 'kelong,' 'kelong' owners also saw the need to move toward fish farming as a viable commercial operation," the Singapore Food Agency, or SFA, told BI in a statement, adding that some of them have transitioned to coastal fish farms over the years. Fishes in open-net cages in a floating fish farm in Singapore. Amanda Goh. Many locals still refer to these floating fish farms as "kelongs," even though they're not quite the same thing, Yeo said.Fish farms are dwindling in numbers too, even as the resource-scarce country inches toward the deadline for its "30 by 30" goal an initiative set by the Singapore government to be able to produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030.Tough to beat prices from regional competitorsAccording to SFA data, there were 74 sea-based fish farms left in Singapore as of October, down from 98 at the end of 2023. This means about a quarter of these farms have shuttered in the past year.Some farmers told the local paper The Straits Times that they had between June 2023 and June 2024 to take up a grant of 100,000 Singapore dollars, or $74,500, from the SFA to help them wind down operations. Those who had accepted the grant cited"To be competitive in the market, you have to be cheaper than imports. But it's hard to fight the cost of imports, especially from places like China, Indonesia, and Malaysia," Yeo said. Yeo is on the floating fish farm every day. Amanda Goh. The cost of running a business in Singapore tends to be higher compared to neighboring countries, Kevin Cheong, an adjunct lecturer at the Singapore Management University who recently co-authored a study on sustainable fish farming in Singapore, told BI."Electricity costs, land costs, labor costs, all these things stack up against the consumer," Cheong said. "Primary production in Singapore, essentially agriculture, would be very challenging." Fishes in open-net cages in a floating fish farm in Singapore. Amanda Goh. In Yeo's farm, the tilapia he grows can be harvested in six months. At the current scale of his production, he can harvest 12 batches of around 7,000 fish each in a year.Since the floating farms are made from wood, their structure requires regular upkeep and a metric ton of Chengal wood can cost up to SG$4,000, Yeo said."We don't really earn much. At the end of the day, it's just enough to keep the farm running," Yeo said.A challenging environmentBeyond cost constraints, farmers are bogged down by the effects of the climate crisis.Rising temperaturesAlgae blooms are deadly for fish because they deplete the oxygen in the water and cause widespread fish death, he added. A floating fish farm in Singapore, located along the Johor Straits. Amanda Goh. "Open-pen sea-based farms are particularly susceptible because the fishes are reared in the natural environment, which is almost impossible to regulate," he said.Farmers, in turn, have to grapple with worsening conditions."In my dad's era, fish didn't really have to be taken care of," Yeo said, gesturing at the bags of fish pellets behind him. "You could simply feed them till they got big, then sell them. But now, you have to feed and raise them."Dean Jerry, an aquaculture professor who teaches at James Cook University's Singapore and Australian campuses, told BI that to cope with the changing environment, sea-based fish farmers have to rear more hardy species or invest in aquaculture technologies.Many of these solutions are focused on closed-cageThe challenge is compounded by the fact that most sea-based farms don't have mains power, he said. This means farmers will end up incurring extra costs installing diesel generators or solar panels to run these systems, he added. Yeo King Kwee started rearing fish 30 years ago. Amanda Goh. "It's very, very costly to implement any sort of technological solutions because a lot of technological solutions will require power," he said.The challenging nature of the job seems to have discouraged younger locals from stepping up to continue the trade.Yeo, who only knows of one other farmer around his age, has two employees a husband and wife duo from Myanmar who work and sleep on the floating farm."Local help is just impossible to get," he said.Efforts to stay afloatTo help farmers sustain their businesses, the local government has stepped in with plans to overhaul the aquaculture sector.In November, the government announced its Singapore Aquaculture Plan. Some new initiatives include increasing the supply of locally produced, genetically superior eggs and facilitating the exports of local fish to China."Our fish farms, as part of local production, cushion us from overseas supply disruptions and complement our efforts to diversify import sources of seafood," said Damian Chan, the CEO of SFA, per a media release. The elder Yeo built the floating fish farm out of wood on his own. Amanda Goh. The SFA told BI in a statement that farmers who are keen to increase their farms' productivity can rely on the SFA for advice and funding support for technology adoption.On the other hand, the Singapore government will support those who choose to exit the industry by providing job-matching and training initiatives, it said.Despite uncertainties about the aquaculture industry, some young farmers are finding alternate ways to stay afloat. Wong Jing Kai, who left his marketing job a decade ago to run Ah Hua Kelong, is one of them."Farming is considered a sunset industry," said Wong, 35. "Nobody wants to do it. So I'm like, if people don't do, I'll do it then."But instead of being a wholesaler and pitting himself against more competitive imports, Wong opened Scaled a seafood restaurant and a fish soup hawker stall, to move his fish stock.He can support his farm by supplying his own fish to his eateries, he said. "My plan is to have five fish soup stores and three to four restaurants on land. Then, I think we're more or less covered," he said.Others, like Yeo, believe that the industry will survive as long as local consumers become more receptive to eating local fish."Of course, I hope to grow the business and be in this industry for a long time," he said. He hopes to have a high-tech fish farm one day ideally on land, where conditions are less unpredictable."I take each day as it comes," he added.

Canadas government is in trouble.The government currently in charge of the country led by longtime Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took its latest hit on Monday, when Trudeaus right-hand official (and former staunch ally), Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, surprised Canadians by offering her resignation in a spectacular fashion, issuing a letter that sharply criticized her old boss. Freeland specifically cited her disagreements over how to manage Canadas economy in the face of looming US tariffs as the breaking point in her relationship with Trudeau. President-elect Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on Canada shortly after his election; that threat has put a strain on Trudeaus government, but they are only part of a larger problem. Trudeau and his party have been steadily losing public and parliamentary confidence for years. Deals meant to keep Trudeaus party in power crumbled this year, and pressure on Trudeau to resign has begun to build, especially given his party is expected to suffer in national elections next year. All that means that, even before Freeland resigned, Trudeaus administration was inching closer to the brink of collapse. And now, with Freelands resignation, Canadas government is on even shakier ground as it prepares to confront an incoming, adversarial, Trump administration.Trudeau is unpopular in his party and in CanadaBefore the Freeland debacle, Trudeau had two problems: The public was unhappy with him and his partys policies, and many in his party were unhappy with his management.Trudeau has been the leader of Canada, for nearly 10 years now, and of his Liberal Party for nearly 12. Thats quite a long time to be in power in the Canadian context. In that time, Trudeaus popularity has taken a beating; although he started out with a 63 percent approval rating, that has dropped to 28 percent in recent polls.In some ways, its not surprising that Canadians are just kind of fed up with the government, because you get to a certain point in your tenure where youve been in there for so long that its easy to look around and blame everything thats wrong on the guy whos been in charge for 10 years, Elizabeth McCallion, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, told Vox. Were reaching that limit where many Canadians dont want Trudeau around anymore.Canada does have some major problems at the moment. The country is struggling with cost-of-living and housing crises, and debate over the wisdom of the Liberal Partys immigration and environmental strategies has escalated ahead of the 2025 elections. The Liberal Partys chief rival, the Conservative Party, has been quick to make connections between Trudeaus policy choices and these issues.Related:Canadas polite TrumpismConservatives are expected to make major gains in next years elections, and rival parties political attacks on Liberals and their record have already proved potent, with Trudeaus party losing what should have been some safe seats in recent special elections. Those losses have helped spur a crisis of confidence for Trudeau within his party. Hes been going through sort of a string of setbacks over the last couple of months, including by-election losses quite significant ones, Andrew McDougall, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, told Vox. He lost a [district] in Toronto called St. Pauls, which was really the core of the Liberal support, and that alone had triggered speculation he might have to go. [Liberals lost] in Montreal as well, which is really where the party has its strongest base if you cant win there, you really cant win anywhere, was the suggestion.Freelands resignation only renewed and intensified calls for Trudeau to resign and some of those calls came from members of his own party. Theres almost no way to eject him from party leadership if he doesnt resign, and no one has stepped forward as a strong candidate for the job. However, the House of Commons could vote to trigger early elections through a no-confidence vote after late January, when they meet again after the holidays. Elections would only be called early if that vote succeeds, and its unclear if it will. Trudeau survived previous no-confidence votes thanks to the support of former coalition partner, the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) and the pro-Quebec party Bloc Qubcois. But the NDP pulled out of its partnership agreement with the Liberals earlier this year, and Bloc Qubcoiss leader said he would work to end Trudeaus tenure after the Liberal Party failed to meet some of his demands. However, it may not be in the NDPs interest to dissolve the government now, and if they choose to save Trudeau, the Liberals will keep their hold on power for now. The Conservatives and the Bloc Qubcois both want to trigger elections but the New Democratic Party is much less eager to do so because the polls look bad for them. They have propped up the Liberals for years and they could continue to do this when theres another confidence vote, Daniel Bland, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, told Vox. Trump dropped a new factor into all of this domestic turmoil.In late November, Trump threatened to slap 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!The realities of fentanyl trafficking and migrant flows are far more complicated than Trump suggests, and there is little Canada or Mexico could do to quickly alter either. If he were to follow through on his threat, those tariffs would be extremely damaging to both countries; in Canadas case, the US is far and away its largest and most important trading partner. Those tariffs would make the affordability crisis that has so hampered Trudeau of late even worse.Freeland was expected to lead Canadas response to those tariffs, and her resignation letter suggested she and Trudeau disagreed on how to approach the problem they posed.The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 percent tariffs, Freeland wrote. We need to take that threat extremely seriously.In the letter Freeland also accused Trudeau of using expensive economic gimmicks including a pause on certain taxes and stimulus checks for households making below a certain threshold to retain support, putting Canada in a precarious financial position as it faces a grave challenge. Its atypical for members of parliament and government ministers to speak out against their party leadership, McCallion and McDougall explained, and Freelands departure showed just how unstable Trudeaus party unity actually is. Trudeau hasnt made any public statements since Freelands resignation; its not clear what his next move is, or how he and his new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc, plan to deal with either the potential tariffs or internal party discord. Trudeau and Freeland did negotiate a trade deal with the previous Trump administration, and that combined experience could have served Trudeau well.Trudeau may not get the chance to fully reprise those negotiations, however. Even if he survives a potential no-confidence vote early next year, elections are scheduled for October, and, again, the Conservatives are projected to win. Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

One of the Supreme Courts very first actions after Republicans gained a 6-3 supermajority on its bench was a revolutionary decision expanding religious institutions right to seek exemptions from state laws. Since then, the Court has fairly consistently favored Christian litigants who seek such exemptions, or who raise other religious liberty-related claims (though it has not always shown the same sympathy to Muslims with similar claims).That history means its hard to think of a litigant thats more likely to win the sympathy of most of the justices than Catholic Charities, the party at the center of Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission. Catholic Charities seeks an exemption from Wisconsins law requiring employers to pay taxes that fund unemployment benefits. The Court announced Friday it will hear Catholic Charities.It is likely that the Court will side with Catholic Charities. The more important question is how the Court might write an opinion ruling in Catholic Charities favor, as a too broad opinion could potentially have dire consequences giving at least some companies legal grounds to mistreat workers, and to pick and choose which laws apply to them, and which dont. Whats the legal issue in Catholic Charities?Like every other state, Wisconsin taxes employers to fund unemployment benefits for workers who lose their jobs. Wisconsin, however, exempts employers that are controlled by a church, and that are operated primarily for religious purposes, from these taxes. Wisconsins state supreme court recently ruled that this religious purposes exemption applies only to employers that primarily engage in religious activities, such as holding worship services or providing religious education. The court found it does not apply to organizations, like Catholic Charities, that provide secular services like job training or feeding the poor even if the organization is motivated by religion to provide these secular services.Notably, Catholic Charities has paid these unemployment taxes since 1972. Catholic Charities lawyers claim that this distinction between religious and secular services violates the First Amendments religious liberties protections in various ways. Among other things, they claim that Wisconsin discriminates against religions, like the Catholic Church, that believe in an obligation to serv[e] those in need without proselytizing, and that Wisconsins law interferes with the churchs right to manage its own affairs.Are these good arguments? Not really. Wisconsin isnt discriminating against the Catholic Church. Wisconsin will allow any religious institution, be it Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or Satanic, to be exempt from unemployment tax if it hosts worship services or if it teaches lessons about a holy text. It similarly will not give this exemption to one, regardless of its faith, that performs secular charity work. Nor is Wisconsin interfering with the churchs religious freedoms. The state is not trying to influence the churchs internal affairs in any significant way. The Supreme Court has held that the government should stay out of strictly ecclesiastical matters, such as a fight over which of two religious leaders was properly appointed as an archbishop. But Catholic Charities does not involve such a matter of internal church governance, it involves the states decision to tax both secular and many religious employers, in order to pay unemployment benefits.And, again, its notable that Catholic Charities has complied with Wisconsins tax law since 1972. The fact that it now seeks an exemption after decades of compliance suggests that preexisting law does not favor the churchs position and that the churchs lawyers now think they can win cases that would have lost before less sympathetic panels of justices.Two ways that the Supreme Court can rule in favor of Catholic CharitiesIn the likely event that the Supreme Court does rule in Catholic Charities favor, there are two ways it can get there. One would be a narrow decision that applies to a small subset of employers. The other could potentially overrule a pair of decades-old precedents, and risks severely disrupting the balance of power between workers and employers.If the Court wants to issue a narrow opinion favoring Catholic Charities, it could rule that its decision applies only to organizations engaged in charitable work, and make it clear the ruling does not apply to any group engaged in commercial activity. Failing to do so could create a situation like the one the Court tried to avoid in Tony and Susan Alamo Foundation v. Secretary of Labor (1985).In that case, a religious foundation operated a long list of commercial businesses, including service stations, retail clothing and grocery outlets, hog farms, roofing and electrical construction companies, a recordkeeping company, a motel, and companies engaged in the production and distribution of candy. These businesses were staffed with associates who were not paid cash wages or a salary, but instead were only provided with in-kind benefits like food, clothing, and shelter. The federal government sued this foundation, alleging that it was in violation of federal minimum wage, overtime, and workplace recordkeeping laws.A unanimous Supreme Court rejected the foundations claim that it was exempt from these laws because it objected to them on religious grounds. Among other things, the Court warned that the foundations business competed with other, secular businesses in the marketplace, and that permitting the foundation to pay substandard wages would undoubtedly give [the foundation] and similar organizations an advantage over their competitors.In United States v. Lee (1982), the Supreme Court expressed similar concerns about a religious employer who sought an exemption from paying Social Security taxes. Indeed, Lee announced a blanket rule establishing that when followers of a particular sect enter into commercial activity as a matter of choice, the limits they accept on their own conduct as a matter of conscience and faith are not to be superimposed on the statutory schemes which are binding on others in that activity.The Catholic Charities case is distinguishable from both Alamo Foundation and Lee because it does not involve a religious organization engaged in commercial activity. Catholic Charities is a legitimate charity which does a great deal of beneficial work for the needy. It is not a business that operates hog farms or sells candy. So a win for Catholic Charities could just be a win for religious organizations without commercial interests that want to avoid unemployment taxation. To get to that result, the Court just needs to follow the line these older cases draw between institutions engaged in commercial activity, which could not claim religious exemptions from laws governing that activity, and institutions engaged in more traditional charitable work.However, there is a chance the Court ignores this line in favor of the legal reasoning that drove a more recent decision: In 2014, the Supreme Court held that private, for-profit businesses may, in some instances, seek religious exemptions from federal business regulations. That case was Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014), in which the Court decided that private businesses, whose owners object to some forms of birth control on religious grounds, are exempt from federal rules requiring employers to cover contraception in their employees health plans. The Court has only grown more conservative, and more friendly to Christian litigants seeking religious exemptions, since Hobby Lobby. So it is far from clear that this Court will hew to the rule against permitting business to seek exemptions that can distort the market that was announced in Lee.It is possible to distinguish Hobby Lobby from Catholic Charities, because Hobby Lobby arose under a federal statute that gives particularly strong religious liberty protections to people impacted by a federal law. Catholic Charities, by contrast, asks whether the Constitution allows a religious employer to seek an exemption from a state law. In any event, if the Court winds up handing down a narrow decision holding that legitimate charities like Catholic Charities, which are directly affiliated with a church, are entitled to certain religious exemptions, then thats hardly the end of the world. Such a decision would likely only impact a relatively small number of workers, and it would only impact workers who voluntarily chose to do charitable work.Still, the shadow of Hobby Lobby looms large over this case. And this Supreme Court often hands down haphazardly reasoned opinions that cause needless disruption to settled areas of law. So theres at least some risk that the Court will hand down a decision that fundamentally undermines much of American labor and employment law by allowing commercial businesses to exempt themselves from a wide range of laws intended to protect their workers.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

For the second time this month, classic Call of Duty titles have been added to the Microsoft Store leading many to think they're coming to Xbox Game Pass very soonTech13:53, 17 Dec 2024Could older Call of Duty titles be making a comeback via Xbox Game Pass?(Image: Still)Call of Duty fans may have been disappointed when there was no Xbox Game Pass reveal for the series at last week's Game Awards show, but it seems their patience might end up being rewarded after all.We've already got this year's Black Ops 6 on the service, as well as last year's Modern Warfare 3, but it appears even more could be coming.After a series of classic CoD games were added to the Microsoft Store earlier this month, it appears Microsoft isn't done yet.According to Windows Central, the list of newly-added titles is Call of Duty Ghosts, Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, Call of Duty WWII and Call of Duty Black Ops 3.Article continues belowThat's a varied range of titles, all of which launched between 2013 and 2017, with the exception being 2015's Infinite Warfare, which proved particularly divisive among fans for its commitment to science fiction.It's not conclusive proof, but as Windows Central points out, this is what happened prior to the rollout of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy onto Xbox Game Pass, although other titles have yet to be added to Game Pass just yet.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

The PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium lineup arrives today, meaning it's your last chance to snag Stranger of Paradise, Dead Island Riptide and more before they're goneTech11:11, 17 Dec 2024Updated 11:15, 17 Dec 2024Borderlands 4 could see a tonal shift(Image: Gearbox)There was plenty to enjoy with last week's Game Awards announcements, including Helldivers 2's next update, a fresh Elden Ring title, and the debut of The Witcher 4, too.We also got our first look at Borderlands 4 gameplay, with the shooter series back for another go round after a dismal movie adaptation.Thankfully, the game is looking very promising indeed, but you might be surprised that Borderlands 4 will look to break away from the series' previous reliance on meme culture and toilet humour.Borderlands 4's Narrative Director, Sam Winkler, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that the game will feature work from "some of the funniest people" he knows as contract writers.When one commenter asked if the trailer suggests we can expect a darker sensor of humour, Winkler said "Not at liberty to talk much about the content of BL4, but I remain firm in my criticism of BL3's overabundance of toilet humor."Content cannot be displayed without consentFollowing up he said "Im not gonna say theres no toilets but if the word skibidi ships in the game under my watch Im gonna cry real tears.""Paul Tassi [Forbes journalist] joked that we were gonna have a gun called Hawk 2A and a fellow dev asked me if it was real and I wanted to put my hand down the sink grinder."Responses are mixed from followers. The series has been built on a certain level of silliness and toilet humour, but others are happy to see Gearbox move away from it.Article continues belowWith Borderlands 4 targeting 2025, we shouldn't have long to wait.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League its definitely not the best game of the year (WB Games)The Wednesday letters page thinks the Switch 2 leaks might actually help Nintendo, as a reader is confused as to why people are arguing about Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukPLEASE NOTE: We are currently preparing our content for over the Christmas period and will need a number of Readers Features, so if youve been meaning to write one but never quite got round to it we could do with as many as possible before Monday, December 23.Worst of the worstNot to be too negative but while its the Top 10 time of the year for most websites I wonder what most people would says is the worst game of the year? Im sure the literal answer is its some indie rubbish that no one has ever played but in terms of major games I think weve got a few contenders.For me they are Until Dawn, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, and Senuas Saga: Hellblade 2. Until Dawn is a remake that not only wasnt needed but is significantly worse than the original, Hellblade 2 takes everything that worked in the original and makes it much worse, while Suicide Squad is a terrible idea from beginning to end.I think its a tough decision, but if you bear in mind that it wasted nearly a decade of Rocksteadys time and was less than half price within what felt like a week, I think its got to be Suicide Squad. Although I suppose you could say it was positive in that it probably put publishers off live service games just that little bit quicker.ZeissBig bossesMicrosoft is redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan? Well, thats true. When I started this generation I was an Xbox fan and then thanks to everything theyve done since I sold my Xbox Series X and bought a PlayStation 5, so that is a pretty big redefinition.As usual, its almost impossible to understand what Microsoft is actually trying to say with any of this, which just makes it sound like theyre trying to hide their true intentions, which they probably are.I feel the problem is big boss Satya Nadella, who clearly doesnt understand games and doesnt seem to want to listen when people try to explain it to him. I can just imagine Phil Spencer or someone explaining exclusives to him, him not getting, and then deciding they were a bad idea they had to get rid of. And hows that working out for them?Im sure Microsoft will be a very successful third party publisher but their days as a format holder are effectively over. As others have said, theyre just Activision Blizzard and friends now, and I dread to think what would happen if Call Of Duty ever stopped sellingGloinRage modeI can only imagine Nintendos anger at these third party accessory makers is enough to burn a hole in the Earth, so heaven help any of them that they are within legal reach of (Im guessing they cant do anything about anyone in China?).After everyone got the 2024 reveal wrong, Im not giving much credence to new rumours but since Im sure Nintendo mustve considered it, I wonder if theyre now regretting the decision not to have announced it already, now that all these photos and descriptions have leaked out.Or, and do bear with me while I get a little conspiratorial here, but maybe they secretly like the leaks because now everyone knows the Switch 2 looks exactly the same as the first one, so theyre not going to get disappointed when thats what Nintendo reveal. Im not saying they organised it that way, but it may work out for the best for them.The games are what people really want to know about and I think that if they dont disappoint the console itself will be quickly ignored and just praised for not ruining a good thing.SinkerEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukUnsafe betI see Capcom is talking about bringing back more old franchises again, so there is still hope for Dino Crisis. Onimusha and kami 2 are great news but kami does surprise me because I dont see how its not just going to be another flop, given how many times theyve re-released the original and its never really been a hit.Now that doesnt bother me, because as long as its getting made thats all thats important, but I dont want the inevitable failure to put Capcom off from bringing back any other old games. If I was a bean counter I wouldve waited until you had a few proven successes under your belt before going for the wild card. The first three Onimusha games were all hits, so thats kind of different.KitsonInsufficient dataWith everyone up in arms about Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, both for and against it, I have to say I struggle to understand how anyone can have a strong opinion about it at all. I dont feel there was nearly enough information to like or dislike it.Between the weird subtitle, which didnt seem to have anything to do with anything they showed, to the unclear tone I really dont feel I know anything about the game. The few seconds of gameplay they showed seemed fairly goofy, in terms of the sword and robot design, which isnt necessarily a bad thing, while all the stuff before, in the ship, was worryingly reminiscent of Concord.But since Concord was ripping of Guardians Of The Galaxy what does that say about Intergalactic? Is it trying to go for that kind of humour as well or is it more serious? Is it all about the story, like The Last Of Us, or more the action, like Uncharted? I dont feel I know and I dont feel its something Im really that interested in talking about until we know more.LescoTime for changeI do feel sorry for Ubisoft at the moment. I wont say theyre my favourite publisher or anything but the last two generations I though they were solid and unfairly criticised. I like the way they pushed open world games, and I felt they made very little that was actively bad and all their stuff had good value for money.I dont feel this has changed much in the last few years, its just that theyve hung on to too many old franchises. When youre making Far Cry 7 and Assassins Creed 14, I think you should take that as a sign that maybe things have been stretched too far. Nothing lasts forever and Ubisofts problem is that it has nothing to replace these aging franchises that people are losing interest in.Its not even that theres no interest Im sure Shadows will still sell well but I would say theyre in decline and thats the point you need to have a Plan B. Star Wars Outlaws sure isnt it and Watch Dogs and The Division only lasted a few games, so time to think outside the box. I dont know what that it is but Im going to guess its not a live service game or an open world title with a slightly different setting.WendellMe Grimlock not patent applicationWhile not technically game related, your reference to Transformers in the Power Rangers review reminded me of something Id seen on Bluesky. The original Bluesky post is here.A user there posted that you can find the patents for the Transformers toys online, complete with lovely line drawings of them. For example, heres Grimlock.Euclidian BoxesGC: Heh, thats great. This mustve been back when they were still Diaclone toys.The turning of the tideIf your expectations were a Switch 2 reveal with GTA 6 announced as a launch title then I can see The Game Awards being a disappointment.But for those whove spent the last three years pining for the razzmatazz of old E3 and withering away from the cold shoulder large chunks of the industry has given them since, it must of been a very nice surprise. I found it all very agreeable.The loudest complaint in the Inbox for a while has been Sony not talking about single-player games and just banging on about live service, hardware, PC ports, and remasters. So its a pretty big deal the awards had Sonys flagship studio announce a new single-player game thats also a brand new IP.I liked what I saw. The backlash Ive no interest in. You can say its derivative, but I like all the influences its copying/paying homage to. It was also an unexcepted style and possible genre, going by the brief laser sword wielding clip, for Naughty Dog. Ill be keeping my eye out.I did have one those fudge me moments that was teased prior to the show too, even if it wasnt maybe meant to be one of them. That was the Project: Robot announcement, that touched places in me that havent been touched for sometime.SimundoInbox also-ransIs this true that GTA Online will be shutting down on disc and digital? I literally love GTA 5, so keep GTA it active please and I cant wait until GTA 6 comes out.Thomas TaylorGC: No, its not true. What will happen to GTA Online when GTA 6 is released is unclear, but Rockstar has said nothing so far.I knew that Power Rangers game was going to end up too good to be true. I had no idea it was that expensive either, so thats one of the list. Thanks, you saved me 30 just before Christmas!RalleMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Microsofts been pushing the concept of playing Xbox games without an Xbox all year (Microsoft)With many still confused by Xboxs seemingly contradictory gaming plans, a new report attempts to clear everything up.Despite having a lot of hotly demanded exclusives coming to the Xbox platform, like next years Fable reboot and Gears Of War: E-Day, for most of this year fans have been reckoning with the possibility of Microsoft going third party.Ever since it decided to port several key exclusives to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, the past year has seen Microsoft open itself up to releasing more and more of its first party games on rival platforms.Recently, it was claimed that Xbox exclusives will eventually stop being a thing entirely, once Microsoft gets its various developers used to the concept. Now, comments by Microsofts CEO only seem to embolden that line of thinking, with the company also said to be interested in some kind of cross-platform interface.First things first, during Microsofts latest shareholders meeting, CEO Satya Nadella was pressed on the progress of the companys current gaming strategy. For his part, Nadella sounded extremely optimistic about how things are working out.We chose the secular growth category in entertainment, which we think is gaming, and said, lets double down on it, lets and its been a passion for Microsoft ever since, said Nadella.And so we said, lets take that joy of gaming everywhere. And thats why even these ads with Xbox now, where we are redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan, its about being able to enjoy Xbox on all your devices.There has been some confusion among audiences about what this strategy means for the future of Xbox hardware. Putting Xbox games on other platforms and devices means people will be less inclined to invest in an Xbox console and yet Microsoft has plans to keep making new hardware, including a handheld device.On top of that, a new report by Windows Centrals Jez Corden claims Microsoft has plans for something called Project Rainway, which Corden describes as a cross-platform Xbox guide menu.Exact details are slim, but its apparently inspired by the cross-platform social features seen in games available through Activision Blizzards Battle.net launcher.Corden theorises this is a sign Microsoft wants to make it easier for players to access their games regardless of what platform theyre using. So, features like cloud saves and cross-progression would become commonplace across Microsofts titles.Despite all this, Cordens report argues this doesnt mark the death knell of Xbox hardware. While the decision to port the likes of Sea Of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush was met with some outrage from the most devoted of Xbox users, Corden claims this had little, if any impact on Xbox user figures.As such, Microsoft sees this is as proof that Xbox users are comfortable where they are and are unlikely to ditch the platform even if new Xbox games release elsewhere. Apparently, this is also why Microsoft announced The Outer Worlds 2 for PlayStation 5 as well as Xbox Series X/S at The Game Awards 2024.Although the idea that anyone, outside of performative influencers, would instantly throw away their Xbox console just because some of its games appeared on rival formats always seemed unlikely.Corden also brings up Xbox boss Phil Spencers own claim that Xbox console users are higher than theyve ever been before (something he said in an IGN interview back in June).Its unclear what this means though, as the Xbox Series X/S has sold less than both the Xbox One and Xbox 360. So either hes combining the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S userbases or counting everyone, on every format, that plays a Microsoft published game which now includes the likes of Call Of Duty and Diablo.He argues the Xbox ports of Genshin Impact and Death Stranding prove there are revenue streams worth chasing on Xbox hardware, and adds that hes heard talk of more PlayStation exclusives following suit.More TrendingAlthough hes obviously referring to further third party examples and not any of Sonys first party titles (with the possible exception of a rumoured port of Lego Horizon Adventures which seems to have been a flop on PlayStation 5 and Switch).Corden also reiterates past claims that even major Xbox franchises like Halo and Gears Of War may go multiplatform (something Xbox boss Phil Spencer also implied), though he does suggest some outliers might remain exclusive for one reason or another.This seems at odds, though, with the way Microsoft is approaching things nowadays. If it can be willing to put something like Halo on PlayStation, why keep anything locked to the Xbox platform?The takeaway from all this seems to be that Microsoft recognises it cant rely on hardware exclusives if it wants to thrive and grow within the gaming sphere. But its core Xbox user base is still substantial, thus justifying continued investment in developing dedicated Xbox hardware. Fables only slated for Xbox and PC next year, but should we expect a PlayStation 5 port soon after? (Microsoft)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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