In partnership with

Subscribe | Share | Listen to Audio

January 13, 2024

Weekend Edition: Support Black families in LA, how the wildfires threaten those incarcerated, and major companies abandon DEI.

On Friday, I sent a newsletter filled with various ways to support Los Angeles residents impacted by the wildfires. Today, I’m pointing you to a curated list of GoFundMe accounts that center Black families trying to find refuge and rebuild. I’m unsure who’s on the team moderating this list, but it seems to be regularly updated to track progress towards completion. If you can, consider supporting a family here on this list.

New: Rupture and Repair in the Workplace

Tuesday, February 11 | 3-5pm EST

This two-hour intensive session focuses on navigating moments of tension and conflict as they arise in professional settings. Participants will learn practical, real-time strategies for de-escalating situations, intervening effectively, and rebuilding trust after moments of rupture.

Through hands-on practice and scenario work, we’ll develop a personalized toolkit for addressing workplace tensions while maintaining cultural awareness and psychological safety.

LA's wildfires threaten almost 40 prisons and jails. Here's how they're responding. The appeal contacted 38 facilities to ask how they're preparing for air quality issues and possible evacuations and power outages. Thousands of people—including hundreds of children—sit in potentially impacted facilities. The Appeal >

Trump gets no jail time, fines or probation in felony sentencing. The president-elect was sentenced in New York after being convicted in May of 34 felonies related to hiding from voters hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels. 19th News >

California overhauled its insurance system. Then Los Angeles caught fire. The Palisades Fire could cause more than $10 billion in damages, further straining the state’s fragile insurance market. Grist >

The unseen battle for food in Gaza. As Israel continues to block the entrance of food to Gaza, local bakeries begin to close, emphasizing the way the country is waging war using starvation. In These Times > 

“Waiting list to nowhere': Homelessness surveys trap black men on the streets. Homelessness experts and local leaders say such personal questions exacerbate racial disparities in the ranks of the nation's unhoused. Capital B News >

The murder of Robert Brooks shines a light on abuse and racism in New York prisons. Brooks, who was brutally beaten by prison guards in a horrific attack captured on camera, epitomizes a deeply ingrained culture of brutality perpetuated by New York's refusal to hold staff accountable. The Appeal >

New research shows people are moving out of abortion-banned states. Almost 129,000 people have moved out of abortion-banned states since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, according to a new study. Jezebel >

Pine Grove prison is California's only remaining "fire camp" for incarcerated youth. Alex Bailon once worked 24 hours on, 24 hours off for 56 days straight: “It’s hard to explain what it’s like to have fire all around you." Teen Vogue >

Deaths at scandal-plagued Atlanta-area jail doubled in 2024. Twice the number of detainees at Georgia’s notorious Clayton County Jail died in 2024 compared to the previous year. The deaths of eight people detained at the Atlanta-area jail raise new questions about the scandal-plagued facility. Capital B News >

The Supreme Court doesn’t seem likely to save TikTok. A law that effectively bans the app goes into effect January 19. If you’re a professional TikTok creator, it’s probably time to get a new job. Vox >

Medical schools report a steep drop in enrollment of Black and Hispanic students after Supreme Court ruling. The new data reflect the first class selected since the court banned the use of race in admissions, and likely influenced by a growing number of state-level initiatives to end or defund diversity efforts. Stat News >

DoJ releases its Tulsa race massacre report over 100 years after initial review. The Department of Justice released its report on the massacre more than 100 years after a June 1921 report,  acknowledging that the attack “was so systematic and coordinated that it transcended mere mob violence”. The Guardian >

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta is terminating major DEI programs, effective immediately. The move includes ending inclusivity efforts for hiring, training and picking suppliers and removing tampons from men’s bathrooms. The move is part of the company's push to make inroads with the incoming Trump administration. Axios >

'It's total chaos internally at Meta right now': Employees protest Zuckerberg's anti LGBTQ changes. Meta's decision to specifically allow users to call LGBTQ+ people "mentally ill" has sparked widespread backlash at the company. 404 Media >

The Sleep App That Forbes Rated 5 Stars 😱

The app Forbes said helps "users achieve high-quality sleep by creating and maintaining effective sleep routines” is back with new sounds and features!

Now featuring over 300 unique sounds to fall asleep to, a personalized sleep tracker and more. It’s no wonder over 65 million people have downloaded this app for better sleep.

Try it tonight 👇

Get BetterSleep!