‘Commonwealth Fusion to build world’s first commercial fusion plant’ — BBJ

This is a big deal – if it happens. The MIT spinoff is based in Devens, but the power plant will be in Virginia. … The NYT is reporting Commonwealth Fusion plans to first build a pilot machine in Massachusetts in 2027.

‘MIT, Georgetown accused in court filing of favoring wealthy in admissions’ — The Hill

I’m shocked to my core. … I liked the headline on this WSJ piece: “Lawsuit Reveals How Colleges Really Talk About Rich Applicants.”

‘Black Student Enrollment at Harvard Law Drops by More Than Half’ – NYT 

Speaking of college admissions, Blacks make up 13.6 percent of the U.S population but now only 3.4 percent of first-year students at Harvard Law School are Black. … Even before the recent SCOTUS ruling that made this possible, Blacks were way underrepresented at HLS and other Harvard schools. But somehow the court bought into conservative ideologues’ argument that rampant discrimination was occurring in favor of Blacks. … See: “Lies, damned lies, and statistics.” 

‘How to Move On From the Worst of Identity Politics’ – The Atlantic 

On a related matter (sort of), Conor Friedersdorf rightly thinks Dems need to start emphasizing “equal treatment,” not outright “equity,” as they move forward. … Sounds like a variation of the old “equal opportunity” stance once championed by Dems… Fyi: I’d argue Harvard’s former affirmative-action policies, as practiced before the SCOTUS ruling, fell into the “equal treatment” category, based on stats that prove they weren’t even close to achieving true “equity.”

“Maybe Democrats Didn’t Do So Badly After All” – The Atlantic 

Dems didn’t do as badly as thought in November, based on final vote counts. But for those who argue this means Dems don’t need to make major changes, let’s put it this way: any party that struggles to defeat an unstable buffoon like Donald Trump – and loses huge portions of its identify-politics base in the process – is a party in need of some serious soul searching.

‘Francis X. Bellotti, former Mass. lieutenant governor and attorney general, dies at 101’ – WGBH 

An amazing life and man. … 

‘A tale of two libel suits’ – Media Nation 

Dan Kennedy has a good summary of the ABC and Everett libel settlements. … Both are defeats for the media. But I’d argue the Everett case is more disturbing precisely because A.) the publisher of the Everett Leader Herald admitted he made up facts and quotes B.) The settlement included an unprecedented (I think) agreed-upon closure of the paper. … 

‘Parking Minimums Topple in Somerville’ – Commonwealth Beacon

At least in one small way, the folks in Somerville are making it easier to build new housing. …

‘The crumbling foundation of America’s military’ – The Atlantic

The military-industrial complex isn’t what it used to be if it can no longer produce enough armaments to fight the next war. Mark Bowden of ‘Black Hawk Down Fame’ sounds the alarm. 

‘White Stadium plan even more questionable now’ – CommonWealth

Why Wu is digging in on this boondoggle, I don’t know. … For once, Ed Flynn’s stunt of the week has legitimacy.