More from Zachary Hill
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New book accuses Spotify of promoting fake artists to reduce royalty rates
The next time you fire up Spotify, you may hear an artist you’ve never listened to before. A new book alleges that, in some cases, that’s because the artist doesn’t exist and may be part of an elaborate scheme by the company to reduce royalty rates. The Swedish music and podcast streaming giant funnels listeners… -
Andrew Cuomo sues for defamation after sexual harassment allegations
A 2021 investigation put former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo into the defendant’s seat, and now he’s heading back to the courtroom to clear his name. On Thursday, Dec. 20, Cuomo’s lawyers filed a defamation lawsuit against one of the women accusing him of sexual harassment. Charlotte Bennett sued Cuomo in New York’s federal court… -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott unveils billboard campaign to deter migrants
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has launched a billboard campaign to deter migrants from crossing the border from Mexico into Texas. However, many of these billboards aren’t located in Texas, or even the U.S. “How much did you pay to have your daughter raped? Many girls are raped by the coyotes you hire,” one billboard states.… -
ICE deportations hit highest level since 2014: Report
As President-elect Donald Trump promises the largest mass deportation operation in the nation’s history, a new report by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that the number of deportations hit a decade-low. ICE deported 271,484 migrants in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September, according to the agency’s report released Thursday, Dec. 20. That… -
US presence in Syria grows amid search for missing American journalist
The U.S. military says a strike killed ISIS leader Abu Yusif in Syria on Thursday, Dec. 19. It marks a significant step in America’s efforts to prevent ISIS from redeveloping after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad nearly two weeks ago. The strike came the same day the Pentagon acknowledged the U.S. has roughly… -
Unwrapping the truth behind seasonal depression and the ‘holiday blues’
The holidays are often called “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the season can bring about sadness and stress for many. This -emotional shift, commonly known as the “holiday blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can affect millions of people across the country. Licensed adult psychiatrist Dr. Patrice Mann says the holiday blues… -
Google’s AI may be less accurate after change to review process: Report
Behind the generative artificial intelligence responses that Google gives users is an army of people who rate the responses for accuracy. However, a new policy change is raising concerns that Google’s Gemini AI may become more prone to giving inaccurate answers. It’s potentially a major concern, particularly as Gemini gives automated answers to searches related… -
MacKenzie Scott announces plans to donate another $2 billion to nonprofits
MacKenzie Scott announced Wednesday, Dec. 18, another $2 billion in donations to various nonprofits. Over the past five years, the philanthropist has given part of her wealth to “mission-aligned ventures” that create economic opportunity. Since 2019, Scott has donated $19.2 billion to close to 2,500 nonprofits with the support of her advisers. The author published… -
House defies Trump and Musk, votes against bill to avoid government shutdown
The House of Representatives rejected a bill on Thursday, Dec. 19, that would have kept the government open. The vote came ahead of a potential shutdown starting at midnight on Saturday, Dec. 21, when lawmakers head home for the holidays. The bill fell short of the needed two-thirds majority to speed up its passage, with 38… -
Lawmakers target China’s role in US fentanyl crisis with new legislation
Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, continue to kill tens of thousands of Americans annually. In 2023, an estimated 74,000 people in the U.S. died from fentanyl overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That figure is slightly down from 2022 when the CDC recorded more than 76,000 deaths. Now, a bipartisan group… -
Prosecutors indict top adviser to NYC Mayor Adams on bribery charges
Days after resigning from her role, the longtime top adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty after prosecutors indicted her on bribery charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought indictments against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, her son Glenn Martin II and two real estate investors. “We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in a long… -
California declares state of emergency over H5N1 virus in dairy cattle
California has declared a state of emergency after it reportedly has the country’s highest rate of H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, affecting dairy cattle. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation Wednesday, Dec. 18, to “further enhance the state’s preparedness and accelerate the ongoing cross-agency response efforts” to mitigate the spread of the virus.… -
Indiana executes Joseph Corcoran in state’s first death penalty in 15 years
Indiana executed Joseph Corcoran overnight on Wednesday, Dec. 18. His execution is the first to occur in the state in 15 years. Corcoran was convicted for killing his brother and three others in 1997. In the years since, Corcoran has repeatedly admitted to the crime. He shot each victim multiple times after hearing them allege…