First Freedom Art Company

➡️ An unusual coalition of people across the political spectrum has come together to oppose the construction of a border wall in Texas' Big Bend. The federal government has waived more than two dozen laws to expedite construction along nearly 175 miles of rural West Texas, an area that's one of the last untouched frontier landscapes. The administration plans to build 30-foot-tall steel fences, patrol roads, flood lighting and surveillance systems. Top elected local officials, private land owners, wildlife biologists and more argue that the wall is unnecessary. They worry about the potential harm to the environment, wildlife, Indigenous sites and the region's famously dark skies. The wall also threatens to disrupt the $56-million tourism industry in the Big Bend.
➡️ Experts warn that extreme misogyny is increasingly becoming a factor in far-right terrorism, which has historically focused on white nationalism, anti-Semitism and racism. Although this trend has risen, it often goes unnoticed. Alex DiBranco, co-founder of the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism, says it is important for there to be a broader public understanding of the connections between these misogynistic narratives and white nationalist violence. In the recent deadly attack on a Muslim house of worship in California, the two teenage suspects were found to have a 75-page manifesto that demonstrated a deep influence from far-right, neo-Nazi ideology. Notably absent from much of the mainstream media coverage was the fact that the manifesto expressed a strong hatred for women, essentially blaming them for everything wrong in the world. This type of misogyny was not prevalent in white supremacist circles 10 to 15 years ago, according to Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.
➡️ More therapists are experimenting with artificial intelligence tools to take notes, and some patients are worried about their privacy. Critics raise concerns that these tools could affect the trust between patients and their clinicians. Software companies claim that AI tools can save therapists hours on administrative tasks and recordkeeping each week. Despite the advancement, a national YouGov survey revealed that many Americans are hesitant to use AI for mental health care. Only about 11% reported being open to using it and just 8% expressed trust in the technology. Nearly half of the respondents expressed reluctance to adopt AI, citing concerns about the lack of human understanding, the potential for inaccurate advice, and privacy issues as significant factors.
➡️ President Trump is urging Congress to pause the federal gas tax, which could provide a little financial relief at the pump, but there is a trade-off: road conditions. Suspending the federal gas tax could save drivers up to 18.4 cents per gallon, but it would also deplete the already-troubled Highway Trust Fund, which is used for interstate road building and repairs. It is unclear whether the president's proposal will reach the floor for a vote, as gas tax holidays are controversial. Advocates argue that they provide quick relief for consumers, while critics say they are costly and potentially counterproductive. 
➡️ This month, NPR's Newsmakers podcast sat down with three influential voices who have been making headlines: Venezuelan politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, UFC boss Dana White and media mogul Byron Allen. Catch up with these stories and more here.