Good morning. It's Saturday, Oct. 11, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a university president's letter to the Trump administration, an expanding quirky baseball league, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million readers. Sign up here.
Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here).
And, as always, send us feedback at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
|
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology yesterday became the first university to respond to the Trump administration's offer of priority access to federal funding in exchange for campus reforms, rejecting the pact. The 10-point proposal, sent to nine schools last week, calls for measures including international student enrollment caps, bans on considering gender and race in admissions and hiring, and tuition freezes. Read here.
In an open letter to the Department of Education, MIT President Sally Kornbluth expressed concern that the compact could limit the university’s freedom of expression and independence. She said MIT already upholds many of the compact’s principles—such as rewarding merit and promoting free speech—but argued tying funding to anything other than scientific merit conflicts with the research institution's core values. The eight other schools are still reviewing the compact. The White House has given them until Oct. 20 to provide limited feedback and until Nov. 21 to make a decision.
The Trump administration this year has frozen billions in federal funding to several schools, citing antisemitism and DEI initiatives. |
|
|
|
In partnership with Pendulum |
|
Want To Boost Your GLP-1 Naturally? |
|
Picture this—PhD scientists from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford get together to master the science of probiotics. They are the first minds to uncover one of the most beneficial strains for gut health, develop the technology to manufacture and deliver the strain in a bioavailable way (so it arrives to your colon, alive), and make such an impact, movie star Halle Berry wants to get involved.
Sound crazy? It is, but that’s the true story of Pendulum. They’ve improved countless lives with their Akkermansia probiotic, which strengthens your gut lining, improves metabolic and digestive health, and increases GLP-1 production.* With hundreds of 5-star reviews, 4,500+ mentions of Akkermansia muciniphila in scientific publications, and 16K+ medical professional recommendations, they’re most certainly living up to the hype.
1440 readers can get 20% off their first month of Akkermansia today (discount auto-applied at checkout and available with HSA/FSA funds!).
*Based on preclinical studies
This product is not intended for weight loss |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
China hits US ships with retaliatory port fees.
Beginning Tuesday, US-owned, operated, and affiliated vessels will be required to pay a docking fee in China. The Chinese Ministry of Transportation declared the move Friday in response to a similar US port fee on Chinese ships, also set to take effect next week. The Trump administration announced the fee earlier this year in an effort to curb China’s dominance in freight ship manufacturing and boost the US industry. |
... and Trump to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.
President Donald Trump cited new rare earth export controls announced Thursday by China’s commerce ministry as the reason for the new US tariffs, which are expected to begin by Nov. 1 and supersede existing duties. Trump also said he would place export controls on critical software. China leads global mining and processing of rare earth minerals, which are critical to advanced technologies, such as computer chips. US stock markets fell Friday (S&P 500 -2.7%, Dow -1.9%, Nasdaq -3.6%). |
Tennessee explosives plant accident leaves several dead, missing.
As of this writing, 19 people are missing and feared dead after an explosion at a military munitions plant in rural Tennessee Friday. Emergency crews initially couldn’t enter due to ongoing detonations, but the site is now secure and officials say there is no further risk. The cause remains unknown, and the investigation could take days, according to the local sheriff. |
Trump administration begins laying off federal workers.
The White House said yesterday that it began mass firings as part of its ongoing effort to reduce the federal workforce. The departments of Homeland Security, Education, and Energy are among the impacted agencies; it remains unclear how many employees were affected. A federal employees union has asked a federal judge to halt the firings, alleging they are intended to punish workers and pressure Democratic lawmakers during the ongoing government shutdown. |
Peru ousts president, swears in new one amid crime surge.
Peruvian lawmakers voted 122–8 early Friday to remove President Dina Boluarte from office. Boluarte, an independent who leans conservative, faced mounting accusations of corruption and failure to curb rising crime; her approval rating has hovered between 2% and 4%. Congress Chief José Jeri, a conservative, will serve as president until Peru's April general elections. |
Savannah Bananas' new baseball league grows.
Two new teams—the Loco Beach Coconuts and Indianapolis Clowns—will join the Banana Ball Championship league for its inaugural 2026 season. They’ll compete with the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters, and Firefighters in a 75-stadium, 45-state schedule, expected to attract roughly 3.2 million fans. Read about Banana Ball’s history and gameplay here. |
No Doubt announces Sphere residency.
The 1990s American rock band No Doubt will reunite for a six-night residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere in May. The announcement comes after the quartet reunited for the first time in nearly a decade to perform both weekends of Coachella 2024. The residency will make No Doubt the first female-fronted act to headline the $2.3B high-tech venue since it opened in 2023. See how the Sphere was built here (w/video). |
|
|
|
North Carolina baker delivers free birthday cakes to homeless neighbors. (More)
Home improvement chain Lowe’s leads interstate mission to find and return Francine the cat to her home, a store in Richmond, Virginia. (More)
... and friends and family gather to celebrate the return of a dog that went missing a decade ago. (More)
Missouri football player makes surprise homecoming proposal to friend with Down syndrome. (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Incogni |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Michelle P. in Farmington, CT.
"My husband and I attended a wedding celebration yesterday. My husband excused himself to go to the restroom, and all the other couples at the table got up to go to the dance floor. So, I was seated by myself. One of the bride's good friends from high school (whom I'd) never met before, sat down, noting that I was by myself. She introduced herself and initiated pleasant small talk. We figured out how we shared common bonds with the wedding couple. It was such a lovely gesture. She stayed until my husband returned. She is the bride's age, and I am the bride's mother's age."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
|
|
|
|
New From 1440: Our First Podcast Episode |
|
1440 Explores: Our first-ever podcast is finally here! Each digestible episode unpacks the world's most fascinating topics, and our debut episode is out now.
💳 Credit Cards: They feel like magic—tap, swipe, approved. But behind that split-second ding lies a trillion-dollar system shaping how we spend. In our debut episode, we trace your $5 coffee through a global web of banks and networks, uncover the 1958 campaign that sparked the credit card revolution, and reveal who’s really paying for all those perks.
Listen now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube |
|
|
|
|
|
"We must know what we think and speak out, even at the risk of unpopularity." |
|
|
Behind the Name. In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone.
Don't just read 1440. Wear it. Shop our official collection of apparel & accessories, made-to-order for the infinitely curious.
Want to connect with 4.5 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2025, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
