An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: A bloody battle in Ukraine; how mosquitoes choose their victims; time ticks away in debt ceiling talks; and more

2023/05/22

The 7: A bloody battle in Ukraine; how mosquitoes choose their victims; time ticks away in debt ceiling talks; and more

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By Jamie Ross

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Good morning. It's Monday, May 22, and if you didn't get much sleep last night, the warming climate could be to blame. Now let's catch up from the weekend.

Ukraine's control of Bakhmut, a devastated eastern city, is slipping.

The details: Ukrainian forces have been reduced to small footholds in the city. But they are moving to surround Bakhmut to prolong the fight against Russian forces.
Why it matters: The city has limited strategic importance but has emerged as the war's bloodiest battlefield. Its full capture would be a rare win for Russia.
What else to know: President Biden yesterday announced another $375 million in military aid for Ukraine at a G-7 summit in Japan.

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There are as few as 10 days left to prevent a U.S. debt default.

What's happening? Congress needs to raise or suspend the debt ceiling, a limit on the amount of money the U.S. can borrow to pay its bills, by a June 1 deadline.
Today: Biden will meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The sides can't agree on cuts to federal spending, a key Republican demand.
If talks fail: The U.S. could default on its debts for the first time, potentially causing a recession. The deadlock is already causing anxiety for small businesses.

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Sen. Tim Scott will officially enter the presidential race this morning.

Who is he? A 57-year-old South Carolina Republican and the party's only Black senator. He has significant financial resources and some key endorsements.
Where the race stands: Scott will be the sixth Republican to announce a 2024 run, and another high-profile hopeful could join the field this week.

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Nebraska passed restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care.

The details: The bill, passed Friday, bans abortion at 12 weeks as well as gender reassignment surgery for transgender minors. The abortion ban will go into effect as soon as the governor signs it.
The bigger picture: Nebraska was the second Republican-led state to pass a 12-week abortion ban last week. This follows political backlash against stricter bans passed in other states.

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Most Americans will probably have another hot summer.

One forecast: Above-average heat is expected across the West, the South and the East Coast. New Mexico, Arizona and the Four Corners are set to suffer the highest temperatures.
What else to know: A climate pattern called El Niño is expected to develop soon. That could create a costly domino effect of extreme weather across the world.

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Recycling centers could be making our plastic problem worse.

How? Breaking down plastics can create microplastics that end up in water or the air, a new study found. These polluting particles are everywhere, from the Antarctic to inside our bodies.
Zooming out: This adds to growing concerns that recycling isn't as effective of a solution for the plastic problem as many think. But experts say that's not a reason to stop.

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Scientists worked out why mosquitoes only bite some people.

The reason: They're drawn to chemicals in body odor and breath, a new study found. The experiment involved what was effectively a giant perfumery for mosquitoes.
This could be useful: The study identified one person the insects found relatively unappetizing. That could help the search for new ways to deter bites.

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Before you go … if you're worried about the debt ceiling deadlock: Here's what to do with your money. Plus, this game puts you in charge of the budget.

And finally … test your news knowledge with The Post's new daily quiz, On the Record. Click here to play.

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow.