The White House’s military buildup in the Middle East continues, and experts say the risks of miscalculation are rising. / The Wall Street Journal [$]

Spencer Ackerman: It has been haunting to watch the frictionless way President Trump appears set to enact or hasten some form of regime change in Iran. / Forever Wars

Related: Max Read explains what “Sky King” and a “Nietzschean penguin” have to do with “Suicide Rightism.” / Read Max

Thanks to ICE, doctors report significant drops in the number of vaccines given to immigrant populations. / STAT

The FBI couldn’t access a Washington Post reporter’s iPhone because she kept it in “lockdown mode.” / 404 Media

A study finds battery recycling is likely responsible for around 33% of lead poisoning in low and lower-middle income countries. / Lead Battery Notes

In Ukraine, polls find a growing openness to territorial concessions. / The New York Times [$]

A fascinating thread about the abolitionists of Oberlin, Ohio, and a reminder that protests work. / Bluesky

After Mexico bans the sale of vapes, drug cartels corner the market. / The Associated Press

A YouTube video capturing a Donkey Kong save screen has become a “checkpoint” for commenters reflecting on their lives. / You’ve Run Out of Complimentary Articles

“I’m left wanting what I can’t have—at least for now.” Two weeks of test-driving a Chinese EV. / The Wall Street Journal [$]

“Wendy got the vacuum and cleaned up the mess from the ghost party, crunching three Unisom tablets between her teeth.” The Shining, if the hotel had possessed Wendy instead of Jack. / McSweeney’s

From 2014, a brief history of “what time is the Super Bowl?,” aka, “the most legendary act of SEO trolling ever.” / The Atlantic [$]

Thank you to yesterday’s pair of anonymous new supporters!

In the members area, unlocked links from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Atlantic ↓