Open Thread -- Kitty Christmas

This article is part of The D. C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. Even before the White House announced last month that President Joe Biden would deliver one of his two commencement speeches this graduation season at Morehouse College in Atlanta, the prestigious historically Black college was seeing signs of the same political unrest that was bubbling up at dozens of colleges and universities across the country. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] But Morehouse is no Columbia.

Several allies of former President Donald Trump have shown up at the Manhattan courthouse to support him while he’s on trial. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Attendees at Trump’s hush-money trial have so far included the Republican House Speaker, several members of Congress, state attorneys general, and two of Trump’s former presidential primary opponents.

Alice Munro, the Nobel Prize-winning Canadian author who perfected the art of the contemporary short story, died on Monday, May 13, Penguin Random House Canada has confirmed. She was 92 years old. In 14 short story collections, including The Beggar Maid; Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage; and Dear Life, the author captured the familiar quandaries and complications of everyday life.

As toxic as American democracy has become in 2024, it’s far more functional today than it was the 1800s when the shadowy bosses of political machines vied for power and profit. Until recently, modern politics has been comparatively civilized thanks to determined reformers who established laws and institutions that reduced corruption and promoted democratic principles. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] This history reminds us of the importance of safeguards for the functioning of democracy and highlight the danger of Donald Trump’s plans to dismantle them with his 2024 presidential bid.

Dozens of Red Lobster locations are closing their doors amid financial difficulties for the restaurant chain, including several in New York and New Jersey, according to a restaurant liquidator. At least 48 locations in 21 states will be shutting down, and TAGeX Brands will be conducting an online auction to sell inventory from the closures, including kitchen equipment and furniture.

A portal linking New York City to Dublin via a livestream has been temporarily shut down after inappropriate behavior ensued, according to the Dublin City Council. Less than a week after the 24/7 visual art installation was put in place, officials have opted to close it down temporarily after people began to flash each other, grind on the portal, and one person even shared pictures of the twin tower attack to people in New York City.