New Johns Hopkins research center tests psychedelics to treat mental health

Johns Hopkins Medicine is launching a new psychedelic research center where scientists will test the potential of “magic mushrooms” and other drugs to treat some of the toughest mental health and addiction challenges. The center is believed to be the first center in the United States and the largest in the world to focus on drugs still better known as symbols of 1960s counterculture than serious medicine. The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore is being funded by a $17 million donation from a group of private donors. Because federal funding cannot be used for such research, the center needs private support. The center’s research will focus on applications of the drugs for treating opioid addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and depression, among other diseases. “Psychedelics are a fascinating class of compounds,” said Roland Griffiths, the center’s director and a professor of behavioral biology in the Hopkins School of Medicine. “They produce unique and profound change in consciousness,” he said. “The center will allow us to expand on research to develop new treatments for a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. And it will allow us to extend on past research in healthy people to improve their sense of well being.” “Johns Hopkins is deeply committed to exploring innovative treatments for our patients,” Paul B. Rothman, chief executive of Johns Hopkins Medicine and dean of the medical school’s faculty, said in a statement. “Our scientists have shown that psychedelics have real potential as medicine, and this new center will help us explore that potential.” Psilocybin and MDMA are illegal drugs in the United States classified by the federal government along with heroin and cocaine. Laws relating to salvia vary by state, but it’s illegal in most states. But researchers at Hopkins and elsewhere have said such drugs could help in areas of pain, addiction and brain disorders. The center is being funded by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and philanthropists who include Tim Ferriss, an author and technology investor; Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress; Blake Mycoskie, founder of the shoe company TOMS; and Craig Nerenberg, an investor. Ferriss said his interest in the drugs is personal. There is depression and brain disease among family members, and a good friend died of a drug overdose. He said his contribution, between $2 million and $3 million, is the largest investment he has made


Banking while black: Minority business owners with better credit scores than white counterparts face worse treatment and more scrutiny

Black and Hispanic men seeking small business loans faced more scrutiny and worse treatment from bank officers than less qualified white men, according to a study released this week by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The results demonstrate the challenges minority entrepreneurs face when trying to access additional capital to expand their businesses. The study also found declines in government-backed lending to black business owners, dropping from 8 percent to 3 percent of small-business loans between 2008 and 2016. The organization sent teams of white, black and Hispanic “mystery shoppers” who acted as prospective borrowers to evaluate customer service interactions with the banks’ small business lending representative at 60 Los Angeles area banks. The testers had nearly identical business profiles and strong credit histories, with black and Hispanic testers possessing slightly better incomes, assets and credit scores than their white counterparts. In almost every measure, white testers received superior customer service, the study found. Bank representatives asked white prospective borrowers fewer questions about eligibility and provided them more information about loan products. “It’s a cultural, civil rights and business problem that should be relegated to history, but instead it’s still a factor in who gets access to capital,” said Jesse Van Tol, chief executive of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. “This is exacerbating the nation’s profound racial wealth divide.” Not a single white tester was asked to provide a personal W-2 form, which are not required for a small business loan — although 17 percent of black and 12 percent of Hispanic testers were asked for the document. Black testers were the only group asked about their education level. Hispanic testers were asked more often about the size of their credit card debt. Blacks and Hispanics were more frequently asked for their credit report and personal financial statements. Bank representatives were also friendlier and more likely to introduce themselves to white testers. Loan officers were at least twice as likely to provide white testers with information about interest rates, loan fees and length of time for approval. And they more frequently offered white testers a business card and thanked them for coming in. However, minority testers were twice as likely as their white counterparts to receive an offer to schedule an appointment to go over their application — a finding that researchers said could be a sign of encouragement or an additional hurdle, depending on the interaction. The differences overall


Lung illness tied to vaping has killed 5 people as new case reports surge

online. Patients also reported using 13 brands of nicotine products in a wide range of flavors. Fifteen patients said they used only THC products; seven said they used only nicotine products, adding to the mystery of what exactly has caused healthy teenagers and young adults to suffer such severe injuries. Doctors have said patients, especially teens, are often reluctant to say whether they have used marijuana products. Health officials have said they are focusing on contaminants and counterfeit substances as a likely cause, narrowing the possible culprits to adulterants in vaping products purported to have THC, although they have not ruled out adulterants in nicotine vaping products. E-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer toxic chemicals than conventional cigarette smoke, officials have said. But e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless and can expose consumers to substances known to damage health, including ultrafine particles, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and other harmful ingredients. Many of the chemicals in e-cigarette liquids may “undergo thermal degradation” when they are heated, producing new compounds with potentially harmful consequences. “Alone or in combination, these substances could result in a variety of pulmonary illnesses,” the authors of the NEJM paper on the Wisconsin and Illinois investigation wrote. The illnesses could include lipoid pneumonia and could result in severe lung injury and a serious condition known as acute respiratory distress syndrome. E-cigarettes are commonly used to inhale nicotine but can also be used to deliver THC, CBD and butane hash oils known as dabs. Although previous reports have detailed severe lung illnesses among people who have used nicotine or cannabis extracts in e-cigarettes, there haven’t been large clusters of pulmonary illnesses occurring at the same time that have been linked to e-cigarettes, the Wisconsin and Illinois authors wrote. “It is notable that case patients in Wisconsin and Illinois presented with similar clinical findings and progression of disease, which suggests a similar pathophysiological mechanism of lung injury,” the authors wrote. After comparing emergency room visits for complaints about severe respiratory illnesses, Illinois officials found an increase of cases in 2019, starting in May and June. “That would suggest that it’s a new phenomenon,” said Jennifer Layden, chief medical officer at the Illinois health department. Read more: Contaminant found in marijuana vaping products linked to deadly lung illnesses, tests show As vaping-related lung illnesses spike, investigators eye contaminants He went from hiking enthusiast to ‘on death’s door’ within days. Doctors blamed vaping.


His daughter Annabel has a rare disorder. He’s developing a novel gene therapy.

It had been two agonizing years of not knowing what was wrong with their baby who, since birth, had frequent spells of eye flickering, uncontrollable muscle contractions, pain and temporary paralysis. Simon and Nina Frost had spared no expense, taking Annabel to all the best neurologists around the country. Finally a potential diagnosis emerged: alternating hemiplegia of childhood, an ultrarare genetic disorder. The Frosts’ initial excitement at having answers quickly waned, however. They learned that, for many of the 900 or so children in the world affected by AHC, mutations in one of the genes that code for a subunit of the body’s critical sodium potassium pump interferes with the body’s ability to repeatedly fire nerve cells. In addition to Annabel’s other symptoms, difficulty breathing, choking and falling are common. They also learned that there is no effective treatment or cure, that any one of Annabel’s episodes has the potential to lead to permanent brain damage or death, and that it is hard to get information about the disease. Foundations dedicated to AHC informally recommend only four physicians in the United States as knowledgeable enough about the disorder to see patients. Of those who are closest to the Frosts, who live in Northwest D.C., one was too busy to see Annabel. There was a two-month wait to see the other one. The foundations themselves didn’t have many answers to the Frosts’ initial questions about life expectancy or what course Annabel’s disease might take. The Frosts discovered that relatively few scientists and clinicians study AHC, and their focus seemed to be basic research and not developing a therapy. Simon Frost says he felt as though they were on their own. The real estate investor and developer and former rugby player had no background in science, “but honestly,” he says, “I felt like the only way to get towards any type of therapy for Annabel and AHC kids was to do it myself.” Over the next two years, Frost pursued the science of AHC. He is now listed as an inventor on U.S. and international patent applications for a developing gene therapy and its delivery method. Frost also has become a project manager, coordinating many parts of the research — and playing a role in designing some of it — that could lead to new treatment for his daughter. He is now heading up an effort to develop a novel gene therapy


He specializes in developing gene therapies for rare diseases for families and foundations and helps move them from preclinical testing into clinical trials. Gray, who also serves as director of the UTSW viral vector facility, was hired by Frost and his partners last November to build and produce a “second generation” AAV vector. AAV stands for adeno-associated virus. In this type of gene therapy, the virus is engineered as a vector to carry DNA that encodes a functioning gene into target cells. Gray also provides guidance at all stages of the research process including efficacy and safety studies through manufacture and toxicology and into a possible clinical trial. Every few weeks, he receives an inquiry from a parent of a child sick with a rare disease looking to explore developing a gene therapy. He was hired by Lori and Matt Sames 11 years ago, while still at the University of North Carolina, to develop a treatment for their daughter Hannah’s rare disease, giant axonal neuropathy; they successfully got it to clinical trial over four years ago. (The research team has presented data showing the progression of the disease slowing for those in the trial.) “As a parent, you know that you would do anything — and everybody will say that they’ll do anything,” Gray said. “But it really is kind of a special breed of person that can actually do this.” Frost approached his daughter’s illness the way he approached his businesses. Once, while working with a Chinese company, he spent a few months learning basic Chinese so he could understand his colleagues better. After Annabel’s diagnosis, he had to learn a new language. He kept a glossary of unfamiliar terms as he pored over the medical literature. Sometimes one journal article would take him eight hours to read. For a year, he would wake up at 3 a.m. to read before work, and then again at night and all weekend. “I just wanted to understand what this disease was like at a molecular, cellular level,” he says. “What was it doing to my child? And figure out what drugs and therapies there were available immediately because my doctors didn’t know.” Frost placed an ad on the freelancer site Upwork for a scientist who could work as a consultant. He found Natalia Morsci, an experienced cell and molecular biologist who has worked at National Institutes of Health. Frost has been


As vaping-related lung illnesses spike, investigators eye contaminants

United States, although tougher rules are due to kick in over the next year. Yet e-cigarette use has surged, especially among teens and young adults who have embraced the sleek, high-nicotine model of Juul, the leading brand. A growing number of Americans are also vaping marijuana, which is legal in some states but prohibited under federal law. Some marijuana vaping devices, such as vape pens, are a fairly recent phenomena and among the most popular devices for vaping cannabis. The vape pens are a potential target for black-market sellers because they’re cheap and easy to fill with counterfeit substances, according to officials and industry sources. Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, a harsh critic of San Francisco-based Juul, said he believes it’s unlikely that Juul — or other large national e-cigarette companies — are associated with the recent cases because the illnesses appeared to have developed suddenly and do not appear to be spread evenly across the nation. Traditional vaping products could cause chronic problems, Gottlieb said, but these patients have acute illnesses. “What’s likely causing the harm is something that they are putting in to make it easy or cheap to mix,” he added. Some state health officials and clinicians are increasingly focused on contaminants in THC products. In a conference call Thursday, Utah health officials told physicians the state department is focusing on THC products, said one doctor who took part in the call. The physician spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the health department. Utah has reported at least 21 possible cases in recent weeks. A health department official said they are looking at both THC and nicotine products. Pennsylvania’s UPMC health system, which includes 40 hospitals, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, has treated at least 14 individuals with acute lung injuries related to vaping in recent weeks, doctors said. Several patients told clinicians they bought THC products online from a popular brand called Dank Vapes. Industry sources say marketers often fill an empty cartridge with potentially unsafe ingredients and sell to unsuspecting customers. “We suspect adulterated or contaminated products, because these [marijuana] products have been out there for some time, and we’ve not seen these cases until this summer,” said Phillip Lamberty, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who cared for three patients in recent weeks. Two of them used


He went from hiking enthusiast to ‘on death’s door’ within days. Doctors blamed vaping.

Within days, Alexander Mitchell had gone from being a 20-year-old hiking enthusiast to being kept alive by two machines forcing air into and out of his lungs and oxygenating his blood outside of his body. “He went from being sick to being on death’s door in literally two days,” recalled his father, Daniel Mitchell, as he struggled to grasp the unthinkable. “The doctor said he was dying. In all honesty, I was preparing to plan a funeral for my child. I wept and wept for this boy.” Alexander Mitchell’s doctors at a hospital in Payson, Utah, were baffled when the tests came back negative for bacterial pneumonia and a host of common ailments. One exam, though, picked up something unusual — evidence of abnormal immune cells in his lungs — generally associated with a rare, potentially deadly pneumonia seen in older people who accidentally inhale droplets from oil-based laxatives like mineral oil. A doctor’s hunch would help save Mitchell’s life. The young man’s lungs had failed — he had acute respiratory distress syndrome, a life-threatening and often fatal injury of the lungs. The doctor told the family he suspected the condition was linked to vaping after hearing about similar cases elsewhere. The Provo, Utah, man and his parents had mentioned he used e-cigarettes. But until then, no one had connected the dots. Doctors had him airlifted to the University of Utah hospital in Salt Lake City, 65 miles away, so they could put him on the most advanced life support to keep oxygen flowing and allow his lungs to heal. Mitchell’s case is among the most serious doctors have seen among the vaping-related lung illnesses now under investigation by state and federal health officials — at least 193 cases in 22 states, many involving teens and young adults. On Friday, Illinois health officials announced the first known death from a vaping-related lung illness in an adult. They declined to provide further details. Meanwhile, state health departments are reporting a growing number of cases. There are more questions than answers about the lung illnesses and their link to devices that have surged in popularity despite little research on their long-term effects. E-cigarettes were introduced as a way to help smokers quit by satisfying their nicotine cravings without lighting up, but their use is now at epidemic levels among teenagers and young adults. Those who have fallen ill have vaped different substances,


Treasury admits Russian-born physicist shouldn’t be on oligarch list that it cribbed from Forbes

he had feared that Congress might use the list as a tool for applying pressure on the Kremlin. He said that unlike the Russian oligarchs, he built his company over three decades based on its advanced laser technology, not Kremlin connections. Under sanctions law, targets could be banned from entering the United States, and their assets could be frozen. Some lawmakers in 2018 quickly launched a letter-writing initiative aimed at getting financial institutions to identify the assets of people on the list as a way to make banks skittish about doing business with them. Treasury wouldn’t budge on the listing, however, and Gapontsev filed suit in federal court Dec. 3, 2018. The Treasury said in a settlement Wednesday that Gapontsev did not belong on the list under Section 241 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. It said that it was “of the opinion that, if it had to create the unclassified report today, Dr. Valentin Gapontsev would not be listed among oligarchs in the Russian Federation.” The CAATSA legislation was passed by overwhelming margins in Congress on Aug. 2, 2017, in a rare show of bipartisanship. The measure demanded both classified and unclassified lists of “the most significant senior foreign political figures and oligarchs in the Russian Federation, as determined by their closeness to the Russian regime and their net worth.” “Ever since the Treasury Department issued the 2018 CAATSA report to Congress, we have asserted that it was wrong in declaring Dr. Gapontsev to be a Russian oligarch. We are pleased that the Treasury has finally admitted this much in its letter,” Angelo Lopresti, IPG Photonics’ general counsel, said in a statement. Gapontsev earned his doctorate and worked at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. In 1990, at age 51, he started IPG Photonics, which produces high-power fiber-optic lasers for telecommunications and cutting materials. He also opened facilities in Burbach, Germany. But he soon moved the firm to the United States, then his biggest market. BellSouth was one of his main customers. He raised $100 million of private-equity investments from U.S. firms. “During a court hearing, the U.S. Government conceded that the U.S. Treasury based its unclassified CAATSA oligarch report entirely on a list taken from a 2017 Forbes Magazine article,” Lopresti added. He said that Gapontsev “is a world-renowned scientist and entrepreneur who created thousands of U.S. jobs as he commercialized fiber laser technology.” steven.mufson@washpost.com


Transatlantic Transplants

the Dieppois, which contains tuna with a light mayonnaise dressing ($6.75). Although there are a few franchised Pauls in Miami, D.C. is the only American city with company-run restaurants. “We wanted to have a city that has an international vibe, where genuine authentic food is appreciated,” says Philippe Sanchez, CEO of Paul USA. Having worked in England in 2005, Foggy Bottom resident Jennifer Pellizzaro was happy when the British sandwich chain Pret a Manger opened its first D.C. shop in Penn Quarter in January 2009. But not as excited as her British husband, Ben. “He was ecstatic … because I think it felt a little more like home to him,” she says. “He drove us over the second day it was open.” Pret’s standout items include the light Spicy Shrimp & Cilantro wrap ($7) and the Chicken & Bacon sandwich ($7), a meaty indulgence flavored with special seasoning. As in the U.K., the food is made fresh daily (but not made to order). A new shop at 14th and H streets NW — Washington’s sixth Pret — is scheduled to open in September. The region’s first Nando’s Peri-Peri opened in Chinatown in 2008, on a joyful day for Sarah Thomson. She’d eaten at Nando’s when she studied in South Africa (she says it’s as prevalent there as McDonald’s is here). To take advantage of her closer proximity to Nando’s in the U.S. and its flame-grilled chicken and famously spicy sauces, she had 10 friends join her at the newly opened restaurant for her 24th birthday. “I think we were some of their first customers,” Thomson says. The American Nando’s is more upscale than its South African forebearer, offering the option to sit down instead of just grab-and-go. That’s because the chain adapted its service style to the U.S. market, says Alan Wollenschlaeger, Nando’s vice president of operations. The newest local Nando’s opened in Pentagon Row in June (1301 S. Joyce St., Arlington); the company plans to add another in Old Town Alexandria in coming months. Last week saw the opening of British chain Yo! Sushi in Union Station. It’s the company’s first American location, and it comes complete with the brand’s trademark conveyor belt, which transports small plates of sushi to customers seated around the restaurant. Diners pluck off what they wish — options include creative rolls such as the toro wasabi and jalapeño ($5; tuna belly with wasabi root


In the Jordan Valley, Palestinians fear further displacement after Netanyahu’s annexation pledge

a checkpoint. Life will be miserable. They will bring us back to the way it was under the intifada.” The Second Intifada, between 2000 and 2005, was a bloody uprising by Palestinians against Israel, which responded with a brutal crackdown. Approximately 1,000 Israelis and 3,300 Palestinians were killed. The period was also marked by a heightened security regime throughout Israel and the occupied West Bank. Atiayat expressed concern for farmers such as Qtishat, who often shuttle their produce to markets in the West Bank cities of Nablus, a 70-mile drive away, or Jericho, just over six miles away. Israeli sovereignty woven in and out of this area of the West Bank could impede commerce, he said. “If checkpoints stop us, then where will we take our products to sell?” Atiayat asked. In an agricultural community, there is also the question of access to essential resources, which Netanyahu’s plan could theoretically halt. “A very important thing for agriculture is water,” said Qtishat. “If Israel takes away all of this area, we won’t have access to the water.” “Most of the people in this area are farmers. There’s nothing else here — no petroleum, no factories. Most will lose their jobs, not having access to the land. But the settlers will expand their settlements as they want.” For Qtishat, there is no reason to believe Netanyahu was not serious about his plans, and the Palestinians have no means of countering any future attempt to execute that proposal. “The whole world is supporting him,” he said. “Netanyahu now tries to emulate Arab leaders, like Assad, who say it’s either me or no one else,” he said, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “What can the Palestinians do? Another intifada? What good will that do against an army? We are already destroyed — financially, spiritually, socially.” For Yehuda Shaul, co-founder of Breaking the Silence, an Israeli group that gathers testimony from past and serving Israeli soldiers to shed light on the occupation of the Palestinian territories, Netanyahu’s pledge represents significant damage, even if not yet a reality. “If it becomes real or if it doesn’t become real, it’s a red line that’s been crossed there,” he said. “For the first time ever, an Israeli prime minister put out a map saying that there is no Palestinian self-determination between the [Jordan] river and the [Mediterranean] sea. That’s the meaning of encircling the Palestinians 360 degrees


Freebies to a Good Home

electronics, dishes and even holiday decorations. Craigslist is another great place to find used furniture or art for your apartment — on its “Free” page or for sale at low prices, Carter says. She also posts items on Reuseit DC, another site where unwanted items find new homes. Carter’s apartment project started with three free Ikea chairs that a neighbor left on the curb. Over seven months, she’s gradually added two couches, a coffee table, a mirror she found in a Dumpster, a metal coat rack she carried home on three different buses and a traditional painted Chinese credenza from a D.C. resident who was moving and didn’t have room for it — just to name a few of her finds. There are hazards to bringing in used furniture, including bedbugs, so Carter shies away from mattresses. “I was wary about the sofas, but having met the people and seen where they were beforehand, I felt OK about it,” she says. It takes time to find the pieces she wants and then arrange for pickup or delivery, Carter says. Even for “free” pieces, she has to factor in the time spent and the cost of Zipcar rentals for some pickups. “There have been a lot of times when I was just so done and ready to rent a truck and go to Ikea,” she says. But she doesn’t. For her, this is a lifelong mission. “When I leave, I don’t plan to throw anything away,” she says. More Go Green Freecycle’s popularity is on the rise, says Joyce Dowling, 59, who co-moderates the Southern Prince George’s County Freecycle group, which has about 1,300 members. “I started this listserv around 2005,” she says. “It’s grown in leaps and bounds.” For Dowling, freecycling is part of her Unitarian Universalist religious beliefs to take care of the environment. Freecyclers caution that the site isn’t just a place to post wish-lists and wait for them to be fulfilled. The D.C. site limits members to one “wanted” item per week. Freecycle doesn’t set a minimum for how much members can give away, but local group moderators can add their own rules. “It’s not all about getting, it’s about giving,” Dowling says. Gretchen Koitz, a principal at the Koitz Group, part of Keller Williams Capital Properties, in Bethesda, first learned of the group when a client gave a bag of leftover Valentine’s Day cards to a


Ex-Russian official thought to have spied for the U.S. was hiding in plain sight

A former Russian government official thought to have spied for the United States was hiding in plain sight, living in a suburban neighborhood an hour outside of Washington. The Russian Kommersant newspaper reported Tuesday that Oleg Smolenkov, whom it described as a “missing” employee of the Russian presidential administration, was spotted in the United States. The paper reported that Smolenkov disappeared in 2017 during a family vacation to Montenegro and suggested he may have been an American agent who was spirited out of Russia after providing information linking Russian President Vladimir Putin to his country’s campaign to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It is highly unusual for a country to name a possible turncoat. It’s even more unusual for a suspected spy and defector to be living abroad using his own name. Public records show two addresses for an Oleg Smolenkov. One is a six-bedroom house on three acres in Stafford, Va., and the other is the Russian Embassy in Northwest Washington. Diplomatic records show that Smolenkov worked as a “second secretary” in the embassy from at least 2006 until 2008. He appears to have received a traffic citation in 2006 in Arlington. Senior Russian diplomats would be coveted spies for the United States. And Smolenkov rose through the Russian diplomatic ranks after his tour in Washington. He worked for Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Yuri Ushakov, who served as Russia's envoy to the United States from 1999 to 2008. Back in Moscow, Smolenkov was an aide to Ushakov, who has been at Putin's side for years. The former ambassador served as Putin’s foreign policy adviser and when Putin became prime minister in 2008 and stayed with him when Putin became president in 2012, according to published reports. “He’s as close to Putin as you can get with respect to foreign policy matters and especially the United States,” said Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Moscow who knew Ushakov well. “He was ambassador for 10 years in Washington. So he’s highly regarded as their country’s expert on America,” and is in every meeting Putin has with a head of state, McFaul said. It is not clear that Smolenkov is the source who provided the United States with details on Russia’s election interference. But he was almost certainly a valuable CIA asset, according to current and former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss


Dangerous new hot zones are spreading around the world

of the atmosphere — the so-called "preindustrial period." For the NASA and NOAA data sets, which date back to 1880, we used the 20-year period from 1880 to 1899. The Berkeley Earth and Cowtan and Way data sets go back to 1850, so we used the 1850-1899 period as a second baseline. We then calculated how much the annual temperature average for each subsequent year differed from the two preindustrial baseline averages. These departures from the average are referred to as "temperature anomalies" by climate scientists. Next, we sought to capture the current climate. To do so, we averaged several years of recent temperature anomalies together to account for weather and natural climate variability, using both five-year and 10-year periods. The maps show averages of the most recent five years (2014 to 2018) using data from Berkeley Earth. We then calculated the percentage of the globe's area that exceeded a rise of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). For mapping purposes, the resolution of the data was increased using bilinear interpolation. Here are the results: The data sets from Berkeley Earth, NASA and NOAA do not have data for the whole globe for the entire time period, particularly the very earliest years. To account for that, we discounted cells that were missing data for more than half of the years in a given period. While the table includes numbers based on NOAA GlobalTemp, that data set does not cover much of the Arctic, where the fastest warming is occurring. For that reason, The Post did not include NOAA in calculating the percentage of the Earth above 2C. Linear regression approach In our previous story, which examined 2C regions within the United States, we used linear regression to calculate annual mean temperature trends from 1895 to 2018. That story used a separate, higher-resolution and exclusively U.S.-focused data set, which is why it found hot spots that do not necessarily appear in the global data sets. That U.S. data only went back to 1895, whereas the global data covers many more years in the pre-industrial era. For this reason, The Post's global analysis used the period-based approach, which several experts said they preferred over the linear regression analysis. Here are the results from the linear regression analysis: Uruguay hot spot Our method also allowed us to analyze how the hot spot off the coasts of Uruguay and Argentina varies in its level


How 775,000 U.S. troops fought in one war: Afghanistan military deployments by the numbers

Wednesday marks the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, which led to a long legacy of war. That was thrown into sharp relief this week when President Trump abruptly announced Saturday that he was canceling months of negotiations with the Taliban, even as he aims to fulfill a promise of ending America’s “endless wars.” The U.S. war in Afghanistan has led to the deaths of about 2,400 American service members, including 16 in combat action this year. Some 20,000 more have been wounded, many grievously. But there’s another set of revealing numbers about the war that exposes its sprawling nature. Data provided by the Pentagon shows that more than 775,000 U.S. service members have deployed to Afghanistan at least once. The numbers detail the story of a war that has persisted for an entire generation. Among the key details: — About half of all U.S. veterans of Afghanistan served one deployment there, but many served more. At least 28,267 U.S. troops have deployed there five or more times. — The Army, the Pentagon’s largest service, has deployed the most troops to Afghanistan. More than 491,500 soldiers have served there, including active-duty forces, Army reservists and National Guardsmen. — The Air Force, whose presence in Afghanistan has persisted even as the overall number of troops shrank, has deployed the second most, with about 123,000 airmen involved. — The Marine Corps deployed about 20,000 service members at a time during the height of the war in 2010 and 2011. Overall, more than 114,000 Marines deployed. — Each military service has a legacy there, including the Coast Guard. More than 100 Coasties have served in the conflict.


Holey Moly

Chicken, the brainchild of another local trio, began catering in late 2012 and will open in Metro Center by late February. The same doughnuts-and-fried chicken concept is the focus of GBD (“golden brown and delicious”), the latest project by Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s pastry chef Tiffany MacIsaac, slated to open next month in Dupont Circle. That neighborhood has already seen the soft opening of Zeke’s D.C. Donutz, owned by TangySweet’s Aaron Gordon, which officially opens Friday. But wait, there’s more: Dunkin’ Donuts is in the process of expanding locally (the chain announced plans to open 86 new shops in the D.C. metro area by 2020). Even restaurants are increasingly featuring doughnuts. So what makes the timing right for this hole new frontier? “People are reinventing them,” says Astro Doughnuts co-owner Elliot Spaisman, “using good ingredients and putting interesting twists on flavors. It’s making them more exciting.” District Doughnut’s Menna brings up the popularity of other inventive bakeries around the country, such as New York’s Doughnut Plant (which sells a legendary creme brulee doughnut) and the even quirkier Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, Ore. (where you can get a doughnut in the shape of a voodoo doll). “Every other city has its niche doughnut spot, and D.C. doesn’t,” Menna says. Then there’s the nostalgia. A number of locals — including Carolyn Crow, the pastry chef at Jackie’s Restaurant in Silver Spring — have warm childhood memories associated with a baker’s dozen. “It’s comfort food,” Crow says, “and it always makes me think of when I was little and my grandparents would bring over doughnuts on Saturdays.” Many chefs and restaurateurs who have witnessed the cupcake boom of the past several years have already considered whether doughnuts will be another short-lived craze, or if they’ll stick around as part of the area’s food scene. The trailblazers of D.C.’s doughnut scene are betting on the long view. “Doughnuts are an American staple,” Menna says. (click on image above to enlarge) top row, from left to right: Chocolate Earl Grey Beignet Cuckoo for Cocoa Teiglach middle row, from left to right: Bacon-Toffee Glazed Peppermint Patty Princes Krofna bottom row, from left to right: Raspberry Lemon Meringue Creamsicle Mexican Chocolate (see image at top) top row, from left to right: Chocolate Glazed Vanilla Caramel Apple Streusel middle row, from left to right: Apricot-Pistachio Black Forest Sugar-Covered bottom row, from left to right: Mixed Berry Banana-Nutella Creme Brulee


The ‘South Atlantic blob’: The vulnerability of the world’s warming oceans

happened in this region,” says environmental reporter Chris Mooney. He and data reporter John Muyskens have been examining how temperatures have changed around the world since the late 1800s. Mooney, along with photographer Carolyn Van Houten, met clammers directly affected by climate change in Barra del Chuy, Uruguay. Out on the sand, the harvesters demonstrated how difficult it has become for them to maintain their traditions and livelihoods as the clams die out. “People essentially live off the fruits of the sea,” Van Houten says. “That’s a very long-standing thing for people to do. But it has received quite a jolt in this region. And it’s not clear that it will ever be the same.” More on this topic: ‘There is a fear that anything less than the safe choice would lose the election’ On Thursday, Democratic presidential candidates who were able to pull 130,000 unique donations and poll at least 2 percent in four polls will meet on the debate stage in Houston. It’ll be the first time top-polling candidates Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders share the stage and the only night of debate for the 10 qualifying candidates this month. “There are not five stragglers who think they’re going to burst into the top by attacking a frontrunner,” says political reporter David Weigel. “The debate you might see instead would be about the sale-ability, politically, or the realism of a couple of different plans.” Weigel says the candidates who poll behind the top three will have to prove they’re electable before voters narrow their lists. “The tug-of-war that people are having onstage does not reflect with voters who just want to be convinced that, ‘Okay, if I vote for the person I like best, will they not blow it? Because I’m scared of what happened last time,’ ” Weigel says. More on this topic: ‘Not a vacation destination’: Scientists discover ‘Super Earth’ a mere 110 light-years away Using the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have found a potentially habitable “Super Earth” planet with water in its atmosphere – and possibly (likely) on its surface. K2-18b is large and rocky and closely orbits a dim red star just 110 light-years away in the constellation Leo. “As strange and alien as this place seems, this exoplanet is now considered a really great target to search for life beyond our planet,” says science reporter Sarah Kaplan. More on this topic:


PM Update: Scattered strong to severe storms ending this evening, and it’s hot again Thursday

6:10 p.m. — Just a couple showers around It looks like the main storm threat around here is done. It’s not impossible something else fires up for a bit, but any organized strong or severe weather is unlikely the rest of the evening. If something pops up, we’ll let you know! Here’s a look at storm reports so far, which are mostly to our west. A shower is also possible the next few hours, but we should tend totally dry into the night. Original post from 3:45 p.m. .. See bottom for earlier storm updates. We’re closing in on fall, but don’t tell the weather that. It was another day of 90s, the 54th such day of what’s starting to feel like a never-ending summer. High heat and high humidity have combined to fire up some big storms to our west. Those storms continue to spread eastward across the region over the coming hours. Listen to our daily D.C. forecasts: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Echo | More options Through Tonight: Activity should tend to wind down and push east as we get to and through sunset. Lows mainly dip to a near 70 to mid-70s zone, and some patchy fog may develop late night. View the Tomorrow (Thursday): See Dan Stillman’s forecast through the weekend. And if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For related traffic news, check out Gridlock. Pollen update: Want our 5 a.m. forecast delivered to your email in-box? Earlier storm updates 5:45 p.m. — Storms have waned locally Other than a special marine warning for boaters on the Potomac River until 6 p.m., local severe weather statements have been dropped. Storms in the immediate area have weakened a good deal, with the main activity focused Occoquan and south. There’s still some chance that this activity could pulse back up in the time ahead, but it would seem that the main strong to severe storm threat should remain south of most of the area. 5:27 p.m. — Severe thunderstorms mainly moving south of the city The portion of the warning for the District has been dropped except for extreme southern parts of the city. Some thunder, lightning, and rain are likely as it passes, but the most intense activity should generally focus from the Beltway and southward as this line passes. The rest of the warning continues until 5:45


‘Maybe this is how Vietnam vets felt’: Americans who fought in Afghanistan wait to see how their war ends

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Ryan Clay and Anthony “Rocco” DePrimo were in different places in life when they met as Marines more than 12 years ago. Clay was a combat instructor who already had seen war in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he earned a Purple Heart. DePrimo was fresh out of high school and boot camp, a self-described former “pretty-boy dude” who followed in his father’s footsteps to become a Marine. “Rocco used to hate me,” Clay said, smirking slightly. “Yeah!” DePrimo responded, his face lighting up. “There was probably some hatred there.” That was before they served together in the largest single battle of the Afghan war, in which more than 15,000 U.S., British, Afghan and other coalition troops fought to take control of the Taliban stronghold of Marja nine years ago. That was before they lost brothers in arms together. Before DePrimo struggled with transitioning out of the military and drinking too much, and Clay survived an explosion that knocked him off his feet in Afghanistan and later a stroke. Now the two are friends and part of a generation of war veterans who are waiting to see how the United States’ longest conflict might end. Some 775,477 U.S. veterans and service members have deployed to Afghanistan since the U.S. war there began after the 9/11 terrorist attacks 18 years ago this week, including 28,267 who have gone five or more times, according to Pentagon statistics released to The Washington Post. Nearly 2,400 American troops have died there, including 16 in combat action this year, and more than 20,000 have been wounded. President Trump repeatedly has vowed to bring the troops home. But on Saturday, he abruptly called off negotiations between U.S. diplomats and Taliban leaders and canceled a secret meeting planned at Camp David. It is not clear if Trump will remove some of the more than 14,000 U.S. troops who are deployed without a deal, or if talks can be jump-started. The span of the conflict has prompted some veterans to question what has been accomplished. The nonpartisan Pew Research Center reported in July that 58 percent of veterans it surveyed said the war in Afghanistan was not worth it. “There’s a lot of mixed feelings, and just feeling, ‘I don’t know how I feel about it,’ ” DePrimo said. “Maybe this is how the Vietnam vets felt. I’d like to think that’s possibly true — having


A young Afghan pledged to better his country. Then he was shot dead.

his home region and was responsible for looking into incidents suspected to be perpetrated by the Taliban. That work made him a target of the militant group, which governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and has been fighting the Afghan government and allied forces ever since. The Taliban’s rule was marked by a repressive interpretation of Islamic law that restricted the rights of women and minorities. Four members of the commission for which Amiri worked have been killed in recent years, including a former head of the same office in Ghowr. And just last week, Amnesty International reported that human rights defenders in Afghanistan are “under intensifying attacks from both the authorities and armed groups.” “This is one of the most dangerous moments to be a human rights activist in Afghanistan,” Amnesty International’s deputy South Asia director, Omar Waraich, said in a statement at the time, pointing to others who had been targeted for their work. After Amiri’s death, Amnesty said his killing was “a war crime.” Amiri had recently considered moving to the United States, Mahmodi said, but had changed his mind, compelled to instead continue his investigations in Ghowr and support his sisters’ dreams of graduating from university. In a phone call from India, where she is studying for a master’s degree, his younger sister Atifa said that she was in shock from the news of his death. Boys’ education is often prioritized over that of girls in Afghanistan. But Amiri helped her with chores so she could take college prep courses, she said, then supported her when she decided to pursue further education abroad. “He was not only a brother, he was a friend and supporter,” she said. “I can’t be happy anymore. I am hopeless.” He was recently married, and his wife had just given birth to a baby girl. In a photo his sister shared on social media, he cradles his daughter close to his face, beaming with pride. Amiri’s killing and a spate of attacks in Kabul in recent days have left civilians here on edge. Last week, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a Kabul compound housing foreigners that left 16 people, mainly Afghan civilians, dead. On Thursday, the group bombed a busy traffic circle in the capital, killing 10 Afghan civilians and two NATO troops, including an American. Amiri belonged to the minority Hazara ethnic group, a frequent target of


In a phone call from India, where she is studying for a master’s degree, his younger sister Atifa said that she was in shock from the news of his death. Boys’ education is often prioritized over that of girls in Afghanistan. But Amiri helped her with chores so she could take college prep courses, she said, then supported her when she decided to pursue further education abroad. “He was not only a brother, he was a friend and supporter,” she said. “I can’t be happy anymore. I am hopeless.” He was recently married, and his wife had just given birth to a baby girl. In a photo his sister shared on social media, he cradles his daughter close to his face, beaming with pride. Amiri’s killing and a spate of attacks in Kabul in recent days have left civilians here on edge. Last week, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a Kabul compound housing foreigners that left 16 people, mainly Afghan civilians, dead. On Thursday, the group bombed a busy traffic circle in the capital, killing 10 Afghan civilians and two NATO troops, including an American. Amiri belonged to the minority Hazara ethnic group, a frequent target of Taliban attacks, making him an even more likely mark. In Kabul, members of the Hazara community, most of whom practice Shiite Islam, are bracing for an upcoming holiday, fearing mosques and public gatherings could be targeted. Mahmodi said that as an impartial human rights investigator, Amiri would often attend to the immediate aftermath of serious crimes, risking his own life to ensure justice for the victims. “He was the first to send a report and call an investigator and say, okay, this happened,” Mahmodi said. And he took notice of worrying incidents that others often overlooked — launching, for example, an investigation into an increase in women’s suicides in his province. “His investigations were thorough, his work was very good quality, his reports were credible,” Mahmodi said. “Everything he was doing was very good, and he was also so personally dedicated.” An ardent reader and excellent student, Amiri earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Kabul University before pursuing a career in human rights advocacy, said Khodayar Naiebzada, a childhood friend. In his hometown, Naiebzada said, “the people were proud of him and counted on him.” In a Facebook post last week, Amiri shared a photo of himself standing


Market Watch

Norma’s.’ ” Her mom’s judgment inspired Chersevani to try to impress at her own soda shop. Sixteen fizzy drinks will be available — as regular sodas or as floats, creams or cocktails. More than 100 combos are possible. Food-wise, Brooklyn is still an inspiration: Chersevani will offer various versions of knishes, from traditional potato to Indian barbecue. F.Z. Cousins Travis and Ryan Croxton were born into an oyster family: Their grandfather started Rappahannock River Oysters on the coast of Virginia in the 19th century, and, when the state leases came up for renewal, Travis and Ryan had to make a choice: take over or give up the family tradition. “So we started researching how to grow oysters,” Travis Croxton says. “We made it our mission to re-establish oysters in the Chesapeake and get them to be a thing of pride again.” Rappahannock River Oysters’ stall at Union Market — which will seat 20 — will focus (obviously) on the raw bar, with seafood-heavy small plates and artisanal beers rounding out the menu. Rappahannock River Oysters are key, but Travis says the bar will feature other varieties of local oysters as well. F.Z. Settling into its first fixed location, D.C. Empanadas will sell many of the deep-fried, stuffed pastries regulars know and love from the company’s sky-blue food truck — along with plenty of new menu additions. Anna Bran-Leis, who owns D.C. Empanadas with her husband, Shawn Leis, will manage the Union Market location while Leis will keep the truck on the road. At the market, D.C. Empanadas’ menu will feature the classics (such as the truck’s most popular “traditional” empanada, containing seasoned shredded beef, tomatoes, raisins, onions, green olives and cilantro). Expect a few new empanadas with higher-end ingredients and flavor combos as well (such as a beef Wellington-inspired empanada and another containing duck meat). Over nearly two years in business, “we’ve had a lot of requests for baked empanadas,” Bran-Leis says, so the shop will also sell pre-made, pre-packaged turnovers that customers can pop into the oven at home. After the market has been open for a few weeks, the shop might also branch into brunch on the weekends, she says. “I picture one of the things that we’ll do is an arepa [a flat, round patty of cornmeal or flour] filled with cheese and a fried egg on top and chorizo hash,” Bran-Leis says. K.A. Mix educational cheese


Why a spilled cup of coffee forced a plane to make an unplanned landing

By 5 p.m., it became “very hot and failed,” creating an electrical burning smell in the cockpit. Shortly after, around 5:20 p.m., the co-pilot’s audio control panel had heated up enough that a button melted. It too failed, and smoke could be seen coming from the first panel. At that point, the bulletin said, the pilot decided to turn the plane around and land in Shannon. Because of the audio control failures, the pilot could not hear or transmit messages and had to rely on the co-pilot’s speaker to hear any transmissions. “During the diversion, the flight crew alternately used supplementary oxygen, with one pilot on oxygen at all times,” the report said. At the time, local media reported that the flight made an emergency landing at 7:13 p.m. in Shannon, with five people taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The Department for Transport report does not say which airline was involved in the incident, but Condor — which is part of British travel company Thomas Cook Group — confirmed that it operated the flight. In a statement Thursday, the airline said the diversion was a “precautionary measure due to a minor amount of smoke in the cockpit after a liquid spillage.” The flight continued by way of Manchester, because of the crew’s legal operating hours, after the plane was inspected and repaired. Both audio units were taken out and stripped down as part of an investigation. The vendor, according to the British bulletin, said the initial panel failed because of an electrical short caused by liquid contamination. It was not clear what caused the second panel to fail. Condor said in its statement that the airline “comprehensively investigated” the situation and has since gone over the procedures for liquid in the cockpit. “Our crews were reminded of a careful handling as well as to use appropriate containers for their water or coffee,” the statement says. In the “safety actions” section of its report, the British bulletin said the airline will make sure lids are provided for cups on all routes — and will supply cups that fit in the plane’s cup holders. Read more: Passengers were in for a long flight delay. Then one of them stepped up to fly the plane. Prince Harry is trying to make travel greener. We just can’t figure out how. Smoke on Hawaiian Airlines flight sends 7 to hospital, forces emergency landing


The End of the Race?

In addition to swimming, biking and running, triathletes in Washington have been participating in a new activity recently: complaining. That’s because two major triathlons in the area have been canceled, wreaking havoc on the schedules of people like Nicole Weidensaul of Locust Grove, Va. “I plan my race season a year in advance,” says the 34-year-old. Her favorite distance is the half-Ironman, so when a new event — the Ironman 70.3 National Harbor — was announced so close by, she made it her goal for August. But apparently, not enough other people did. Chuck Brodsky, CEO of the company producing the race, says there weren’t enough entrants to keep the books balanced. So Weidensaul and about 1,400 other athletes got emails this month telling them the race was off. “It completely blindsided me,” says Weidensaul, who hasn’t been able to find a different race that works with her timing or her budget. And it freaked out fellow triathletes who were still digesting the news that the third annual D.C. Triathlon, which was scheduled for June 17, was also a goner. The problem wasn’t participation but permits, explains Brodsky, who was also behind that event. In previous years, the D.C. Tri had received an exemption from a National Park Service rule banning races on the Mall in June. When that didn’t happen this year, the tri was axed forever. The D.C. Triathlon Club and the YMCA National Capital’s YTri club were in the middle of training programs for the D.C. Tri, so they had to scramble to find a replacement race. They settled on a Maryland event in July. An even larger issue, however, is what these cancellations mean for the future of triathlons in the area. Brodsky’s Washington Sports & Event Management was responsible for every tri in the city. Now, it’s going in another direction. “We have no plans to produce triathlons going forward,” says Brodsky, who still hopes to launch other physical fitness events. It’s always been a challenge to put on triathlons in urban settings, particularly D.C., which requires dealing with local and federal authorities. But it’s gotten harder to put on a race anywhere, Brodsky says, as the number of triathlons has multiplied while the number of athletes has plateaued. Blogger Ray Maker According to Molly Quinn of Competitor Group, “everything is full steam ahead,” including a new clinic series. There’s no reason to doubt that


As Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong departs Germany, Europe struggles to confront China

BERLIN — Joshua Wong, one of the most recognizable pro-democracy advocates from Hong Kong, left Germany for the United States on Thursday after a visit that provoked fierce Chinese criticism of Berlin and has raised questions over how the West can confront Beijing over its repressive human rights record. Wong, who had been in Germany since Monday to rally foreign support for a nearly four-month-old protest movement against encroaching Chinese influence in Hong Kong, had urged German leaders to speak more forcefully against China’s bid to exert control over the semiautonomous territory. With China-backed authorities in Hong Kong using more violent means to subdue the unrest, the visit was expected to be a diplomatic balancing act for German officials from the start. It also came only days after a subdued and largely business-focused visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to China. Even though Wong did not meet with Merkel during his Berlin visit, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had a brief encounter with the activist during an event Monday night — which sparked a fierce response from Beijing and the summoning of the German ambassador there. China also called a rare news conference at its embassy in Berlin, but excluded a journalist from Bild, the German tabloid that had invited Wong to the event where he and Maas met. “What happened now, I unfortunately have to say, will have negative consequences on bilateral relations and the Chinese side has to react,” Chinese Ambassador Wu Ken said during the news conference on Wednesday. Resorting to unusually confrontational language, he suggested that German politicians who met with Wong may have wanted to “add fuel to the fire and thereby make political capital out of it.” To some, this week’s diplomatic spat appeared to be triggered by differences in style between the cautious Merkel and Maas, her more spontaneous and vocal foreign minister. But looming over the fallout of Maas’ meeting were broader questions over how Germany — and other Western nations — should confront Beijing over rights abuses amid deep economic dependency and the growing assertiveness of the Chinese leadership. “It has always been difficult to navigate this,” said Jan Weidenfeld, an analyst at the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies. But in recent months, two new factors have emerged, Weidenfeld said: First, a “greater public scrutiny” in Germany and other countries toward China’s actions; and second, a growing German awareness of


The Original Top Chef

On Aug. 15, which would have been Julia Child’s 100th birthday, tributes will undoubtedly pour in from Food Network personalities and “Top Chef”-testants. But when Child — who died in 2004 at 91 — first began sharing her cooking lessons with TV audiences in the 1960s, those sorts of culinary VIPs did not yet exist. Julia Child was the celebrity chef. In her honor, restaurants nationwide have organized Julia Child Restaurant Week (Aug. 7-15), sponsored by the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy & the Culinary Arts and her publisher, Alfred A. Knopf. Here’s what to expect from four D.C. restaurants. The special at Marcel’s is designed for two: whole roast tarragon chicken with assorted sides, all made from Child’s recipes ($85 prix-fixe for two). Chef de cuisine Paul Stearman marinates the chicken with garlic, lemons and herbs, then stuffs it with those ingredients and roasts it atop onions. Sides include carrots braised in butter, mushrooms in Madeira sauce and asparagus simmered in onions. There’s also gratin daphinoise, a baked casserole of potatoes, cream, butter, garlic, thyme and Gruyere cheese. Child would have approved, especially of the gratin, Stearman believes: “She always liked to say, ‘Whether baked or fried, roasted or boiled, I never met a potato I didn’t like.’ ” Marcel’s, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; 202-296-1166. (Foggy Bottom) With a three-course prix-fixe meal with wine pairings ($50 per person), Café Dupont’s specials riff on Child’s French-influenced recipes. First, there’s parfait de foie de poulet (chicken liver parfait), followed by canard a l’orange (orange-glazed roast duck). Dessert, however, is a deviation from Child’s apple tarte tatin (upside-down tart); executive sous chef David Fritsche uses peaches instead of apples, taking advantage of the fruit’s seasonality, and serves it alongside amaretto ice cream. Fritsche, 28, who was raised in Switzerland, wasn’t familiar with Child until he moved to the U.S. four years ago. “I admire the passion she had,” he says. “Sometimes she tried to do things and it didn’t come out the way she wanted it to. She said, ‘It didn’t work the first time, but let’s try it again.’ And that’s pretty much my philosophy as a chef.” Café Dupont, 1500 New Hampshire Ave. NW; 202-797-0169. (Dupont Circle) Chef-owner Ris Lacoste, who viewed Child as a mentor, is serving foods tied to her memories of the celebrity chef. The prix-fixe specials ($35.12 per person) run through both Julia Child Restaurant Week


Hey, Not So Fast

is in New York. (Shut up or move there.) But I might start complaining about how much better it could be to get to New York. The World Congress on High Speed Rail is meeting in Philly this week, and as a preview, transportation experts from around the world convened on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Ostensibly, they were there to explain what trains are like in their countries. My theory is they actually wanted to make us cry. Satoshi Seino, CEO of East Japan Railway Co., said its “bullet train” network — which has been in operation since 1964 — has headways of about four minutes. To put that in perspective, I had waited earlier that day for seven minutes for a Metro train (and I thought that was pretty good). Next waltzed up Guillaume Pepy, president of the French national rail authority, to say that his country has double-decker cars that can accommodate more than 1,000 passengers and travel at 200 mph. Oh, and the overall mission isn’t just to get people from one rail station to another, but to provide local, regional and intercity transit that’s a viable alternative to the automobile. By the time the rest of the international parade stepped away from the podium, I was too depressed to go back to Union Station. On Monday, Amtrak released an update to its “Vision for the Northeast Corridor,” which is essentially to put in legit high-speed rail. So, when will riders see this vision realized? 2040. And that’s assuming everything goes according to plan and the project gets funding. I wouldn’t count on either. At Tuesday’s gathering in D.C., American Public Transportation Association president Michael Melaniphy proudly noted the results of a survey conducted in May. A majority of the Americans polled said they’d be likely to use high-speed trains, and that number shoots up to three quarters of millennials. But we’ll all become members of AARP before ever getting to take that promised 94-minute trip between D.C. and New York. And while it’s nice that an L.A.-San Francisco route won approval last week, with a target date of 2028, I wouldn’t pin your HSR dreams on that yet. At least the visitors at Tuesday’s event seem to be more optimistic about these proposals than I am. The International Union of Railways’ Jean-Pierre Loubinoux ended things on a hopeful note: “Where there’s a will, there’s a railway.”


How parents can talk to kids (and other parents) about cannabis in a shifting landscape

For most of her life, Melanie Brown suffered from debilitating migraines. They were disruptive to the point where she was unable to leave a dark room for the better part of three days, leaving her sick to her stomach and vomiting. The headaches affected her ability to parent. In 2009, while living in Colorado, where medical marijuana was legal at the time, Brown became aware of the therapeutic effects of cannabis, including documented cases of the plant relieving the pain of migraines or stopping them altogether. Though she had rarely consumed cannabis previously, Brown got a prescription. When she felt a migraine coming on, she took a hit of medical-grade marijuana from a vape pen and she says her symptoms vanished. No more three-day sequestrations. “I was able to be more of a productive member of society,” the Brown, now 43, says. As soon as she realized cannabis was a viable treatment option for her migraines, she informed her children, then 5 and 8 years old, of her choice of medication. Her kids were old enough to recognize the severity of her headaches, so they understood the marked difference in their mother with cannabis as her medicine, says Brown, who now lives in Antelope Valley, Calif. “They know I use it for my migraines, and it makes them go away quickly and I’m a better parent because I’m not stuck in a dark room.” Cannabis fulfills many roles in people’s lives — as a pain reducer, to help relieve the side-effects of chemotherapy, as a social salve — and legalization is bringing usage of the plant into more homes. Parents are finding it necessary to have frank discussions about their use of the plant, both with their children and other parents. “No matter how old your kids are, you have to be honest with them,” says Cheryl Shuman, the CEO and founder of Beverly Hills Cannabis Club. Shuman began consuming cannabis in 1996 at the recommendation of a therapist she was seeing to treat PTSD after a sexual assault. The antidepressants she had been prescribed left her in a fog. Her therapist thought cannabis would positively impact her mental health without the side effect of sluggishness. Although Shuman was an activist who lobbied for the legalization of cannabis in California in the 1990s, she was not a consumer. But when she took a puff from the joint her therapist had


Just Like Mom Used to Buy

No matter how sophisticated our palates, some mass-produced flavors are hard-wired into our taste buds. So it’s simultaneously daring and safe for chefs to attempt their own variations of beloved grocery-store staples. “Don’t we all always look for a better version, to step it up?” asks Casey Patten, a co-owner of Taylor Gourmet delis and the Taylor Charles Steak & Ice. “We always want to make something ours, and we want to make it better.” Amid the current craze for reimagined comfort foods, we wondered: Are restaurants’ takes on the classics really improvements? Find out how four remakes stack up. The Remake: The Restaurant Take: The Verdict: The Remake: The Restaurant Take: The Verdict: The Remake: The Restaurant Take: The Verdict: The Remake: The Restaurant Take: The Verdict:


A Fresh Look Back

Fifteen years ago, few Washingtonians could easily pop out to their local farmers market to buy a pint of just-picked blackberries or a just-harvested ear of corn from Toigo Orchards. Only a handful of such markets existed around D.C. So, while most of us made do at the grocery store, fresh-picked produce from the Shippensburg, Pa., orchard ended up in the more cosmopolitan kitchens of New York City — the nearest city for the orchard to sell direct to consumers. In 1997, when Mark Toigo, whose family has owned Toigo Orchards since the 1970s, got an opportunity to join a new market in Dupont Circle (now Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market), he jumped at the chance. Toigo Orchards signed on with 14 other farmers from within a 200-mile radius to sell at the market. A Washington Post story about the first day reveals how sorely the city had been in need of a place to buy varied, fresh produce. “I try to get to Eastern Market, but it’s too far away,” one opening-day customer said. “Our only alternative is Safeway.” These days, Washingtonians are spoiled when it comes to farmers markets. Friday marks the 15th birthday of those first Dupont Circle stands, where the number of vendors has grown to 42. In its first year, the market drew 21,000 people; last year, it drew nearly 200,000. And with about 120 farmers and producers now selling at 11 FRESHFARM Markets in the metro region (the newest, held Thursday afternoons in the Ballston district of Arlington, opened last week), the organization even finds itself having to turn down applicants. “One of the things we’ve seen in the past 15 years is that the farmers market movement has become more complex,” says Ann Yonkers, FRESHFARM Markets’ co-founder and co-executive director. “People used to say there weren’t enough farmers. We don’t typically have trouble finding enough farmers anymore.” FRESHFARM does, however, want sellers who fit its strict “producer-only” policy: To be approved for a FRESHFARM stand, a vendor must grow foods within a 200-mile radius of D.C., within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. (FRESHFARM reps personally visit each site to confirm.) Vendors selling prepared foods must prove they use ingredients sourced from local farms. “It’s a measure of authenticity,” Yonkers says. “You are also thereby guaranteeing better flavor by lessening the transport time from the field to the market.” Other markets in D.C. and around the


Prints, Not Dead

Prints, Not Dead Getup for Your Grill Neck of The Woods Turn It Up, Mate Leaf It Alone


Justice Dept. offers 9/11 families new detail about investigation of suspected Saudi accomplices

The Justice Department said Thursday that it will provide new information to the families of those killed on 9/11 who are suing the government of Saudi Arabia over possible complicity in the 2001 terrorist attacks — but only under a protective order meant to keep the information from becoming public. Attorney General William P. Barr also will shield additional details of the case by invoking the rarely used state secrets privilege — arguing that some elements of the FBI’s ongoing investigation into the 9/11 attacks would damage national security if they were revealed. The victims’ families are suing the Saudi government, and as part of that lawsuit have tried to force the FBI to reveal key details of its investigation into possible official support for the plot. They have been battling over a redacted 2012 internal FBI document describing how two individuals linked to the Saudi government are suspected of having helped two of the 9/11 hijackers get settled when they arrived in the United States before the attacks. While most of the al-Qaeda hijackers were Saudi citizens, that country’s government has long denied any complicity in the attacks. Specifically, the families have been pressing for more details about the Saudi government’s connections to Fahad al-Thumairy, a former Saudi consulate official, and Omar al-Bayoumi, a person the FBI once investigated as a possible Saudi intelligence officer. After the 9/11 attacks, Bayoumi told investigators that he met the hijackers by chance in early 2000 in a Los Angeles restaurant and that they became friends. Bayoumi helped them navigate their new lives in the United States, but denied any knowledge of their terrorist intentions. The 9/11 families suspect those interactions were not accidental, but directed by a senior Saudi government official identified in the FBI document. “There is evidence that [redacted] and tasked al-Thumairy and al-Bayoumi with assisting the hijackers,” the FBI document states. The families have been demanding to know the name behind that redaction, and on Thursday the Justice Department acquiesced, saying they would be told the name but only under a protective order that prevents the information from being shared beyond the lawyers directly involved in the case. “It’s less than ideal that some of the information has to be handled under seal, but the primary objective is to secure the evidence so that we can obtain justice for our clients,” said Sean Carter, a lead lawyer for the


What’s on Tap in the Next Week

There’s always something new brewing when it comes to D.C.’s beer scene. This week, three events usher in the area’s latest labels and pours: Anniversary Ale Golden Moment Surprising Suds


Olympic Meddling

Bye-bye, 2012 Olympics! After Aug. 12, you’ll be history. I’ll miss you. But you’ve left me with a lot to think about: Gold-medalist swimmer Ryan Locht At 60, how does Bob Costa Some female beach vollyballists NBC didn’t air events live Glued to the Olympics,


From Bleak to Blooming

in the sky,” she said. “Absolutely fresh flavor is a big one. It’s so handy. Plus you’re creating an environment that satisfies and nurtures you and your son.” She helped me see the obvious: I could grow far more by going up! McGee showed me a tall greenhouse with a small footprint ($40, hayneedle.com). Its plastic cover can be removed after starting seeds, leaving a great perch for growing anything with shallow root systems. Going vertical created more space for pots, which McGee suggested I fill with eggplants, green beans and Sun Gold tomatoes. A little creativity can yield a large crop. “I’m growing carrots in good-looking containers that I purchased at the local dollar store,” McGee said. “We’ve drilled holes in the base, filled them with soil and seeded them. They’ll hang from cords on a railing. The tops will look like hanging fern baskets, and I’ll plant new seeds as we pull out ripened carrots. “You can also attach wide gutters with drainage holes to your railing, or to a wood frame that you hang on the wall,” she said. “They will soon look quite attractive once you fill them up with mixed salad greens and Seascape strawberries — a day-length neutral variety that produces all summer and has a good flavor.” She encouraged me to go big. “Try growing fruit! There are some really small blueberry plants, like Top Hat and Sunshine, that produce well in containers,” she said. “Meyer lemons are a joy and will need to spend the frosty winter months indoors. However, the fragrant flowers will earn their space.” Other balcony-friendly fruits include apples, peaches, currants and figs. And my beloved cantaloupe? McGee was a bit more worried. Pollinating its flowers with a small paintbrush might stand in for bees unwilling to zip up to the seventh floor. But go for it, she urged. “Heck, a girl’s got to try!” Next, local interior designer Dana Tydings (tydingsdesign.com) helped me prettify the space. A sky-blue tin mirror from Eastern Market, which Tydings hung on the brick wall to reflect the Potomac River, made us ooh and aah. She ducked back into the apartment and emerged with a jewel-tone rug I’d never used, placed it under the balcony sofa, and it instantly screamed outdoor room. “You should splurge and buy a few enormous outdoor pillows,” Tydings said, “to make this corner look even more inviting.” Then


Boris Johnson denies lying to the queen

credible and workable.” Frost has suggested nothing would meet the E.U. red line that the border remain forever open between the Republic of Ireland, which is staying in the European Union, and Northern Ireland, which is departing along with the rest of Britain, diplomats said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. Instead, the diplomats said, Frost has outlined a vision of a Britain that could potentially try to lure businesses by undercutting the European Union in a range of areas, including taxes and regulations. That would require a sharp break from current rules — making the Europeans ever more adamant about ironclad guarantees for the Irish border. “We need a serious partner, not just someone who is screaming slogans, mottos, in the best Trumpian form,” said one of the diplomats. “We are really nervous because we can’t see what is coming from London. There are no serious discussions.” Few in Brussels are taking for granted that Johnson will obey the law passed by Parliament that he ask for a delay to the Oct. 31 departure date if he doesn’t strike a deal in the meantime. Instead, embassies have canceled vacations for their diplomats in late October; emergency preparations for a chaotic, no-deal Brexit have stepped up; and many in the E.U. capital are bracing for what one diplomat called “the most horrible crisis of recent years.” Johnson’s remarks came as his government was forced to release a five-page document assessing the impact of a no-deal Brexit. The document — which was previously leaked and reported on — predicted there could be days-long delays of trucks moving through British and French ports, electricity prices might spike, some medicines would be in short supply, food prices would rise, and there could be a rise in public disorder. On Thursday, Johnson also told a group of schoolchildren about his idea of building a bridge across the Irish Sea between Scotland and Northern Ireland. “It would only cost about £15 billion,” or $18.5 billion, he said. Johnson suggested the megaproject — which he has asked government officials to investigate from a feasibility standpoint — could help ameliorate Brexit woes. “There is so much more we can do, and what grieves me about the current approach to Brexit is that we are just in danger of not believing in ourselves, not believing in Britain,” the prime minister said. william.booth@washpost.com michael.birnbaum@washpost.com


Hot Hoods: Adams Morgan

ZIP Code Average Home Sold Price Median Home Price Owner-Occupied Homes Renter-Occupied Homes Median Years in Residence Annual Residential Turnover Median Age of Homes Households With children Median Age Married Single D.C. Council member There’s no shortage of restaurants and bars along the neighborhood’s twin commercial arteries, 18th Street NW and Columbia Road NW. The intersection of those two is the heart of Adams Morgan’s bar scene. The liberal dispersal of liquor licenses, especially along 18th Street, means the area can get clogged with youthful partygoers at night, along with a surfeit of taxis and traffic. But it also means the inclusion of classic D.C. dives such as Madame’s Organ (2461 18th St. NW, 202-667-5370) and gloriously grungy Dan’s Cafe (2315 18th St. NW, 202-265-0299). Restaurants run the gamut. Late-night revelers opt for the delicious cheesiness of a jumbo slice, but the more adventurous check out the flavorful but still affordable choices at Amsterdam Falafelshop (2425 18th Street NW, 202-234-1969). Fine dining is here, too, including longtime neighborhood favorite Cashion’s Eat Place (1819 Columbia Road NW, 202-797-1819) and newcomer Mintwood Place (1813 Columbia Road NW, 202-234-6732). For grocery stores, residents frequently take advantage of the nearby Harris Teeter (1631 Kalorama Road NW) or Safeway (1747 Columbia Road NW). For those who prefer a little dirt on their veggies, a farmers market pops up at 18th and Columbia every Saturday morning from June through December (8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, June 1-Dec. 21, Columbia Road and 18th Street NW). Outdoorsy types should check out the northwestern part of the neighborhood, which borders Rock Creek Park and has easy access to its running and biking trails. Plus, the Marie Reed Recreation Center (2200 Champlain St. NW, 202-673-7771) has an adjoining aquatic center. We won’t lie: Parking in AdMo is a challenge. In most of the area, parking is limited to two hours at a time between 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., but residents can pick up a Ward 1 parking permit from the DMV to park for as long as they want. Visitors can take their chances on the street or check out one of the many parking decks throughout the neighborhood. Depending where in the neighborhood you live, you could be close to the Red Line at Woodley Park or Dupont Circle stations, or the Green and Yellow lines at Columbia Heights or U Street. With reporting by Amanda Tindall for Express


You’re going where? Missoula, Mont.

Coffee, visit the roastery’s cafe, where baristas excel at cortados and a Faema espresso machine shares counter space with a turntable. Drum was founded John Wicks, drummer of the band Fitz and the Tantrums, and his wife, Jenna . Guidebook musts You could spend your entire trip visiting Missoula’s many craft breweries, or hit the Dram Shop , which has beers from almost all of them on tap. Also on tap are local and regional ciders and kombuchas, as well as red, white and rosé wine. While it’s got beer covered, the Dram Shop is B.Y.O.F. (bring your own food). Order a burger to go from Wally & Buck, which recently opened a storefront nearby after several years as one of Missoula’s most popular food trucks. One of Missoula’s best fine-dining restaurants, Pearl Cafe, founded by Pearl Cash, who grew up in the Bitterroot Valley on a subsistence farm where her mom made everything from scratch and cooked on a wood-burning stove, is adjacent to the Dram Shop. Cash created a limited menu of small bites and favorites from her restaurant’s French-inspired menu that can be delivered to the bar. I’ve made trips to Missoula just to hang out at Break Espresso , a cavernous cafe with worn oak floors, fast WiFi, classic pastries and layer bars, substantial wood tables and chairs, bankers’ lamps, solid baristas (although sometimes moody) and a clientele as diverse as its pie selection. The pie selection includes about a dozen flavors, all of which are baked in the kitchen in the rear of the cafe and several of which are available by the slice. For less eccentricity and fancier pastries, such as almond kouign-amanns, hazelnut lunettes and Earl Grey scones, hit Le Petit Outre. Local faves Missoula native Allison Reaves left the city to study and work in apparel design in Corvallis and Portland, Ore., for seven years. She returned home in 2016 and immediately started working on a business plan for a boutique — the General Public opened in April — that sold ethically made clothing and accessories designed by small manufacturers (including herself). “Missoula hasn’t had anything like this store before,” says Reaves, whose quirky-cool clothing line inspired by work wear shares its name with the boutique. “I don’t think a store like this could have survived before. But I think we’re ready now.” Locals come to Butterfly Herbs for hard-to-find bulk spices.


Boris Johnson could break Britain

prime ministers can’t trust fellow politicians, they will rely on special advisers who owe their jobs unambiguously to them. Theresa May, Johnson’s predecessor, was criticized for concentrating power too heavily in unelected confidants. Today, politics appears to revolve around the dark genius of adviser Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s Rasputin. On good days, some of these constitutional developments seem welcome. The Brexit referendum, appallingly designed in that it invited people to vote “Leave” without specifying what Leave meant, divided the country almost evenly. Both the May government and (more egregiously) the Johnson government have wanted to escape the resulting confusion by ramming through a version of Brexit — some version, any version — without the support of the country. Parliament and the courts have so far prevented this. Britain has avoided an irrevocable step that would damage its economy and reduce its global influence. But the biggest test will soon be on us. The country is heading for an election that Johnson appears determined to frame as “Parliament versus the people.” Never mind that Johnson himself hails from the heart of the establishment. Goaded on by Cummings, he will campaign as a populist anti-system radical. This means that, at a minimum, Johnson will spend weeks assuring voters that the institutions of politics are rigged against them. The true voice of the people was expressed through the referendum, he will bluster; self-serving snobs in Parliament are out to smother it. The legitimacy of the courts will be called into question. Just before its recent suspension, Parliament passed a law requiring Johnson to seek an extension to the Brexit deadline; the prime minister’s first reaction was that the law could be flouted. As soon as the Scottish court ruled against Parliament’s suspension on Wednesday, an unnamed source from the Johnson team insinuated that a ruling in Scotland might be illegitimate. Until now, Britain has been blessed by a faith in public institutions that allowed it to mix a vibrant private sector with a more or less effective state. The courts, Parliament and the impressively nonpartisan civil service have enjoyed popular deference; not coincidentally, Britain has a sharp tech sector, good public transport and universal health care. The coming Johnson campaign will do its best to degrade this precious social capital. Again, Britain will grow more like the United States, where years of political campaigns questioning the legitimacy and efficacy of government have generated cynicism


On Sept. 11, the U.S. military wrestles with wars that won’t go away

Osama bin Laden and his cohorts before the 9/11 attacks. It has meandered for years, even after a Navy SEAL team killed bin Laden during a raid in neighboring Pakistan in May 2011. On Wednesday, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. Austin “Scott” Miller, spoke at a closed memorial service at the headquarters of the U.S.-led military coalition. The ceremony commemorated not only those lost on Sept. 11, but also the thousands of U.S., Afghan and other coalition service members who have died in the war since, said Army Col. Sonny Leggett, a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul. Clashes between U.S. and Afghan forces and the Taliban have increased across the country, a defense official familiar with the ongoing operations said. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, attributed the fighting to “jockeying” ahead of Afghan presidential elections scheduled for Sept. 28, an increase in violence as Afghanistan’s traditional fighting season comes to a close and uncertainties created by the abrupt end of negotiations between the Trump administration and Taliban officials on Saturday. U.S. defense officials have declined repeatedly to address what could come next for the military in Afghanistan. The negotiations called for the Pentagon to withdraw about 5,400 of the 14,000 U.S. troops deployed, and it is not clear whether Trump will still pursue that level without a deal with the Taliban. Over the weekend, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said American forces had killed roughly 1,000 Taliban fighters in the previous 10 days. The statement echoed controversial body counts the United States used as a metric for success during the Vietnam War even as security there crumbled, but the defense official familiar with U.S. operations in Afghanistan said it is accurate. The Taliban, he said, “are taking some really heavy casualties.” U.S. officials released data showing that the military launched 810 strikes in August. Overall for the year, Air Force data shows the United States is on track to drop about the same number of munitions as in 2018. Whatever the situation surrounding the pace of U.S. operations, Pentagon leaders have acknowledged for years that the conflict is stuck in a bloody stalemate, and much of the countryside remains under partial or full Taliban control. Johnny Walsh, a former diplomat who worked on Afghanistan peace issues and is now at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said Taliban


The negotiations called for the Pentagon to withdraw about 5,400 of the 14,000 U.S. troops deployed, and it is not clear whether Trump will still pursue that level without a deal with the Taliban. Over the weekend, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said American forces had killed roughly 1,000 Taliban fighters in the previous 10 days. The statement echoed controversial body counts the United States used as a metric for success during the Vietnam War even as security there crumbled, but the defense official familiar with U.S. operations in Afghanistan said it is accurate. The Taliban, he said, “are taking some really heavy casualties.” U.S. officials released data showing that the military launched 810 strikes in August. Overall for the year, Air Force data shows the United States is on track to drop about the same number of munitions as in 2018. Whatever the situation surrounding the pace of U.S. operations, Pentagon leaders have acknowledged for years that the conflict is stuck in a bloody stalemate, and much of the countryside remains under partial or full Taliban control. Johnny Walsh, a former diplomat who worked on Afghanistan peace issues and is now at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said Taliban fighters are motivated by two primary goals: to end what they characterize as a foreign military occupation and to defeat what they see as a government dominated by foreign influence. Their nationalist message “allows them to recruit a basically endless supply of new fighters from every corner of the country,” he said. Although a majority of Afghans oppose the Taliban, the militant group “has been very effective in tapping into the sector of society who support them.” David Barno, a retired three-star general who commanded American forces early in the war, described the Taliban as a resilient and “deeply rooted” organization. Even the kind of Special Operations raids that intensified during the peak of U.S. combat operations were likely to have only a transient impact on the group’s strength, Barno said, as new insurgent leaders replace those killed. “That’s the issue with ‘mowing the grass,’ ” he said. The U.S. military continues to carry out counterterrorism operations in numerous countries, including Iraq, where victory was declared over the Islamic State in March. On Tuesday, U.S. military officials released video of American fighter jets dropping some 80,000 pounds of bombs on an island in the Tigris River “infested” with Islamic State


Lawns are in retreat. Is suburbia ready for the front-yard veggie garden?

very tasty leaves,” said Eisendrath, 60. The garden is shaped by the adornments gardeners use to protect their hard-won crops. Black netting sheaths the broad grapevine at the front of the house, forming a barrier between the clusters of developing fruit and avian raiders. CDs dangle high in the air, twisting in the breeze, to scare off the birds. On an earlier visit, Libertelli, 62, lifted a tarp to show me logs seeded with mushroom spores (he also forages for mushrooms), and a month before, the couple gathered a garlic harvest — 1,500 bulbs. Some will be returned to the land as seed cloves next month, while the fall crop of peas and brassicas takes shape and the sweet potatoes plump up for harvest. Libertelli concedes that the yard looks “shaggy” but says that “to grow something from seed and turn it into food strikes me as magical.” Joining them in the garden this year are their friends Don and Ann English, who live about half a mile away. Don is a beekeeper with a hive on the edge of the front garden that yielded about 40 pounds of honey this summer, now bottled or on its way to becoming that favorite medieval libation, mead. For Eisendrath, the idea that individuals can work to change the world is not some slogan but a way of being. She first gardened when she was in the Peace Corps in Tanzania. The couple lived on Capitol Hill (with a garden in the front yard of their rowhouse) before decamping to suburbia. They first lived in the house next door but sold it to acquaintances because the current home offered a sunnier location from which to expand their agricultural empire. (The rear yard sweeps down to the adjoining Rock Creek Regional Park and is dark and unsuitable for vegetable gardening.) Besides the grapevine, a hopvine clambers up a pole, from which Don has harvested and dried the blooms to flavor his mead and home-brewed beer. The entrance to the house is defined by an arched tunnel supporting kiwi vines, cardinal flowers and a hardy passionflower. Eisendrath reaches up to hold a green orb. “This is my pride and joy,” she said. “My single passion fruit.” The fuel for the garden is a supply line of compost in various stages of preparation until, finished and soil-like, it is dug into the growing beds. It’s almost


The Washington Post names Sarah Dadouch Beirut correspondent

Announcement from Foreign Editor Douglas Jehl, Deputy Foreign Editor Eva Rodriguez, and Middle East Editor Alan Sipress: We’re very pleased to announce that Sarah Dadouch of Reuters will join The Post as a correspondent in our Beirut bureau. Sarah is a native Arabic speaker who grew up in Syria and has demonstrated great skill and promise during her two years at Reuters, with assignments in Beirut, Riyadh and Istanbul. Her knowledge of Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia will make her a powerful addition to our Middle East team, with bureaus in Cairo, Jerusalem, Baghdad and Istanbul as well as in Beirut. Sarah will work particularly closely with Liz Sly, our Beirut bureau chief, who retains overall responsibility for the Syria and Lebanon stories in addition to her broader region-wide mission to deliver high-altitude enterprise projects. Sarah is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the Columbia Journalism School. She spent her childhood and high school years in Damascus, the Syrian capital. In addition to her fluency in Arabic, she speaks intermediate Turkish. She will start at The Post on Sept. 16 and will spend a week in the newsroom before taking up her duties in Beirut.


Start-ups seek to capitalize on ‘rising tide’ in commercial quantum computing

all-equity transaction. Rigetti and QxBranch have raised $119 million and $4 million, respectively, from venture capitalists. “What this represents in quantum is that the customer readiness is emerging,” said Chad Rigetti, founder and chief executive of Rigetti Computing. “Quantum is really an opportunity for America to kind of leap ahead on computing and chip technology after globalization has led to the migration of that expertise elsewhere.” Companies such as Rigetti are building on substantial investments in quantum science from the academic and government communities. The Washington Post reported in 2014 that the NSA was working on a “cryptographically useful quantum computer” under a $79.9 million research program called “penetrating hard targets.” The Chinese government has made quantum science investments of its own. Start-ups like Rigetti are pursuing a slightly different goal. Rigetti wants to offer a “full-stack” quantum computing capability to business customers, executives from both companies said in an interview this week. The company is already renting out its quantum computing capabilities to business customers for a fee, hoping their experimentation will yield commercially useful ideas. They declined to disclose financial details. For the past five years QxBranch has been working to build the software, analytical functions and user interfaces that businesses could use to operate such machines. Where Rigetti has focused on hardware, QxBranch has built its business around how customers might use the technology. The two companies have worked together on various projects since 2015. “Our job at Rigetti now will be to identify the end-use cases that can benefit from this technology,” QxBranch founder Michael Brett said in an interview. “That’s something that we’re only going to be able to do under one roof.” Brett says his company’s customers have included large businesses from a range of industries, the largest being financial services. UBS Investment Bank used the company’s algorithms to experiment with analyzing the foreign exchange market, he said. And the pharmaceutical company Merck has experimented with possible optimization challenges. Others working on quantum hardware include a Canadian tech firm called D-wave, which has sold its computers to Lockheed Martin and others, reportedly for millions of dollars each. A College Park, Md.-based company called IonQ has raised roughly $22 million from investors including New Enterprise Associates, Amazon Web Services and the venture capital arm of Google. It recently hired Peter Chapman, formerly the engineering director at Amazon Prime, as chief executive. David Moehring is a


U.S. imposes sanctions on North Korean hackers accused in Sony attack, dozens of other incidents

The Trump administration on Friday imposed sanctions on a notorious, if opaque, constellation of North Korean hackers believed to be responsible for dozens of cyberattacks around the world, including the 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures. The sanctions targeted what is known as the Lazarus Group and two subgroups dubbed Bluenoroff and Andariel. The Treasury Department said all three are controlled by North Korea’s primary intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB). The announcement comes a month after a U.N. panel said North Korea had stolen up to $2 billion from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges through cyberattacks and used the proceeds to fund programs developing weapons of mass destruction. North Korea has denied allegations of orchestrating cyberattacks and cyberheists. Security experts believe the Lazarus Group stepped up its activity after U.N. sanctions were imposed on North Korea over its nuclear program, effectively starving the government of revenue. “Treasury is taking action against North Korean hacking groups that have been perpetrating cyber attacks to support illicit weapon and missile programs,” said Sigal Mandelker, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a statement. “We will continue to enforce existing U.S. and UN sanctions against North Korea and work with the international community to improve cybersecurity of financial networks.” The Treasury Department said the North Korean hackers had targeted governments, the military, financial institutions, entertainment and manufacturing companies, international shipping companies and critical infrastructure. It was not the first time Washington has hit Pyongyang with sanctions over cybercrimes, nor is it likely to be the last. “This is yet another indication of how forward-leaning the U.S. government’s position has become in a relatively short period of time on doing attribution of malevolent cyber actors,” said Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and chief technology officer of CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that has tracked North Korean hacking groups for more than a decade. “A few years ago, this type of action would have been unprecedented. Today it is routine.” It is unclear how much impact the sanctions will have. In November 2014, the Lazarus Group — specifically Andariel — wiped data off 3,000 Sony computers, released embarrassing emails, and threatened violence and more attacks if Sony did not pull a satirical film depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the RGB after the attack, but the malicious acts continued. Last year, the Justice Department charged