Trump-Russia Collusion Narrative Takes Hits on Two Fronts
The Hill, C-Span
The Trump-Russia collusion narrative took hits on two fronts on Thursday while a Trump-as-victim narrative advanced. The Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said top Obama political aides made hundreds of unjustified requests to unmask Americans in intelligence reports, including Trump transition officials. And an American businessman testified that Fusion GPS, the Trump-Russia dossier firm, was in the pay of the Russians. Collusion Among Germany's Biggest Carmakers
Der Spiegel
The car diesel-emissions scandal is not a failure on the part of individual companies, but rather the result of collusion among German automakers that lasted for years, an investigation finds. Audi, BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen and Porsche coordinated their activities in more than a thousand meetings, according to company records and interviews. The five are, Der Spiegel says, "something like a 'German Cars Inc.' -- or a cartel." Looming Disaster on America's Waterways
Wall Street Journal
Americans will pay more for food and coal energy if the nation's shipping system over river waterways isn't repaired. Many locks, allowing navigation through uneven water levels, are past their 50-year lifespan. One barge can carry the equivalent of the loads hauled by 70 trucks or 16 rail cars, so a broken lock means huge setbacks for supply chains. The Desperation of the Long-Distance Drug Runners
Texas Monthly
The Tarahumara of northern Mexico became famous for their ability to run incredibly long distances, and helped popularize ultramarathoning through the international bestseller "Born to Run." But in recent years, drug cartels have exploited their talents by forcing them to literally run "mochilas" -- backpacks -- across the New Mexico and Texas borders. Now, with their land ravaged by violence, they're running for their lives. Rikers Island Reforms Pose New Problems
ProPublica
After abolishing solitary confinement at Rikers Island, the prison adopted "enhanced supervision housing" units for inmates who attack guards or other inmates. Prisoners are allowed out of their cells for at least seven hours a day, but they have to be chained to a desk much of the time. Critics argue the treatment isn't much better than solitary. Violent incidents in the new units back them up. The Cuban D.I.Y. Internet Revolution
Wired
Cubans haven't exactly been sitting around sipping mojitos as the digital revolución passed them by. They are ditching the glacial connection speeds of the government monopoly and connecting across the island. But here innovative digital workarounds sometimes take physical form: The "paquete," a weekly download of popular content like "Game of Thrones," is passed around on external hard drives. That Airline Seat You Paid for Isn't Yours
Wall Street Journal
Airlines reassign seating for families who pay to sit together and Ann Coulter too: The political commentator erupted in a Twitter tirade this mouth over being bumped from the aisle perch she paid for. But the ugly truth is that premium-seating fees guarantee nothing. First, read the fine print. Next realize that airlines didn't really change procedures at boarding gates to match the marketing. So ... does that mean they lied? | 
