The cost of transactional diplomacy with Saudi Arabia

Arms and influence in the Khashoggi affair [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 16 October 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note The disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi two weeks ago has caused an international crisis. President Donald Trump has shown strong reluctance to the idea of sanctioning the Saudi government, which is suspected of murdering Khashoggi. International relations professor Russell Lucas of Michigan State University writes that Trump’s response to what many in the international community see as a human rights crisis has focused primarily on the negative effect such sanctions would have on American jobs -- giving the world [a strong dose of what “America First” really means](. After the 2016 election, many pundits wondered why polls hadn’t better predicted Trump’s victory. Statistician Fred Wright and his son dug into the numbers to figure out why. Their new research suggests [that pollsters need to revamp the way they aggregate data]( from different national and state polls across the country. Later this month, Christie’s will be selling its first piece of AI art, and computer scientist Ahmed Elgammal, who runs the AI & Art Lab at Rutgers University, will be eagerly awaiting the results. While many critics have derided this new art form, which uses algorithms and machine learning to create new images out of preexisting ones, [Elgammal views AI art as an exciting frontier of conceptual art](. Danielle Douez Associate Editor, Politics + Society Top stories President Donald Trump shows a chart highlighting arms sales to Saudi Arabia. AP Photo/Evan Vucci [Arms and influence in the Khashoggi affair]( Russell E. Lucas, Michigan State University A missing Saudi journalist has put Trump's 'America First' rhetoric to the test. Many pollsters have been asked to explain why they didn’t better predict the 2016 election. 3dfoto/shutterstock.com [How the polls could have caught ‘surprise’ victories like Trump’s]( Fred Wright, North Carolina State University When political polls are aggregated together, that can make the results misleading. Mario Klingemann’s ‘Neural Glitch Portrait 153552770’ was created using a generative adversarial network. Mario Klingemann [When the line between machine and artist becomes blurred]( Ahmed Elgammal, Rutgers University Later this month, Christie's will be auctioning its first piece of AI art – a portrait created via machine learning. Health + Medicine - [Is exercise still important to weight loss? Absolutely, a doctor says]( David Prologo, Emory University Just what role does exercise play in weight loss? Plenty. While word has spread in recent years that physical activity isn't all that important, a doctor debunks that myth. Ethics + Religion - [The mosques that survived Palu’s tsunami and what that means]( Jennifer Nourse, University of Richmond A majority of the over 24 mosques spread over Palu were damaged in the tsunami. Two of them survived, though one of them is gradually sinking. Politics + Society - [Missing Saudi journalist a reminder that reporters worldwide face much worse than Trump’s tweets]( Kris Kodrich, Colorado State University Trump may rhetorically attack the media, but the US still ranks 45th of 180 countries in terms of press freedom. North Korea ranks last. And Mexico is the world's most dangerous place for reporters. Science + Technology - [Evolution is at work in computers as well as life sciences]( Arend Hintze, Michigan State University Artificial intelligence research owes a lot to biology and chemistry. - [How scientists are fighting infection-causing biofilms]( Nicholas Fitzkee, Mississippi State University Smooth surfaces often provide nooks and crannies for bacteria to hold onto and create a colony. New research with nanoparticles is revealing the secrets of surfaces that prevent bacterial attachment. From our international editions - [Melania Trump’s pith helmet is not just a hat]( Jacqueline L. Scott, University of Toronto When you are the first lady of the United States, your fashion choices are scrutinized. Why did Melania Trump choose to wear a pith helmet, a classic symbol of colonialism? - [NASA wants to send humans to Venus – here’s why that’s a brilliant idea]( Gareth Dorrian, Nottingham Trent University; Ian Whittaker, Nottingham Trent University The upper atmosphere of Venus is the most Earth-like extra-terrestrial location in the solar system. It could even host life. - [We asked five experts: should we use food as a reward for kids?]( Alexandra Hansen, The Conversation Five out of five experts said we shouldn't reward kids with food. But for very different reasons. Today’s quote [Sides are being chosen about whether the new gene editing technology, CRISPR, is really just “GMO 2.0” or a helpful new tool to speed up the plant breeding process.]( [Organic farming with gene editing: An oxymoron or a tool for sustainable agriculture?]( Rebecca Mackelprang University of California, Berkeley [Rebecca Mackelprang] Follow The Conversation on [Apple News]( or [Flipboard](ConversationUS) [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111