How John Deere could bury the right-to-repair movement

+ are sanctions against Russia working? US Edition - Today's top story: In rural America, right-to-repair laws are the leading edge of a pushback against growing corporate power [View in browser]( US Edition | 22 February 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( At first glance, a new deal between the nation’s largest farm equipment maker, John Deere Corp., and the American Farm Bureau Federation looks like a win for farmers. It gives them more access to repair their own tractors and other equipment – something they’ve wanted for years. However, the agreement has a catch, and supporters of right-to-repair laws suspect it has a more sinister goal, writes Leland Glenna, a professor of rural sociology, science and technology at Penn State. It involves the power of patent rights, the nationwide push for right-to-repair laws and [growing corporate power]( over what farmers and others consumers can do with the products they buy, and even the seeds their crops produce. Also today: - [Are sanctions against Russia working?]( - [How fitness influencers game algorithms]( - [People naturally produce compounds similar to those in marijuana]( Stacy Morford Environment + Climate Editor Waiting for repairs can cost farmers time and money. VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images [In rural America, right-to-repair laws are the leading edge of a pushback against growing corporate power]( Leland Glenna, Penn State Corporations restrict what farmers can do with their own seeds, as well as their farm equipment when it breaks down. Economy + Business - [How Putin has shrugged off unprecedented economic sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine – for now]( Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University The US and dozens of other nations have punished Russia with round after round of sanctions – yet the Russian economy is expected to grow in 2023. - [Globetrotting Black nutritionist Flemmie P. Kittrell revolutionized early childhood education and illuminated ‘hidden hunger’]( Brandy Thomas Wells, Oklahoma State University Kittrell’s legacy shows that home economics was always about more than cooking and sewing. It’s also a reminder that issues that affect families are simultaneously local and global. Politics + Society - [Russia announces its suspension from last nuclear arms agreement with the US, escalating nuclear tension]( Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Putin’s announcement to Russia will no longer participate in the New START pauses the last remaining nuclear weapons agreement between the U.S. and Russia. - [I am a Ukrainian American political scientist, and this is what the past year of war has taught me about Ukraine, Russia and defiance]( Lena Surzhko Harned, Penn State For a scholar who studies how different generations reacted to the end of the Soviet empire, the war in Ukraine is a collision of the professional and the personal. Health + Medicine - [People produce endocannabinoids – similar to compounds found in marijuana – that are critical to many bodily functions]( Prakash Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina; Mitzi Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina A THC-like substance that occurs naturally in humans and other vertebrates helps maintain immunity, memory, nerve function and more – and research suggests a lack of it can harm health. Science + Technology - [How frontotemporal dementia, the syndrome affecting Bruce Willis, changes the brain – research is untangling its genetic causes]( Fen-Biao Gao, UMass Chan Medical School FTD leads to changes in personality and behavior. Understanding its genetic and molecular causes could lead to new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases. - [Lesson from a year at war: In contrast to the Russians, Ukrainians master a mix of high- and low-end technology on the battlefield]( Laura Jones, Tufts University A year ago, the Ukrainian military was largely equipped with Soviet-era weapons. It has since seen an influx of high-tech weapons. But it’s less what than how that’s made a difference. Ethics + Religion - [Lent is here – remind me what it’s all about? 5 essential reads]( Molly Jackson, The Conversation A roundup of The Conversation’s articles about this holy Christian season and its history. Arts + Culture - [How fitness influencers game the algorithms to pump up their engagement]( Ashley Roccapriore, University of Tennessee; Tim Pollock, University of Tennessee In a loosely regulated industry, followers shouldn’t necessarily buy what these influencers are selling. Education - [ChatGPT could be an effective and affordable tutor]( Anne Trumbore, University of Virginia ChatGPT could lead to substantial learning gains if it’s used as a tutor, an online learning specialist says. Trending on site - [Many Americans wrongly assume they understand what normal blood pressure is – and that false confidence can be deadly]( - [Why does Turkey want other countries to start spelling its name ‘Türkiye’?]( - [Extra SNAP benefits are ending as US lawmakers resume battle over program that helps low-income Americans buy food]( Today's graphic [A chart showing declining enrollment in Memphis Police Department.]( From the story, [Memphis police numbers dropped by nearly a quarter in recent years – were staffing shortages a factor in the killing of Tyre Nichols?]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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