With Murdoch gone, Biden's good luck continues

+ NFL's turf wars US Edition - Today's top story: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch resigns − extending Joe Biden's ongoing good luck streak with the media [View in browser]( US Edition | 22 September 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [An exciting new discovery on the Moon]( - [How online ads spread spyware]( - [A lot happened in the past week – take our quiz to test your news knowledge]( Lead story Media mogul Rupert Murdoch announced on Thursday morning that he was stepping down from his chairperson post at Fox and News Corp. The 92-year-old’s departure raises questions about if and how the leadership change will influence the direction of conservative media, especially Fox News. [The change already furthers at least one trend](, according to Michael Socolow, a media historian at the University of Maine. It’s the latest example of how good luck with the media seems to follow President Joe Biden, who reportedly has described Murdoch as “the most dangerous man in the world.” Biden generally steers clear of the media and is known for rarely having news conferences. But tumult in conservative media has helped the president evade tough scrutiny that all presidents eventually face, Socolow writes. The Conversation was founded in Australia in 2012 in part to chip away at Murdoch’s outsized influence. If you think media should have higher standards than his, [please support our global newsroom](. Thank you. Amy Lieberman Politics + Society Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference at the White House in January 2022. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images [Media mogul Rupert Murdoch resigns − extending Joe Biden’s ongoing good luck streak with the media]( Michael J. Socolow, University of Maine While President Joe Biden has low approval ratings, few other American presidents − with the exception of FDR and Warren Harding − have experienced such a run of good media luck. Politics + Society - [War in Ukraine is contributing to the erosion of global consensus over the spread of dangerous weapons]( Nolan Fahrenkopf, University at Albany, State University of New York Post-9/11 international cooperation on weapons proliferation is giving way to a fractured regime dominated by ideology. - [Rupert Murdoch: His Fox News legacy is one of lies, with little accountability, and political power that rose from the belief in his power − 3 essential reads]( Lorna Grisby, The Conversation Rupert Murdoch is a major media figure, but he may not be as influential as most people think. Science + Technology - [Chandrayaan-3’s measurements of sulfur open the doors for lunar science and exploration]( Jeffrey Gillis-Davis, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis India’s Chandrayaan-3 rover has found sulfur on the Moon’s surface at higher concentrations than previously seen. Sulfur, a useful resource, could pave the way for future Moon bases. - [Spyware can infect your phone or computer via the ads you see online – report]( Claire Seungeun Lee, UMass Lowell You probably won’t be targeted by spyware, but if you are, odds are you won’t know about it. The latest spyware slips in unseen through online ads as you go about your digital life. Arts + Culture - [Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tear resurfaces questions about player safety on artificial turf]( Philip Anloague, University of Dayton Two days after Rodgers’ injury, the NFL players union called on the league to convert all playing fields to natural grass. Ethics + Religion - [Nazi Germany had admirers among American religious leaders – and white supremacy fueled their support]( Meghan Garrity, George Mason University; Melissa Jo Wilde, University of Pennsylvania Two social scientists analyzed periodicals from US religious leaders in 1935 to determine what factors influenced groups’ sympathy, ambivalence or outrage about Hitler and Nazi Germany. Economy + Business - [Biases against Black-sounding first names can lead to discrimination in hiring, especially when employers make decisions in a hurry − new research]( Martin Abel, Bowdoin College People who object to affirmative action were more likely to discriminate against job candidates with Black-sounding names than those who supported it, whether or not they had to rush. Education - [4 reasons teens take part in social media challenges]( Kapil Chalil Madathil, Clemson University ; Heidi Zinzow, Clemson University Peer pressure, amusement and the desire for attention help explain why young people participate in risky social media challenges. The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( In a deal announced on Sept. 18, President Biden agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds in exchange for what? - A. Nuclear inspections - B. A promise not to attack Israel - C. Five American detainees - D. 5 million bootleg copies of "Argo" [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? 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