Genetic modifications have vanquished the potato’s greatest enemy: blight. In a recent three-year-long study, a GM potato outperformed its more “natural” counterpart not only in yield (by a factor of two), but was also “fully resistant” to the vegetable’s most dangerous disease.

Democrats are significantly more likely than independents and Republicans to believe that astrology is scientifically based, according to NSF research. So much for the “party of science” meme.

Is Secretary Kerry waking up to the reality that Russian and American interests sharply diverge almost everywhere? Could be.

Last week’s unionization vote at a VW plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee failed when union supporters came up just short. The vote is far from shocking, but it has crushed the dreams of many on the left for a new, labor-friendly South.

Good evening, TAI readers! As you prepare for the week ahead, take the time to look back on what you may have missed over the last week:

The tandem technologies of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal well drilling haven’t just unlocked reserves of natural gas trapped in shale—they’ve also given America access to so-called “tight oil” trapped in shale as well. But the Economist argues that policy is lagging behind events, and makes the case for opening up America’s crude oil exports.

Tony Abbott is up in polls in Australia after vowing to crack down on labor union corruption. The labor movement’s troubles are not just found in the United States.

Vladimir Putin has been running circles around his Western counterparts lately, even though Russia looks nothing like a Great Power anymore.

A new poll by the Times of India released today found that India’s far right, Hindu nationalist opposition party, the BJP, will take home a record-breaking number of seats in parliament during elections scheduled for later this year. The tally for Congress, the current ruling party, is projected to collapse from its current 206 to a lowly 89, its worst ever showing since India’s independence.

The results so far from the Kansas Red Dawn suggest that even drastic policies changes might ultimately have only mild effects.