Hundreds of dogs dress up and join the parade as part of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival!

Happening in the World: About 100 dogs dressed like superheroes, clowns, and cartoon characters were a part of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival that kicked off Saturday, March 1. The dogs wag their tails to the beat of the samba music and head to the Blocao street party, where around 300 people and their pets meet in the neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca. This year, because of the hot temperatures, hydration stations were open for the dogs, and the parade was relocated to streets that would prevent the dogs’ paws from getting too hot! (AP)

Happening in the US: Republican Representatives and Senators such as Mike Johnson, David Valadao, and Lisa Murkowski, amongst others, have started to defend Medicaid, departing from long-held GOP policies. Tax cuts have already been made to Social Security and Medicare, and attention has turned to Medicaid. As the deadline in March to avoid a partial government shutdown comes closer, there seems to be hesitation among Republican lawmakers who say large cuts to Medicaid could be unsustainable for citizens. (AP)

Happening in NYC: Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo states that he is officially running for New York City mayor. Cuomo feels New York City is in a crisis: “You see it in the empty storefronts, the graffiti, the grime, the migrant influx to random violence, the city just feels threatening, out of control and in crisis.” During his time as governor from 2011 to 2021, he helped with the passage of New York’s same-sex marriage law and codifying Roe v. Wade abortion rights into state law. His time is tainted by a series of scandals, including sexual harassment allegations that led to his 2021 resignation. The mayoral primary election is set for June 24. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: On Monday, March 3, from 6 to 8 pm, you can go see the award-winning 60-minute documentary, The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice (2024). The film is directed by former evolutionary biologist Kathy Kasic and features surprising discoveries about the Greenland Ice Sheet. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion with Kasic and Columbia faculty. Learn more info about the event here and register at this link.

Header Image via Wikimedia Commons