An Ohio woman took in two strangers. Then she saw their ‘wanted’ photos.; The Washington Post, July 18, 2026

Dan Morse, The Washington Post, ; An Ohio woman took in two strangers. Then she saw their ‘wanted’ photos.

"Just 25 percent of Americans say most people can be trusted, down from 47 percent in the early 1970s, according to the long-running General Social Survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. In a Pew Research survey of 25 countries last year, Americans ranked last in their likelihood of viewing fellow citizens as “morally good,” hitting just below 50 percent.

“In a country in which trust has been experiencing a long-term decline, here was this extraordinary act of trust,” said sociologist Bruce Carruthers of Northwestern University after being told of the case.

Social scientists have long studied why and how people trust. One big factor: People are more likely to trust those who reflect themselves. Carruthers said other characteristics of Behrman tilted toward trust, including an innate desire to help others and normally reliable street smarts."

Vince Gilligan Calls for Writers to Cut Back on Villain Stories Amid Current Political Climate: “They’ve Become Aspirational”; The Hollywood Reporter, February 15, 2025

 Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter; Vince Gilligan Calls for Writers to Cut Back on Villain Stories Amid Current Political Climate: “They’ve Become Aspirational”

"While accepting a special honor at the Writers Guild Awards on Saturday night, Vince Gilligan warned the crowd that he was going to “go political” before calling on Hollywood to give more attention to good guys than the villains...

“But all things being equal, I think I’d rather be celebrated for creating someone a bit more inspiring. In 2025, it’s time to say that out loud, because we are living in an era where bad guys, the real-life kind, are running amuck,” he said from the stage at the Beverly Hilton. “Bad guys who make their own rules, bad guys who no matter what they tell you, are only out for themselves. Who am I talking about? Well this is Hollywood, so guess. But here’s the weird irony, in our profoundly divided country, everybody seems to agree on one thing: there are too many real-life bad guys, it’s just we’re living in different realities so we’ve all got different lists.”...

“Maybe what the world needs now are some good, old-fashioned, greatest generation types who give more than they take,” Gilligan continued, musing how nice it was to hear about heroes and acts of kindness during the recent L.A. wildfires."

Acts of kindness inspire in Manchester; Washington Post, May 25, 2017

[Video] Elyse Samuels, Washington Post; Acts of Kindness Inspire in Manchester

"After a deadly terrorist attack in Manchester, England, on May 23, city residents came together to care for one another and pay tribute to victims of the bombing."