SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " claim " 3,014 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
New attention on Bankhead claim she was offered job to leave Senate race, DNC denies allegation
Montana’s U.S. Senate race was at the center of political controversy again this week, over an allegation from the Democratic nominee that she had been offered a job if she would drop out of the race.
DOJ charges 15 for $2 billion in fraudulent health care claims in California
The largest of the cases involved $1.6 billion in billings for what the DOJ described as “sham substance abuse treatment” in Southern California.
Trump and crypto firm sued for profiting from foreign government
Donald Trump and World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture he co-founded with his sons, were sued by a shareholder in a rival crypto firm over claims the president illegally profited
Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department’s Civil Division Announce Anti-Fraud Healthcare Self-Disclosure Pilot Program
HHS launched a six-month Healthcare False Claims Act Self-Disclosure Pilot Program for healthcare companies
Health Data Utilities as Essential Public Infrastructure: A Cooperative Federalism Architecture
Federal interoperability initiatives like Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement transport clinical records across boundaries but fail to aggregate and enrich state-governed datasets, including Medicaid claims, prescription monitoring records, and social service registries.
Feds charge 15 in California health care fraud cases, $2 billion in claims
Tom Skerritt, star of ‘Alien’ and familiar face at SIFF, dies at 93
Tom Skerritt, the acclaimed character actor who starred in “Alien,” “Top Gun,” “Contact” and more, died Wednesday at his home in Seattle. He was 93.
15 charged in massive $2 billion L.A. health care fraud crackdown
Federal authorities charged 15 people, including six medical professionals, in a sweeping Los Angeles-area health care fraud crackdown involving $2 billion in alleged fraudulent claims, the Justice…
Lawsuit accuses Trump of illegally profiting from UAE crypto investments
The lawsuit claims the investments violate the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause
Lawsuit accuses Trump of illegally profiting from UAE crypto investments
The lawsuit claims the investments violate the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause
COROS DURA 2 SOLAR Review: Big Upgrade, Bigger Price
Neil's latest review digs into his experience with the COROS DURA 2 Solar, a new bike computer that claims to improve on the first model...
Amazon employee files explosive lawsuit claiming senior executive raped her on NYC business trip
Florida GOP pulls lawsuit over TV ad tying Uthmeier to Hope Florida scandal
The GOP claimed its lawsuit achieved its aim because Democrats pulled the ad, but the ad ran its scheduled run, and Democrats this week launched a new online ad on the same topic.
Batesville’s White River Health dropping UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
White River Health will end its relationship with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage on Jan. 1, 2027, due to frequent claim denials and administrative hurdles.
In 1,000+ Kids Who Claimed to Have Past Lives, Their ‘Reincarnation’ Came 12 Months After a Sudden Death
And scientists can’t explain the creepy correlation.
Jake: Why Gov. Ferguson’s B&O claim is meaningless for small business owners
Jake Skorheim explores why Gov. Ferguson’s B&O claim holds no weight for small business owners and what it means for the future.
Fifteenth Court of Appeals Holds the Texas Business Court’s “Qualified Transaction” Jurisdiction Extends to Any Claim With a But-For Connection to the Transaction
In re Joseph Beard, No. 15-26-00136-CV – Decided October 15, 2026 In a unanimous opinion, the Fifteenth Court of Appeals held that an action “aris out of t
Kings’ Murray ‘Happy’ To Start the Season Healthy
After enduring a surgical recovery and a career-low 23 games last year, Sacramento’s vital X-factor returns to the hardwood aiming to reclaim his elite two-way form.
Respawn Entertainment and DICE are Working on a New Battlefront Title
A new report has claimed that DICE and Respawn Entertainment are working on a new project at EA, which will be a new Battlefront title.
'GTA 6' could cause $1 billion sick day as 1.5 million estimated to skip work: reports
When “Grand Theft Auto 6" drops next month, millions of Americans are planning a trip to Vice City that reports claim could cost the US economy a staggering $1 billion in lost productivity in just one day.
Trump's crackdown on immigrant voting in California is a ploy to influence election
President Donald Trump wants California to segregate 20,000 ballots, claiming they may come from noncitizens. Federal officers charged 28 suspects with voter fraud this week.
Macron slams as ‘stupid’ claims by Trump and others blaming Muslim migrants for French riots
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that foreign leaders — including those “on the other side of the Atlantic” — are trying to exploit France's tense social climate for their ...
Haitian migrants changed this town - Trump's deportation drive is reshaping it again
The president thrust Springfield, Ohio, into the spotlight with a false pet-eating claim - years later, it remains at the heart of the immigration debate.
PHP maintainers tell Web devs to prepare themselves for critical security patches
Unconfirmed report claims PHP2Shell exploit remotely executes code on PHP sites.
Feds claim 17,000 other potential noncitizen voters in California
Filings in the Justice Department's lawsuit accusing California officials of facilitating election fraud reveal new details about the underlying investigations.
Windows and Xbox teams reportedly clashed over OS experience for gaming, as next-gen Xbox Helix console slips into 2028
A new report claims the Windows and Xbox teams have clashed over the direction of the OS for Microsoft's next-gen Xbox consoles.
The Arizona race for governor revealing rifts in Latter-day Saint politics
The Republican crusade to reclaim control of Arizona has come to a head this year, and some of the key players involved in the race are BYU grads.
Samsung Has Already Found the Next Way to Unfold a Phone
A leaker claims that the long-awaited Galaxy Z Slide is finally upon us.
'GTA 6' at Risk as PS5 Hackers Officially Claim Major New Breakthrough
Fans are hoping GTA 6 will be playable on PC soon, but PS5 jailbreak hackers still face hurdles
Engling plans to sue Bayh for defamation in secretary of state race over 'reckless' claim
After the Bayh campaign rebuffed Engling's call to retract and correct a campaign attack ad, the Republican says he's filing a defamation lawsuit.
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Fall 2026 Update on Vaccine Views
The latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds about half of parents mistakenly believe spacing out vaccines is healthier for children, while confidence in many long-standing childhood vaccines is high across partisans. These findings take on new relevance following President Trump's recent executive order calling for changes in U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations, including splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine—currently given as a single combined shot—into three separate vaccines across multiple visits.
Start-Up Claims to Treat a Patient With A.I.-Created Viruses
Certain viruses attack bacteria and can sometimes clear antibiotic-resistant infections. Researchers said they had tailored a virus to attack one patient’s illness.
Ten Hag opens up on Ronaldo fallout at Man Utd
Erik Ten Hag has opened up about his fractured relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Manchester United, claiming the Portuguese forward was not prepared to meet the physical demands o...
How an acclaimed opera singer became Providence’s Bride of Cthulhu
What happens when an opera singer/organist/conductor meets Lovecraft? You get Gigi Mitchell-Velasco, a consummate performer and Bride of Cthulhu.
Xbox 'Business Strategist' Claims Video Game Industry Is 'Pretending to Not Use AI,' Deletes Twitter Account After Deluge of Replies
An Xbox staff member went viral this week for taking to social media to tell "the truth that nobody wants you to know": that the video game industry is "pretending" to not use AI.
Pellegrini and Lulli confirmed to start vs Slovan
Roma are back in the hunt for a Champions League victory, with Malen ready to reclaim the center of attack. After the draw against Fenerbahce and the bitter defeat against Real Madrid, the Giallorossi...
Billy Bush sounds off about fight with author Amy Griffin at Jennifer Meyer’s star-studded wedding
Bush claims the author of “The Tell” confronted him over his coverage of her legal battle with a former classmate.
Letter to the Editor - Defeat Article 10 – It Is Bad Business For Westford
Michael Furman, Westford Resident Defeat Article 10 – It Is Bad Business For Westford Let me start out with a disclaimer. I am a member of the CPC (Community Preservation […]
Republic Claims Associates, Public Adjuster in Manhattan NY, Secures Licenses in Five New Jurisdictions, Reinforcing Its Position as a Trusted Firm for Homeowners and Businesses
Manhattan, NY, Oct. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Republic Claims Associates, a public adjuster in Manhattan NY, has secured public adjuster lice...
Costco’s ‘100% agave’ tequila lawsuit thrown out
A judge, deferring to Mexico's authority over tequila regulation, dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit claiming that Costco’s Kirkland tequilas labeled 100% agave" are mixed with low-grade booze. The law firm
Franklin Publishes Book Review in <em>Political Theory</em>
A. Todd Franklin, the Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Philosophy & Africana Studies, has published a review of Michael J. Illuzzi's Mending the Nation: Reclaiming "We the People" in a Populist Age (University Press of Kansas, 2025) in Politica
Xbox Series X will offer identical graphics to the base PS5 in Grand Theft Auto VI
Social media is buzzing about user XGREEN's claim that the Xbox Series X console will supposedly offer better value for money.
Judge grills Trump administration over plans to overhaul Washington golf course
A federal judge hearing testimony about President Donald Trump’s plans to redevelop a Washington golf course is expressing deep skepticism over the government’s claim that the recent mass cutting of
Small business takes aim at DISA’s Enclave expansion
Competitive Range Solutions claims the Defense Information Systems Agency sat on the requirement for three years and now claims this is the only contract it can use to meet deadlines.
PlayStation 6 RAM and Storage Alone May Cost $680, According to Leaker
The PlayStation 6 hasn't even been announced yet, but little rumors pop up now and then that add speculation on what to expect from Sony's next-gen console. The latest is a shocking claim that the RAM and storage configuration of the console will cost more than the entirety of the PS5.
GOP focuses on fraud, seeking to redirect voters’ ire over healthcare costs
Heading into the midterm elections, high healthcare costs rank among voters’ biggest concerns. But lately, there’s a twist giving the issue new momentum on campaign agendas: a focus on fraud in government health programs. The administration of President Donald Trump has used claims of widespread wrongdoing to justify investigations, suspensions of billions of dollars in […]
Jesse Eisenberg claims he couldn’t get ‘movie studio parts anymore’ after “Batman v Superman”
The Oscar-nominated actor, screenwriter, and director said he began penning films “just to kind of keep my career afloat.”
Republicans sue, claim it’s a crime for stations to air Democrats’ Hope Florida ad
The Florida GOP’s lawsuit leans on an appeals court ruling that a leaked grand jury report should be expunged from the record.
Manchester United stars claim interview ban after Lisandro Martínez outburst
Manchester United players Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha claimed they were not allowed to speak to reporters after their 1-1 draw at Leeds United in the wake of Lisandro Martínez's TV outburst
"We're using AI": Xbox business strategist claims he could be fired "because I told you the truth that nobody wants you to know"
Xbox's Brandon Stirrup says the gaming industry is already using AI, despite widespread negative sentiment among players.
Ironworker challenges Rep. Max Miller as the Ohio congressman fights to hold seat amid abuse claims
Ohio Republican congressman Max Miller faces a tough reelection challenge from Democratic union ironworker Brian Poindexter.
Ironworker challenges Rep. Max Miller as the Ohio congressman fights to hold seat amid abuse claims
Ohio Republican congressman Max Miller faces a tough reelection challenge from Democratic union ironworker Brian Poindexter.
Ironworker challenges Rep. Max Miller as the Ohio congressman fights to hold seat amid abuse claims
Ohio Republican congressman Max Miller faces a tough reelection challenge from Democratic union ironworker Brian Poindexter. Miller has been dogged by allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife and two
Ironworker challenges Rep. Max Miller as the Ohio congressman fights to hold seat amid abuse claims
Ohio Republican congressman Max Miller faces a tough reelection challenge from Democratic union ironworker Brian Poindexter.
Titans vs Colts winners, losers as defense carries the day, Carnell Tate shines
Carnell Tate continues to stake the claim as the Titans' top receiver among Titans vs. Colts winners and losers.
‘Clean’ energy, local costs: Advocates challenge bioenergy’s climate claims
Companies market wood pellets and hog biogas as climate solutions. Critics say neighbors are exposed to health risks and life quality issues.
Novichok Nerve Agents: What Science Actually Knows About the Deadliest Weapons
A new review finds that while Novichok agents potently inhibit acetylcholinesterase and modern forensics can verify exposure, many claimed properties of these weapons remain unvalidated by experiments on authenticated compounds.
Fact or fiction? Examining the claims behind North Carolina political ads
As Election Day approaches, political ads across North Carolina are making claims about candidates’ past. The Chronicle examines the claims and the context behind them.
Jordon Steele-John: Australian senator denies claims of misconduct against women
Jordon Steele-John says the timing of the claims motivated by "nasty political games" within the Greens.
QED Science adds preprint scoring to research discovery | ETIH EdTech News
QED Science has introduced Insights Feed, combining personalized research recommendations across 250 life science subfields with quality scores for selected preprints. ETIH’s edtech news coverage examines the tool’s features, use of unpublished work and limits of the launch claims.
Obama: Omar investigation should ‘outrage all Americans’
Obama claimed the probe was an attempt to strip Omar of her U.S. citizenship and possibly deport her over her public criticisms of Trump.
Streaming’s Biggest Show Returns…and a Buzzy Genre Struggles
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Obviously, the big news of the week (if not month) is Netflix letting go of executive Bela Bajaria, their chief content officer. I’m going to cover this in my next “Most Important Story of the Week”, but I also have a data angle that I might publish before then. (Too much news this month, am I right?) But first, I have a bonus Streaming Ratings Report issue for you. Today’s article is a bit of a grab bag of topics I’ve wanted to write about, but couldn’t squeeze into the (already very long) Streaming Ratings Report issues. The NFL drives huge viewership numbers, so I’ve got a look at that. A whole bunch of TV shows returned to the traditional broadcast channels, and I have thoughts. And I have a quick look at adult animated shows, since a couple flopped earlier this month. Plus, the Emmys aired earlier this month, and we got some fun data bout how popular those nominated shows are and why I’m not optimistic about the show’s future. That’s a lot, so let’s dive right in. Subscribe Sports - Football Remains the King of Streaming Over the last two Streaming Ratings Reports, I sorta ignored the biggest “show” each week. (I was tempted to say “piece of content” but I know that word bugs folks.) In my database, I call these “specials”, and they sure are special. I speak of the king of American TV: football!!! Streaming football is back and, unlike some other sports, it routinely dominates all viewership. Probably the best way to show this is to update one of my favorite graphics, the “40 Million Hour Club”1 since football games have joined that club each week they’ve premiered: (Yep, that’s the data through 28-Sep, the first four weeks of the season. As a reminder, I take the average minute audience provided by Nielsen, factor out a percentage of linear TV viewers in home markets, and multiply the run time by the three-hour runtime.) Again, the numbers are huge. Let’s start with Netflix. They grabbed the rights to the bonus opening week NFL Kickoff game (which was on YouTube last year) and it put up 18.5 million viewers on average. That nets out to 47.4 million hours of estimated streaming hours. That’s good! Though, notably, it’s well below Christmas Day games from previous years. Compared to other streamers/broadcasters, that’s a bit of a mixed result. On one hand, Netflix’s 18.5 million average is about what YouTube claimed last year, though Nielsen used a bespoke methodology at that time, so I trust this viewership figure more. So that’s good. (The game also shifted from a Friday to a Thursday and that could have helped the viewership as well.) And Netflix continues to best Prime Video in total viewership—as you’ll see next—though Netflix has had much higher-profile (opening week and Christmas Day) games. NBC/Peacock’s opening game the night before averaged 25.1 million average viewers, which is just much bigger than Netflix (or Prime Video). That’s the big caveat to all streaming viewership records: even in success, they can’t compete with traditional linear TV. Previously, I called this my “hierarchy of viewership”, and the data keeps supporting that thesis. The downside for NBC is that this game’s viewership was down compared to previous years, though it may be a counting issue. Here’s a great chart from Sports Media Watch: Indeed, looking at all the opening week games across all windows, Netflix still lags the other primetime windows, but does well compared to the afternoon games: I saw a few folks make the case that streamers still lag traditional broadcasters in reach, and I’d add they really lag compared to “broadcast plus streaming” options like NBC/Peacock, ESPN/Disney+ and CBS/Paramount+. The best data I saw for this came from Samba TV, who charted reach through the 2025 season, and, wow. (Samba TV’s numbers are historically lower than Nielsen’s, so don’t compare their household figures to Nielsen’s hours, but use them as a proxy for the relative reach of the streamers.) The good news is Prime Video is NOT having a down year. Their opening Thursday Night Football game reached 18.6 million viewers (about what Netflix got), but that’s a high for Prime Video on Thursdays and the biggest Thursday night game since 2015. The TNF games the weeks of 21-Sep and 28-Sep continued this streak, getting 43.1 (16.8 million average viewers) and 42.5 total hours (16.6 million average viewers), which were both up from last year. Still, that continues the (typical) season slide: (For those new-to-streaming-football-numbers folks, the viewership declines for Thursday Night Football as the year goes along.) Overall, it appears as if Prime Video is now part of the “football habit”, be it for customers at home or out at places like bars and restaurants. And its viewership is slowly catching up to broadcast. One last chart shows this. Last season, Nielsen started adding out-of-home viewership to the charts, so I try not to do season-to-season comparisons as I did for the first few years. And while Nielsen added Big Data viewing this year, I’m going to compare the last two seasons. Here’s that chart, which shows the season-over-season gains: When it comes to streaming football, we have to keep a few seemingly contradictory thoughts in our head… First, streaming doesn’t come close to matching broadcast’s reach and, thus, viewership. Second, even with that gap, football is still the biggest “thing” on streaming. It’s very, very popular. Third, while some methodology changes have likely helped Prime Video’s numbers, their viewership does appear to be growing. Lastly, yeah, the NFL started the season off poorly, with week one dragging down the numbers in year-over-year comparisons. However—and again, methodology changes may have helped this—the viewership grew compared to previous seasons over the next couple of weeks. So football is still king. On streaming and off. Television - Adult Animation Continues to NOT Make the Streaming Charts In the last two reports, two adult-animated shows whiffed: Netflix’s animated comedy, Dang! Paramount+’s Sega-video-game-inspired fantasy/comedy, Golden Axe. Neither made the charts, but that’s usually the case for animated shows. I mean, here’s literally every animated show that’s made the Nielsen Original charts since the start of 2025: And one of those shows is G_abby’s Dollhouse_! A kids show! The problem with charts like this is that they don’t give you a sense of how many shows miss the charts. Netflix had at least eleven animated flops, including comedies like Big Mouth (a show everyone assumed was popular in the pre-Streaming Ratings Era), Long Story Short, Haunted Hotel, Mating Season, Strip Law, and Alley Cats, and action shows like Blood of Zeus, Castlevania: Nocturne, Devil May Cry, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Prime Video had at least six animated misses, two in the same universe (Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss), three more comedies (#1 Happy Family USA, The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy and Kevin) and an action show (The Mighty Nein). Disney+ had MCU and Star Wars animated misses (Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombies, Star Wars: Visions, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, and Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld) but I can’t tell how many of those shows were geared towards adults. HBO Max had Harley Quinn and Hulu had Solar Opposites. None of these shows made the charts! That’s a lot of misses! If I remade the chart with all those misses, here’s how it would look: Listen, I know the counter arguments. First, it’s cheaper to produce animated shows than live action. Fair enough, but with viewership this low, even that cheaper price point starts to not matter. Second, just look at the acquired charts. Hit animated comedies can generate viewership for years! Shows like The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers do really, really well. Fair enough, but streaming has failed to recreate the dynamic that Fox has mastered so well. That’s a problem for streaming still. Television - Emmys! The annual Emmys broadcast was a few weeks ago, and I’ve got data on how the nominees performed on streaming, plus hot takes on this year’s viewership (and the big news about the broadcast’s, er, streamcast’s future). We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… The top Emmy-nominated shows… ...why I’m worried about the future of the Emmys telecast... ...the pros of broadcast television ...and the cons... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! Next week, we’ve got a double issue (since the weeks of 21-Sep and 28-Sep were so light), but then I’ll be all caught up after a deluge of streaming ratings data from Nielsen in September. In the meantime, I’m going to try to take a look at Netflix’s stats to explain why Bela Bajaria is out. But even light weeks give me plenty to talk about. The Great British Baking Show returns to Netflix and Apple TV has a buzzy new star-studded comedy. And Netflix has a controversial-but-appears-to-be-popular new game show. Plus big films like Toy Story 5, Backrooms and The Breadwinner head to streaming. And is East of Eden a hit? After that, The Kardashians return to Hulu, Prime Video has a reboot of Carrie, and Netflix has a horror show, Below. Disclosure Day heads to Peacock, The Housemaid heads to HBO Max_,_ a new Ben Affleck film, Animals, lands on Netflix, and Apple TV has a new John Cena action film based on, checks notes, Hasbro’s Matchbox toys. Okay. Longterm, some interesting TV production news. HBO Max ordered How to Survive Without Me, starring Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson, Ray Romano and Rita Wilson, for fifteen episodes! I love that some streamers (or, at least, HBO Max) are finally ordering TV shows with more than eight episodes. In less wise production news, Landman does not appear to be coming back this year, since it just started production. Frankly, I don’t love this (get your shows out on time) but Landman is so popular, I doubt it matters.
Popular actress, 52, hits back at claims she is ‘too old’ to be pregnant
Lizzo Says She Was Healthy Before Losing Weight
After critics claimed getting smaller hurt her image, Lizzo fired back with a powerful reminder: Her brand was never her body - it was joy.
Analysis: Trump says he's a great dealmaker. His record says otherwise
Donald Trump has long promoted himself as an exceptional dealmaker, and that claim has helped fuel his rise from real estate tycoon to president. But many the deals he has
Analysis: Trump says he's a great dealmaker. His record says otherwise
Donald Trump has long promoted himself as an exceptional dealmaker, and that claim has helped fuel his rise from real estate tycoon to president. But many the deals he has
Chuck Lorre claims Les Moonves made ‘no f---ing way’ gesture at Jon Cryer’s ‘Two and a Half Men’ audition
Chuck Lorre recalls casting ‘Two and a Half Men’ in his new memoir, ‘Sitcom,’ and being told by the network, ‘We don’t want to hear the words ‘Jon Cryer.’’
Nestle, Unilever face regulatory action in India over misleading health claims
Investing.com -- India’s food safety regulator has issued notices to Nestle India and Hindustan Unilever over allegedly misleading nutritional and health claims on dietary supplements, as authorities intensify scrutiny of food manufacturers.
PS6 RAM and Storage Alone Reportedly Cost Sony Over $680, Claims Leaker
The memory crunch looks like it is hitting the PlayStation 6 harder than expected. Hardware leaker KeplerL2 claims on NeoGAF that the RAM and NAND flash storage in Sony's next console alone cost over $680. He posted it as a reply to a forum member who floated $680 as a possible subsidized retail...
Chuck Lorre claims Cybill Shepherd became ‘a different person’ when shooting season 2 of ‘Cybill’
Chuck Lorre recounts how he was fired from ‘Cybill,’ a show he created, in his new memoir
Chuck Lorre claims Cybill Shepherd became ‘a different person’ when shooting season 2 of “Cybill”
The future creator of “The Big Bang Theory” writes about his Hollywood career in his new memoir.
Samsung Leak Claims 6 Galaxy Z Foldables for 2027
A leak claims Samsung could launch 6 Galaxy Z foldables in 2027, including a rollable Z Slide and a 3-tier Fold 9 line. Here is what is confirmed.
Is the brain actually 2 nervous systems smooshed together? A new study claims it is.
A recent study may reshape our understanding of brain evolution and open new avenues for studying neurological diseases.
Minnesota veterans receiving claims assistance, health exams at clinic
Appeals Court Questions Justice Dept. Claim that Trump Owns White House Records
A three-judge panel appeared unconvinced by claims that a federal law requiring the president to preserve and hand over his presidential papers was unconstitutional.
California falls short on Medi-Cal fraud, state report says - The Business Journal California auditor flags Medi-Cal fraud oversight concerns
California's state auditor raises concerns about Medi-Cal fraud oversight, citing millions in questionable claims and thousands of high-risk providers not under investigation.
Collin Gosselin slams mom Kate for mental health claims, says ‘maybe it’s time’ she get psychiatric evaluation
Collin Gosselin and his mother, Kate Gosselin, have been locked in a bitter feud after he accused her of abuse in his memoir, ‘In the Shadow of Eight,’ which released on Oct. 13.
Dr. Phil McGraw addresses Collin Gosselin’s ‘false’ claim that he helped offer Jon and Kate millions to stay married
The talk show host did not have “any vested interest” in the Gosselins’ relationship.
Everton Insider Makes Major David Moyes to Celtic Claim
The Everton insider has shared his view on the recent links involving David Moyes and Celtic.
Trump will rally Georgia Republicans despite party divisions in battleground state
President Donald Trump's midterm campaign blitz arrives in Georgia on Friday for a rally with top Republican candidates in a state that has long been the epicenter of the president's false claims about election fraud.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
New inflation data undercuts President Trump’s economic claims
The uranium cubes that exposed Nazi Germany’s nuclear failure
Scientists investigating Nazi Germany's secret nuclear program have uncovered evidence that its final experimental reactor was nowhere near as close to working as previously claimed. Analysis of surviving uranium cubes and wartime documents reveals that Germany lacked the enormous quantities of uranium and heavy water needed to make its reactor operational.
Republicans are spending millions to oust a Democrat who won by 187 votes. Should he worry?
Adam Gray won California’s closest House race by 187 votes in 2024. Now, Republicans are spending millions trying to reclaim the Central Valley seat.
Microsoft president pushes back against Trump's immigration crackdown
Brad Smith also defended Microsoft against JD Vance's claim that the company replaced laid-off Americans with foreign workers.
Acclaimed rock band returns with first new music in nearly 30 years
Exclusive Brethren church denies claims of coordinated political campaign in Australia
Parliamentary inquiry demanded the global leader of the sect and his son attend to answer questions.
Maple Leafs’ Kirill Marchenko Makes Unexpected Claim After Sabres Loss
One of the few bright spots for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, October 15, was Kirill Marchenko’s performance.The 26-year-old forward scored his first hat trick with the Toronto franchise, helping the Leafs take a 4-2 lead.However, Jim Hiller’s team let their guard down, and following John Tavares’ […] The post Maple Leafs’ Kirill Marchenko Makes Unexpected Claim After Sabres Loss appeared first on HEAVY.
5 Takeaways From the Senate Debate in Maine
The race’s fourth and final debate centered around whether Senator Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent, was as independent as she claimed to be from President Trump.
Anna Faris reacts to Chuck Lorre’s claim he hesitated casting her on ‘Mom’: ‘Of course it hurts’
Anna Faris has broken her silence on Chuck Lorre’s claim that he was ‘correct’ to feel ‘reluctance’ over casting her on ‘Mom,’ saying, ‘Of course it hurts’ on social media. ‘I’m proud of what we made together.’
Porter Jr.: Nets Home Games Felt Like Road Games
As LeBron James and a sea of rival fans invaded Barclays Center, Michael Porter Jr. challenged Brooklyn to reclaim its home court and end a losing culture.
Employee Retention Credit Eligibility for Healthcare Staffing Agencies: Legal Analysis of Southern Arizona Health Services v. United States
Southern Arizona Health Services Phoenix, LLC v. United States , No. 25-62T, Fed. Cl. , 2026 WL 29374 (Oct. 14, 2026) The United States Court of Federal Claims has issued a published opinion granting summary judgment to the government in Southern Arizona Health Services Phoenix, LLC v. United S
Meditation Could Tune Into Signals from a Mysterious Source—And Enable Extrasensory Powers, Scientist Claims
The controversial idea might help explain experiences like remote viewing and out-of-body feelings.
'The Diplomat' Season 4 is now streaming: Expect more political chaos — and plenty of marital drama.
"The Diplomat," Debora Cahn's critically acclaimed political drama starring Keri Russell, is back for its fourth season.
Independent candidate for governor accuses Sen. Marsha Blackburn of favoring political self-interest over the people
Independent candidate for governor Lauren Pinkston made claims against frontrunner Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee. Pinkston claims that Blackburn’s office is more worried about political gain that the people.
Trump Administration Sues California Over Voter Rolls
The lawsuit is seeking to block the state temporarily from counting mail ballots of voters it claims are likely noncitizens, opening a new front in the administration’s legal fights with election officials.
Former NFL player sues Jefferson Health, claims surgery ‘ended his career'
A former NFL player filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania health care system over a surgery that he claims was "unnecessary" and "ended his career."
Lawsuit claims owner of Bronzeville apartment complex blocked investor’s exit
An investor in the massive Lake Meadows complex wants out and alleges financial misconduct by the property's owner, Antheus Capital.
LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment Announce Nationwide WILDWOOD Fan First Premium Screenings
Following its acclaimed world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment have announced nationwide fan first premium-format screenings of Wildwood, director Travis Knight’s ambitious new stop-motion fantasy adventure. The film will be presented in more than 100 participating theatrical locations on Monday, October 19, offering audiences an exclusive early opportunity to […]