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Tensions rise between Nuggets, Timberwolves ahead of Game 3
The war of words is picking up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.
Ace tanks spearhead vehicular carnage with new Armoured Gauntlet rules
Fight big armoured battles with the new Armageddon: The Return of Yarrick expansion.
Artemis II’s science of resistance
Collective endeavour, humility, respect for reality… the values that took us to the moon are everything the Trump administration isn’t
SpaceX and Cursor: What smart people are saying about the $60B deal
Partnering with Cursor could be a crucial step for Elon Musk to get ahead of AI rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.
DeSantis says he's taking up Jeffries' invitation to 'F-around and find out' on Florida redistricting effort
Gov. Ron DeSantis fires back at Hakeem Jeffries over Florida redistricting, inviting the Democratic leader to campaign in the state ahead of 2026 midterms.
Morningstar eyes Google’s Thompson Center revamp for potential new HQ
Google's Thompson Center is among several future headquarters options the investment research firm has explored, according to people familiar with the search.
Westover Taco Makes History as Northern Virginia’s First Women’s Sports Fan Headquarters
Westover Taco in Arlington officially marked a major milestone by becoming the first women’s sports–focused fan headquarters in Northern Virginia.
APM’s Gutknecht looks back on ESPN work ahead of NFL Draft
In advance of the NFL Draft, which APM Music will be soundtracking, APM VP/Sports Entertainment Matthew Gutknecht revisits some of the company’s high-profile work with ESPN.
NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES ITS COMPLETE 2026 WNBA REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE ACROSS NBC, PEACOCK, AND NBCSN
Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart, and Azzi Fudd Headline Star-Studded Schedule
SPONSORED How small businesses help power Huntsville's growth
Huntsville, Ala.'s global reputation for aerospace, biotech and defense often grabs headlines. But the region's continued growth depends just as much on local entrepreneurs — and access to capital that helps them launch, hire and scale.
Defensive line rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft
Our final defensive line rankings our live and they are headlined by Rueben Bain Jr.
Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat seeking 13th term in Congress, dies at 80
Scott, the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was once a leading voice for his party on issues related to farm aid policy and food aid for consumers.
Morehead State Engineering Tech earns top ATMAE accreditation
MSU celebrates its engineering programs, achieving the maximum ATMAE accreditation, reflecting high-quality education and strong job-placement outcomes.
Mercy CEO Makes List of Great Leaders in Healthcare
Mercy President and CEO Steve Mackin was named to the Becker’s Hospital Review Great Leaders in Healthcare 2026 list. According to Becker’s, the leaders on the list are proactive changemakers, always looking ahead and striving to be better. They are building the future rather than passively waiting for it to arrive.
A Farewell to Twist and What Comes Next
A letter from the Game Director on the end of Twist and what comes next for Hearthstone.
Death of ‘genius’ Alabama woman linked to investigation of missing, dead scientists
The FBI confirmed Tuesday it is “spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists."
Caesars Entertainment Seems Headed Toward A Deal
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. buyout talks: markets imply 87% deal odds near $32, ~10% upside vs downside risk. Click for this CZR stock update.
Jigi Dinero has the latest in entertainment headlines
Drake sent fans in a frenzy to find out his new album release date, plus other top stories from Jigi.
MAD: Elvis Enhances Brand Partnerships, Names Prince Head Of Entertainment
The new hire will build on the agency's "SeriousEntertainment" mission.
Senior White House aide Alex Meyer heads to Trump's political team
He has been leading the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn plays like a Mass Effect-like sci-fi adventure in fine form, but its developer's use of AI raises some difficult questions
The signs are all good. Except there's that nagging question. How much does it matter that the studio is using gen-AI tools during the game's development?
Tottenham advertise sport psychologist roles
Tottenham are looking to appoint a lead psychologist for their men's first team after head coach Roberto de Zerbi said they need to "change the mentality".
The scary part about Hawks tying series vs. Knicks? 'We still haven't played our best basketball yet'
Heading home for Game 3, Atlanta has plenty of room to improve
Trump’s $293 Million Bet to Supercharge Science Faces Spending Headwinds
US AI push faces funding tensions as DOE’s Genesis Mission competes with NSF cuts, raising concerns about long-term innovation, reports Yuqing Liu.
Anker's 'Thus' chip brings AI to its headphones and other products
Anker has announced its own chip that can give its small, wearable products AI capabilities that run locally on device.
When Summer Screen Time Poses a Mental Health Risk for Teens
Beyond headlines and courtrooms, many families are seeking an answer to a more immediate question: How do we know when social media use is affecting a teenager’s mental health?
Prep talk: RJ Francisco is returning to Filipino roots for volleyball
The Highlanders' top volleyball player, RJ Francisco, is headed to the Philippines for college.
Cowboys news: Brandon Aubrey talks about his new deal
The latest news around the Cowboys heading into the draft
Riverhead sets hearing on condemning science center building
A split Riverhead Town Board voted Tuesday to set a May 20 public hearing on the proposed condemnation of the Long Island Science Center’s long-vacant building.
Microsoft releases emergency patches for critical ASP.NET flaw
Microsoft has released out-of-band (OOB) security updates to patch a critical ASP.NET Core privilege escalation vulnerability.
Washington's County's most improved high school spring sports athletes
Washington County's high school varsity spring sports head coaches were asked who their most improved athlete is. Here are their selections.
Ilia Topuria goes off on 'dumb as f***' Arman Tsarukyan
Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has made as many headlines for his antics outside of the cage as in it. The 29-year-old has stuck a fan on his walkout to the octagon, head butted an opponent during face-offs, engaged in a post-fight brawl at RAF 6, got thrown off an airplane and ...
A Look At Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Valuation As Upgraded Earnings Outlook Lifts Momentum
Momentum shift puts Sphere Entertainment in focus Recent favorable revisions to earnings estimates and a strong momentum score have pushed Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) onto more investors’ radars, as the stock’s performance has differed from both the broader market and its media peers. See our latest analysis for Sphere Entertainment. Despite a 2.8% decline in the latest session and a 4.4% 7 day share price pullback, Sphere Entertainment’s 30 day share price return of 18.8% and very large 1...
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) Valuation Check As Digital Growth Offsets Mixed Long Term Returns
Recent performance snapshot and business mix Caesars Entertainment (CZR) has seen mixed share performance, with a small 1 day pullback following gains of about 4% over the past week and roughly 3% over the past month. Over the past 3 months, the stock shows a return of about 17%, while the 1 year total return is close to 3%. Longer horizons look weaker, with 3 year and 5 year total returns of about 35% and 73% declines respectively. The company reports annual revenue of about US$11.5b and a...
Assessing Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) Valuation After New Impossible Foods Partnership
Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) is in focus after announcing a multiyear partnership with Impossible Foods. The deal introduces branded plant-based offerings, a dedicated Impossible Grille concession and expanded in-arena promotion across Knicks and Rangers home events. See our latest analysis for Madison Square Garden Entertainment. The stock is trading at $61.42 after a 9.37% 1 month share price return and 13.03% year to date share price return. The 1 year total shareholder...
Massive Motorola Razr 2026 leak leaves nothing to the imagination
All the specs of the standard Moto Razr 2026 have leaked ahead of its April 29 launch.
Medical Scans Reveal Hidden Secrets Inside Ancient Egyptian Mummies
Thousands of years later.
Hawaii elevates Mitchell to succeed Beeman as women's basketball coach
UH to introduce 9th head coach in program history in press conference Wednesday morning
Did ‘NCIS: Origins’ Just Take Major Step Towards Gibbs & Lala?
Plus, Randy books a slot at the Laugh Lodge ... only to be bumped by another redhead comedian.
Early 2026 fantasy expert consensus rankings: Giants busts
Heading into the 2026 season, here are the biggest Giants busts based on early fantasy expert consensus rankings
Virginia votes yes on proposed congressional redistricting, AP projects
Virginia voted to approve a plan to temporarily redraw the Commonwealth's 11 congressional districts ahead of November's midterm elections, the Associated Press projects.
Google Wallet just got a big upgrade ahead of the busy travel season
It makes flying less of a hassle
Remlinger Farms 2026 summer concert lineup announced
This year's concert series includes The Head and the Heart, The Black Keys and more.
Atlanta City Council approves entertainment district for World Cup fans
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches this summer, the Atlanta City Council has approved designating parts of downtown as a temporary “Public Entertainment District” for fans.
Analysis: Fans have turned on Rosenior
It marked radical new low point in a bleak run of five consecutive league defeats without a goal for Chelsea - their worst such sequence in more than a century and one that few supporters have witnessed in their lifetime. Given the club's success over the past 25 years, it is perhaps understandable that patience is thin for a head coach appointed just three months ago from Chelsea's partner club, Strasbourg. There were early signs that the night might not unfold as Rosenior had hoped.
SBA administrator speaks to ABC13 on economic uncertainty ahead of midterm elections: 'It's a blip'
With the war in Iran and growing costs creating uncertainty, the economy is atop voters minds heading into the 2026 midterms. While data reveals Texas is faring better economically than much of the country, growth might be slowing.
Top Futurist Sees Major Disruption Ahead For Healthcare
Healthcare is being rapidly reshaped by AI, data, and tech giants. Futurist Thomas Koulopoulos explains why traditional providers must adapt—or be disrupted.
Democrats win Virginia redistricting fight, threating Republican House majority
Virginia voters passed a redistricting referendum that could boost Democrats with four additional House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Bug & Bud Festival releases entertainment schedule ahead of April 25 event
Organizers of Milford’s annual Bug & Bud Festival have released a full “run of show” schedule, outlining a day of performances and activities planned for
Motorola Razr 70 listed ahead of announcement
It brings an updated 50MP ultrawide camera alongside a larger 4,800mAh battery compared to its predecessor. Motorola’s next-gen Razr 70 series is expected...
EXCLUSIVE: Ubisoft Cancels Alterra, Its Animal Crossing-Inspired Game
Ubisoft has cancelled yet another game, this time ending development on the Animal Crossing-inspired title Alterra.
Billy Donovan leaving Bulls after front office change, stepping away after 6 seasons as head coach
Billy Donovan leaving Bulls after front office change, stepping away after six seasons as head coach
After firing Artūras Karnišovas and GM Marc Eversley in a major reorganization, Chicago wanted to keep Donovan around — but the veteran head coach had a different idea.
Billy Donovan steps down as Bulls coach after six seasons
The Bulls will now replace their front office leadership and head coach ahead of next season
Recapping Indiana politics headlines in 60 seconds
IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer recaps the top politics headlines in 60 seconds from the week of April 13.
Mississippi Better Business Bureau warns of travel scam surge ahead of Memorial Day weekend
Officials said crooks are using fake travel sites and social media listings to steal money from people looking for travel deals.
Size of Starbucks workforce in Nashville announced
At 2,000 employees, it would be more than half the head count at its current headquarters in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood, where it has been since the early 1990s.
Shohei Ohtani's roster spot an unfair advantage, claims Craig Counsell ahead of weekend Dodgers-Cubs series
As a two-way player, Ohtani is listed as a position player, which allows the Dodgers to roster 13 other pitchers
FBI investigating possible links between deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists
The law enforcement agency’s announcement came after President Donald Trump highlighted the recent deaths of several scientists and government workers who may have had access to sensitive information
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
Early 2026 fantasy expert consensus rankings: Dallas Cowboys busts
Heading into the 2026 season, here are the biggest Cowboys busts based on early fantasy expert consensus rankings
Ocean Casino Resort Unveils Summer 2026 Lineup with High-Energy Entertainment, New Openings, Expanded Private Jet Service and Seasonal Amenities
/PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Casino Resort is setting the stage for an unforgettable Summer 2026 with an exciting lineup of headlining entertainment at HQ2 Beachclub...
Union workers take legal action against Build A Rocket Boy
One union member said the studio's 'culture of secrecy and micromanaging' is one of the worst they've ever encountered.
Steam Controller one step closer to launch after Valve teases ‘unboxing’ video with announcement pending
Another Steam Controller clue has been spotted online, as a mysterious 'unboxing' video appears on SteamDB ahead of launch.
When the CEO Becomes the Brand
Research suggests that Elon Musk’s political stance appears to have reshaped how different groups perceive Tesla. Overall sales trends hint at trouble. The company’s growth stalled in 2024, and deliveries fell 8.5% in 2025. But those headline numbers hide what is happening beneath the surface. When the data is broken down by political orientation and by changes in views of Musk, a more complicated pattern emerges. Among right-leaning respondents and those whose opinion of Musk has improved, Tesla’s brand appeal is significantly higher and willingness to pay exceeds that for many competing brands, including Ford, Chevrolet, and Rivian. Among left-leaning consumers and those whose view of Musk has worsened, the opposite is true: Preference and willingness to pay for Tesla drop sharply. The outcome is not a uniform decline but a polarization of demand. Some consumers appear to feel alienated, while others feel more aligned with the brand. This raises an important strategic question of whether companies can influence purchasing decisions across these divided segments by strengthening the underlying value proposition.
Behind the science: Why it pays to fight a virus on the home turf
The emergence of a nasty new virus or even an unexpected flu strain can pose a big public-health headache. Meanwhile, antiviral drug development moves at an agonizingly slow pace and cringingly high cost. But there’s a way around that.
The Death of Public Health
During the recent measles outbreak, the largest in more than 30 years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to clearly recommend the measles vaccine, saying instead that it was a “personal decision,” and that parents should “do their own research.” Similarly, during her recent confirmation hearing for United States Surgeon General, Casey Means was questioned by Senator William Cassidy (R, La). “You’re the nation’s doctor,” said Cassidy. “Would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated!” “I’m not an individual’s doctor,” Means said. “And every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body.” In June 2025, Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that COVID vaccines for pregnant women should be a “personal choice”, even though every other country in the world recommended the COVID vaccine during pregnancy due to a higher risk for severe disease. It doesn’t end there. On January 5, 2026, RFK Jr. reduced the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 18 to 10. For vaccines that protected against influenza, COVID, and rotavirus, parents were urged to speak with their doctors—to make an individual choice. (On March 16, 2026, in a ruling by a federal court in Boston, RFK Jr.’s revised schedule was invalidated.) What’s happening? Why are public health officials moving away from making recommendations for the public? The origin of this change might be rooted in the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, during the first year on the pandemic, we didn’t have anything to stop a virus that was killing hundreds of people a day and could be spread asymptomatically. We didn’t have antivirals until October, monoclonal antibodies until November, and vaccines until December. All we could do was restrict travel, close businesses, shutter schools, and mask, isolate, quarantine, test, and social distance. During the second year of the pandemic, when we had vaccines to prevent COVID, people couldn’t go anywhere without their vaccine cards. They couldn’t go to their favorite bar or restaurant or sporting event or place of worship without proof of vaccination. Some people were fired from their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. For many, this was seen as massive government overreach and energized what has been called the “medical freedom movement.” Indeed, a headline in the New York Times declared, “How Health Freedom Became a Winning Rally Cry.” As expressed in the comments of RFK Jr., Casey Means, and Marty Makary, the medical freedom movement focuses on the individual not the community—the opposite of public health. In an article titled “Ethics and Social Value Judgments in Public Health,” ethicists from Yale University distinguished public health from medical freedom. “Public health policies,” they wrote, “are population oriented. Because individual health affects the health of others, public health measures regulate individual behavior to achieve population health goals. All raise questions about how individual autonomy and freedom should be balanced against public health interests…which respects individuals’ sovereignty over their bodies and actions as long as their actions do not harm others.” The medical freedom movement fails to recognize that it often limits the freedom of others. For example, a parent who is afraid to send a child to school where many of the students are unvaccinated. Or immune compromised children who depend on those around them to for protection. The question then becomes “Freedom for whom?” Is it your right, in the name of medical freedom, to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection—and in so doing, take away the freedom of others? In Four Essays on Liberty, Isaiah Berlin sums it up best. “Liberty for the wolves,” he wrote, “is death to the lambs.” Thanks for reading Beyond the Noise! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
Fired former official says he felt political pressure to approve Mandelson as U.S. ambassador
The testimony by former Foreign Office head Olly Robbins turns up the heat on Starmer, who is facing calls to resign over the appointment of a scandal-tainted former politician and friend of Jeffrey Epstein to one of the U.K.’s most important diplomatic posts.
Mizuho reiterates Outperform on PENN Entertainment stock
Mizuho reiterates Outperform on PENN Entertainment stock
Scottish Parliament election 2026: Parties campaign ahead of postal vote application deadline
Politicians are campaigning for votes across the country ahead of the election on 7 May.
Washington County's 2026 high school spring sports 'Unsung Heroes'
I asked Washington County's spring sports varsity head coaches one question: Who is your team's unsung hero? Here are the coaches' selections.
Sennheiser launches HD 480 Pro, the closed-back headphones fans have been waiting for
Sennheiser's new HD 480 Pro is essentially a closed-back reimagining of the company's popular HD 490 Pro headset.
NBA playoffs: Timberwolves climb out of 19-point hole to knock off Nuggets, even series
Despite a huge start by the Nuggets, the Timberwolves are headed back to Minneapolis tied up 1-1.
Sony may have just leaked its own 10th anniversary 'WH-1000XX' headphones
Sony has accidentally revealed a new "1000X THE Collexion" headphone with model number "WH-1000XX" via its own websites.
Exclusive: SpaceX tries to woo Wall Street with three-day analyst meeting this week, sources say
SpaceX is moving ahead with plans for one of the most anticipated IPOs in history as it hosts analysts this week for three days of closed-door meetings at its launch facility in Texas and mega-sized data center in Tennessee, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Poll flags vaccine politics as risk ahead of Special Session
Poll shows strong voter support for existing vaccine requirements statewide.
Some Dems want a caretaker to replace Eric Swalwell in Congress
If any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the June 16 special election, they could head to Congress immediately.
Entertainment Look-A-Head: Michael Jackson movie release, Daredevil’s story continues, more games drop
From April 21 - 27, numerous video games launch alongside a wave of streaming content. Major shows like “Andor” and “The Boys” return and the awaited Michael Jackson movie arrives in theaters. The 2026 NFL Draft also begins on Thursday.
Miranda Kerr: Ingredient transparency isn’t just about beauty
The model and founder of KORA Organics chats with Know Your Value founder and "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski ahead of a special Earth Day event in Los Angeles.
Agomo introduced as 15th men's basketball head coach at Westminster College
Agomo joins Blue Jays after four seasons with Depauw.
Rolesville (NC) football promotes defensive coordinator to head coach
Rolesville High School (NC) didn’t have to look too far for who would be the next individual to lead their football program. According to a report by HighSchoolOT, the Rams have promoted defensive coordinator Kevin Reddick to the position of head coach. Reddick takes over for head football coach Ranier Rackley, who left his head coaching position […]
Amanda Anisimova turns heads at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards
Amanda Anisimova was nominated for World Comeback Player of the Year at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards. Though Rory McIlroy won the award, Anisimova earned rave reviews for her glamorous look. MORE: Carlos Alcaraz wins Laureus World Sports Award…
Photos: Voluntary Veteran Minicamp
Head inside Intermountain Health Performance Center to view photos from the first day of the Raiders' 2026 voluntary veteran minicamp.
NASA Plans to Test Fire on The Moon Ahead of Future Missions
Flames burn differently in space.
US crude futures fall as investors reassess US-Iran risks ahead of ceasefire deadline
U.S. crude futures fell nearly 2% in early Asian trade on Tuesday as investors reassessed supply risk, with uncertainty over U.S.–Iran peace talks persisting ahead of a key ceasefire deadline.
UVA Center for Politics weighs in on redistricting outcome
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Virginians will head to the polls Tuesday for a special election that will determine whether redistricting moves forward.
Statewide proposal on trans athlete participation in girls sports fails for second time
Lynden School District spearheaded amendment to WIAA guidelines
‘WhatsApp Plus’ subscription launching soon with new features
WhatsApp is planning a new ‘WhatsApp Plus’ paid subscription, and it just went live in the app’s Android beta ahead of an iOS launch.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer exits Trump admin; Keith Sonderling named acting head
The Department of Labor sees a change in command as Lori Chavez-DeRemer leaves the Trump administration. Keith Sonderling has been tapped as the acting secretary.
Apple names Johny Srouji as chief hardware officer
Apple has a new CEO and new head of hardware.
Longtime Florida Official Named Head of EPA’s Science Office
The EPA on Monday announced the permanent head of a new science office created by the Trump administration that replaced the shuttered research and development wing.
Join Healthy Kids Here in Celebration of Every Kid Healthy Week™
IDEA Public Schools’ Healthy Kids Here program is a proud partner of Every Kid Healthy Week™, an annual national celebration led by Action for Healthy Kids, observed this year during April 20-24, 2026. […]
MAD: Kepler Taps Garcia To Lead Social, Entertainment, Culture Intelligence Efforts
The VaynerMedia veteran most recently served at KMG Strategic Consultancy where she advised a range of startups, creators and more.
College basketball rankings: Why UConn is moving up in preseason way-too-early Top 25 And 1
Braylon Mullins is heading back to the Huskies and Duke's Nikolas Khamenia has committed to UConn coach Dan Hurley
EPA Adds More Pesticide Industry Reps to Science Board
While most appointees are academic scientists, Administrator Lee Zeldin also named employees of a company that makes forever chemicals.
Head of the Charles board adds business leaders, aims for profitability
The rowing nonprofit just added PNC Bank exec Jon Bernstein and sports marketer Dave Mingey to the board.
THE WEEK OF APRIL 20, 2026
- Science agency heads face appropriators - CDC director nominee announced - Dems accuse NASA of unauthorized cuts
Ruth Francis obituary
Other lives: Communications head for scientific publishers who also chaired her industry body
Hailey Bieber Debuts Cute Tattoos to Show Her Love for Husband Justin Bieber During Coachella
Hailey Bieber put her love for her husband, Justin Bieber, on full display as she supported him at the 2026 Coachella Music & Arts Festival, where he was the Saturday night headliner across the event's two-weekend stretch.