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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.

Apr 22 • 8:22 AM EDT • Science • techpolicy.press

Prominent Sports Investor Discusses Leadership and the Business of Team Success - University of New Haven

As part of the University of New Haven’s Sports Leadership Exchange Speaker Series, President Jens Frederiksen hosted business leader and sports executive Marc Lasry, who offered lessons on building strong teams, creating positive culture, and turning passion into long-term success.

Apr 22 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • newhaven.edu

Virginians approve Democratic map targeting 4 Republican congressional seats

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a new Democratic-drawn congressional map that could flip four Republican U.S. House seats in November's midterm elections, U.S. media projected.

Apr 21 • 10:25 PM EDT • Politics • detroitnews.com

Virginia approves redistricting, giving Democrats edge in midterms

The new maps in Virginia could make it easier for Democrats to take control of the US House of Representatives in November.

Apr 21 • 9:08 PM EDT • Politics • bbc.com

Virginia voters will approve a map giving Democrats a chance at four more House seats, CNN projects

Virginia voters will approve a map that gives Democrats the chance to net as many as four US House seats, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, in a major boost to the party’s effort to win House control in the midterms.

Apr 21 • 8:51 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

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.

Apr 21 • 5:32 PM EDT • Business • abc13.com

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.

Apr 21 • 4:12 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com

Special edition: POLITICO Health Care Summit highlights

Republicans and Democrats agree: Soaring health care costs will be a pivotal issue in the midterms. But they have very different ideas on what to do about it.

Apr 21 • 3:41 PM EDT • Health • politico.com

What Is It Like to Be an AI in Business Master's Student?

Learn why professionals are studying AI in business, what it’s like to be a student in BU’s AI business degree and how to determine if this program is right for you.

Apr 21 • 3:37 PM EDT • Business • bu.edu

Mozilla Used Anthropic’s Mythos to Find and Fix 151 Bugs in Firefox

The Firefox team doesn’t think emerging AI capabilities will upend cybersecurity long term, but they warn that software developers are likely in for a rocky transition.

Apr 21 • 2:30 PM EDT • Technology • wired.com

RFK Jr.’s followers will help the GOP in midterms, Kennedy adviser tells POLITICO’s Health Summit

Calley Means said the health secretary and Trump are working in “lockstep.”

Apr 21 • 2:27 PM EDT • Health • politico.com

GOP strategists required to sign NDAs at meeting on midterm plans

The unusual secrecy surrounding the Waldorf Astoria meeting has frustrated some looking for funding clues as Trump’s popularity has dropped to near historic lows.

Apr 21 • 1:29 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com

Maine Sports Hall of Fame announces 2026 class of inductees

Apr 21 • 12:41 PM EDT • Sports • newscentermaine.com

House Ethics Committee Weighs Punishment for Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick

The House Ethics Committee will meet Tuesday to determine what punishment they will recommend for Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick with Republicans calling for expulsion. The ethics panel found that the Florida Democrat violated 25 House rules and ethical standards. She is also accused of stealing $5 ...

Apr 21 • 12:35 PM EDT • Politics • usnews.com

Just Two Years After Opening, Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital - Miller Family Campus in Lehi is Expanding to Meet Growing Demand for Pediatric Care

Just two years after opening, Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital - Miller Family Campus in Lehi has become a critical access point for pediatric trauma care and specialty services for children closer to home for residents in fast-growing communities in Utah County and Southern Salt Lake County.Since opening in 2024, Intermountain...

Apr 21 • 10:25 AM EDT • Health • news.intermountainhealth.org

The Pitt and Medicaid - National Health Law Program

“Hopefully we’ll be back on Medicaid by then.” “How’d you lose it?” “They sent a redetermination letter to our old apartment. It didn’t get forwarded.” “And you haven’t been able to get it back since?” “I’ve been trying for months. To get re-enrolled, you need tax returns, pay stubs… I cut hair. My income fluctuates.” – The Pitt, Season 2, […]

Apr 21 • 9:53 AM EDT • Health • healthlaw.org

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

Apr 21 • 9:31 AM EDT • Science • democracysos.substack.com

In California, Israel is emerging as a defining Democratic test

As the war in Iran stretches on, it is inflaming an intraparty rift with ramifications for the midterms and the run-up to 2028.

Apr 21 • 8:55 AM EDT • Politics • politico.com

Supreme Court’s high-stakes term could reshape presidential power, immigration, voting rights

The Supreme Court’s term is packed — birthright citizenship, presidential removals, voting rules, transgender sports and more. Constitutional law expert Rod Sullivan joins News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton on this week’s episode of Politics & Power to discuss what’s at stake and why it matters to you.

Apr 21 • 8:39 AM EDT • Politics • news4jax.com

4 things athletes know that business often ignores

Sustained, long-term performance requires recovery to come back stronger.

Apr 21 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • fastcompany.com

5 leadership lessons from Apple CEO Tim Cook

While many CEOs have struggled to follow iconic founders, Tim Cook is wrapping up a 15-year term at the helm of Apple.

Apr 21 • 5:45 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

Trump’s Federal Reserve chair pick to face lawmakers at key confirmation hearing

The hearing marks a key hurdle Kevin Warsh must overcome in order to succeed Jerome Powell when his term ends on 15 May

Apr 21 • 5:16 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger Stressed Pragmatism, But Politics Hound Her

Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has emphasized practical governance as her brand, but the political fight over redistricting has dominated her term so far.

Apr 21 • 5:01 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

A Governor Who Stressed Pragmatism Is Hounded by Politics

Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has emphasized practical governance as her brand, but the political fight over redistricting has dominated her term so far.

Apr 21 • 5:01 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

Virginia voters to decide on new House map with major midterm implications

Virginia is the latest front in an unprecedented coast-to-coast redistricting war, with voters on Tuesday set to determine whether to accept or reject a Democratic plan to dramatically redraw the state’s congressional maps and help shape the midterm elections.

Apr 21 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Wrist test 'crucial' for Alcaraz French Open hopes

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says the results of the test on his injured wrist will be "crucial" in determining whether he plays at the French Open.

Apr 21 • 3:31 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

The Science of piRNA and Predicting Death With a Blood Test

A new study analyzed piRNA — first discovered in 2006 — as a strong predictor of short-term survival in older patients. It could one day be a simple blood test.

Apr 20 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • medscape.com

Photos: Voluntary Veteran Minicamp

Head inside Intermountain Health Performance Center to view photos from the first day of the Raiders' 2026 voluntary veteran minicamp.

Apr 20 • 7:34 PM EDT • Health • raiders.com

George Ariyoshi, 100, America’s First Governor of Asian Descent, Dies

A Democrat, he served three terms as Hawaii’s governor (1974-86), rising out of a tough district of Honolulu. He tried to diversify an economy heavily dependent on tourism.

Apr 20 • 5:49 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

NASA Shut Down Voyager 1 Science Instrument After Unexpected Power Drop

Engineers are working on a long-term plan to keep the iconic spacecraft alive.

Apr 20 • 4:50 PM EDT • Science • gizmodo.com

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski seeking contract extension in offseason

Brandin Podziemski is hoping to secure a long-term contract extension with the Golden State Warriors this offseason.

Apr 20 • 4:32 PM EDT • Sports • nbcsportsbayarea.com

Six ways your smartwatch is lying to you, according to science

Wearable fitness technologies like smartwatches are worn by millions of people daily. But they're not as accurate as you might think.

Apr 20 • 2:30 PM EDT • Science • abc.net.au

What is President Donald Trump's approval rating? See latest polls

President Trump's approval rating has long been underwater, spelling trouble for Republicans in the midterms. Iran, high gas prices aren't helping.

Apr 20 • 12:38 PM EDT • Politics • usatoday.com

The Shreveport Mass Killing Isn’t Just About “Mental Health”

When a man shoots his wife and children, the term you are looking for is patriarchy.

Apr 20 • 12:19 PM EDT • Health • thecut.com

Toledo long-term care hospital closing its doors, state filings show

Advanced Specialty Hospitals of Toledo is closing its doors effective May 1, according to state filings.

Apr 20 • 11:46 AM EDT • Health • 13abc.com

Health care leaders discuss opportunities to shape the future of health care delivery, access

AHA Board Immediate Past Chair Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, Corewell Health, and Rob Allen, president and CEO, Intermountain Health, participated in a discussion moderated by Jim Skogsbergh, former chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, for a discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing health care leaders in today’s landscape.

Apr 20 • 10:43 AM EDT • Health • aha.org

How chronic stress affects brain health over time

Chronic stress triggers brain changes linked to cognition and long‑term health. See what science reveals and changes that make a difference.

Apr 20 • 10:22 AM EDT • Health • utphysicians.com

Trump Backs Psychedelic Research

By HealthDay Staff HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, April 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Psychedelic drugs could soon play a larger role in mental health care. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting federal research into substances like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA

Apr 20 • 10:05 AM EDT • Health • usnews.com

Tariff refund system for businesses scheduled for launch on Monday

The U.S. tariff refund system is set to launch on Monday, allowing businesses to submit their claims for reimbursements after paying $166 billion on duties determined to be illegal by the Supreme C…

Apr 20 • 9:13 AM EDT • Business • thehill.com

Can you determine your personalised stress score?

“I’m stressed” is a phrase that many of us use, but now there are ways to shed light on how stressed you actually are

Apr 20 • 9:00 AM EDT • Health • newscientist.com

U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar

U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold today provided critical maternal and newborn health equipment that will reach healthcare facilities across Madagascar, demonstrating how U.S. foreign assistance builds a safer, healthier world by helping recipient countries build self-reliant health systems in line with the America First Global Health Strategy. Under President Trump’s America First foreign assistance policy and the America First Global Health Policy, U.S. support serves as a tool of strategic engagement – not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar is subject to rigorous oversight to ensure measurable results, maximum efficiency, and accountability, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. Through the bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding with Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health, both governments agreed on shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on maternal and newborn health and Madagascar’s increasing co-investment in its own health system. Madagascar continues to face major challenges in maternal and newborn health, including high maternal mortality rates and significant gaps in access to quality delivery care. In rural regions, many women still give birth at home or in facilities without adequate infection-prevention supplies. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership Project, the United States is providing essential equipment to healthcare facilities nationwide: calibrated reusable drapes for infection prevention in approximately 1,000 community health centers (CSBs), single-use calibrated drapes for 35 hospitals, and management tools for health workers to improve data collection and care coordination. “U.S. foreign assistance makes America safer by preventing instability and strengthening health systems that can detect and contain infectious diseases before they cross borders,” said Chargé d’Affaires Arnold during the handover ceremony. “Our support is temporary and targeted, designed to help Madagascar build greater self-reliance and reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources.” This U.S. support will help standardize safe delivery practices, strengthen infection prevention, and improve data management systems. Used effectively, these materials will contribute directly to reducing maternal and newborn deaths, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to quality delivery care remains limited. From major hospitals to remote health centers, U.S.-funded equipment is already delivering results. The nationwide scope of this support ensures that women and newborns across Madagascar benefit from improved infection prevention and safer delivery practices. This targeted assistance helps save lives today while supporting Madagascar’s transition toward a self-sufficient health system, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s future independence from foreign assistance.

Apr 20 • 8:57 AM EDT • Health • mg.usembassy.gov

For aging justices, politics of retirement looms large

Donald Trump says Justices Alito and Thomas should remain on the Supreme Court as retirement speculation grows ahead of midterm elections.

Apr 20 • 8:20 AM EDT • Politics • minnlawyer.com

Third party mayor finds no honeymoon from partisan politics

Jay Doyle was 100 days into his first term as Mayor of Georgetown. He hadn’t been counting up, he said. He had been counting down. “I was retired, living a nice, peaceful life, and this just throws your life into chaos,” Doyle said. “I think it’s intended to be a part time job. It’s anything […]

Apr 20 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • coastalobserver.com

Column | Just 2 minutes a day of this type of exercise may help you live longer

Getting older doesn’t have to mean slowing down. In fact, turning up the intensity, even very briefly, can transform long-term health and improve longevity.

Apr 20 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com

A political vibe shift: The Senate is suddenly in play

Republicans entered 2026 all but certain they'd hold the chamber. Six months out, that certainty is fading.

Apr 20 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • ms.now

Louisiana Senate showdown tests MAHA’s political power

Movement leaders' efforts to sway the midterms, starting with defeating Sen. Bill Cassidy, will help determine whether MAHA outlasts Trump

Apr 20 • 4:45 AM EDT • Politics • politico.com

New Southcoast Health fund supports Bridgewater State athletes

Southcoast Health established an endowed fund to provide long-term support for Bridgewater State University student-athletes.

Apr 20 • 4:03 AM EDT • Health • heraldnews.com

Molteni Group's Contract Business Thrives: Nautical & Hospitality

Molteni Group sees booming growth in contract, hospitality, and nautical sectors, leveraging long-term projects with luxury DNA and global expertise.

Apr 20 • 12:01 AM EDT • Business • wwd.com

AMC Entertainment Closes $425MM Term Loan with Deutsche Bank

Odeon Finco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Odeon Cinemas Group and AMC Entertainment, entered into a credit agreement with Deutsche Bank AG (New York branch)

Apr 19 • 11:12 PM EDT • Entertainment • abfjournal.com

Advancing epidemic and pandemic preparedness through research readiness: SEAR Unity Studies Network Sites chart the way forward in 2026

On 25 March 2026, WHO Regional Office for the South‑East Asia Region (SEARO) convened the first meeting of the SEAR Chapter of the Unity Studies Network Meeting in 2026 to take stock of progress and plan next steps for strengthening epidemic and pandemic preparedness across the Region. The meeting focused on reviewing the ongoing adaptation of selected, standard Unity Study methodologies, sharing field implementation experiences from 2025, and identifying key priorities to guide collaborative work in 2026.Held virtually, the meeting brought together representatives from six Unity Studies network sites across five countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) as well as participants from all three levels of WHO.The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing regional efforts in South‑East Asia to strengthen early investigations and studies for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, with a focus on pandemic influenza and other emerging respiratory pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential. In this context, and as part of preparedness for the rapid generation of evidence, the WHO Health Emergencies Programme in SEAR (WHE/SEAR) encourages Unity Studies sites to adapt prioritized, standardized Unity Study protocols to their national contexts. This approach supports the generation of timely and reliable evidence to inform public health decision‑making during epidemics and pandemics.These efforts are supported through a combination of experience sharing, participation in the global Unity Studies network webinars, capacity‑building of the national public health workforce, and regional collaboration that promotes inter‑country, inter‑agency, and inter‑ministerial action. In parallel, sites are encouraged to explore diversified funding sources to help sustain research preparedness over the long term.Discussions highlighted the importance of WHO’s catalytic financial support through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contributions (PIP‑PC). When combined with national and institutional resources, this support enables countries and sites to maintain continuity of activities at a core level and remain prepared to respond rapidly and effectively to future epidemics and pandemics.Regional and Global Updates: Opening the session, Dr Pushpa Ranjan Wijesinghe, Programme Area Manager, Pandemic and Epidemic Management (PEM) Unit, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, highlighted the progress made in operationalizing the Unity Studies Network across the Region and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of WHO at all three levels, together with country unity studies sites. He emphasized the availability of limited but catalytic funding through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PIP‑PC) workplan at SEARO to sustain network activities in 2026, while encouraging sites to leverage additional funding sources to expand implementation.Representing SEARO, Dr Ashok Basnet, consultant, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness reported that, at the regional level, the Unity Studies Network currently includes six sites across five countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. He noted that in 2025, catalytic funding supported protocol adaptation, training, and pilot implementation. In addition, a regional Unity Studies symposium held during the Global Public Health Summit in Sri Lanka strengthened and advocated collaboration between the Unity Studies site, national decision‑making forum, relevant technical units of the ministry of health, WHO and other partners.The symposium also highlighted the role of early investigations and studies as a key component of a multi‑source surveillance system needed at country level to generate a broad range of evidence. It underscored the critical role of country Unity Studies sites and similar research entities in generating evidence to support public health decision‑making during epidemics and pandemics.Participants of the WHO GISRS Unity Studies Sites Network- SEAR Chapter Meeting 2026 (Photo credit- PEM/WHE/SEARO). SEARO also updated participants on ongoing efforts to develop a regional Unity Studies webpage and to promote participation in global knowledge‑sharing platforms, including webinars and the WHO Community of Practice. Priorities for 2026 include supporting the implementation of Unity protocols, strengthening collaboration and experience sharing across sites, documenting and publishing findings, integrating Unity Studies activities as a component of multi-source national surveillance systems, and building workforce capacity.Dr Nickle Boddington of the Global Influenza Programme (GIP) at WHO Headquarters, which coordinates the Unity Studies Network globally, provided updates on global Unity Studies activities, noting that the network has expanded to 16 sites worldwide. New and updated protocols, including rapid clinical severity assessment tools and standardized data platforms, are being developed to support implementation. The global Community of Practice has also been launched to facilitate technical exchange, and continued support will be provided to sites for protocol adaptation, ethical approvals, and readiness for early investigation during outbreaks. Updates from Unity Studies sites in SEAR in 2025Unity Studies sites shared progress and experiences in implementing protocols across diverse country contexts. Sites initiated activities in 2025 using catalytic funding from SEARO, complemented by the mobilization of internal national resources. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh, reported the adoption and piloting of investigation protocols on non‑seasonal influenza and emerging respiratory diseases during recent avian influenza outbreaks, demonstrating a multi‑source funding approach involving government, WHO and One Health partners.The Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), New Delhi, India, highlighted the piloting of household transmission investigation studies, the expansion of the national Unity Studies network, and the contribution of study findings to global evidence through published outputs. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, shared experiences from large‑scale seroprevalence studies conducted during the COVID‑19 pandemic, recent efforts to strengthen national Unity network sites through training activities, and plans to initiate multi‑centre studies on respiratory viruses.Similarly, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, highlighted its experience in developing integrated surveillance and diagnostic protocols for multiple respiratory pathogens, enhancing readiness for targeted investigations of emerging threats. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, reported ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Health and exploration of additional funding sources to initiate studies. Meanwhile, the National Public Health Laboratory, Nepal, provided updates on continued coordination with national stakeholders to initiate implementation, despite delays related to the country context.Across sites, shared experiences underscored the importance of protocol adaptation, multisectoral collaboration, and sustainable funding to operationalize Unity Studies and generate evidence for public health action.Discussions and Way ForwardThe meeting reinforced key priorities for 2026, including strengthening unity studies protocol implementation, enhancing collaboration, knowledge sharing, integrating research as a component of national multi-source surveillance systems, and ensuring that generated evidence informs public health decision‑making. Participants also emphasized the importance of documentation, visibility, and leveraging multiple funding sources, and agreed on the following action points.Unity Studies Sites and WHO Country Offices:Advance adoption and implementation of at least one Unity protocol, continuing activities initiated in 2025 with catalytic funding, supplemented with other sources of funding where feasible.Document site-specific experiences, outcomes, and lessons learned; participate in regional and global knowledge-sharing platforms including WHO webinars and the Community of Practice.Work closely with ministries of health to establish unified national platforms for translating generated evidence into national public health decision-making. WHO Country Offices may facilitate technical support and complementary, synergistic funding opportunities where feasible. WHO Regional OfficeCoordinate with WHO Country Offices to support implementation of core unity studies activities by network sites through catalytic funding and provide technical guidance and virtual engagement opportunities throughout 2026.Facilitate the participation of all Unity Studies sites in the regional meeting on Unity Studies implementation in October 2026, to be held back‑to‑back with the Annual SEAR Regional PIP‑PC Meeting; develop and host a SEAR Unity Studies website; and mobilize support from academic institutions within the SEAR Unity Studies Network to support the development of regional manuscripts that showcase Unity Studies activities to scientific audiences and promote knowledge‑sharing.Explore complementary funding opportunities and partnerships to sustain and expand network activities across the Region.WHO HeadquartersProvide global technical guidance, updated protocols, and toolkits to support the implementation of Unity Studies in SEAR.Facilitate engagement of SEAR sites in global webinars, the Community of Practice, and opportunities to showcase their work.Support joint publications, inclusion of SEAR experiences in global outputs, and identification of additional funding and collaborative opportunities to strengthen Unity Studies activities.

Apr 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int

Paleo diet expert warns supplements may miss key nutrients for long-term health

The Paleo Diet CEO Trevor Connor told Fox News Digital why some nutrients tied to long-term health may not be fully understood — and why whole foods remain essential.

Apr 19 • 6:32 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com

Campaigns raise money for and against girls' sports, parents' rights issues on Nov. ballot

We are already gearing up for a busy midterm election that will include at least two statewide issues on Washington’s ballot.Let's Go Washington collected signa

Apr 19 • 3:35 PM EDT • Sports • komonews.com

Trump's approval rating drops over economy, Iran war in new poll

New polling from NBC News Decision Desk measured new lows for the president's second term. See the numbers.

Apr 19 • 11:25 AM EDT • Politics • usatoday.com

Vote for Section V's Boys Athlete of the Week for April 13-19 presented by Faber Builders

Your vote will determine who will be the Faber Builders Boys Sports Athlete of the Week for -April 13-19.

Apr 19 • 11:13 AM EDT • Sports • democratandchronicle.com

Curing U.S. Health Care, Part I

In 2008, much to their own surprise, leading Democrats unified around a program of major health care reform. Policy wonks had spent years developing the concepts behind what eventually became Obamacare; big Democratic victories in the 2006 midterms and the prospect of controlling both Congress and the presidency made it possible to imagine turning those ideas into reality. During the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama advocated similar plans, based on those ideas, for expanding insurance coverage. And it happened! The Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010. When it was fully implemented in 2014, millions of Americans got health insurance: Impressive as the raw numbers are, they don’t tell the whole story. Before the ACA, even upper-middle-class Americans often found it impossible to get health insurance if they had pre-existing medical conditions. Many Americans were trapped in jobs they wanted to leave but couldn’t for fear of losing their employment-based coverage. Meanwhile, dire predictions from the usual suspects about runaway costs proved wrong. In fact, overall U.S. medical spending has grown much more slowly since the ACA was enacted than before. But the U.S., alone among advanced nations, still falls far short of providing universal health care. As you can see from the chart above, 8 percent of the population was still uninsured in 2024, a number that is set to rise over the next two years as a result of Republican policies. True, many of the uninsured in 2024 were undocumented immigrants, who we don’t try to cover. But there are still a lot of uninsured. Moreover, a significant number of Americans who have health insurance are in fact underinsured. As a result, they are at risk of incurring devastating healthcare costs and are sometimes forced to forgo needed care. This number is set to rise sharply in the next two years as a result of Republican policies adopted under Donald Trump. And not only is the U.S. unique among advanced countries in its under-provision of health care coverage, it also incurs by far the world’s highest healthcare costs per capita. So now may well be a good time to get behind a new push for major health reform — an effort, if you like, to finish the job begun under Obama. Today’s primer is devoted to the economics of health reform. During his failed effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Donald Trump famously complained, “Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated.” Actually, we did know — and it’s not that complicated. Health economists understand the principles very well. And because health policy varies greatly among advanced nations, we know a lot about what works and what doesn’t. This will be the first in a series about health reform. Beyond the paywall I’ll address the following: 1. Why markets can’t be trusted to deliver healthcare 2. Routes to universal healthcare 3. What works? In a follow-up post I’ll discuss the pros and cons of different approaches, and possible paths forward for the United States.

Apr 19 • 6:31 AM EDT • Health • paulkrugman.substack.com

A Look At AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) Valuation After Record Easter Trading And Odeon Refinancing

AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) has drawn fresh attention after reporting record combined global admissions and food and beverage revenue over the five day Easter weekend, helped by the release of THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE and strong attendance across its theatres. See our latest analysis for AMC Entertainment Holdings. The recent record Easter trading, together with refinancing at Odeon and fresh attention from B. Riley, has coincided with sharp short term share price momentum. This...

Apr 19 • 6:03 AM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com

Bengals expected to offer Dexter Lawrence long-term deal

The Bengals reportedly are expected to offer Dexter Lawrence a "significant long-term deal" after he passes his physical.

Apr 19 • 1:02 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini open to contract extension

San Jose Sharks young star Macklin Celebrini was asked whether he'd want to be with the Sharks long term.

Apr 18 • 8:38 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Got $5,000? This Boring Waste Business Might Be a Quiet Multimillionaire Maker by 2036.

Republic Services is in the business of trash, but its long-term potential is anything but junk.

Apr 18 • 4:45 PM EDT • Business • fool.com

Arizona midterms begin with spotlight on largest county's controversial election system

Much of the political spotlight this election year in Arizona has been focused on the office that runs elections in Maricopa County, the state’s largest. Republican Justin Heap is overseeing elections in the Phoenix-area and he's an election skeptic.

Apr 18 • 4:34 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

'Really poor in terms of chances created'

Stoke boss Mark Robins says they gave away two bad goals and did not create enough opportunities going forwards following their defeat by Wrexham.

Apr 18 • 2:31 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Is watermelon good for you? Experts explain calories, sugar content

Watermelon is a summer staple known for its refreshing taste and high water content, but many people wonder how healthy it really is.

Apr 18 • 10:01 AM EDT • Health • usatoday.com

A big midterms year in Arizona kicks off with the state's largest county embroiled in election drama

Much of the political spotlight this election year in Arizona has been focused on the office that runs elections in Maricopa County, the state’s largest | WWJ Newsradio 950

Apr 18 • 8:49 AM EDT • Politics • audacy.com

A big midterms year in Arizona kicks off with the state's largest county embroiled in election drama

Much of the political spotlight this election year in Arizona has been focused on the office that runs elections in Maricopa County, the state’s largest | KNSS Radio

Apr 18 • 8:49 AM EDT • Politics • audacy.com

A side hustler shares his top passive income stream and his biggest flop

William Butterton is wary of the term "passive income," but of all the businesses he's tried, "ATM is the closest thing that I have personally found."

Apr 18 • 5:15 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

The Doctor Will Seek Your Vote Now

Dozens of Democratic doctors are running for office in the midterms, including some spurred by opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his anti-vaccine stance.

Apr 18 • 5:02 AM EDT • Health • nytimes.com

Trump envoy faces 'sweeping' investigation over business ties, diplomatic role

Democratic U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin launched what he described as a "sweeping" investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, over a potential conflict of interest, according to an April 17 press release. The inquiry focuses on Kushner's dual role as a diplomatic intermediary and head of a private equity firm, raising questions about whether his financial ties could influence U.S. foreign policy decisions. Kushner has played a central role in Trum

Apr 18 • 4:53 AM EDT • Business • kyivindependent.com

‘Republicans should be worried!’: GOP strategist sounds alarm on midterms

Apr 17 • 11:12 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

In Phoenix, Trump Eyes Lower Gas Prices and Frets About the Midterms

President Trump told a crowd of supporters that the price of oil and gas was coming down, part of an effort in recent days to present a rosier picture of the nearly two-month-long Iran war.

Apr 17 • 10:26 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

Republican Nerves Are Fraying Ahead of Midterm Elections

High gasoline prices, the war in Iran and recent Democratic victories are fueling the angst.

Apr 17 • 10:00 PM EDT • Politics • wsj.com

Why some Virginia voters find redistricting ballot question confusing

When Donte Jiggetts first learned about the special election to determine whether Virginia will move forward with plans for new Congressional districts, he initially found the question confusing.

Apr 17 • 7:15 PM EDT • Politics • wtop.com

Judge sides with Arizona election official in ruling that could affect midterms voting

The top election official in Arizona's most populous county will get more authority in running elections after a judge sided with his office in a prolonged legal fight with the local board that shares responsibility for overseeing the vote.

Apr 17 • 6:38 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Barcelona Eyes Atlético Madrid's Sorloth As Potential Lewandowski Successor

Barcelona have reportedly initiated contact with Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth as Hansi Flick seeks a long-term successor for Robert Lewandowski.

Apr 17 • 3:14 PM EDT • Sports • foxsports.com

Hundreds of Candidates Put the “Science” in “Political Science”

More U.S. scientists are running for state and federal office in the U.S. midterm elections than ever before, Nature reports.

Apr 17 • 2:03 PM EDT • Science • eos.org

The Trump team’s puzzling ‘all is well’ message on the economy

After spending the early part of the Iran war trying to sell Americans on an economic message of short-term pain for long-term gain, President Donald Trump and his team have increasingly reverted to their previous posture: that of Kevin Bacon in “Animal House.”

Apr 17 • 12:59 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Subsidiary Odeon Finco PLC Announces Closing of $425 Million Term Loan

LEAWOOD, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Odeon Finco PLC (“Odeon”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Odeon Cinemas Group Limited (“OCGL”) and AMC…...

Apr 17 • 12:30 PM EDT • Entertainment • investor.amctheatres.com

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred’s New Endgame Is All About More Freedom and Less Friction

Could Blizzard finally give us an endgame that was not only fun at launch, but also offered enough variety to keep folks engaged in the long term? After playing a few hours of it recently and talking to the developers about what they’re building, I can confirm that Blizzard appears to have received the feedback in this area, and has created an endgame structure that, at the very least, has a much better chance of keeping my attention.

Apr 17 • 12:00 PM EDT • Technology • ign.com

Senate extends controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies

The Senate approved a short-term renewal until April 30. The measure cleared the Senate by voice vote, without a formal roll call, as Congress raced to meet a Monday deadline. It now heads to President Donald Trump, who had pushed for a clean 18-month extension, for his signature.

Apr 17 • 11:25 AM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Netflix: Advertising Could Become A Real Drag On The Business

Netflix stock is rated Hold: earnings boosted by $2.8B termination fee, but ad-tier push cuts engagement and raises costs. Click for this NFLX earnings update.

Apr 17 • 9:22 AM EDT • Business • seekingalpha.com

What Determines Your Eye Color? The Answer Is More Complicated Than You Think.

Genetics, right? Sort of. Scientists just learned its a bit more nuanced than high school biology.

Apr 17 • 8:30 AM EDT • Science • popularmechanics.com

Whole Hog Politics: A Supreme Court vacancy could remake Senate midterms

[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Join us today at 9 a.m. ET at TheHill.com as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news and answer questions from a live online audie…

Apr 17 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • thehill.com

KUSTOM ENTERTAINMENT AND CYCURION ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT ON TERMS FOR SALE OF LEGACY VIDEO SOLUTIONS SEGMENT

TARGET JUNE 30, 2026 CLOSING DATE OVERLAND PARK, KS and MCLEAN, VA, April 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kustom Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: KUST) (“Kustom” or the “Company”), and Cycurion, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYCU) today announced they have entered into a revised, non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) that establishes revised terms for the sale of Kustom’s legacy video solutions segment (the “Business”) to Cycurion from the previously announced MOU on January 22, 2026. The parties have moved

Apr 17 • 7:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com

House approves short-term extension of surveillance law in blow to Republicans’ long-term plan

The decision to extend a warrantless security law until 30 April came after 20 Republicans worked with House Democrats to defeat attempts to pass five-year and 18-month renewals

Apr 17 • 6:50 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com

Wild 4 months of transformation continue for Iowa State athletics

It has been an absolute flurry of activity — lots of good, some trying and plenty to be determined — over four months in Ames.

Apr 17 • 6:18 AM EDT • Sports • desmoinesregister.com

House approves short-term extension of key surveillance law after dealing GOP leadership pair of floor defeats

The House agreed early Friday morning on a short-term extension of a critical foreign surveillance program after dealing Republican leadership a pair of embarrassing floor defeats on a longer-term reauthorization.

Apr 17 • 5:42 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Trump administration embraces quest to stamp out the events of Jan. 6

In his second term, the president has doubled down on efforts to reframe public perception of the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, in court and beyond.

Apr 17 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com