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Nixon, Vindman seek Democratic nomination for Florida U.S. Senate seat
The winner is expected to take on incumbent Ashley Moody, who is the favorite in the Republican primary.
AOC says she does not regret sharing decision to freeze her eggs
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that she has no regrets about publicly sharing her decision to freeze her eggs.
Douglas County launches strategy to become one of the nation's most business-ready communities
As headlines continue to raise alarms about Colorado’s business climate, Douglas County is charting a different course. Business leaders across the state have warned that increasing regulatory complexity and unpredictable…
Miami landlord disputes knowledge of Pace Corners business license issue
A Miami landlord says he was not aware his Augusta apartment complex was operating without a business license, but an open records request obtained by News 12 shows otherwise.
Arepa Zone: “After 12 years in business, we’re facing the biggest challenge we’ve ever encountered.”
1121 14th Street, NW Thanks to Alexandra for passing on the tough request from the Arepa Zone: "This update is a tough one to write. If you’re a personal friend, you’ve probably already heard a little about what we’re going through. If not, we wanted to share honestly where Arepa Zone is today. After 12
Mortal Shell II Review
Mortal Shell II is a fun-forward souls-like, one that values flexibility and variety over sheer difficulty. It grabs you and plies you with a plethora of options for tackling its monsters, dungeons, and bosses, handing you shiny toys and trusts you to work out what to do with them.
Booth Insights: The pitch that wins one room can lose another
Founders need different decks for demo days, investor meetings and email. The strongest pitch matches its audience, format and goal.
Column: Xavier Becerra won't deliver the home runs — or strikeouts — racked up by Newsom, Schwarzenegger
California’s next governor, Xavier Becerra, is a “small ball” player, to borrow a baseball term.
Over 10,500 Central Virginia homes, businesses without power amid severe thunderstorms
Over 10,500 Central Virginia homes and businesses are without power Sunday evening amid severe storms.
Akon Rates His Biggest Fails and Finesses for Complex
The R&B singer called the African prince story an undeniable finesse and admitted he and French Montana both got burned by a fake Rolex.
Australia needs more people who think like scientists. Here’s what that means
Science equips us with the tools to reason, evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions in a complex, changing world.
Far-left politicians still using ActBlue as 88-year-old disputes donating nearly $150,000 to fundraising giant
Top progressives including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders still fundraise through ActBlue amid smurfing allegations and a House probe.
TWICE's Jeongyeon Leaves JYP Entertainment, Will Remain a Group Member
The K-pop star announces she is leaving the company after more than years.
Player Ratings: Schalke 0
Player Ratings: Schalke 0 – 3 Real Madrid Thibaut Courtois — 7.5: Had almost nothing to do. Made one save on the only real test he faced. His distribution was very good, misplacing just one pass — a long ball. Trent Alexander-Arnold — 7.5: Fantastic long-range passing throughout. Ibrahima Konaté — 7.5: Very strong cameo. […]
Trump says White House needs ‘military complex’ as courts block his ballroom
When Trump first unveiled his plans for the new East Wing addition, he said it was needed to host VIP guests. More recently, he is calling it a 'desperately needed National Security structure.'
UFC 331 main card announced
Joshua Van, Alexandre Pantoja clash again in UFC 331 main event
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: Michigan and KY are ‘roadmaps of hope’
“It’s states like Kentucky and Michigan that are showing that we don’t have to live like this anymore,” Whitmer said in Lexington Saturday.
Rogers and Chelsea's blueprint
It took Morgan Rogers only seven minutes to score his first goal in a Chelsea shirt in Saturday's 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad as he reacted quickest after Alex Remiro saved Joao Pedro's initial header. The £117m club record signing from Aston Villa initially looked sharp and linked well with Cole Palmer and Pedro in Chelsea's front three. Beyond Rogers, Joao Pedro has been the star of Chelsea's pre-season.
Democrats reckon with ‘Woke 1’ as the party seeks to define an era — and distance themselves from it
Recent remarks from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opened a Democratic debate over how to address rhetoric that peaked in 2020.
How McKinsey employees started a popular backpacking retreat
Alex Harman organizes hiking retreats for McKinsey colleagues to places such as Kilimanjaro and Patagonia. The latest filled 100 spots in three hours.
Business People
Benjamin Schurhamer, MD, recently joined Washington Regional Ozark Urology, where he provides diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions with a focus on cancers of the prostate, bladder and kidney.
The Bridge Sports Complex holds annual triathlon event
Officials hope that next year the event can be even bigger and more community members will join the fun. Their goal is to have 150 participants next year.
Estée Lauder Companies (EL) Expands Color Science Research For Shade Matching
Estée Lauder Companies (NYSE: EL) announced a research collaboration with the University of Leeds and Dr. Kaida Xiao focused on advanced color science for complexion products. The partnership aims to improve shade matching accuracy in luxury foundations and related complexion lines using visual perception science. The work is expected to inform future formula development and product testing in the prestige cosmetics segment. For investors tracking how advanced data and perception science...
Maresca highlights Anderson flexibility
Enzo Maresca says he envisages more than one role for new signing Elliot Anderson. Men's Team Maresca: Community Shield our first chance of silverware The England star has demonstrated his ability to ...
12K views · 78 reactions | I told my lawyer dad that I was getting a...
I told my lawyer dad that I was getting a science PhD, and he called me a “huge failure” who will never make real money. How do I make my parents proud? Carolyn Hax, Advice Columnist weighs in.
‘Am I losing my mind?’: the science behind why psychedelic trips can feel like you’re going insane
Neuroscientist Michal Dubrovinsky studies challenging psychedelic experiences and the moment people fear they are losing control, while exploring how psilocybin may affect brain flexibility and movement learning
New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer: Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom squares off with Mr. Fantastic
New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ debuted at the D23 Expo. Here’s what we learned.
UFC 331 press conference video
Joshua Van, Alexandre Pantoja square off in UFC 331 title rematch
Why Editors Will Shape the Next Wave of Branded Entertainment
Little Black Book, As brands move beyond one-off campaigns and towards recurring formats and fully-fledged entertainment IP, the editors who can shape real emotion and character are becoming more important than ever, writes Alexander Jamieson, co-founder and managing partner of No Sushi
'Call Her Daddy' host shuts down Unwell beverage line after short, buzzy run
Top podcaster Alex Cooper’s beverage business is shutting down, demonstrating the challenges online creators often have in diversifying their work away from content.
‘Call Her Daddy’ host Alex Cooper’s Unwell beverage business is shutting down
On Wednesday, Unwell raised money from Hollywood super agent Patrick Whitesell that valued the entire business at $500 million. It will go somewhere else.
Get to Know Your Orange Man: #93, DL Alex Haskell
Philly pipeline produces another prospect
The Friday Checkout: Can Kroger’s new e-commerce chief sort out its messy online business?
Nate Faust brings a founder’s energy and an outsider’s perspective to a digital business that has become overly complex.
Report Says Average Business Trip Cost Jumped From $834 to $1,128 from 2024 to 2026
Research from Engine shows employees spending 12 days a year on travel-related admin tasks
Armstrong appoints senior advisor Conner Swanson to lead ND Department of Health and Human Services | North Dakota Office of the Governor
Gov. Kelly Armstrong appointed Conner Swanson to lead the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), effective Aug. 29, citing his experience with complex policy issues at both the state and federal levels and his guidance to the agency through the Governor’s Office these past two years.
Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions Acquires flexPATH’s 3(38) Business
The transaction will deepen the company’s custom portfolio and investment lineup service capabilities.
‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ Review: There’s No Business Like Bee Business
Matthew McConaughey stars as an Oklahoma honeymaker in a perplexing film that also features Kurt Russell and Angelina LookingGlass.
Get the Facts: Douglas County’s Business Personal Property Tax Incentive for Flexential
Recent coverage of the Flexential data center planned in Parker has generated questions about Douglas County’s role in the project and the tax incentive considered by the Board of County…
Proposed data center at Battey Business Complex terminated
A proposed data center at the Battey Business Complex on North Division Street is dead according to Rome-Floyd County Development Authority Board Chair Jimmy Byars after Atlas Development ended it's
Weekend Entertainment | Lego Bricks, Brier Hill Fest
The Brick Convention will take place this weekend, Aug. 15-16, at the Metroplex Expo Center on Belmont Avenue in Liberty.
'Call Her Daddy' Host Alex Cooper's Unwell Beverage Business Is Shutting Down
The superstar podcaster launched a line of drinks in 2025 in partnership with Nestlé and sold at Target stores
AI needs science’s search history
“Actually, that’s where the gold is,” said Alasdair Russell, my graduate school friend who leads a pre-clinical genome editing group at Cambridge. He was talking about the winding road of science that is omitted from published papers. “When you’re discussing how to do the experiment, and why this way is better than another way, and what does the data really mean? I know what it shows, but what does it mean?” At RAAIS 2026, he described how his group has begun logging the twisting path of discovery as it happens, recording the verbal and written exchanges that normally disappear. Ideas become nodes in a living graph: they branch when a meeting produces two plausible experiments, merge when separate lines of evidence converge, and go dark when someone quietly stops pursuing them. In his implementation, one agent scores novelty, while another tries to learn “how scientists think and how they navigate through a complex world of data,” so that high-potential nodes can trigger deeper investigation. As frontier AI labs deploy agents toward scientific discovery, giving AI authentic scientific taste remains a trillion-dollar dilemma. The bottleneck is that the record we have kept for centuries of science might be insufficient to get us there. The experiments that never make the paper Peter Medawar, 1960 Nobel laureate and “father of transplantation,” asked in 1963 whether the scientific paper was a fraud, and answered yes: the form of the paper misrepresents the thinking that produced it. Sixty years on, the diagnosis is unchanged. A paper presents a clean progression from hypothesis to result to conclusion. Lost along the way are the unconventional theories, the abandoned or unaffordable methods, and the underwhelming and inconclusive data. It reads like a browser history with every dead end deleted: the ten open tabs, the four rephrased queries, the wrong turn down a subforum. All scrubbed, leaving one clean path from question to answer as the canonical path. What has changed since then is that the discarded material is now worth something. No high-impact journal wants these artifacts, but raw trial and error is the most likely source of the training data required to develop scientific intuition, or what researchers call taste. Earlier attempts to capture the discards were motivated by scientific integrity. The Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine launched in 2002 to publish rigorous studies that disputed established models or exposed ineffective treatments. Its archive preserved negative conclusions after they had become papers, rather than the live alternatives and arguments that produced them. BioMed Central closed it in 2017, saying the mission had been served now that other journals publish null results. A less generous reading is that in fifteen years it published around 200 papers because almost nobody wants to read a negative result, let alone write one up when it will not count toward academic tenure. AI models are different. Even an uninteresting negative result can be useful, provided it is labeled. Earlier this year, Anthropic put a version of this to the test. The company pulled 129 decision points from real Claude Code sessions between January and March 2026, showed models the work up to a human detour, and asked what should happen next. Claude Mythos Preview beat the human choice 64% of the time, while Opus 4.5 managed 51%. The comparison was tilted toward the models because Anthropic deliberately chose moments where the human decision had room for improvement. On 127 further scenarios where the human action was already strong, the models improved on it only about 20% of the time. The study was possible because Anthropic’s researchers work inside a tool that logs by default. The reasoning, detours and outcome are produced in the same working environment. Biology has no equivalent. Its reasoning happens in hallways, at benches, in Slack threads and on whiteboards, while the outcome arrives weeks later somewhere else. The record has to emerge from the work itself. Ask scientists to reconstruct it afterwards and we’ll create another polished account. Subscribe A log is not a label Before any of this becomes training data, a negative result has to say what failed. The first paper published in the Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine examined 234 negative studies across five leading medical journals. Only 30% discussed statistical power, and half clearly defined a primary outcome. Tell a model an experiment failed, without telling it whether the assay was underpowered, a reagent had degraded, or the hypothesis was simply wrong, and it will learn noise with confidence. Decision histories have a second missing label too. When a lab considers five experiments and runs one, only the chosen branch returns an outcome. The other four are experimental counterfactuals. Researchers call this the selective labels problem: the data reveal results only for the actions someone chose to take. Such a record can teach a model to imitate a lab’s taste, but it cannot establish that the taste was good. It also smuggles local constraints into general lessons. A lab that never ran cryo-EM because it did not own a microscope teaches a model that cryo-EM is rarely the right call. Alasdair’s nodes preserve the candidate set, which is the necessary first step. To be useful, each decision record needs six fields: The evidence available at that moment, and nothing that arrived later. The candidates considered, including the ones dismissed in a sentence. For each candidate: the expected result, the confidence attached to it, and the cost in time and money. The route chosen, and the reason. What happened next. How the evidence changed the scientist’s view. These must be timestamped before the outcome, because hindsight turns uncertainty into inevitability. Disagreement also has to survive. Averaging three scientists into one clean rationale reproduces exactly the information loss we are trying to fix. But there is an obvious failure mode here. Once decisions are logged and scored, people log for the record post-facto. Anyone who has watched an electronic lab notebook fill up with retrospective tidying knows how quickly a research tool becomes a compliance exercise. A record that costs a scientist ten minutes of honest reflection per decision is worth far more than one that costs an hour of performance. A publication initiative called Registered Reports offers a useful starting point. Here, researchers submit their rationale, methods and analysis plan for peer review before the data exist, and the journal commits in principle to publish if they follow the approved plan. Nature has now expanded the format across every field it covers. This approach to paper writing timestamps intent before the outcome, but it freezes one plan. A useful search history must also preserve how the plan changed, which alternatives were rejected, when, and on what evidence. Subscribe Run the runner-up Autonomous labs show what happens when decisions and outcomes are connected in a loop. Liverpool’s mobile robotic chemist ran 688 experiments over eight days in a ten-variable formulation space. A batched Bayesian search used each result to choose the next experiments and found photocatalyst mixtures six times more active than the starting formulations. Every completed experiment changed what the system did next. The robot optimized within a goal and search space that humans had already chosen. It did not decide which scientific question mattered. So what this work demonstrates is narrower, but still useful: a search history pays off when the options return standardized outcomes quickly. Open-ended biology is harder because branches can take weeks and the discarded alternatives may never be run. Some exploration therefore has to be bought. Where two branches are plausible and the stakes justify the cost, a lab should sometimes run the runner-up. Otherwise the record captures what today’s scientists usually chose and stays silent on what they systematically overlooked. A funder could ring-fence a small fraction of a grant for the branch not taken, provided that the decision record and the outcome are both deposited. That costs money, but so does having every lab rediscover the same abandoned path. Test whether taste transfers When it comes time to evaluate if our new AI system exhibits taste, the comparison should run across laboratories and fields. At selected decision points in a live research campaign, we should freeze the six fields: the evidence, the candidates, expected results, confidence, costs and the choice made. Experts then rank the options before the outcomes are known, and those outcomes are checked independently later. We could give models one of two diets - papers alone, or papers plus decision histories - and ask them to rank the next experiment on unfamiliar projects. Then, we score information gained per dollar and week, calibration, and how quickly weak branches are abandoned. If histories improve choices only inside the lab that produced them, they amount to useful organizational memory. If they improve choices on unfamiliar problems elsewhere, Alasdair’s group will have captured something science has never managed to write down: a transferable record of taste. Until that happens, a scientific search history is a promising record, not yet a training set.
20 hours in, I cannot believe the scale, complexity, and ambition of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Nintendo's next big release is a true return to form for one of the best strategy RPG series out there.
Canucks Could Finally Solve Problem Thanks to Division Rival
The Vancouver Canucks could finally solve a complex problem thanks to a division rival with an even bigger one. The post Canucks Could Finally Solve Problem Thanks to Division Rival appeared first on HEAVY.
LUC sends youth sports complex to City Council with lighting curfew and parking conditions
The Land Use Commission Wednesday approved a recommendation to the City Council for a youth sports facility on Green Bay Road — with conditions including
CNBC Sport: Pro Padel League CEO explains business of rapidly growing sport
CNBC's Alex Sherman sits down with Michael Dorfman, CEO of the Professional Padel League.
Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION, Alexia Jayy, Junior Raiderettes highlight Thursday's gameday entertainment
Aaron Bruno will take the stage at halftime while Alexia Jayy will perform the National Anthem. The Junior Raiderettes will perform a special routine pregame.
Albion reject Derby bid for midfielder Mowatt
West Bromwich Albion reject a bid for midfielder Alex Mowatt from fellow Championship club Derby County, reports BBC Radio WM.
Village Capital launches NWA investment facility
Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm Village Capital recently launched a first-of-its-kind flexible investment facility supporting Northwest Arkansas-based startups. The Walton Family Foundation provided $700,000 to support the VilCap Innovative Capital...
Village Capital launches NWA investment facility
Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm Village Capital recently launched a first-of-its-kind flexible investment facility supporting Northwest Arkansas-based startups. The Walton Family Foundation provided $700,000 to support the VilCap Innovative Capital...
Man accused of burglarizing Bangor business over the weekend
Alex Klemanski, 38, was charged with burglary after a window was broken at a Bangor business over the weekend.
In Venice, it’s not politics as usual as film-makers aim to recapture our attention
As social media shrinks and distorts the EU’s crises, the Venice film festival is delivering politically forthright epics from directors such as Sergei Loznitsa and Alex Gibney
Real Estate Fund Set to Lose Boston Life Science Investment
A small US commercial real estate fund run by Deutsche Finance Group, the asset manager tied to many of the soured deals at German pension fund BVK, plans to file for insolvency after its investment in a Boston life sciences complex soured.
Alex Rodriguez: The Dodgers are ‘great’ for baseball
While some fans and media believe the Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining Major League Baseball, Alex Rodriguez appears to be a fan of their spending. After admitting he voted in Awful Announcing’s 2026 MLB local TV announcer rankings during an appearance on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York, the discussion turned to the…
Study finds lasting mental health impacts on Lexington’s laid-off Tyson Foods workers
The closure of the Tyson Foods meatpacking plant in Lexington had wide-ranging effects on the city itself and the state's economy. But a team of researchers at UNMC focused on the lasting impacts on the laid-off workers.
New 'magnetoelastic' tent generates electricity from wind, body movement and sound to power small devices
A magnetoelastic tent concept could one day turn wind, movement and fabric flexing into usable electricity.
Trump’s vaccine order hands some MAHA voters a win. It also gives Democrats an attack line
President Donald Trump’s executive order to change the childhood vaccine schedule could endear him to some “Make America Healthy Again” voters who want more flexibility on immunization
Trump’s vaccine order hands some MAHA voters a win. It also gives Democrats an attack line
President Donald Trump's executive order to change the childhood vaccine schedule could endear him to some “Make America Healthy Again” voters who want more flexibility on immunization.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s pivot on ‘woke’ politics isn’t unreasonable
What Ocasio-Cortez’s viral ‘woke one was crazy’ remarks reveal about how the left is evolving.
49ers Called ‘Top Landing Spot’ for Benched 1st-Round QB
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay called the San Francisco 49ers the "Top Landing Spot" for benched Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The post 49ers Called ‘Top Landing Spot’ for Benched 1st-Round QB appeared first on HEAVY.
49ers Called ‘Top Landing Spot’ for Benched 1st-Round QB
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay called the San Francisco 49ers the "Top Landing Spot" for benched Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The post 49ers Called ‘Top Landing Spot’ for Benched 1st-Round QB appeared first on HEAVY.
Lexington County could take on $74 million in debt for a sports complex
The Lexington County Recreation Commission is proposing a multi-sports complex off Interstate 77, but there are questions about how it will be paid for.
Areas to Watch in Wisconsin’s Democratic Primary for Governor
A race between Francesca Hong and David Crowley could highlight the fault lines between Madison and Milwaukee.
IV Regional Chamber Visits Calipatria Business Owners
The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a special event dedicated to connecting with the Calipatria business community.
The political power of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's egg freezing
In showcasing the balancing act of career ambitions and fertility, the congresswoman is once again flexing her political prowess.
Rockport nonprofit sports complex completes $6.9M expansion
Midccoast Recreation Center sees over 100,000 visits each year. With the expansion, it's able to accommodate more programming and playtime.
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized
Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA
Ocasio-Cortez faces a crossroads in politics
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is at a career and life crossroads that many women face at the age of 36, even without the pressure of a potential White House run. The congresswoman, still l…
'A great deal'
Tom: Heard incredibly positive things from Sheffield Wednesday fans about the season he spent on loan there. Alexander: He is a great signing - a proven player originated from Manchester City. New senior squad players are noticeably at the younger end of the spectrum.
Lenovo Project Swan leaks with horizontally expanding rollable ThinkBook display
Lenovo may add another design to its growing list of flexible-screen PCs. Project Swan uses a horizontally expanding display instead of the vertical ThinkBook Plus design.
Tracking Health Security Progress and Building Resilience in Africa
The AHS Index is an objective, evidence-based tool that helps countries and organizations set priorities and identify where investments can have the greatest impact. As health threats become more complex and interconnected, maintaining momentum will require sustained investment, stronger partnerships, and continued political commitment.
UNCW Business School Students Travel to Prague for Real-Life Consulting Experience by David Glew
This article was contributed by Kestrel Smoot, International Programs Coordinator for UNCW’s Cameron School of Business. During the most recent spring semester, 33 upper-level finance and marketing students from the UNCW’s Cameron School of Business traveled to Prague, Czechia, to participate in an intensive international consulting project. Unlike traditional study-abroad programs, the Prague consultancy project focuses on real client engagement. Each year’s project is entirely new, designed through collaboration between faculty and industry partners to identify a current business challenge that students will address. This year, students worked with MAMS-Champi, a Czech non-alcoholic beverage company that is seeking to expand into other global markets. Throughout the first half of the semester, students attend class at UNCW and prepare for their time abroad by conducting preliminary research, developing analytical frameworks, and organizing themselves into specialized teams responsible for tasks such as marketing strategy, industry analysis, consumer segmentation, and competitive evaluation. The course emphasizes independence and teamwork, requiring students to take ownership of their work, manage deadlines, and collaborate across functional groups. Additionally, faculty serve as advisors, allowing students to navigate the complexities of the project much as they would in a professional consulting environment. Once in Prague, students met with company leadership, toured facilities, and refined their recommendations based on real-time feedback. The in-person component is widely regarded as the most transformative aspect of the program because students must synthesize weeks of work into a cohesive presentation and deliver it to the client, demonstrating professionalism, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Beyond the consulting work, students participated in cultural and educational activities that broadened their understanding of global business environments. They explored Prague’s historic districts, learned about Czech culture, and engaged with local professionals. These experiences helped students understand how economic, regulatory, and social factors shape market opportunities. The Prague consultancy project stands as a defining example of the Cameron School of Business’s commitment to experiential learning, consistently strengthening students’ confidence, enhancing their resumes, and serving as a focal point in job interviews. Employers recognize the value of the hands-on experience and transferable skills students gain, underscoring the program’s role in preparing industry-ready graduates for today’s fast-moving business landscape.
Congressional Dems launch probe into efforts to deport U.S. military members
The Democrats said the apparent collaboration between DHS and the military to deport troops' families "raises both ethical and legal concerns"
Congressional Dems launch probe into efforts to deport U.S. military members
The Democrats said the apparent collaboration between DHS and the military to deport troops' families "raises both ethical and legal concerns"
Off-campus student housing is big business, especially in the shadows of LSU
Some of the highest rents, occupancy rates and sales prices in the state are for high-end apartment complexes catering to students in the shadows of LSU.
The One Area Alex Caruso Could Improve For Next Season
While Alex Caruso’s elite defense remains his calling card, unlocking consistent perimeter shooting will force defenders to respect him and create vital spacing for Oklahoma City’s stars.
Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd
David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford in 2013 but things could have been so different, Jose Mourinho reveals in a new documentary.
Astros' Jason Alexander: Healthy again at Triple-A
Astros' Jason Alexander: Healthy again at Triple-A
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she’s freezing her eggs
The Democratic congresswoman, 36, said she made the decision to undergo the fertility procedure to “feel more in control of my life.”
What Is J-B Weld Used For And What Should It Not Be Used On?
J-B Weld is an epoxy for bonding wood, metal, and concrete, but it's not ideal for softer materials like some plastics, leather, vinyl, and flexible rubber.
4 Reasons Why People Ditch Their Alexa Devices
Why do people ditch their Alexa devices? We explore the top 4 reasons, including privacy concerns, intrusive advertisements, and performance quirks.
Music Review: ‘Lost Weekend’ is Phoebe Bridgers' evocative sonic collage
On her third studio album, “Lost Weekend,” Phoebe Bridgers pairs unique sonic arrangements with her signature complex lyrical verses to create a collage of the years since we last heard
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opens up about decision to freeze her eggs
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., opened up Sunday about her decision to begin freezing her eggs.
Beijing hosts basic science gala, honors 9 pioneers with new medal
The 2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) opened Sunday at Beijing's Huairou Science City, awarding its inaugural Basic Science Medal to nine scientists whose research spans algebraic geometry, particle physics, flexible electronics and
Ocasio-Cortez says new age progressives ‘answer to no master’
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Sunday shared support for progressives in the Democratic Party, backing their ability to answer to “no master.” “I think when I see so many of the…
For decades, we were told to choose low-fat dairy. New research says otherwise
Full-fat dairy may be healthier than conventional advice has suggested. In a 12-week study, adults who ate three servings a day showed no meaningful increases in weight, body fat, cholesterol, or insulin resistance. They also experienced improved blood pressure and consumed more calcium, protein, and vitamin D. The findings suggest dairy’s complex structure may matter more than its saturated fat content alone.
The Forge dining and entertainment complex is in midst of soft opening
The Forge still has several spots yet to open. But some of its dining/entertainment offerings are up and running.
Unmasking London City's Spanish superstar
Alexia Putellas' arrival at London City Lionesses was the biggest transfer in WSL history - but who is the person behind the global stardom?
Alexia Putellas: Unmasking London City's Spanish superstar
Alexia Putellas' arrival at London City Lionesses was the biggest transfer in WSL history - but who is the person behind the global stardom?
'It's everybody that's under this cloud of smoke': The mental health impact of the Spokane Complex fires
From a psychological standpoint, Spokane is in shock.
World number one Sabalenka ousted in Toronto by Alexandrova
World number one Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated by Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday in a fourth-round match at the WTA Toronto Masters tournament.Sabalenka, who will seek her third consecutive US Open title next month, fell to 5-5 in her career WTA rivalry with Alexandrova, who will face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine's ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.
Steady Progress Helps Grateful Felix Rosenqvist Win Portland Pole
The Swede (photo) earned his second NTT P1 Award of the season for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, edging reigning series champion and points leader Alex Palou for the top spot.
Indiana Fever have a Lexie Hull problem to deal with
Lexie Hull’s 2026 numbers have raised an interesting question for the Indiana Fever.
Pitt’s Victory Heights gives Olympic sports a modern $240M home
Pitt’s $240M complex gives volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling a new arena while supporting 16 varsity teams with training and recovery space.
Pitt’s Victory Heights gives Olympic sports a modern $240M home
Pitt’s $240M complex gives volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling a new arena while supporting 16 varsity teams with training and recovery space.
The Business of Immigration: Ethics, Economics, and the Future of Our Region
About this Program: Immigration has long shaped the identity, economy, and culture of the San Diego–Baja California region. Today, it remains one of the most significant—and often most debated—public policy issues facing our communities. As employers grapple with workforce shortages, governments respond to evolving immigration policies, and families pursue opportunity and security, important questions arise about the economic, ethical, and practical implications of immigration for our region's future. As part of the Engage San Diego: Tough Topics, Real Discussion series, moderator Andrew Blum will lead a thoughtful conversation with community leaders to examine these issues from multiple perspectives. Together, the panel will explore how immigration and immigration policy influence regional economic growth, workforce development, cross-border commerce, public services, and community well-being. The discussion will consider both the opportunities and the challenges immigration presents for employers, policymakers, and the broader San Diego economy, while also examining the ethical considerations that inform business and public policy decisions. Rather than advocating for a single viewpoint, this program is designed to foster informed, respectful dialogue and deepen public understanding of one of the defining issues of our time. Through a balanced exchange of ideas, panelists will explore practical approaches to strengthening our region while recognizing the diverse perspectives that shape this complex conversation. Join us for an engaging discussion that reflects the spirit of the Engage San Diego series—bringing together diverse voices to tackle difficult topics through civil discourse, informed analysis, and constructive community engagement. What We’ll Explore Immigration and the Regional Economy How does immigration influence San Diego's workforce, economic growth, business competitiveness, and cross-border prosperity? Ethics, Policy, and Public Responsibility How can communities balance economic needs, humanitarian values, public safety, and the rule of law in shaping immigration policy? The Business and Government Perspective What roles do employers, local government, and community leaders play in addressing workforce challenges and creating opportunities for shared prosperity? The Future of Our Region As immigration policy continues to evolve, what practical solutions can help strengthen our economy, support our communities, and ensure the long-term success of the San Diego–Baja California region?
‘I couldn’t breathe’: the deadly health burden of wildfire smoke
Scientists race to untangle complex links between exposure and mortality as fire weather grows more prevalent