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Trump's pick for science director: a Silicon Valley investor with no science background
Jim O'Neill, a longevity enthusiast and vaccine skeptic, is Trump's pick to head the National Science Foundation
‘The Middle’ highlights Wisconsin veterans’ experiences, need for mental health support
The nationally syndicated radio show hosted by Jeremy Hobson will be in Kenosha for a live taping on May 12. Two Wisconsin veterans will share their stories of PTSD and how to support veterans as they return to civilian life.
Crime declined, but so did tourism, downtown DC business leaders say
Did the deployment of the National Guard have an impact on D.C. tourism? It did, according to the annual State of Downtown report, released Thursday morning by the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID). The group is using terms we can all understand to describe the state of downtown over the last year: partly cloudy and partly sunny, meaning the…
MNUFC, Minnesota Amputee FC, American Amputee Soccer Association Host Inaugural Soccer Clinic at the National Sports Center
Three amputee soccer clinics to be hosted at NSC in 2026
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Report details wide disparity between Native American and white health in South Dakota
The health disparity between Native American and white South Dakotans is among the largest racial or ethnic health gaps in the nation.
Chief Justice John Roberts says Supreme Court doesn’t have ‘purely political actors’
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said Wednesday that the nation’s highest court doesn’t feature “purely political actors,” comments that come after a notable decision affecting the Voting R…
Small business hiring picks up pace in April, Paychex reports
Paychex reports small business hiring accelerated in April with the national jobs index rising 0.35 points, the largest monthly gain since last year.
Administrator sets standard with positive leadership
Madison Kinkaid's steadfast leadership is why she's being honored as the National Ever Forward Administrator Champion.
4 WVU students awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
The four West Virginia University students — Daniel Campa, of Morgantown; Colin Krisulevicz, of Salisbury, Maryland; Rebecca Ozbolt, of Akron, Ohio; and Samuel Stalnaker, of Atwater, California and Cowen — have joined the ranks of the nation’s top emerging researchers after earning National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.
Around the MHS
The latest news from around the Military Health System for the week of May 4-8, 2026, includes the National Intrepid Center of Excellence leading in care for service members with brain injuries, Uniformed Services University medical student competes in an Ironman Triathlon, and an important award for the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center.
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
ACC football rankings: Where all 17 teams sit after spring practice
After playing for the national title last year, Miami leads the ACC power rankings after spring practice with other contenders full of questions.
Efforts to game the 2026 election intensify as Republicans draw new maps
While the national mood seems to be veering away from President Donald Trump as his popularity drops, Republicans are trying to squeeze every possible advantage out of a recent Supreme Court decision.
The top health care worry among MAHA supporters isn't what you think
The top worry among MAHA followers is remarkably similar to the rest of the nation − rising health care costs, according to a poll from KFF.
North Hollywood Senior High School Wins 5th Place at National Science Bowl
Washington, D.C. (May 4, 2026) – North Hollywood Senior High School tied for 5th place at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science National Science Bowl® academic competition in Washington, D.C., delivering a standout performance on the national stage on Monday, May 4, 2026. The team proudly represented Los Angeles and showed their teamwork […]
‘The Seminarians: Sovereignty Through Education’ premieres May 7 in Tahlequah
Just 12 years after forced removal, Principal Chief John Ross and the Cherokee National Council made a powerful declaration about the Nation’s future with the opening of the Cherokee Male
Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison demands investigation into National Academies of Sciences funding
Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison is leading a push to investigate federal funding for one of the nation’s most prominent scientific organizations.
College of Health and Human Development ranked first in NIH-funding category
According to The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the Penn State College of Health and Human Development received more funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2025 than any other school of allied health in the nation.
Meet these PVAMU men in nursing leading the future of health care
HOUSTON – At Prairie View A&M University’s College of Nursing, this year’s graduating class is helping meet one of health care’s most urgent needs: a well-prepared, highly skilled workforce. Among them, a growing number of male graduates are entering the field at a time when men make up approximately 12–13% of the nation’s nursing workforce.
Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be British Red Cross spokesperson, charity says
Green party leader also accused of incorrectly stating he was a full member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy
National Academy of Sciences elects six Berkeley researchers to its
The National Academy of Sciences announced its newest members this week, among them six eminent UC Berkeley faculty members, including former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen. Membership
Dodgers starting pitchers providing length
The National League pitcher of the month for March/April, who walked twice, drove in a run and scored a pair of runs as a hitter in Monday’s series opener at Daikin Park, makes his first pitching start of May on Tuesday night against the Houston Astros. Shohei Ohtani has allowed only four runs to date […]
India’s iPhone Hub Stunned by Movie Star Vijay’s Political Rise
In most of his films, Tamil superstar C. Joseph Vijay has saved the nation and its poor from powerful forces. He used that same script in politics this week to emerge as the unlikely winner in elections in one of India’s most economically important states.
NMSU professor wins national science award for sun research
Juie Shetye. an astronomy assistant professor at New Mexico State University, is recipient of the National Science Foundation's CAREER Award for a junior faculty member's success in research combined with education.
Mali: Authorities must immediately clarify the fate and whereabouts of lawyer and pro-democracy politician Mountaga Tall
On 3 May 2026, leader of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative Mountaga Tall was abducted by armed and hooded men.
Zambia Says Privacy, Minerals Concerns Stall US Health-Aid Deal
Zambia’s talks with the US over a new $2 billion health-aid deal stalled because the proposed agreement included data sharing that would violate citizens’ privacy rights and was conditional on first agreeing to preferential access to mineral resources, the nation’s foreign minister said.
EDITORIAL: Normalization of misconduct in U.S. politics
President Donald J. Trump's 2016 presidential campaign propelled conversations regarding sexual assault into the national spotlight. A handful of women slowly began coming forward with allegations of unwanted advances and perverse comments over the course of the election cycle, and concerns were further solidified after a secret recording from a 2005 Hollywood Access tape was leaked. Trump had been caught on a hot mic stating he was able to touch women as he pleased, and due to his social status as a "star," they would let him do it. The New York Times published a series of interviews from individuals who had both witnessed and experienced his inappropriate behavior soon after.
St. Jude researcher Hongbo Chi, PhD, elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Learn why the National Academy of Sciences elected St. Jude immunologist Hongbo Chi, PhD, a leader in immunology and immunometabolism, to their membership.
NSF Awards Graduate Research Fellowships to 27 from Natural Sciences
Dozens of UT students have received prestigious fellowships from the National Science Foundation.
Huntsville Area Association Of REALTORS® Hosts Free Political Candidate Training Academy
The Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® (HAAR) hosted the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Candidate Training Academy on Wednesday, April 29th at
Indiana football to visit White House, Fernando Mendoza may skip
The national champion Indiana Hoosiers football team is set to visit the White House this month, but its former star quarterback might not be there.
MRN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Carla Green
On this week’s Business Spotlight, brought to you by Bank of Springfield, Carla M. Green joins Ron Kinscherf to share the mission behind the National School Chaplain Association and the impact it’s making right here in Illinois. As the State Chaplain Director, Green explains how the organization partners with public schools to provide emotional and...
Trump Says ‘You’re Fired’ to the Members of the National Science Board
Here’s why that’s a needed reset.
🗞️Today's front pages: Possible title-winning Sunday for Barça
Barça’s victory over Osasuna leaves everything now pending what happens today between Espanyol and Real Madrid.There is no other topic in the national sports press. Today, Barça can be crowned LaL...
Surge in new business formations in Nevada
Nevada led the nation in post-pandemic small business growth, according to new analysis from UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research. Business filings surged in 2020, when Las Vegas ...
The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
The National Academy of Sciences Elects 120 New Members For 2026
The National Academy of Sciences has elected 120 new members and 25 international members. Harvard led the way with 15 electees, followed by Stanford (9) & Princeton (8).
Gen Z Cares about Politics, We Just Don’t Believe Politics Cares about Us
As part of a collaboration between The Fulcrum's NextGen initiative and Made By Us, The Fulcrum is publishing Letters to America, a series created through the Youth250 project that invites Gen Z to reflect on the nation’s past, present, and future as the United States approaches its 250th anniversar...
Ghana becomes the latest African country to reject a US health deal, citing data sharing concerns
Ghana has rejected a proposed health deal with the U.S. over provisions that would have allowed U.S. entities access to the nation’s sensitive health data without necessary safeguards, an official told The Associated Press on Friday. It was the latest African country to walk away from the deal ov...
Atrium to buy WakeMed in deal that would bring $2B investment to Wake County
Charlotte-based Atrium is one of the nation’s biggest nonprofit healthcare companies. An official announcement is planned for Tuesday after a Monday vote by county officials.
2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Awards & Honorable Mentions
Congratulations to our current graduate and undergraduate students and alumni who have received prestigious 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFP) and Honorable Mentions. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend and a cost of education allowance to the institution. Left to right: Row 1 – 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipients: Jasmin Bioteau, Kasey Chung, Daniel Cohn, Michael Eng, Tyler Martinez. Row 2 – Henry Shavel, Breanna Sprague, Abigail Wilson, ofia Ando, Daniel Kendall. Row 3 – Rebecca Lee, Lauren Van Auken, Tim Duong. NSF Honorable Mention recipients: Evan Baerg, Isaac Hendrix. Row 4 – Nathan Palmer, Paul Saucedo, Helen Elmer and Maximilian Floridia. 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFP) were awarded to current graduate students Jasmin Bioteau (Kwon), Kasey Chung (Garg), Daniel Cohn (Kappel), Michael Eng (Doyle), Tyler Martinez (Barber), Henry Shavel (Alexandrova), Breanna Sprague (Garg), Abigail Wilson (Garg); undergraduate researchers Sofia Ando (Shafaat, headed to Princeton for graduate school), Daniel Kendall (Barber, headed to MIT for graduate school), Rebecca Lee (Chen, headed to Stanford for graduate school) and Lauren Van Auken (Garg, headed to the Caltech for graduate school). Former undergraduate researcher Tim Duong ’25 (Neuhauser/Caram, now a graduate student at Princeton) also received the fellowship. 2026 Honorable Mentions by NSF, also a significant national academic achievement, were accorded to current graduate students Evan Baerg, Isaac Hendrix (Tinoco Valencia), Nathan Palmer (Conway),and Paul Saucedo (Doyle). Also receiving Honorable Mentions are former undergraduate researchers Helen Elmer ’25 (Gelbart/Knobler, now a graduate student at the Stanford University School of Medicine), and Maximilian Floridia ‘25 (P. Weiss, now a graduate student at Caltech). Congratulations again to all the recipients! Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
Nine Key Moments: Hearing with Health System CEOs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – CEOs representing some of the nation’s largest health systems, including the largest for-profit and tax-exempt hospital systems in...
James Druckman elected to the National Academy of Sciences
The University of Rochester professor is a renowned expert in political polarization and American democracy.
US lawmakers vote to cut science spending—but reject Trump’s sweeping reductions
A draft bill would preserve NASA’s overall funding but downsize the National Science Foundation’s budget by 20 percent.
NASA Aircraft Studies Tiny Particles with Atmospheric Impacts
Scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have turned to one of NASA’s high-altitude research planes to characterize
The folly of Trump taking a "wrecking ball" to a crucial science advisory board
Without independent oversight, the National Science Foundation is “fully at the behest of the White House.”
Americans really don’t like Trump’s attempts at ornamentation
Up until now, there’s been little polling about President Donald Trump’s efforts to gild the nation’s capital and government. But as it turns out, Americans seem to regard these things as about as ghastly as they might seem.
With mass firing, Trump deals a fresh blow to American science
Ambitious research is on the chopping block following yet more cuts at the National Science Foundation.
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
National Academy of Sciences elects six Berkeley researchers to its
The National Academy of Sciences announced its newest members this week, among them six eminent UC Berkeley faculty members, including former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen. Membership
National Academy of Science elects eight Princeton professors
Eight Princeton professors were elected to the National Academy of Sciences this year: Cliff Brangwynne, Chris Chang, Maria Chudnovsky, Jianqing Fan, Sabine Kastner, Sebastian Seung, Daniel Sigman and Christopher Skinner.
NBA asks regulator to tighten restrictions on prediction markets
The NBA asked the nation's top commodities regulator on Thursday to impose tighter restrictions on players, game officials and team staff to ensure prediction markets don't undermine sports integrity and fan confidence.
Nationals get conflicting CJ Abrams trade deadline prediction
This is an odd pair of predictions for the Nationals.
The pastor of the nation’s largest Methodist church is running for the US Senate in Kansas
The pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in the U.S. has launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas.
WELTMAN: Three Cheers for Small Business! - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
By Barbara Weltman – National Small Business Week, which runs from May 3 to 9, 2026, is a time to reflect on the importance of small businesses to their owners and families, their staff, their customers and clients, their communities, and the nation. Of all the institutions in the U.S., small businesses rank number one […]
How much should politics influence science, and vice versa? National Science Board’s ousting resurrects an existential debate
The Trump administration fired the entire board that oversees the National Science Foundation, raising an age-old question about the separation of science and state.
How much should politics influence science, and vice versa? National Science Board’s ousting resurrects an existential debate
The Trump administration fired the entire board that oversees the National Science Foundation, raising an age-old question about the separation of science and state.
What Does the National Science Board Do? Experts Warn Board’s Firing Could Endanger NSF Independence, U.S. Scientific Leadership
The recent news that President Trump notified all 22 members of the National Science Board that they were being dismissed, effective immediately, has caused alarm in the scientific community because of the body’s unique role in leading the National Science Foundation – one of the world’s premiere research-funding agencies.
Three Columbians Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Membership in the academy is considered one of science’s highest honors.
Sports Daily: Royals streak snapped; transfer portal news heating up
The nation’s top basketball recruit picked KU. How much of a difference maker will Tyran Stokes be for the Jayhawks?
House proposes cuts to NOAA, science in new funding bill
The National Weather Service would get a boost, and it would be required to maintain staffing levels.
Trump Fires All 22 Board Members of National Science Foundation
The 22 members of the National Science Foundation board were informed in an email that they had been "terminated, effective immediately."
Annual breakfast marks National Day of Prayer with business and community voices
The 37th annual Northwest Ohio Prayer Breakfast will bring the nation’s largest Coca‑Cola bottler to Toledo — and his focus is less on profits than on ...
The National Science Board ousted by Trump was finalizing a report on China’s growing scientific edge over the United States
Three dismissed members warn EL PAÍS that the Republican is trying to take control of an institution protected by law: ‘This is unprecedented’
UNM Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center Partners with Department of Neurosciences to Promote Greater Rigor and Reproducibility in Research
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has won a three-year $2.6 million federally funded grant intended to bolster the transparency, rigor and reproducibility of HSC research. The initiative, funded by the National Institute of...
UNM Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center Partners with Department of Neurosciences to Promote Greater Rigor and Reproducibility in Research
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has won a three-year $2.6 million federally funded grant intended to bolster the transparency, rigor and reproducibility of HSC research. The initiative, funded by the National Institute of...
Gavin Newsom, Early Champion of Single-Payer, Moderates in the Face of Fiscal Limits
By Angela Hart | KFF Health News SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In his earliest days in the governor’s office, Democrat Gavin Newsom huddled with his advisers to consider how to realize a key campaign promise: transforming a healthcare system replete with insurance company intermediaries into the nation’s ...
Trump Fires National Science Foundation Board, Including 2 Catholic Scientists
U.S. President Donald Trump has eliminated the National Science Foundation board, citing “constitutional questions” raised in a 2021 Supreme Court case.
Trump fires National Science Foundation board, including 2 Catholic scientists
U.S. President Donald Trump has eliminated the National Science Foundation board, citing “constitutional questions” raised in a 2021 Supreme Court case.
Florida legislature approves new congressional map intended to boost Republicans in midterms
The Florida Legislature approved a new congressional map intended to maximize Republicans’ advantage in the state as part of the national redistricting battle that President Donald Trump launched ahead of this year’s midterms.
Blake Shelton bringing live entertainment venue to downtown Indianapolis
The nation's seventh Ole Red location is moving into three historic buildings on Meridian Street.
House proposes cuts to NOAA, science in new funding bill
The National Weather Service would get a boost, and it would be required to maintain staffing levels.
New court filing details timeline and suspect’s extensive arsenal in White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
A Secret Service officer saw a shotgun-wielding suspect fire his weapon toward the stairs that led to a hotel ballroom where President Donald Trump, members of his Cabinet and some of the nation’s top journalists had gathered Saturday for the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, federal prosecutors alleged in a new court filing Wednesday.
Harvard faculty recognized by the National Academy of Sciences
In recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, 15 Harvard faculty have been elected to join the National Academy of Sciences.
Silver Dollar City named Best Theme Park for 4th year in a row
USA TODAY readers have voted Silver Dollar City as the nation's best theme park once again. Its Time Traveler roller coaster also moved up the list.
McNeese’s Family Science Concentration Reapproved by NCFR
McNeese State University’s bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in family science curriculum has been reapproved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).
Report: Arkansas worst in nation on healthcare for Hispanic residents
Arkansas ranks worst in the nation on health system performance for Hispanic residents, according to a new report that found existing racial and ethnic health disparities are likely to worsen in every state under recent federal policy changes.
Empty seats 'a symptom of staggering success'
The sight of empty seats in the Manchester City end at Wembley for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Southampton has inevitably triggered the usual cycle of lazy jibes from rival fans. Under Pep Guardiola, a trip to England's showpiece venue has shifted from a once-in-a-generation opportunity to a routine commitment. Since 2011, City have visited the national stadium 33 times, and the weekend's clash against the Saints was Guardiola's 25th Wembley appearance alone, including the Premier League meetings with Tottenham in 2018.
Veterans of every generation find their stride in adaptive sports
At the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, there’s no single profile of a participant. Veterans arrive from different branches, eras, and life experiences. Some are just beginning to navigate a new reality after injury. Others have spent decades adapting. But on the slopes, those differences fade, replaced by a shared pursuit of movement, independence, and community.
Ralph, Schlom elected to National Academy of Sciences
Physicist Daniel Ralph, Ph.D. ’93, and materials scientist Darrell Schlom are Cornell’s 2026 electees to the National Academy of Sciences, the academy announced April 28.
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Scientists see Trump's firing of the National Science Board as an attack on research
The move follows an administration push for cuts to the NSF and raises concerns in the scientific community that it could jeopardize a tradition of independent decisions about federal science grants.
Scientists see Trump's firing of the National Science Board as an attack on research
The move follows an administration push for cuts to the NSF and raises concerns in the scientific community that it could jeopardize a tradition of independent decisions about federal science grants.
Trump Takes a ‘Wrecking Ball’ to Independent Scientific Advisory Board
Without the impartial oversight of its board, the National Science Foundation is now “fully at the behest of the White House,” experts warn.
Kelly to Health System CEOs: "It's about the math."
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, during a hearing with leaders of some of the nation's top hospital CEOs, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) questioned the executives about ways rural health care can improve while also highlighting the need for more affordable and accessible health care in Rural America.
Venezuela: German entrepreneurs bet on business boom
Venezuela was once a key destination for German industry. However, after nearly 30 years of socialism, only a handful of German companies remain active there. That could change if the nation opens up to foreign firms.
White House cites Supreme Court case to justify science purge
The case — U.S. v. Arthrex — raises questions about the National Science Board's authority, the administration said. Some experts aren't so sure.
Former Health Official Charged With Concealing Emails About Covid-19 Grants
David Morens, who was a senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is accused of evading document requests.
Forget the caveman myth: Neanderthal brains challenge what we thought we knew
We appear to have more in common with our Neanderthal cousins than outward appearances would suggest. New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that ...
National Academies Presidents’ Statement on Value of National Science Board
The presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine have issued a statement about the recent dismissal of the members of the National Science Board — which for decades has overseen the National Science Foundation, providing support and continuity for the American research enterprise that is key to the nation’s economic and geopolitical leadership.
Golden Grove Elementary awarded grant to improve student health
West Palm Beach, Fla. April 28, 2026 — The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, and the National Football League (NFL) recently awarded Golden Grove Elementary an NFL PLAY 60 Active Recess...
Trump administration fires independent board overseeing National Science Foundation
The Trump administration has fired all 22 current members of an independent board that oversees the National Science Foundation, one dismissed member says.
Texas’ Gulf Coast has a health problem: benzene emissions are among the highest in the nation
At the worst-performing refineries, report finds operators are not tackling recurring and harmful leaks, leading to public health risk.
Trump slashes science board with Oak Ridge, University of Tennessee ties
An Oak Ridge National Lab scientist and a former University of Tennessee research lead were among those Trump fired from the National Science Board.
Trump administration fires independent board overseeing the National Science Foundation
The National Science Board was created in 1950 to advise the president and Congress on science and engineering policy.
‘A String Of Erratic Decisions’: National Science Foundation Advisory Board Abruptly Dismissed
The White House firing of all 24 members of the National Science Board (NSB), the group that advises the National Science Foundation (NSF), is yet another
Trump dismisses UTEP president, others from National Science Foundation Board
The White House fired all members of the National Science Board Friday, including Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso.President Dona
Trump administration fires independent board overseeing the National Science Foundation
The National Science Board was created in 1950 to advise the president and Congress on science and engineering policy, approve major funding awards and guide NSF’s future.
Three UT Southwestern faculty members elected to National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) today elected three UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists into its membership. Election to the NAS is one of the highest honors in the United States for American scientists.