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Mamdani says NYC is exploring whether it can arrest Netanyahu if Israeli leader visits for UN General Assembly
Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration is exploring whether New York City can arrest Benjamin Netanyahu over the ICC warrant during United Nations General Assembly.
Column: My favorite films of 2026, so far
In general, the highest-quality movies are usually reserved for the end of the year as we head towards awards season. But there are movies releasing every week of the year,
Blanche’s Meeting With Epstein Survivors Did Not Go Well
Several survivors said they were let down by the encounter, but Blanche will still probably be confirmed as attorney general.
Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met Thursday with accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the demand by a Republican senator whose support is crucial to advancing his nomination to lead the Justice Department.
New Study Assesses ALS Patient Perspectives and Health-Related Quality of Life Related to PEG
These findings indicate that patients with ALS have generally positive perspectives on PEG positioning and that PEG improves health-related quality of life overall.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn appears on the fence about Todd Blanche’s nomination to be Trump’s attorney general
Cornyn, whose reelection defeat Trump ensured in May, expressed concerns during Blanche’s confirmation hearing about President Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund” – which Blanche helped craft as Trump’s personal lawyer.
RJK Jr. lauds Tampa General Hospital for going healthy with patient meals
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he hopes other hospitals will replicate Tampa General's move to ditch high-carb, highly processed foods.
Epstein survivor: Meeting with Attorney General Nominee Todd Blanche was ‘compulsive…he was forced to meet with us today’
Texas attorney general candidates have plans to fight corruption if elected
In the race to be the state’s top lawyer, there’s no love lost between the Republican and Democratic candidates.
Apple Sued Over Reported 'Hide My Email' Flaw
Apple this week was sued over a reported "Hide My Email" flaw that could expose a user's real email address. The proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Apple violated California's false advertising law and other consumer protection statutes by knowingly offering a feature that does not work as advertised.
Best business insurance for online startups and e-commerce stores
Get the business insurance your e-commerce store needs, including cyber liability and general liability coverage.
Colorado’s primary proved in this political climate money doesn’t buy electoral happiness
To catch you up, campaign committees from this 2026 election cycle already collected and shoveled out a lot of cash: $102.64 million. That’s contributions in all forms — dollars, in kind, loans, etc. — from December 2024 to now. Total expenditures just for advertising amount to $32.94 million. More to come for the general election. […]
Two Familiar Faces Emerge to Replace Steve Yzerman
Shawn Horcoff and Kris Draper are the leading internal candidates to replace Steve Yzerman as Red Wings general manager.
Sen. John Cornyn undecided on President Trump’s pick for U.S. Attorney General
Cornyn is a key vote that could decide if Todd Blanche’s nomination moves forward to the full Senate.
Chico City Council approves entertainment zones for downtown and Meriam Park
CHICO, Calif. - Chico City Council voted 6 to 0 to approve an ordinance creating entertainment zones in downtown Chico and Meriam Park.The ordinance, taking effect September 18, 2026, will allow customers to carry approved alcoholic beverages and walk around outside within those designated areas."I feel like the downtown could use all the help it could get right now," said Celeste Cramer, general manager of Downtown Chico Business Association. "In the other areas where they have been doing the entertainment zones and throughout California, it has increased their sales. They haven't seen an increase in violence, or tickets, or anything like that. It's a good thing to try out."Numerous other cities around California such as Redding, Sacramento and San Francisco have put their own entertainment zones into effect and have had success.Action News Now stopped by both designated locations and spoke with organizers and bar owners."I'm super excited, I think this is an opportunity for us," said Scott Baldwin, owner of Argus. "We can get a booth at the farmers market. You can order a cocktail from that booth and then we'll have it ready for you at the door as you walk through. Think of it as a picnic situation. You can grab some tacos, you can get a Kentucky Buck. You can sit down anywhere in the entertainment zone and enjoy Argus outside of Argus."Chico's Chamber of Commerce hosted community stakeholder meetings and community engagement sessions to tailor the ordinance to the city's needs as a university town and rural area.The ordinance will allow people 21 and older to walk around with open containers of alcohol within the entertainment zones as long as they have a wristband, stamp or another visible marker showing they're allowed to do so."To us it's more than an ordinance," said Jen Rothenwander, marketing manager at Meriam Park. "It's an opportunity to invest back into the community, and to continue to do what Chico does well – which is to create the spaces for people to stick around and gather, and shop and spend."The Meriam Park entertainment zone will be enclosed by Springfield Drive, Alcott Avenue, Notre Dame Boulevard and E. 20th Street.The Downtown Chico entertainment zone will span mostly from Highway 32 to Lost Park.Chico Chief of Police Billy Aldridge spoke with Redding Police and was informed they had zero problems with their entertainment zone.Chief Aldridge endorses the ordinance in Chico. freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "actionnewsnow-com_blox_yup-rectangle-one", slotId: "actionnewsnow-com_blox_yup-rectangle-one", targeting: { "pos": "yup-rectangle-one" } });
What Blanche said about Trump, Epstein files during confirmation hearing for attorney general
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche tried to assert his independence from President Donald Trump during his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
CDC Director Nominee Erica Schwartz Grilled by Senators About Vaccines and Political Pressure
A former deputy surgeon general, Schwartz vowed during her confirmation hearing to “never compromise on the science.”
Trump administration 'screwed up' Epstein files communication, Vance says
During a lengthy podcast interview with Joe Rogan released Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance pointed largely to former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who infamously stated that an alleged “client list” of Epstein’s was “sitting on my desk right now.”
The States Try to Topple WarnerMount…Thus Begins the Local Antitrust Era
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Well, it looks like it’s time for another strategy column. Can I finally avoid writing about M&A? No, it seems I cannot. Admittedly, I’m a week early with this column, since I usually put it out every other week. But this news couldn’t wait. This will make three “Most Important Stories” in a row with a merger or acquisition as its centerpiece. First, Roku-Fox (an acquisition), then Comcast-NBCUniversal (a divestment!), and now the State AGs and the WGA’s lawsuits against Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (antitrust). M&A is usually the “most important” topic any given week, simply because a giant company merging or breaking up (or preventing those outcomes) can have the biggest impact on the streaming board. If you think about these companies as players in a game, changing the number of players is one of the biggest changes you can make. I shouldn’t really complain, either, since this lawsuit is very good news for customers and suppliers (econ speak for talent, workers and indie studios in Hollywood). So let me answer some questions about this potential trial, along with (shudder) making some heavily caveated predictions. I’ll also look at whether Hollywood must consolidate, whether or not the states can win, trouble at X-Box, Netflix’s YouTube binge, and more. Plus, I have five images that visualize this merger and the harm, including three brand new data looks you’ve never seen before. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Can The States and the WGA Stop Hollywood’s Consolidation (Crisis)? If every other newsletter and news outlet is writing about the same story, I try to avoid writing about it as well, but I can’t ignore a story this consequential. The story of the last year was the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this development potentially extends that saga into 2027. As I tried to figure out my angle, I realized, like my last column, I’m again faced with a series of questions. These questions, though, are much more forward-looking. Will the states win? Will the WGA win? If so, what happens to Warner Bros. Discovery? Either way, will this chill the market for future mergers? So you know what that means: predictions. About the future, no less, the hardest thing to predict.1 Just remember: nothing here comes with a guarantee. And the more confident someone is in their predictions, the less you should trust them. This situation is incredibly fluid, nuanced, uncertain and tenuous. So let’s try to explain what may happen. Question: Why File this Lawsuit? I’ll admit, a few months back, I was fairly pessimistic about the fate of this lawsuit. Rumors had started bubbling up that the state Attorneys General (in particular California) wanted to settle with either some minor divestments (usually CNN) or behavioral remedies. And that tracked for me: the states usually settle lawsuits, like the recent John Deere right-to-repair suit. Yet, they plan to fight this. (As they did the LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopolization trial and the Nexstar-Tegna merger.) Honestly, that also makes a ton of sense. Frankly, this move is just good politics for these State AGs. Most are still running for higher and higher office in blue states—some folks have emphasized that only Democratic AGs joined this suit, but given the Ellison/Trump ties, and fears of retribution, that tracks—and a high profile case like this will help them move up the electoral ladder, especially since Paramount and its leadership (the Ellisons, father and heir) have sided with the other side of the political aisle. That makes them unsympathetic to Democratic voters and Hollywood workers in particular. Why did this lawsuit happen? In addition to the very real concerns about industry consolidation, this is why. That said, I don’t think we would have seen this lawsuit for Netflix and Warner Bros., simply because they’re more sympathetic and aligned with Democrats. But those consolidation concerns are real. The “town”—meaning Hollywood and such—really is seeing the damage of mergers on this industry. That’s why the WGA also filed its own lawsuit in defense of workers as well. (Wildcard: What about Europe? Will they try to stop the deal, too? There have been some rumors out of the UK they may try to fight the deal, and UK enforcers just stopped a Getty Images-Shutterstock tie up, so there is precedence. This argument could go either way, though. On one hand, the EU doesn’t need to step in, cause they states are handling it. On the other hand, this could make the EU’s case easier. Just imagine if both sides coordinated. I’ll simply say, “We’ll see!”) Question: Will The State AGs or the WGA Win? Can the state AGs play David to Paramount-Skydance’s Goliath here? That’s really the whole thing, isn’t it? If you know this result, you could make a lot of money. When things are uncertain, it’s tempting to shrug and say, “Eh” meaning it’s a 50/50 proposition. I wouldn’t, though. When in doubt, you should expect that the merging parties succeed. AT&T did successfully buy Warner Bros., after all, and Disney bought Fox without any challenges. Many judges are extremely sympathetic to mergers, and I’d bet the state AGs get a judge who will allow the merger. (Even Obama-appointed judges often allow mergers.) As I understand it, we’ll see two main attacks. First, theatrical films. The AGs are arguing that, when it comes to share of box office and the number of both “wide releases” and blockbuster (or “tentpole”) films, the merging parties will have over 27% market share. Now, the Supreme Court once ruled from on high that any merger that exceeds 30% is presumptively illegal, but that’s guidance, not an ironclad bar. Still, the states will have to argue that this is close to having too much power, and with that power, this will likely further worsen the theater/studio splits in particular. Indeed, as Matthew Stoller pointed out, “just five studios are responsible for 95% of all blockbusters; if this merger goes through, then Paramount and Disney will control 60% of that.” So yes, movie studios will be very concentrated after this merger. Want me to visualize some of that? Well, here’s the share of films that grossed over $200 million at the domestic box office since 2022. (Note: this isn’t all films released in over 3,000 screens, but it is a good look at market power.) First, here are the 43 films by studio: Notice all the blue (Disney), orange (Universal), and purple (Warner Bros)? Yeah, those studios are powerful, and this combines Paramount with one of them. Here’s the look by studio and share of the films that grossed over $200 million: Now, if you look at that and also think, “Huh, should we break up Disney?” I’m with you. I’ve seen some folks poo-poo this idea that this is a real category, but it is! For an upcoming article, I’ve been pulling data on the share of top 100 films at the box office as a share of total box office, and it’s massive. Here’s the chart: (This analysis looks at The-Number’s top 100 films and total domestic box office each year.) To be clear, tentpoles make up 80.7% of the box office each year, so I do think it’s a genuine market. (To be clear, films grossing over $50 million make up 80% of the domestic box office, and films grossing over $100 million make up 64.1%.) I mean, the top 100 films at the box office make up 95% of each year’s grosses. Worse, the combined studios will likely cut output to flex that market power. Everyone can just look at what happened to Disney and Fox to see the precedent. (With fewer films, the remaining theaters have to give more for those few films that remain.) Here’s an image I’ve used a lot, the share of wide-release films from Disney and Fox over time: The AGs will also argue that this consolidation will also impact the cable industry. In this case, the consolidation is actually worse, but that environment is…complicated. Paramount will argue that the cable industry is shrinking. That said, predictions that cable will “go to zero” also don’t look very well supported by the data, as the declines are shrinking, meaning “cable” or “vMVPDs” will likely stabilize at some point. Can the state Attorneys General win on those two main arguments? I honestly don’t know. Again, I’d bet no, since history in general supports that, but it depends on the judge/jury and how they interpret the arguments. Notably, Paramount won’t face accusations about monopoly power in other areas, like streaming, news, sports rights, or vertical integration. I tend to disagree with leaving out sports rights, but I also see the appeal for a simpler case. The states also aren’t really pushing novel theories about labor harm either, which should help. (By the way, Sean McNulty at The Ankler wrote a great run through of potential options, and Capitol Forum also wrote a great paper on theatrical consolidation. Both these pieces predated the lawsuit. Matthew Stoller is also out with his analysis of the pros and cons of the case too.) In some ways, the WGA’s case is even stronger. Quoting Sean McNulty’s summary: “The WGA is citing WARNAMOUNT as crossing a 30% market share in multiple sectors, a number that the Supreme Court has precedent for deeming “presumptively anticompetitive” in a market. According to the WGA numbers, WARNAMOUNT would have represented: - 35% of film writing jobs between 2021 and 2024 - 36% of TV writing projects between 2022 and 2025 - 38% of overall deals between 2021 and 2024” Notably, antitrust enforcers did win recently in the Penguin-Simon & Schuster merger by focusing on labor impact, so don’t count this thinking out. (Wildcard: Will the states try to get a jury trial? Most likely no, they’ll let a judge handle it. If I’m them, though, I’d try to put this in front of a jury. Juries tend to understand monopoly power in a more realistic way than judges faced with legions of economists.) Question: What if They Win? What if They Lose?
Todd Blanche, Trump’s Attorney General Pick, Faces Crucial Hurdle After Rocky Hearing
Even a single Republican “no” vote would block Mr. Blanche’s nomination from consideration by the full Senate, which could sink his confirmation.
EU Drops Battery Removal Requirement for Apple Watch and AirPods
The European Commission yesterday adopted new exemptions to its Batteries Regulation that free the Apple Watch and AirPods from having to offer user-removable and replaceable batteries. The EU's Batteries Regulation generally requires consumer products sold in the region to let users swap out their own batteries, a push meant to keep devices in use longer and make it easier to recover materials for recycling.
Charlotte Hornets GM raves about recent trade acquisition
Charlotte Hornets general manager Jeff Peterson had high praise for Naz Reid after acquiring him from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Taxes, paid leave program on minds of N. Va. business leaders after General Assembly session
Optimism among Northern Virginia business leaders is improving, although some expressed worries about taxes and the state's approval of a paid family and medical leave program. That's according to the second-quarter 2026 Business Leader Survey released last week by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and public relations firm Pinkston, revealing the sentiments of the
Want to get published in a top-tier journal? Where you're from matters
An analysis of 110,000 submissions to elite general science journals shows that researchers from prestigious universities are more than three times more likely
PPG introduces PPG AEROVIEW virtual aircraft painter for business, general aviation
Innovative digital tool enhances aircraft paint color selection, design experience PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced the launch of the PPG AEROVIEW™ virtual aircraft painter, a digital tool designed to help business and general aviation customers explore and customize aircraft paint colors with precision and ease. This web-based tool provides an interactive platform where users can select from a variety of aircraft models and digitally apply colors from PPG’s comprehensive aerospace color library to visualize custom paint schemes in real time. The PPG AEROVIEW™ virtual aircraft painter is a digital tool designed to help business and general aviation customers explore and customize aircraft paint colors with precision and ease. The PPG Aeroview virtual aircraft painter is designed to increase the visibility and accessibility of PPG’s aerospace coatings, particularly for business and general aviation markets. The tool provides a digital alternative to traditional physical color brochures
State of Indiana to end minority and women's business contracting program
Gov. Mike Braun's announcement comes after Attorney General Todd Rokita issued an opinion stating that the Minority and Women's Business Enterprises program is unlawful.
Indiana Gov. Braun to end minority and women's business contracting program
The announcement comes after Attorney General Todd Rokita issued an opinion stating that the Minority and Women's Business Enterprises program is unlawful.
Trump administration live updates: U.S. launches daylight strikes on Iran
Get live updates and the latest news on the Trump administration as the U.S. strikes Iran, Todd Blanche testifies on his nomination for attorney general and intel chief nominee Jay Clayton appears at his confirmation hearing.
Trump’s pick for attorney-general faces Senate hearing later today
Trump’s nominee – his former personal defense lawyer – will face what is expected to be a contentious Senate nomination hearing
August's solar eclipse inspires science involving jets, balloons and Einstein’s general theory of relativity
Solar eclipses are a rare and brief opportunity for scientists to gather data on everything from the physics of the sun to air pressure in the upper atmosphere
More health workers go on strike as confirmed Ebola cases in Congo top 2,000, including 754 deaths
Health workers at the Bunia General Hospital went on strike on Wednesday, the latest group to have walked off their job at the epicenter over payment issues.
Why Todd Blanche can expect a grilling at his confirmation hearing
The July 15 Senate hearing for attorney general nominee Todd Blanche could turn heated, as Democrats are set to grill the former Trump personal lawyer.
Baton Rouge General's Health Tip of the Week: Heat waves may double risk of heart attack
Sponsored by Baton Rouge General When the temperature rises, so does the workload on your heart. Hot weather makes your heart pump harder to cool your body, and dehydration thickens your blood, adding even more strain. That can increase the risk of a heart attack, especially if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes […]
Ex-General Who Lost Son in Gaza War Emerges as Netanyahu’s Main Rival
Gadi Eisenkot, a former head of Israel’s armed forces, has emerged as the main challenger to Benjamin Netanyahu in upcoming elections that could end the premiership of the country’s longest-serving leader.
Paramount-WBD merger could impact entertainment options
California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins "Here's the Scoop" to discuss how the merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery could impact the entertainment industry.
Ex-Kings Star Cousins Excited About Acuff Jr., Team’s Future
DeMarcus Cousins hails Darius Acuff Jr. as a franchise-altering talent while general manager Scott Perry overhauls the roster to launch a bold new era in Sacramento.
Prosecutions, Epstein and the $1.8B fund: What to watch at Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing
Todd Blanche is heading into a high-stakes test this week in his bid to become attorney general.
Trump administration claims healthcare fraud crackdown has saved taxpayers $5.56B in six months
A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General shows most of the money comes from a small number of huge cases, where the federal government was able to reclaim hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds being abused by criminal defendants.
Lindsey Graham, noble Roman
A lot of people want to be powerful. Very few people, as it turns out, are willing to do the things necessary to have power. This is, generally speaking, a good thing. Perhaps the greatest protecti…
Mental health grant cancellations at issue in new lawsuit from 15 states
The attorneys general say the department plans to terminate the grants despite a prior injunction protecting them.
Sweden prides itself on equality – so why is its political gender gap growing?
As general election looms, survey shows twice as many men as women support far-right Sweden Democrats
Report raises questions over Attorney General Ken Paxton’s voter registration
A new investigation scrutinizes whether the Republican Senate nominee may have violated the same voting laws his office has aggressively enforced.
iOS 26.6 Will Warn You About Malicious iMessages
Apple is adding a new warning about malicious iMessages in iOS 26.6, according to X user @limpless_skelly, who shared a mockup of the notification. The pop-up will warn users that a message could be trying to harm their iPhone or compromise their privacy. Apple asks users to share the message so it can guard against future attacks, and there are "Not Now," "Share With Apple," and "Don't Report" options to tap.
First macOS Golden Gate Public Beta Now Available
Apple today released the first public beta of macOS Golden Gate, expanding the macOS 27 beta test to non-developers. You can sign up to test the update on Apple's beta website, and then download it by going to System Settings > General > Software Update and toggling on the macOS 27 beta. macOS Golden Gate includes the same Siri AI features as iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, but you get to Siri through Spotlight with a Command + Space keyboard shortcut.
Daytime Emmys reveal first nominees for 2026, including Best Actor in a Drama
The hotly anticipated 2026 Daytime Emmys have revealed their first batch of nominees ahead of Tuesday’s full announcement, including Best Actor in a Drama Series and Best Talk Show Host.
Paramount Says States' Effort To Block WBD Deal "Will Only Harm Entertainment Workers"
Paramount hit back at an antitrust lawsuit filed Monday by attorneys general of 12 states seeking to block the company's pending $110 billion merger.
California attorney general files lawsuit to block Warner Bros.-Paramount merger
The lawsuit was announced Monday
California attorney general files lawsuit to block Warner Bros.-Paramount merger
The lawsuit was announced Monday
States sue Department of Education over alleged unlawful termination of mental health grants
State attorneys general sue the Department of Education over unlawful termination of mental health grants for public school students.
Lindsey Graham’s sister should finish his term, Trump says
A special election will be held next month to pick a new Republican nominee in the general election for Graham’s seat
Federal health watchdog reports $5.56 billion in expected recoveries, cost savings
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General said its investigations into alleged fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in federal healthcare programs stem from tips submitted through its hotline. During the…
How Unaffordable is Health Care and What Can We Do About It?
For decades, the cost of medical care, prescription drugs and health insurance has consistently risen faster than general inflation and wage growth, posing financial challenges for government, businesses and people.
Graham’s death complicates Senate Republicans’ packed agenda
Republicans return to Washington facing a thinner working margin, stalled spending bills and a fight over Trump’s attorney general nominee.
State budget advances plan to reopen Martin County hospital
ECU Health gets funding needed to begin converting the shuttered Martin General facility into a Rural Emergency Hospital.
O’Rorke, Loeffler discuss newly-created Bulldog Sports Enterprises
(KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno State Athletics is trying something new with its intellectual property and multimedia rights this year, but although the station may be changing, a familiar voice will still be calling their games on the radio. On Bulldog Insider Sunday night, Ryan O’Rorke, the Vice President and General Manager of the newly-created Bulldog Sports […]
George Washington's prayer life, private struggles take the spotlight in New Museum of the Bible play
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the Museum of the Bible is inviting audiences behind the scenes of the American Revolution with A General s Prayer, a new one-man play exploring
California Politics 360 full episode | Public safety concerns as homicide rates reach state low
Attorney General Rob Bonta laid out his recommendations to cut gun deaths by 30-50% in a new report.
They're Building Half A Bridge to Save Science...
Today’s post is about science: what you can do now to protect it from unprecedented threats, and how your action is the first half of a long-term program that Congress must take up next. Let me start with describing the embryonic state of science advocacy. There are many well-meaning organizations: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Research!America, and subject-specific organizations such as the Society for Neuroscience and the American Physical Society. Their general approach is to emphasize the common good: the remarkable value that science and innovation have provided to all Americans. However, these organizations are offering an incomplete solution. Before I start, a preliminary: If you already know about the threat, go ahead and weigh in with OMB at this link. Ideas about what to say come from Research!America and the American Physical Society. You have until Monday, July 13 at 11:59pm Eastern. Then come back here and read the rest of this post. Finally, get in touch with whoever is likely to be your next member of Congress in 2027. The threat: An end to merit-based science… The onslaught of attacks on science is accelerating. It’s not just cuts to grants, which was the last battle. That battle is not done yet, but there is a new and worse threat. Now comes a proposed public rule from the Office of Management and Budget. The rule would take decision-making power over grants away from experts and put it into the hands of political appointees. Former NIH official Elizabeth Ginexi wrote an excellent summary of what OMB is trying to do, which is codify the executive branch’s ability to award or terminate grants, for arbitrary cause or no stated cause. Since World War II, a necessary step in scientific grant-making has been consideration of scientific merit. This approach has made America into a dominant scientific superpower, the envy of the world. Of course, political considerations do come into the mix. The proposed rule tilts the balance dramatically away from merit. …but why? Many people have difficulty comprehending why Russell Vought and OMB would want to damage science in this way. If you’re a working scientist, you are likely to be particularly uncomprehending. Who would hurt an activity so self-evidently good? The answer is: this is part of the program to replace the rule of law with a personalist regime. OMB Director Russell Vought, a Christian nationalist, would like to implement what legal scholars call a “unitary executive,” and what I would call a dictatorship. Or if you like, a personalist authoritarian regime. I am a working scientist. This rule will debilitate my research. It may chill the speech of scientists for speaking freely in the public sphere. It is a form of personalizing power and decision-making within the executive branch. In short, it sacrifices science in the service of tyranny. To Russell Vought, a decrease in the quality of science might be an acceptable cost. He might even consider it an added benefit to weaken a pillar of soft U.S. power based on knowledge and skepticism. The professional societies are building half a bridge The nonprofits are asking you to make public comment. Public comment is like building the first half of a bridge. Before implementation, OMB is compelled by law to have a period of public comment. Rules have to be consistent with the law and the Constitution. They express the federal government’s stance toward how those laws will be implemented. When a presidential administration works in good faith, these public comments are used to inform their eventual action, and sometimes mitigate it. The comment period reflects our First Amendment right to petition our government. The executive branch is then supposed to take those comments into account - completing the bridge between us, the people, and our government. Project 2025 seeks to take away the second half of the bridge. We have to replace it. The first half of the bridge Organizations like AAAS, Research!America, and SfN are partly right. You should certainly comment. Their core model is earnest: if enough of us make noise, then we will achieve change. This idealistic point of view is offered in good faith. That point of view is also currently bullshit. The fundamental reason is that the federal rulemaking process has two parts: There has to be a period of public comment. OMB makes the final rule…but is free to disregard public comment. Oops. That’s a loophole. However, not all is lost. Congress can complete the bridge Congress has enormous power. That power suggests a roadmap for how to proceed. This lawless administration is still going to issue that rule. Nonetheless, your comments still play an essential role. Here are two steps you can take. Step 1: Send your comment to your Representative and Senator. Whether they are Democrats or Republicans, many of them support science. Whatever you wrote as public comment in the Federal Register, also send it to your member of Congress. You can include information about jobs in your district or state by looking at Joshua Weitz’s ScienceMatters interactive map. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and give your town, zip code, or state, then deliver your message. Step 2: Politicize the hell out of science. You heard me, politicize it as an issue. We hear a lot from the old scientific establishment about science being nonpartisan. This is obsolete, sentimental thinking. Under normal conditions, it was true. But we can no longer make that assumption. We can keep on pretending, but we’re putting science at risk. There is a way forward. Rules are subordinate to the law…and Congress makes laws. Therefore Congress can step in. In this fall’s election, it is likely that Democrats will retake the House of Representatives. That puts at least one chamber of Congress in the hands of Democrats. They are far more inclined than the current Congress to investigate and legislate. This opens a path to undoing the damage. It also creates a permission structure for pro-science Republicans to find a way back from the brink. We have to encourage them. In the House, every district is up every two years. In your district, contact both of the major party candidates. If your state has a Senate race, contact those candidates too. Specifically mention the proposed OMB rule. Ask for two things: For this year’s appropriations process in August and September, ask that amendments be added to stop the implementation of the new rule. Those amendments should support peer-reviewed science and stop political interference. Looking ahead to next year, ask the Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator to work to hold hearings in 2027 on the importance and benefits of peer-reviewed science for health and prosperity. What hearings and amendments will accomplish Congress can use its investigatory power to summon heads of agencies and the director of the OMB. That will allow fact-finding regarding the consequences of this rule. Congress can override the rule through the appropriations process. They can write into statute a requirement to follow peer review and best scientific practices. In this way, Congress can stop the attacks on science. Postscript: Moving forward Now I have a request for you, to help me. As many of you know, I ran for Congress in order to save democracy and science. Although I did not win, that battle continues by other means. I met and heard from thousands of supporters both here in New Jersey and nationally. I learned that pro-science, pro-democracy activists have the potential to become a much greater force. In the weeks and months ahead, I will be building ways to harness that energy. I will be announcing those plans soon. In the meantime, an important step is to wind down the Congressional campaign, which has a few remaining bills to pay. Please help me retire that last debt.
Tri-state people in business: New hires, promotions, recognitions
Grant Sizemore joined Medical Associates Clinic of Dubuque’s surgery department as a general surgeon.
Azerbaijan health officials deny mumps epidemic in Baku
The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan reports posts have been circulating on social networks about the widespread spread of epidemic mumps in Baku do not reflect the current epidemiological situation. Health officials say the epidemiological situation of mumps in the country is stable. The registered cases of infection consist of individual sporadic cases, no epidemics or mass spread have been recorded. The current situation is constantly under epidemiological surveillance by relevant medical institutions, and the necessary preventive and counter-epidemic measures are consistently implemented. Epidemic mumps is observed more often among unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals. The disease is transmitted mainly by airborne droplets - during coughing, sneezing and close contact. The incubation period usually lasts 11–23 days. The main symptoms of the disease are fever, swelling and pain in the parotid salivary glands, discomfort when chewing and swallowing, general weakness, headache and loss of appetite. In most cases, mumps is mild and results in complete recovery. However, in rare cases, certain complications may develop in unvaccinated adolescents and adults. Therefore, timely vaccination is of particular importance in preventing the disease. Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube In accordance with the National Vaccination Schedule in Azerbaijan, the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is administered to children at 12 months of age, with a booster dose at 6 years of age. The MMR vaccine is the most reliable and effective means of protection against mumps. The Ministry of Health recommends that parents check their children’s vaccination status. If for any reason the vaccination has been delayed or missed, it is recommended to contact the medical facility in your area of residence and consult a doctor. To protect yourself from the disease, it is recommended to follow preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with sick people, following personal hygiene rules, washing hands regularly, and frequently ventilating closed spaces. If you experience symptoms of the disease, avoid self-medication, seek medical attention, and do not return to work until you are fully recovered. Citizens are asked to refer only to official sources and not to believe or share unverified information circulating on social networks. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Maryland attorney general sues Education Department to stop school mental health grant cuts
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a new lawsuit to stop the U.S. Department of Education from ending federally funded school mental health grants.
4 Drawbacks Of Buying A Nintendo Switch 2
Generally, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a great console. Are there any drawbacks to buying one now? Our expert weighs in on the cons of buying Nintendo's flagship.
CA joins lawsuit against Trump’s cutting school mental health services funding
Attorney General Rob Bonta opposes Trump administration’s attempt to cut $200 million in grant money from high-need schools.
Striking Mass General Brigham home health clinicians picket outside headquarters: "We're at our breaking point"
While 4,000 Brigham and Women's nurses are locked out of the Boston hospital following a one-day strike, 450 home health clinicians are on day 3 of their week-long work stoppage.
Tua Tagovailoa Gets Strong Statement From Dolphins’ Patrick Paul
The new Miami Dolphins regime made the decision this offseason to cut ties with Tua Tagovailoa. Moreover, the decision made by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will cost the Dolphins an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap.Moreover, Tagovailoa’s release will be designated post-June 1, allowing Miami to split the dead money over […] The post Tua Tagovailoa Gets Strong Statement From Dolphins’ Patrick Paul appeared first on HEAVY.
Gov. Jeff Landry's dominance in Louisiana politics
Gov. Jeff Landry's dominance in Louisiana politics, Rep. Joe Orgeron's veto experience, and the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Who will replace Graham Platner on the ballot? 7 Democrats to watch
Whoever is selected will have less than four months before facing longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.
New York attorney general files lawsuit against makers of PFAS chemicals
The lawsuit alleges that the companies that make PFAS chemicals knew about their toxic characteristics and continued to make and sell them.
Victor Marx defeats Barb Kirkmeyer as Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial primary crosses finish line
Republican Victor Marx won Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial nomination on Thursday after maintaining a razor-thin lead over state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer for more than a week as county clerks finished reporting final, unofficial vote totals. Marx, a missionary leader and first-time candidate, will face Democratic nominee Attorney General Phil Weiser in November for the office held […]
OpenEvidence backs study that finds it beats LLMs
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Dueling research pitting OpenEvidence against general purpose LLMs, use of Dexcom's CGM in children, and more.
Cherington talks offensive improvements, Griffin's health, Trade Deadline and more
The Pirates have been bitten by the injury bug. Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz are rehabbing in Florida. Konnor Griffin will be out until September with a torn sagittal band in his left ring finger. But as general manager Ben Cherington sees it, none of that changes the Pirates’ goals
Takeaways: Trump leaves NATO summit declaring ‘a lot of love’ with allies after a rocky start
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says the message from a summit in Ankara, Turkey, is that “NATO delivers.”.
Northern Virginia business optimism rebounds in Q2 as layoff fears hit lowest point in survey's history
18% of respondents are based in Alexandria; tax reduction and right-to-work top policy priorities for Spanberger and General Assembly
Persona 4 Revival Producer Confirms Changes to Yosuke to Fit Today's Era
In a recent interview with Anime Corner during Anime Expo 2026, Persona Team General Producer Kazuhisa Wada spoke about different changes made to Persona
State Establishes NC Economic Forecasting Initiative at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
The North Carolina General Assembly has allocated $3 million to support the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative (NCEFI). These funds, appropriated from the 2026-27 state budget, will establish the state’s... View Article
Trump weighed in on Cabinet squabble over ride for July Fourth flyover
The president encouraged acting attorney general Todd Blanche to fly on one of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s jets despite the FAA’s prior objection to the planes.
Justice Department reaches another settlement with Trump adviser Michael Flynn
Former Trump adviser Michael Flynn has reached another settlement with the Justice Department — this time for over $38,000 in retirement funds the Army had withheld from the former general after officials found he earned money from speaking at an event tied to the Russian government in 2015.
Explaining The Comcast and NBCUniversal Divorce
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July in America, celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Frankly, I am bummed the 250th wasn’t a bigger celebration, but that’s a different topic for a different Substack. While it was generally a quiet week on the entertainment/streaming/media business fronts, we still had some interesting news stories. Actually, that kinda undersells one of the stories, a huge, huge, huge divestment that could upend the entertainment landscape... So let’s get right to it. In today’s column, I’ll cover Comcast spinning off the rest of NBCUniversal, an entertainment company investing in an LLM company and an LLM-owner investing in a movie studio, the latest round of threats of digital tariffs, and more. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Most: Comcast/NBCU Breakup!!!! If I had to describe my reaction to Comcast spinning out NBCUniversal, it feels like a relationship ending, either breaking up or divorcing. Comcast’s decision to spin off the rest of NBCUniversal, after spinning off some of its cable assets into Versant last year, really does feel like a family breaking up under “irreconcilable differences”. Of my stereotypes of the entertainment moguls, my go-to for Comcast CEO Brian Roberts—heir to the Comcast fortune, but a man who’s been at the helm for 24 years now, and president for twelve years before that—is that he likes building empires. He cut his teeth acquiring cable rivals in the 1990s and tried to buy Disney repeatedly, then settled for NBCUniversal after a long court battle. (Contrast this with Rupert Murdoch, a man who also loved to buy, but would also sell when the price is right. Murdoch made Fox out of nothing, but then sold 20th Century Fox to Disney, arguably at the top of the market. So I understood why he sold.) But I don’t understand Roberts’ motivation to sell now. I have some explanations but no single, super-satisfying explanation. Strategically, it would just make more sense to have kept NBCUniversal in-house, especially for a one-time empire builder like Comcast. Yet one powerful force—arguably the decider in modern capitalism—likely overwhelmed all other considerations. At first, I thought I’d arrange my thoughts as a “Five Why” analysis, digging through each layer of the puzzle. But instead, I found myself asking, “But…why?” (And I only ended up with four sections.) So let’s look at Comcast from that angle. Then, at the end, I’ll give my biggest strategic recommendation for every company in Hollywood. It’s obvious, but sometimes, the obvious strategy is the most ignored. But…Why? The Stock Market, Conglomerations, and Sum of the Parts Analysis We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why Comcast could never get a “tech company” valuation The not-so-secret motivation for Comcast What Versant has to do with all of this The key strategic advice I think every entertainment exec should follow (though it’s really obvious) Some big AI investment news… Whether we’ll see digital tariffs… And more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
VA’s top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician, will serve as acting under secretary, according to VA officials.
ECU Health, Martin County tout progress after state budget funding
Martin County and ECU Health say new funding included in the state budget marks a significant step toward restoring essential health care services in Martin Cou
Supreme Court justices Kagan and Barrett to testify on Capitol Hill
Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to testify before Congress next week as lawmakers consider the judiciary’s funding request. Barrett and Kagan are slated to appear before the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on Tuesday, July 14, according to the House committee schedule. They will also testify […]
Digital Health Tools and Technologies: An Overview of CMS’ Recent Efforts to Expand Their Use in Medicare
As an increasing share of older adults have adopted digital health technologies over the past several years, and with most expressing interest in using them to manage their health care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced several initiatives to expand the use of digital health technologies in Medicare. This brief summarizes these initiatives and draws on data from various surveys, including KFF Tracking Polls from September 2025 and March 2026, to highlight facts about recent experiences with and use of digital health tools among Medicare beneficiaries and older adults more generally.
Mystery of Hannibal’s infamous Alps crossing gets a major clue
In 218 BCE, the Carthaginian general crossed the rugged mountain range with 40,000 men, 7,000 horses and 37 war elephants.
Apple Seeds Third iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 Betas to Developers
Apple today seeded the third betas of iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming two weeks after Apple released the second betas. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 27 introduces Apple's smarter version of Siri, Siri AI.
Appendix B: Classifying European political parties
Classifying parties as populist Although experts generally agree that populist political leaders or parties display high levels of anti-elitism, definitions of populism vary. We use three measures to classify parties as populist: anti-elite ratings from the 2024 Chapel Hill Expert Survey (CHES), the 2023 Populism and Political Parties Expert Survey (POPPA) and the 2023 PopuList. […]
Why Meta's potential cloud business 'makes a lot of sense'
Gradient general partner Darian Shirazi joins Yahoo Finance to share his take on recent reports about Meta (META) potentially selling excess compute.
Talarico targets Paxton over plea deal in Texas child sex abuse case
Senate candidate James Talarico is demanding his opponent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton release files pertaining to Adam Hoffman
Claude Fable 5 Helped Port A Native Version Of Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour To iPhone & iPad, Complete With Touch Controls And More
A step-by-step guide reveals how Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour was natively ported to iPhone and iPad, with the help of Claude Fable 5
Audit spots some errors, but gives Wyoming Business Council passing grade
Though there were some instances of incomplete, misclassified reporting and mathematical errors, an audit of the Wyoming Business Council shows the agency generally operates within a complex set of state
Oldest Mississippi businesses. These institutions have survived at least a century
Discover the Mississippi institutions that have thrived for more than a century, from historic newspapers to local stores.
SC Democrat running for attorney general says he won’t take a dime in contributions. Is it foolish?
Can a candidate run statewide without campaign cash? Democrat Richard Hricik is testing that question in South Carolina’s attorney general race. And he says it’s not a gimmick.
Letter: Oklahoma must face its maternal health crisis
Oklahoma generally scores below the majority of states in terms of maternal health metrics, highlighting gaps in access to care and resources.
Karpa Health Launches Turnkey Nationwide Telehealth Platform as GLP-1, Peptide, and Hormone Demand Accelerates
The all-in-one platform helps entrepreneurs, clinics, med spas, gyms, and wellness brands launch cash-pay telehealth programs nationwide. TAMPA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 3, 2026 / Karpa Health today announced the general availability of its turnkey ...
Penguins sign Hendrix Lapierre for two years
The Penguins reached an agreement with one of their restricted free agents on Friday getting Hendrix Lapierre to ink a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.3 million. From the team: The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Hendrix Lapierre to a two-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager […]
Audit spots some errors, but gives Wyoming Business Council passing grade
Though there were some instances of incomplete, misclassified reporting and mathematical errors, an audit of the Wyoming Business Council shows the agency generally operates within a complex set of state
70 percent in 5 years: Rising health insurance costs not sustainable in Richland County, Vero says
Skyrocketing costs of health insurance for county general fund employees are not sustainable -- even in a county in good financial shape.
Top general fired by Trump administration criticizes use of military for political missions
The former top US general whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired last year offered a sharp criticism of the Trump administration in an op-ed published Friday, pointing to its political use of the military, such as deploying troops to clamp down on crime in major cities.