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This week, we honor the professional staff of our Forensic Science...
This week, we honor the professional staff of our Forensic Science Division and Technical Investigation Division. Your meticulous work and attention to detail serves as an essential resource to our...
I wasn't sure about Googlebooks, but after playing with two Snapdragon-powered laptops, I'm actually considering switching
The best of Android and ChromeOS, together.
Science Says Eating a Handful of Nuts a Day May Lower Your Risk of High Blood Pressure
New research suggests that just an ounce of nuts a day could help control blood pressure. Here’s what to know.
Science Says Eating a Handful of Nuts a Day May Lower Your Risk of High Blood Pressure
New research suggests that just an ounce of nuts a day could help control blood pressure. Here’s what to know.
Inside the alleged plot to attack Trump’s birthday UFC fight
Prosecutors say the plan was coordinated between men in at least six states almost entirely online, and took shape in mere weeks ahead of the June 14 event at the White House.
Airport sewer spill affecting Flint River health, tests show
It's just the latest spill from the airport, and the Flint Riverkeeper says the impact on the river's health is
Vasquez lifts Newark Global Studies over Newark Data Science
Newark Global Studies extends its winning streak to four games.
William Penn Foundation offers funding to keep Academy of Natural Sciences museum open
A Drexel spokesperson did not say whether the school had declined the offer, but said, “No proposal has been presented that would provide a permanent, sustainable path forward" for the museum.
Meta VR Glasses Plan Imax Entertainment Push
Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a major VR product this week, with the company turning to Disney, Imax, Dolby, James Cameron and others to help create a cadence of content.
VR Headsets Are So Cooked
After using Meta VR Glasses, I'm not so sure where headsets even fit in.
MSDH hosts maternal and infant health conference
The Mississippi State Department of Health hosted a maternal and infant health conference Friday, bringing together health leaders, professionals and students.
Can the Left Make America Fun Again?
Hi friends, I’ve got a piece in The New York Times today about how collective joy — participatory, youthful, anti-corporate — can defeat Trumpism and transform our lives. The basic argument is that politics used to be embedded in communal life: dances, sports leagues, union halls. As that infrastructure disappeared — and more of everyday life was atomized and privatized — politics became something broadcast at people rather than something they did together. NYC-DSA and Zohran provide another model, where socials and face-to-face organizing are tied to a fight vs the corporations that fenced off so much of the good life. Rebuilding that kind of collective fun, I argue, could help bring young people back into politics and, by redistributing America’s wealth, make everyday life more joyful. I would super appreciate it if you’d read the piece, share it, or post comments on it. Thank you! p.s. FYI, Opinion writers don’t get any say over their headlines! More Take action to support the fight of licensed deck officers at Alaska Tanker Company and Overseas Shipholding Group to win a first union contract. This is one of the most important, and underreported, unionization campaigns in America: these workers have a huge amount of power over domestic energy distribution and maritime supply chains, and they’re still without a contract two years after having voted overwhelmingly to unionize. Please sign the public petition here, and if you’re an academic you can sign this support letter.
Australia steps up response to AI after OpenAI bot breaches health system database
Even before a rogue OpenAI bot breached the database of Australia's health system, the government was escalating its rhetoric about the need to tighten regulation.
WHO announces expansion of prequalification programme for medical devices
WHO) today announced a major expansion of its prequalification programme to include a wider range of life-saving medical devices such as contraceptives and innovative tuberculosis (TB) screening technologies.
The science behind seasons
Fall began this week across the Northern Hemisphere, but why does the planet experience seasons?
Fort Smith-based RVR to retain medical marijuana cultivation license
The more than six-year legal roller coaster ride that jeopardized the operations of River Valley Relief (RVR), a Fort Smith-based marijuana cultivation business, has come to an end with a...
Sanford Health Broadway Same Day Surgery Center is being renamed
A major gift to Sanford Health in Bismarck is bringing a brand-new name to its surgery center.
Meta Launches $1M Developer Competition to Stock 'VR Glasses' with More Hand-tracked Apps
At Meta’s annual developer conference today, the company announced its next VR Start Developer Competition, this time slated to award a prize pool of $1 million to spark the community to get cracking on Meta VR Glasses-compatible content. Meta is hoping to appeal to developers of both new and existing projects across entertainment, gaming, and […]
VR Glasses are Meta’s big bet on the future of TV
Will people who didn't buy a Quest VR headset really pay $1300 for a TV replacement?
Chvrches Sign With Futures Music Group
Chvrches sign with Futures Music; MSG Entertainment names Josephine Vaccarello president; Robert Palmer estate partners with Primary Wave.
Music Industry Moves: Chvrches Sign With Futures Music Group; MSG Entertainment Names Josephine Vaccarello President
Scottish pop trio Chvrches have signed with Futures Music Group and alongside that announcement have released their first single in three years, “Roses.” The group will play two shows in the U.K. next...
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
CPA Chairperson and South African Speaker highlight women's, children's and adolescents' health at 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa
Parliamentarians and health leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa to discuss how stronger parliamentary leadership, oversight and collaboration can advance the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. The session highlighted the need to translate commitments into measurable action, strengthen accountability for health financing and ensure policies deliver meaningful results for communities.
Mark Zuckerberg debuts $1,299 Meta VR Glasses and Muse Charm pendant amid AI agent push
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals $1,299 Meta VR Glasses and Muse Charm gadget for AI agents.
The 10 biggest Meta announcements from its launch event
Meta is launching VR glasses, more "immersive programming," and more styles of smart glasses than ever before.
Mississippi State University College of Business offers hands-on learning
Mississippi State University College of Business Dean Scott Grawe joined Studio 3 to discuss experiential learning and entrepreneurship.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies VR announced for Quest, Meta VR Glasses
AMATA Games, under licensing from Capcom, has announced Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies VR for Quest and the newly announced Meta VR Glasses. It will launch in 2027 with English…
Meta Connect 2026: The 7 biggest announcements
Smart glasses-style VR and camera-free Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies VR Announced For Meta VR Glasses & Quest
A new VR release in Capcom's visual novel adventure series brings courtroom drama to Meta VR Glasses and Quest in 2027.
Meta is trying VR glasses (again), this time with more IMAX
Meta's return to the VR glasses realm comes with a promising combination of light weight form factor and enhanced entertainment options.
Downtown businesses prepare for Ironman weekend
Thousands of Ironman triathletes and their families are days away from arriving in Augusta, and downtown businesses are preparing for the boost that comes with them.
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Names 3 Contenders to Replace Mike Onwenu
The New England Patriots aren’t automatically handing one veteran the right guard job after losing Mike Onwenu.Head coach Mike Vrabel said Greg Van Roten, Walter Rouse and Ben Brown are among the players who will work at guard this week, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reported on X on Sept. 23. Patriots HC Mike […] The post Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Names 3 Contenders to Replace Mike Onwenu appeared first on HEAVY.
Meta Announces 'VR Glasses' Next-Gen XR Headset, Priced at $1,300
Meta today unveiled its long-awaited next-gen mixed reality headset: Meta VR Glasses. Previously known under the codename ‘Project Phoenix’, Meta VR Glasses was announced today, but isn’t launching just yet; the compute puck-tethered device is slated to go one sale sometime in Spring 2027, priced at $1,300. While we’re still waiting on a precise release […]
‘Home Improvement’ star Jonathan Taylor Thomas detained in L.A.
‘Home Improvement’ star Jonathan Taylor Thomas was detained in L.A. on Monday, Sept. 21.
CDC testing finds no confirmed hantavirus infection in Pine Ridge
CDC testing found no hantavirus infection in specimens from a recent Pine Ridge health evaluation, though IHS reminds residents to safely clean rodent areas.
Belmont Farmers’ Market Offers Lifeline to Boston Business
Farmers Market Manager Hal Shubin doesn’t remember how he first came across Mei Mei when he and his wife had dinner at its former Boston location, but it was good enough the first time around that he returned for more. “I like food, and that sort of is the theme that runs through everything in my life,” he said. “I must have heard about it somewhere. The people at the counter were friendly, the food was good, everything was great.” So when he read about the restaurant’s struggle to stay open during COVID, he offered a helping hand. He reached
Watch the Meta Connect 2026 Keynote Right Here
Meta’s annual XR and AI focused Connect conference kicks off today. The biggest news is expected in the opening keynote, where the company is expected to reveal its ‘Phoenix’ MR headset and latest smartglasses. Watch the Meta Connect Keynote on September 23rd at 4PM PT Your timezone here Meta is playing it close to the […]
Using archery to help first responders with mental health support
Initiative born from 2024 ambush that killed four officers now taking shape with outdoor therapy approach
Using archery to help first responders with mental health support
Initiative born from 2024 ambush that killed four officers now taking shape with outdoor therapy approach
Using archery to help first responders with mental health support
Initiative born from 2024 ambush that killed four officers now taking shape with outdoor therapy approach
RenCen, east riverfront project would take nearly a decade to complete. Here’s how it would unfold.
Work on the $2.24 billion development is planned to begin next year, with the third phase wrapping up in 2036.
Chinese Hackers Exploit Chrome-Windows Zero-Day Chain to Deploy CLEANGULP Malware
UTA0565 exploited a Chrome-Windows zero-day chain through fake websites to deploy CLEANGULP malware against Asian government entities.
France private sector returns to growth at fastest rate in 25 months, PMI shows
France's private sector grew in September at its fastest pace in just over two years, driven by a rebound in services demand, a business survey showed on Wednesday.
Duckworth slams Trump for ‘cozying up’ to Xi as Illinois waits on China trade
The Illinois senator says promised Chinese purchases of U.S. farm goods and Boeing aircraft have been slow to materialize as Trump prepares to host Xi Jinping at the White House.
Why measurable sustainability matters to investors
Investors increasingly expect companies to show measurable progress on sustainability. Here are three ways to embed it into strategy and governance.
Is Ageu finally ready to prove his worth?
Wouter Vrancken has transformed the style of play within months, guided Hearts into the Conference League and the League Cup semi-finals. It has reached the point where I am trying to track down Vladimir Romanov's spiritual healer, Rima, and persuade her to bring the golden stick to Oriam. Vrancken is already hugely popular with the support.
New poll reveals which political party has a 5-point advantage ahead of November elections
Democrats hold a 5-point advantage over Republicans with just over a month to go before the midterm elections
‘Pheromonemaxxing’: Gen Z men thumb their noses at showers and deodorant
They want to enhance their natural scent to attract a partner
Mike Vrabel Reveals Reason for Patriots' Drake Maye's Struggles
Drake Maye and the Patriots' offense haven't done enough yet.
Takeaways from Mike Vrabel's press conference after win over Steelers
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had several key takeaways when speaking with reporters after the Week 2 win over the Steelers.
Air district report links Richmond Chevron refinery emissions to elevated health risks
Residents in Richmond hope to learn more about the state of their air quality during a public meeting focused on the Chevron Richmond Refinery.
Air district to detail Chevron Richmond Refinery health risk assessment
Residents in Richmond hope to learn more about the state of their air quality during a public meeting focused on the Chevron Richmond Refinery.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ ending with season 3 amid showrunner departure
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ will end with the upcoming season 3 as Marvel parts ways with showrunner Dario Scardapane.
3 Stocks to Consider From the Booming Business Information Industry
AI, proprietary data and cloud platforms are reshaping business information services. FDS, VRSK and TRU are positioned to benefit.
'Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars' lets players do jazz hands with Rocky in mixed reality
We played the upcoming mixed-reality and VR adventure game based on the hit sci-fi movie at Gamescom, and talked with one of its developers.
Marseille and Bruno Genesio make unwanted history
Olympique de Marseille head into the international break in the relegation zone, only one point ahead of bottom side Le Havre AC. It all began with promise at the Vélodrome back in August, with a 4-0...
A true independent could shake Congress from its slumber
Americans should consider voting independent in November. Here’s why.
Proteus Labs Partners with Avantis Education to Add Mixed Reality Science Experiments to ClassVR Xcelerate
Avantis Education has added Proteus Labs’ virtual science labs to ClassVR Xcelerate and its EduverseSTEM education platform | XR News from Auganix.com
Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford and brother of Kaia Gerber, dies at 27
Presley Gerber, the only son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and brother to actress Kaia Gerber, has died at a rehabilitation facility at the age of 27.
Anchorage Assembly members float new campaign requirements for local political offices
The proposed change could require would-be candidates to submit a minimum number of signatures gathered from qualified voters in order to appear on municipal ballots.
Why politicians should pay more attention to the polls (reprise)
Welcome to the 231st edition of The Week in Polls (TWIP), a polling newsletter that always welcomes new readers. So please don’t keep TWIP a secret; share it with your friends and colleagues: Share The Week in Polls With all the stories swirling around Reform, JL Partners and political polling, I am finally tearing myself away from talking about the regulation of polling this week - and instead re-running a previous piece reminding us why the solution to problems with polls isn’t simply to ban or ignore them. Rather, we need them to play a vital role in making our politics - and politicians - better. This is followed by summaries of the latest national voting intention polls, seat projections from MRPs and the most recent party leader ratings. Subscribers who pay for the full edition can also read ten insights from the latest polls and analyses, including: A trio of organisations and a pair of professors have been casting their eyes over the Liberal Democrats ahead of the party’s autumn conference; What impact did the summer heatwave have on views on climate change? and Which wins out between chocolate and cheese? If you are not yet a paid subscriber, you can read all ten by starting a free trial now: Get FREE 7-day trial For more polling news as it comes in ahead of next week’s edition, you can also follow The Week in Polls on Bluesky. Picking up on my doubt last week about whether or not 35% of British train travellers have tried to order a takeaway for delivery to a railway station or carriage, thank you to reader Iain, who has been in touch to say he has done just that… in India. Another quick pair of updates, this time on the controversies around Reform and polling. Politico has a further scoop - “Farage aide caught in donor sting attended Egypt retreat with JL Partners” - and Ian Dunt has written about the problems with polling too: “Seeing the response of many polling experts in the last few weeks suggests that they are nervous about what is happening and keen to mitigate against it. Seeing the response of journalists, which has been basically non-existent, suggests the precise opposite.” My usual reminder as well: please do hit reply if you’ve spotted a poll, focus group or new piece of poll-based research that you think should be in contention for coverage in a future edition. Thank you! And with that, on with the show. How politicians get public opinion wrong I have written before about the benefits that come from widespread availability of high-quality political polling. We need more polls and more good coverage of polls. However, what I’ve not dug into before is the research into how accurately politicians estimate public opinion on issues. Thankfully we have academic research to tell us. First, the bad news: We present results from a study of 866 politicians in four countries.1 Politicians were asked to estimate the percentage of public support for various policy proposals. Comparing more than 10,000 estimations with actual levels of public support, we conclude that politicians are quite inaccurate estimators of people’s preferences. They make large errors and even regularly misperceive what a majority of the voters wants. Politicians are hardly better at estimating public preferences than ordinary citizens. Walgrave, S., Jansen, A., Sevenans, J., Soontjens, K., Pilet, J.B., Brack, N., Varone, F., Helfer, L., Vliegenthart, R., van der Meer, T., Breunig, C., Bailer, S., Sheffer, L. & Loewen, P.J. (2023a), “Inaccurate Politicians: Elected Representatives’ Estimations of Public Opinion in Four Countries”, The Journal of Politics, 85(1): 209-222. The bad news is not quite as bad as that makes it sound because, when asked whether the majority of public opinion was for or against various policies, politicians picked the wrong option ‘only’ 29% of the time. However, this included getting it wrong even when public opinion is far from evenly split on an issue: They do not only get it wrong when the public is divided and hard to read (e.g., when there is a 51%:49% distribution). Seventy percent of the misplacements occur for policies with a relatively clear distribution of at least 60% (dis)agreeing citizens. Moreover, the public scored only slightly worse than politicians, picking the wrong option 2.7 out of 8 times on average, compared with 2.3 times for politicians. Turning to the other measure of accuracy (not which side is in the lead but what the percentage support is for each side), politicians on average were 18 percentage points out in their guesses. Again, this was only slightly better than the public, whose error came in at 21 percentage points.2 Further research, using the same mix of countries, gives a little more comfort about how (in)accurate perceptions are: We show that politicians have a better understanding of public opinion when they think the issue matters to voters. Further, when an issue is personally important to politicians they more accurately estimate their party supporters’ opinions. The results confirm that politicians hold more accurate perceptions of voters’ preferences when they think it is important to do so but not necessarily when the issues actually are important to voters. Butler, C., Walgrave, S., Soontjens, K. & Loewen, P.J. (2024), “Politicians are better at estimating public opinion when they think it is more salient”, Party Politics: 1–13. Even so, it’s not a good picture. The remedy for this? Politicians should spend more time reading the polls. So forward this newsletter to someone you know… Share For a more general argument against banning polls, see my 2024 piece. Is “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet” good advice or not? The latest episode of my Political Fictions podcast heads across the Atlantic for a dip into one of the political TV classics: Mark and Cory talk about a giant of American political drama for the first time this week, as they tackle The West Wing. They talk about Let Bartlet Be Bartlet, the nineteenth episode of series one. In it, Mark wonders if The West Wing is actually the epitome of the “Boris Johnson school of politics”, Cory outmanoeuvres Mark into confirming we will record a Christmas Special about Love, Actually and they debate whether the central message of this episode has been misunderstood. Cory’s email newsletter is Paperback Rioter and Mark has a family of email newsletters. Subscribe to our newsletter for some additional bonus content and to get alerted whenever a new episode comes out. Our theme tune is “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin MacLeod/incompetech.com and licensed under the Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. You can also listen to our episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the web or YouTube. Elsewhere from me… [ A Lord's Eye View How to fix the problem of money in our politics Welcome to my latest update on work in the House of Lords. This time I am taking a look at how our political system is regulated, and the protections we need to keep democracy safe from becoming simply a contest to see who has the biggest bank account… Read more 5 days ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Mark Pack ](https://lordseyeview.substack.com/p/how-to-fix-the-problem-of-money-in?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1269283) If you spot a factual error… Borrowing an idea from Stuart Ritchie and others, if you spot a factual error in an edition of this newsletter, I will give you a free 12-month subscription to the paid-for version (or an extra 12 months on your existing one). Factual errors qualify, but grammatical errors or disagreements over interpretation do not, and my decision is final. Messages about both of those are always welcome, though. Voting intention and leadership ratings Here are the latest voting intention polls from different pollsters. It is all pretty static at the moment, with a small and consistent Labour lead in nearly all the polls. The table is also online here, along with explanations about what is included. It is updated regularly throughout the week as new polls are released. Next are the seat projections from MRPs, also sorted by fieldwork dates, listing those which are based on dedicated fieldwork (rather than models based on averages of other polls). Because such MRPs are published infrequently, some of the entries below are quite old. Finally, here is a summary of leadership ratings, with a graph from PollCheck: Detailed numbers from the latest polls are online here, and both that and the graph are updated regularly throughout the week as new data comes out. For historical figures on both voting intention and leader approval stretching back to the 1930s, including Parliamentary by-election polls, see PollBase. Catch up on the previous two editions [ ](https://theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/a-crisis-point-for-political-polling) [ A crisis point for political polling Sep 13 ](https://theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/a-crisis-point-for-political-polling) [ Read full story ](https://theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/a-crisis-point-for-political-polling) [ ](https://theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/extra-questions-about-the-polls-in) [ Extra questions about the polls in Reform’s funding scandal Sep 6 ](https://theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/extra-questions-about-the-polls-in) [ Read full story ](https://theweekinpolls.substack.com/p/extra-questions-about-the-polls-in) My privacy policy and other legal information are available here. Links to purchase books or other items are usually affiliate links which pay a commission for each sale. Quotes from social media messages are occasionally lightly edited for punctuation and clarity. If you are subscribed to other email lists of mine, please note that unsubscribing from this one will not automatically remove you from the others. If you wish to be removed from all my lists, simply reply to this email to let me know. A quintet of Lib Dem polling analyses, and 9 other polling insights you shouldn’t miss The following ten findings from the most recent polls and analyses are only for subscribers who pay for the full edition, but you can sign up for a free trial to read them straight away. Ahead of the start of Liberal Democrat conference, we have a trio of organisations and a pair of professors with pieces out about Ed Davey’s party:
Fed's Kashkari says inflation is still too high across US economy, in Fox News interview
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said on Sunday that inflation is too high across all sectors of the US economy, not just in rising oil prices.
Detroit Free Press on Instagram: "Two teams from the Savannah Bananas traveling baseball tour came to Comerica Park for a pair of games on Sept. 18-19. Rivals the high-energy Party Animals and the stunt-performing Firefighters, brought their brand of baseball entertainment to Comerica Park on Friday and Saturday, turning America's pastime into a mix of sports, comedy, dancing and crowd interaction. Check the link in our bio for more. 📷 by Kimberly P. Mitchell @kpmitchellphoto, Detroit Free Press #detroit #michigan #comericapark #entertainment #bananaball @thefirefighters @thepartyanimals #baseball"
17 likes, 0 comments - detroitfreepress on September 20, 2026: "Two teams from the Savannah Bananas traveling baseball tour came to Comerica Park for a pair of games on Sept. 18-19. Rivals the high-energy Party Animals and the stunt-performing Firefighters, brought their brand of baseball entertainment to Comerica Park on Friday and Saturday, turning America's pastime into a mix of sports, comedy, dancing and crowd interaction. Check the link in our bio for more. 📷 by Kimberly P. Mitchell @kpmitchellphoto, Detroit Free Press #detroit #michigan #comericapark #entertainment #bananaball @thefirefighters @thepartyanimals #baseball".
Texas Roadhouse to open next month in Georgetown
Georgetown's first Texas Roadhouse location is scheduled to open in October at 2209 N. I-35 and the team is now hiring.
4 Habits That Make Brain Fog Worse, According to Mental Health Experts
Brain fog can make getting through the day feel harder than usual. Mental health experts explain four common habits that can worsen brain fog, and what to do instead.
Ke Huy Quan reveals first ‘Temple of Doom’ residuals check was $100,000
Actor Ke Huy Quan said his family felt ‘surprise and disbelief’ after he received his residuals payout for ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.’
Hope Harbor Speakout Through the Decades event
Guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment, games, and heavy hors d’oeuvres as they honored Hope Harbor’s history and looked ahead to its future.
Remodeled Frank O. Hunter Park unveiled
Political and business leaders from around Alexandria gathered for the grand reopening of Frank O. Hunter Park.
Game 155: Twins at Angels
First Pitch: 8:38 pm CDTTV: Twins.TVRadio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy The kids have been showing out a bit in Anaheim, providing one of the only remaining reasons to watch 2026 Twins baseball as this underwhelming season has normalized itself to fall back in line with preseason projections. Now, […]
Hawaii offers tax relief for residents, businesses impacted by Hurricane Lowell
The relief applies to GET and TAT returns for the August through November 2026 tax periods.
Trump announces all 50 states joining Medicaid drug pricing model
The Trump administration claims that Medicaid will save billions on prescription drug costs as a result of the plan, dubbed the Medicaid “GENEROUS” model. Experts say the savings are unclear since the content of the deals isn't public.
To "Back the Blue," Iowa leaders must choose the badge over politics
Tony Thompson, Ken Runde, and Kevin Techau: "Back the Blue" must mean supporting officers when it is politically inconvenient.
Onvida Health reports 43% drop in sepsis deaths after launching new alert system
Providers at Onvida Health in Yuma say a new hospital-wide alert system is significantly improving patient outcomes.
A Venezuelan Business Owner Is Growing His Footprint Across Northwest Florida
As Hispanic Heritage Month gets underway, Venezuelan business owner Jose Rivero is expanding his culinary footprint across the Panhandle, bringing authentic flavors and a message of perseverance to Panama City.
United Bank hires Phil Poliquin to lead government contracting business
Phil PoliquinUnited Bank, a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), has announced that Phil Poliquin has joined the Bank as senior vice president and managing director of Government Contracting (GovCon), leading the next phase of growth for United’s GovCon business across the Bank’s footprint.United has a longstanding history of serving government contractors and meeting the dynamic banking needs of companies supporting federal, state and commercial markets. Building on that foundation, the Bank is establishing a dedicated GovCon team led by Poliquin. The new team will bring together bankers from across United's footprint under a focused strategy designed to deepen industry expertise, strengthen client relationships and expand the Bank's presence in this important market.“Government contractors operate in a complex and highly specialized environment, and Phil understands that environment from multiple perspectives,” said United Bank Chief Commercial Lending Officer Mike Proctor in a press release. “His extensive commercial banking experience, combined with more than two decades of military and government service, brings tremendous depth and expertise to our team. We’re excited to have his leadership and insight as we continue strengthening how United serves our GovCon clients across the nation’s capital and beyond.”In his new role, Poliquin will lead United’s GovCon lending strategy and a team of specialists, with a focus on deepening client relationships and expanding the Bank’s presence in the government contracting and defense sectors. He will also serve as a subject matter expert across the organization, partnering with bankers across United’s footprint to support GovCon clients and opportunities.“Government contracting has long been an important part of the economy across the Washington region, and we believe it remains an attractive sector for growth,” said United Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Adams, Jr. in a press release “As the needs of these companies continue to evolve, investing in specialized leadership strengthens our ability to build on our established presence, expand how we serve this market, and pursue new opportunities.”Poliquin has a decade of experience in commercial banking, most recently serving as executive director of Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services (ADG) commercial banking at JPMorgan Chase. In this role, he led a team responsible for providing specialized financing and treasury advice to federal government contractor companies across the nation. Previously, he also held senior leadership positions at Bank of America.Prior to his banking career, Poliquin served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring at the rank of Captain in 2013. A Naval aviator, he flew more than 100 combat missions in operations around the world and served in senior leadership positions, including as commanding officer of an F/A-18 Super Hornet squadron, leading more than 250 personnel during two combat deployments. He later joined the Intelligence Community as a program manager at the National Reconnaissance Office and contributed to the development of the Navy’s unmanned aircraft system strategy.“United has a strong foundation in government contracting, and I’m excited about the opportunity to build on that foundation by expanding our industry presence, deepening relationships, and developing a team with specialized expertise focused on serving government contractors,” said Poliquin in the release. “The goal is to be a trusted resource for growth-oriented companies that need a banking partner who understands what they do, where they’re headed and can help them navigate the opportunities and complexities of this market.”Poliquin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in national security strategy from the U.S. Naval War College, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance
The first GPU benchmark results for Apple's new M5 Ultra and M6 chips have surfaced, ahead of the new Mac Studio and Mac mini models launching on Tuesday. If you are interested in CPU results, we shared those earlier this week. So far, the M5 Ultra has achieved up to a 59% higher Metal score (366,744) on Geekbench 7 compared to the M3 Ultra's average score of 230,420, and the chip's OpenCL score is roughly in line with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080.
Patriots Could Be Without Key Starter vs. Steelers
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel revealed on Friday that cornerback Carlton Davis (neck) will be questionable ahead of […]
California governor signs order pushing for an AI ‘kill switch’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential contender, said he had to act because the federal government hasn’t done enough to regulate AI.
‘Massive’ renovations coming to Ball Arena
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced a $135 million renovation set to be complete in three years.
Lost WWI trench lives on in immersive VR installation
Archeology and gaming technology join forces to preserve battlefields of the past.
Wenger Corporation Launches GearBoss® Sports Rigging for Sports and Entertainment Venues
OWATONNA, MINN. | Serving arenas, stadiums, universities and other large-scale venues with specialized rigging solutions for increasingly complex environments.
Chris Rock looked to friend Adam Sandler to figure out move from comedy to drama
Chris Rock looked to friend Adam Sandler to figure out move from comedy to drama
Why Patriots' blitz scheme could backfire vs. Aaron Rodgers
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel risks opening big passing lanes if he relies on heavy pressure against veteran Aaron Rodgers.
16th Asian Chief Dental Officers Meeting: Advancing universal health coverage for oral health in the WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia Regions
Session 3 of the 100-Day Sprint BackgroundOral diseases remain among the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across Asia, affecting people throughout the life course and placing a significant burden on individuals, families and health systems. Countries across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region and South-East Asia Region have committed to strengthening oral health through regional action plans and by advancing universal health coverage (UHC). The 16th Asian Chief Dental Officers Meeting (ACDOM) serves as a regional platform for Chief Dental Officers in Asia to exchange experiences, strengthen collaboration and accelerate implementation of oral health commitments. For the first time, the meeting is being jointly organized by the WHO Regional Offices for South-East Asia and for the Western Pacific and the ACDOM Secretariat. This year's meeting introduces a 100-Day Sprint, bringing together oral health and UHC leads and technical experts to support countries in strengthening integration of oral health within national UHC benefit packages. Through the Sprint, participating countries will develop, refine, cost and operationalize country-specific essential oral health-care benefit packages using WHO tools, including the Service Package Delivery and Implementation (SPDI) Platform. The in-person 16th Asian Chief Dental Officers Meeting represents Session 3 and the midpoint of the 100-Day Sprint, providing an opportunity for countries to review progress, exchange experiences, identify challenges and refine their approaches before continuing with the remaining Sprint sessions. 100-Day SprintSession Date Format Title Session 1 (Day 0) 19 Aug Virtual Setting the Scene and Introducing Key Principles and Frameworks Session 2 16 SepVirtual Introduction to the SPDI Platform and Initial Mapping Exercise Session 3 27-29 Sep In-person, 16th Asian Chief Dental Officer Meeting, Malaysia Review and Refinement of Oral Health Service Packages Session 4 14 Oct Virtual Finalizing National Essential Oral Health Services Packages and Costing Exercise Session 5 (Day 100) 26 Nov Virtual Country Presentations and Closing of the 100-Day Sprint ObjectivesLeverage the 100-Day Sprint to define priority implementation actions for oral health in countries; Strengthen national capacity to design, cost and operationalize country-specific essential oral health care packages using SPDI platform; andExplore cross-country collaboration to expand access to essential oral health supplies and products, including harmonized specifications and pricing, and improve supply chains for essential dental preparations and medicines.Expected outcomesA draft country-specific essential oral health care benefit package developed using the SPDI platform and aligned with WHO’s Essential Oral Health Care packageA strengthened regional network in Asia of oral health and UHC leaders, fostering collaboration among South-East Asia and Western Pacific countries, WHO offices and WHO Collaborating Centres to support sustained implementation beyond the meetingParticipantsChief Dental Officers and national oral health programme leads;National focal points responsible for universal health coverage, health financing and health systems;Representatives from WHO country offices, regional offices and headquarters;WHO Collaborating Centres; andAcademic institutions and technical partners.
Rising gas prices squeeze West Tennessee small businesses
Rising gas prices squeeze West Tennessee small businesses
Scalpers & Scammers Swoop In To Prey On Waitlisted Would-Be Steam Frame Buyers
Scalpers & scammers are circling waitlisted Steam Frame buyers like vultures with insanely overpriced listings on secondary markets.
Northglenn science teacher finds T. Rex footprints in first-ever discovery
The first-ever discovery of a T. Rex trackway is coming to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, after one Denver teacher discovered in North Dakota’s badlands.
ASU-TV to host debates in October
Arkansas State University’s ASU-TV will host three political debates in October for candidates vying for office. The debates will be on Oct. 1, 8 and 22. The Oct. 1 debate...
CVS Health's Aetna to streamline cancer treatment approvals
CVS Health's Aetna health insurance unit will cut back next year on the preapprovals it requires for treatment for cancer patients to only one medical prior authorization process early on, the company said on Thursday.
Virtual launch: New report on ethics oversight of AI-related health research
WHO will host a virtual launch of its new report, Artificial Intelligence-related Health Research: Ethics Review and Oversight, which provides practical recommendations for researchers, ethics committees, regulators, funders and policy-makers on the responsible conduct of AI-enabled health research.
Virtual launch: New report on ethics oversight of AI-related health research
WHO will host a virtual launch of its new report, Artificial Intelligence-related Health Research: Ethics Review and Oversight, which provides practical recommendations for researchers, ethics committees, regulators, funders and policy-makers on the responsible conduct of AI-enabled health research.
Probiotics are wildly popular. But there’s a better way to help your gut.
Fiber-rich plants — not supplements — are the best fuel for your gut microbiome.
UNLV Awarded $6M from National Science Foundation to Accelerate Pace of Innovation
UNLV among select group of universities with high research output identified for potential to “unleash innovation” and create economic impact.
Healthy Living with Northern Health: Emergency department
Nobody looks forward to an Emergency Room visit, but it’s good to know that it is there if you need it.
United and American say fuel-cost surge may require capacity cuts
“If fuel prices remain as high as they are right now, I think that that’s going to require some adjustments in terms of our capacity planning as we take a look out into the future.”
US business inventories rise more than expected in July
U.S. business inventories increased more than expected in July as retailers and wholesalers restocked to meet robust demand, suggesting that inventories could add to economic growth in the third quarter.
University of Ky. hosts “Be Healthy Bash”, offers wellness resources
UK HealthCare is hosting an event to provide community members with health resources on Sept. 19.
Karol G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Rosalia and Drexler are the most nominated for the Latin Grammys
A fight of titans is coming up for the 27th edition of the Latin Grammys with Karol G, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Rosalia and Jorge Drexler as the most nominated artists revealed on Wednesday
Valve Explains Why Steam Frame Uses Alyx Instead of a New VR Game
The sci-fi FPS is included with the Steam Frame kit and can be played standalone on the device.
Americans are tired. Women and young adults, most of all.
A new CDC report shows that nearly 3 out of 4 adults reported feeling fatigued on at least some days in 2024.