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Could Georgia’s 2026 statewide races be runoff free?

The Libertarian Party of Georgia is having trouble qualifying for the ballot. Without their candidates, statewide races would likely be settled on Election Day.

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Dec 11, 2025 • 6:20 AM EST • Politics • ajc.com
Republicans struggle to unite on health care as Obamacare subsidies expire

Recent weeks have showcased a free-for-all of competing GOP ideas and reinforced deep partisan divisions over the issue.

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Dec 11, 2025 • 5:00 AM EST • Health • washingtonpost.com
Poppin' Tags Free Store owner extends mission with funds, new business

Sonya Dembowski remembers the moment she decided to begin her Poppin’ Tags Free Store in West Deer. She was driving through Coraopolis in the height of the pandemic shutdown. She remembers seeing piles of donations left outside a closed store. Dembowski later saw on the news that because the donations

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Dec 11, 2025 • 5:00 AM EST • Business • triblive.com
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS  - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs

On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Dec 11, 2025 • 12:00 AM EST • Health • gjia.georgetown.edu
Warner Bros. Merger Fight Draws Fire Across US Political Divide

The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. has already lit a fire in Hollywood, with unions decrying the potential job losses, theaters sounding an alarm about the future of film releases and actors worrying about free speech.

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Dec 10, 2025 • 8:17 PM EST • Politics • bloomberg.com
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Supreme Court considers vastly expanding the president’s powers : The NPR Politics Podcast

The Supreme Court is considering whether President Trump should be able to fire the head of the Federal Trade Commission and other independent agencies without cause. We discuss why Congress created these independent agencies in the first place and the broader impact of the court eroding the 90-year-old precedent that protects them from presidential politics.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, labor and workplace correspondent Andrea Hsu, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Dec 10, 2025 • 4:22 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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What defines a league-leading management team? Win today AND tomorrow: MoneyCall

Read the cheat sheet of all of the biggest sports-business stories in The Athletic's free newsletter, MoneyCall

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Dec 10, 2025 • 3:47 PM EST • Sports • nytimes.com
MLB free agency 2025: Live updates from winter meetings as Pete Alonso reportedly signs with Orioles, Edwin Diaz joins Dodgers
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Dec 10, 2025 • 3:42 PM EST • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Machado’s daughter accepts Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuelan opposition leader

She said Wednesday in a speech written by Machado that Venezuela shows the world “we must be willing to fight for freedom"

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Dec 10, 2025 • 12:46 PM EST • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
More mayhem incoming

Charge into more mounted mayhem! An onslaught of surprises awaits this week, so rally up for two community challenges, face giant mobs in a multiplayer adventure, snag a free add-on, and get more Minecraft for less in the Marketplace New Year’s Sale!

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Dec 10, 2025 • 12:00 PM EST • Technology • minecraft.net
Hartford: 10-Year Analysis Shows Shifts in Common, Expensive Small-Business Claims

Liability risks for small businesses have shifted over the last decade, with fire and slip-and-falls becoming more expensive while water and freezing

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Dec 10, 2025 • 10:42 AM EST • Business • insurancejournal.com
Adobe brings Photoshop, Acrobat and Adobe Express to ChatGPT

Starting today, you can access Photoshop, Acrobat and Adobe Express inside of ChatGPT. All the apps are free to use through the chatbot, though before you can begin using Acrobat and Adobe Express, you'll need to sign into your Adobe account.

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Dec 10, 2025 • 8:00 AM EST • Technology • engadget.com
Adobe Photoshop, Express, Acrobat available for free on ChatGPT

Starting today, features from three of Adobe’s flagship products will be natively integrated into ChatGPT, for free. Here’s how it works.

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Dec 10, 2025 • 8:00 AM EST • Technology • 9to5mac.com
Scientists discover a new state of matter at Earth’s center

New research reveals that Earth’s solid inner core is actually in a superionic state, where carbon atoms flow freely through a solid iron lattice. This unusual behavior makes the core soft, matching seismic observations that have puzzled scientists for decades. The mobility of these light elements may also contribute energy to Earth’s magnetic field. The findings reshape models of Earth’s interior and could apply to other rocky planets.

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Dec 10, 2025 • 7:00 AM EST • Science • sciencedaily.com
What is the ‘science of reading’ anyway? Free course helps unpack that question for NYC teachers

The free course includes video from three NYC public schools that shows how teachers can use the science of reading in real classroom conditions.

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Dec 10, 2025 • 5:33 AM EST • Science • chalkbeat.org
PlayStation Plus 2 More Free Games Leak Online Ahead of Reveal

Two more exciting games arriving to PS Plus have been leaked

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Dec 10, 2025 • 4:59 AM EST • Technology • gamingbible.com
Bipartisan bill looks to expand internet access in Iran

The FREEDOM Act proposes helping to expand internet freedom in Iran

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Dec 9, 2025 • 7:50 PM EST • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Area Events & Entertainment Community Calendar

Dec. 11 - Veterans Coffee & Conversation at the Eagles Club Dec. 13 - Optimist Free Movie for kids at The Cosmo Theatre at 1 p.m. Dec. 13 - Merry Merrill Market (downtown Merrill) 5-9 p.m. Dec. …

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Dec 9, 2025 • 7:00 PM EST • Entertainment • merrillfotonews.com
Trump offers farmers $12-billion bailout to offset pain from trade war : The NPR Politics Podcast

President Trump has announced a $12-billion bailout plan for farmers, designed to offset the impacts they have felt from a trade war with China. We discuss how this program fits into Trump’s broader economic policy agenda, and whether it detracts from his message that tariffs will be a boon for the country’s economy.This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Please let us know what you think of our show and how we can make it better by filling out this quick survey. As a token of our appreciation, three respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $25 gift card.

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Dec 9, 2025 • 4:07 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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Dodgers get richer, reportedly add closer Edwin Díaz on record-setting 3-year, $69 million deal

The top arm on the MLB free agent market has a new deal.

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Dec 9, 2025 • 11:37 AM EST • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Dodgers get richer, reportedly add closer Edwin Díaz

The top arm on the MLB free agent market has a new deal.

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Dec 9, 2025 • 11:23 AM EST • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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iFixit Launches Free iOS Repair App With AI-Powered FixBot

iFixit today announced the launch of a new iFixit app that's available to download from Apple's App Store (and the Play Store on Android devices). It includes all of the iFixit repair guides in a format that's ideal for mobile devices, along with a workbench that keeps track of repairs, a battery lifespan predictor, and an AI repair buddy called FixBot. The iFixit repair app is able to monitor an iPhone's battery in real time, providing graphs of how a battery deteriorates over time.

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Dec 9, 2025 • 8:00 AM EST • Technology • macrumors.com
US civic health rating downgraded after year of ‘restrictive‘ Trump actions

Civicus, a non-profit that monitors global civic freedoms, moved the US from the ‘narrowed’ to ‘obstructed’ category. Plus, the ‘gay wool’ taking over a New York catwalk

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Dec 9, 2025 • 7:59 AM EST • Health • theguardian.com
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MoMA PS1 Will Be Free for Everyone, Not Just New Yorkers

Free admission begins in January, thanks to a donation. Officials expect visitation to climb as the Queens-based museum celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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Dec 9, 2025 • 5:02 AM EST • Technology • nytimes.com
US civic health rating downgraded after year of ‘restrictive‘ Trump actions

Civicus, a non-profit that monitors global civic freedoms, moved the US from the ‘narrowed’ to ‘obstructed’ category

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Dec 9, 2025 • 12:01 AM EST • Health • theguardian.com
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Trump administration urges 'remigration,' borrowing white nationalist language : The NPR Politics Podcast

The Trump administration has refocused some of its immigration policy on a push to get immigrants to "remigrate," or leave the country voluntarily. We discuss the administration's language and policy and examine its links to white nationalism.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Dec 8, 2025 • 4:30 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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Fantasy Football 2025: Waiver wire, Week 15 edition

Wading into the free agent pool for roster help

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Dec 8, 2025 • 2:30 PM EST • Sports • bigblueview.com
Pete Alonso driving to MLB Winter Meetings to meet with interested...

Pete Alonso’s residence in Tampa has turned these Winter Meetings into something of a home game for the free-agent slugger.

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Dec 8, 2025 • 1:27 PM EST • Sports • nypost.com
How to watch NCAA women’s soccer championship for free: Channel, time for Florida State vs. Stanford

The College Cup finals are on Monday in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Dec 8, 2025 • 1:15 PM EST • Sports • syracuse.com
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Delta’s Wi-Fi revolution hits 1000th aircraft, bringing personalized entertainment and more to every seat

Delta has reached another major industry milestone with the installation of fast, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile on its 1,000th aircraft, representing approximately 75% of the total fleet. This achievement illustrates Delta’s unmatched leadership in delivering seamless, gate-to-gate connectivity at a scale.

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Dec 8, 2025 • 9:30 AM EST • Entertainment • news.delta.com
PlayStation Plus Getting Gorgeous Day-One Game For Free, TODAY

Don't miss out on this day-one release!

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Dec 8, 2025 • 8:43 AM EST • Technology • screenrant.com
Lidl-Trek partners with Gatorade® to fuel team with science-backed hydration

The home of Trek Factory Racing, and all the Trek programs. Whether its road, XC, enduro, downhill, freeride, cyclocross or triathlon, you’ll find a Trek athlete, racing for the win.

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Dec 8, 2025 • 8:23 AM EST • Science • racing.trekbikes.com
Nothing will change until Jets fix painfully obvious

Watching these Jets sometimes makes you think of the old Casey Stengel quote: “Can’t anybody here play this game?”

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Dec 7, 2025 • 9:47 PM EST • Sports • nypost.com
Central Michigan coming to Ford Field for GameAbove Sports Bowl vs Northwestern

Central Michigan is coming to Detroit to play Northwestern in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field.

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Dec 7, 2025 • 3:32 PM EST • Sports • freep.com
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New Birth hosts World AIDS + HIV Awareness Sunday, offering free testing and critical health resources

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church partners with public-health groups to confront HIV stigma and expand access to testing for communities disproportionately impacted across metro Atlanta.

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Dec 7, 2025 • 3:02 PM EST • Health • cbsnews.com
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OU instructor’s suspension fuels debate over politics reshaping universities

For some at OU, the essay debate draws into question the value of an OU degree and the broader impacts to academic freedom.

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Dec 7, 2025 • 6:40 AM EST • Politics • oklahoman.com
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Body parts of baby found in freezer at Tokyo adult entertainment business

A severed head, arms and legs of a baby were found in a freezer at an adult entertainment business in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, police said.

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Dec 6, 2025 • 9:44 PM EST • Entertainment • english.kyodonews.net
These 5 free apps make any smart TV way more useful (and none are streaming)

Unlock the full potential of your smart TV with these five game-changing free apps.

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Dec 6, 2025 • 7:00 PM EST • Technology • makeuseof.com
Dodgers notes: Freddie Freeman, Miguel Rojas, Tim Harkness

Freddie Freeman was born in California but both of his parents were from Ontario, Canada, and the first baseman has played twice for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. So it was only natural that Freeman teamed up with famous Canadian star Ryan Reynolds for charitable purposes, filming an ad raising money for the SickKids […]

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Dec 6, 2025 • 8:02 AM EST • Sports • truebluela.com
Raising the bar on education can pay off in business, leaders say

That assessment is contained in a new 40-page plan 'Michigan in a New Era' released by CEO group Business Leaders for Michigan.

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Dec 6, 2025 • 7:02 AM EST • Business • freep.com
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How you can donate business clothes for UVM students

The drive will be held Dec. 8, 9, 11 and 12.

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Dec 6, 2025 • 4:45 AM EST • Business • burlingtonfreepress.com
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Continuing to Deliver on the America First Global Health Strategy with the Signing of the United States-Rwanda Bilateral Health Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding - United States Department of State

Today in Washington, Jeremy Lewin, Senior Official, Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom and Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation signed the Department of State’s second bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, between the United States and Rwanda. The five-year, $228 million arrangement outlines a comprehensive vision to […]

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Dec 5, 2025 • 4:03 PM EST • Health • state.gov
Budget hearings day 4: Business Council in the hot seat, state prisoners and more

The Wyoming Business Council faced scrutiny from state Freedom Caucus lawmakers who were skeptical of the economic development agency and its budget goals.

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Dec 5, 2025 • 3:12 PM EST • Business • wyomingpublicmedia.org
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GOP unveils plan for 'Trump Health Freedom Accounts' to replace Obamacare subsidies with state waivers

House GOP Rep. August Pfluger unveils the "More Affordable Care Act" to let states replace Obamacare with "Trump Health Freedom Accounts" and cross-state healthcare shopping options.

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Dec 5, 2025 • 12:00 PM EST • Health • foxnews.com
Health Savings Accounts, Backed by GOP, Cover Fancy Saunas but Not Insurance Premiums

Health savings accounts can be used to cover medical expenses, tax-free. But while wealthier Americans are using them to pay for gym equipment, cedar ice baths, and hemlock saunas, poorer Americans can’t use them to pay their skyrocketing health insurance premiums.

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Dec 5, 2025 • 5:00 AM EST • Health • kffhealthnews.org
OnePlus 15 is finally up for pre-order in the US, here's when it ships

You need to act fast if you want the free perks. The OnePlus 15 is finally up for pre-order in the US today, following a rather lengthy launch delay caused...

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Dec 4, 2025 • 8:17 PM EST • Technology • gsmarena.com
More than 16,000 tracks found at a ‘dinosaur freeway’ in Bolivia

Theropods once trekked along a “dinosaur freeway” that stretched across a shoreline in what is now Bolivia, according to a new study.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 7:27 PM EST • Science • cnn.com
Miami Freedom Park Announces First 125,000 Square Feet of Retail for Entertainment District at the Heart of Transformative New Development

Miami Freedom Park, the under-construction 131-acre hub for world-class sports, entertainment and recreation in the heart of Miami, and home of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF, announced an initial group of experiential businesses coming to its Entertainment District, marking a major milestone of the project’s first phase. The walkable

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Dec 4, 2025 • 4:57 PM EST • Entertainment • intermiamicf.com
Elections officials prep for possible federal interference in the midterms : The NPR Politics Podcast

State and local elections officials across the country are preparing for a variety of ways the Trump administration could interfere with the 2026 midterm elections. We discuss the risks and what tactics the president and his allies have suggested.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Miles Parks, and senior political correspondent and editor Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 3:51 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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In Laurel, details thin about proposed state-run mental health facility

Details about the state’s proposed psychiatric facility in Laurel have been thin on the ground for local elected officials. The list of unknowns includes where exactly the state wants to build the 32-bed facility, the next steps for the project and what role, if any, local government officials will play in approving the plan.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 1:56 PM EST • Health • montanafreepress.org
OnePlus 15 finally gets FCC clearance after government shutdown delay—preorders live

The device starts at $900 and comes with a free gift for a limited time.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 1:11 PM EST • Technology • arstechnica.com
Predicting conference championship game overreactions: Notre Dame gets bounced

Conference championship game weekend should provide plenty of fuel for overreactions

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Dec 4, 2025 • 12:58 PM EST • Sports • cbssports.com
Jimmy Kimmel's Wife Just Gave Trump A Reality Check He Didn’t Ask For

Speaking at the Hollywood Reporter’s Women In Entertainment breakfast, Molly McNearney reflected on the significance of “freedom of speech.”

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Dec 4, 2025 • 12:19 PM EST • Entertainment • huffpost.com
Scientists Discovered the Human Brain Goes On Its Own Life-Long ‘Eras Tour’

A new study highlights five key eras of human brain development, and they don’t align with age quite as one might expect.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 8:00 AM EST • Science • popularmechanics.com
For many contractors, losing ACA subsidies means losing health care

The GOP's unprecedented premium hikes put chronically ill workers—especially freelancers—in peril.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 7:30 AM EST • Health • motherjones.com
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This company gives away free trips and luxury cars to its top employees every year

ThreatLocker rewards two employees every holiday season with luxury vehicles, like a Hummer EV or a Porsche Panamera.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 5:38 AM EST • Business • businessinsider.com
Abby Phillip’s 'A Dream Deferred' chronicles Jesse Jackson’s rise to political esteem : NPR's Book of the Day

Rev. Jesse Jackson is well-known as an icon of the American Civil Rights Movement, a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., and a steadfast activist — but he has quite a past in electoral politics, too. A Dream Deferred charts Jackson’s rise to political prominence during his 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns, as the first major Black candidate for U.S. president. In today’s episode, author and CNN anchor Abby Phillip talks with NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe about her debut biography, and how Jackson himself approached politics and activism with separate mindsets.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday

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Dec 4, 2025 • 3:00 AM EST • Politics • npr.org
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Merz in Danger With Business Warning Germany Is in ‘Free Fall’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s unwieldy ruling alliance with the Social Democrats is facing an existential crisis of its own making that could trigger its demise after only seven months in office.

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Dec 4, 2025 • 12:00 AM EST • Business • bloomberg.com
Arkansas parents voice concerns over voucher changes affecting homeschool sports funding

Educators and parents are reacting to proposed changes to Arkansas' school voucher program, known as the Educational Freedom Accounts, as lawmakers look to fine

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Dec 3, 2025 • 6:50 PM EST • Sports • katv.com
Why American Health Care Is Still a Mess

Jonathan Gruber on the broken American health-care system, Obamacare, the Trump administration’s war on vaccines and science, and being on the wrong end of Republican outrage. Plus: David on Donald Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan,” recent scandals, and They Thought They Were Free, by Milton Mayer.

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Dec 3, 2025 • 4:56 PM EST • Health • theatlantic.com
Are the strikes on Venezuelan boats ‘war’ – and do the rules of war apply? : The NPR Politics Podcast

New questions have emerged surrounding the United States’ military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in early September. We discuss what we know and why the White House appears to be distancing itself from the decision to order multiple strikes on the same boat.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Dec 3, 2025 • 4:36 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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Nintendo Offering 12 Months NSO Free With Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle (UK)

Plus some Luigi flare for your tree

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Dec 3, 2025 • 10:30 AM EST • Technology • nintendolife.com
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Opinion | The Free Birth Movement Poses a Threat to Public Health

Having a baby without any medical help is the logical outcome of a centuries-long medical freedom movement.

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Dec 3, 2025 • 9:00 AM EST • Health • nytimes.com
Red Dead Redemption Remaster with 4K and 60fps is now live — and it's completely free for owners of the original Xbox 360 version to upgrade to

Relive one of Rockstar Games' most critically-acclaimed games of all time with next-gen graphics as the Red Dead Redemption Remaster is now available on Xbox Series X|S

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Dec 3, 2025 • 7:48 AM EST • Technology • windowscentral.com
Flu shot protects against new variant, Michigan health officials warn

Michigan's chief medical executive says the vaccine 'reduces severe complications' of the flu, including hospitalization.

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Dec 3, 2025 • 7:43 AM EST • Health • freep.com
Marvel Rivals - The Super Hero Team-based PVP Shooter

Play for free Now!! Get ready to Ignite the Battle with Marvel Rivals!

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Dec 3, 2025 • 7:00 AM EST • Technology • marvelrivals.com
Hims & Hers to Acquire YourBio Health, Pioneer Behind Advanced, Pain-Free Blood Sampling Technology

Acquisition Combines Hims Hers’ Leading Wellness Platform with YourBio’s Patented, Virtually Painless Micro-Needle Technology to Redefine the Future of Blood Sampling Hims Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS), the leading health and wellness platform, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire YourBio Health, Inc., a Boston-based pioneer in capillary whole blood sampling technology. Powered by YourBio’s advanced blood sampling devices, the acquisition will help accelerate efforts to redefine and modernize the overall blood collection experience, making pain-free blood sampling the new standard. YourBio Health develops technologies designed to simplify the process and expand when, where, and how blood samples can be collected—including beyond traditional clinic settings. Its TAP® device, built on HALO™ technology, uses bladeless microneedles thinner than an eyelash to produce high-quality capillary blood samples in seconds, without the pain or

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Dec 3, 2025 • 7:00 AM EST • Health • investors.hims.com
Small Business Saturday sheds light on local storefronts, sees lower turnout due to winter storm

During a winter storm, members of the Evanston community battled howling winds and freezing temperatures to shop at Evanston’s third annual Small Business Saturday. Having begun in 2010 as a nationwide movement to support smaller, family-owned stores, this year’s Small Business Saturday featured special deals from 28 participating local businesses in Evanston. Downtown Evanston also...

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Dec 3, 2025 • 5:00 AM EST • Business • dailynorthwestern.com
Improving Community Health Through Project Health

While visiting her local CVS Pharmacy, a woman walked by a Project Health event happening in-store. Interested, she decided to take advantage of the free health screening offered there. What began as a simple shopping trip quickly turned into a moment of motivation.

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Dec 3, 2025 • 3:00 AM EST • Health • cvshealth.com
Chattanooga business owner faces 28 charges related to auto crimes, forgery, affecting multiple states | Chattanooga Times Free Press

A Chattanooga business owner accused of running an illegal vehicle theft and reselling operation that affected multiple states was arrested Tuesday on 28 charges while the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office executed two search warrants.

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Dec 2, 2025 • 6:35 PM EST • Business • timesfreepress.com
Trump announces more restrictions on legal immigration after DC shooting : The NPR Politics Podcast

The Trump administration has announced more restrictions on the country’s refugee and asylum programs after a shooting of two National Guard members last week in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan immigrant. How do these changes advance Trump’s immigration policy agenda and his vision of what it means to be an American?This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

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Dec 2, 2025 • 4:35 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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Popular PS4 Open-World RPG Gets Huge Free Update Today

A popular ongoing PS4 open-world RPG is getting a huge free update today, and includes an appearance from a fan-favorite character.

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Dec 2, 2025 • 2:33 PM EST • Technology • playstationlifestyle.net
Dave Coulier reveals he has tongue cancer, his 2nd diagnosis in a year, after beating non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The "Full House" star also shared that he created AwearMarket, a digital marketplace that sells toxin-free products.

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Dec 2, 2025 • 12:48 PM EST • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Windows 11 KB5070311 update fixes File Explorer freezes, search issues

​​Microsoft has released the KB5070311 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 systems, which includes 49 changes, including fixes for File Explorer freezes and search issues.

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Dec 2, 2025 • 6:19 AM EST • Technology • bleepingcomputer.com
The best history and politics books of 2025

The revolutionary spirit in politics and architecture; histories of free speech and civil war; plus how the Tories fell apart and Starmer won

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Dec 2, 2025 • 6:00 AM EST • Politics • theguardian.com
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Trump’s quest for political retribution is impeding the Justice Department : The NPR Politics Podcast

President Trump has vowed to seek retribution from his perceived political enemies and to reward his political allies. We discuss how that focus is playing out at the Justice Department, where career prosecutors and other civil servants are no longer calling the shots. How does this partisan shift affect major court cases, from redistricting in Texas to James Comey’s prosecution?This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 4:28 PM EST • Politics • npr.org
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After a Witcher-free decade, CDPR still promises three sequels in six years

CD Projekt Red says shift to Unreal Engine allows for more rapid development.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 2:54 PM EST • Technology • arstechnica.com
The Red Sox are already crying poor

As free agency begins, the Red Sox want you to believe they don’t make money.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 2:10 PM EST • Sports • overthemonster.com
Netflix ends casting from mobile devices for users of newer TVs

You should still be able to cast from your phone or tablet to older Chromecast or Google Cast devices if you're on an ad-free plan.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 10:19 AM EST • Technology • engadget.com
Rodney Harrison’s 'Sunday Night Football' freeze-up sparks concern...

NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison raised eyebrows when he appeared to lose his train of thought in the pregame show ahead of the "Sunday Night Football" clash between the Broncos and the Commanders.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 9:16 AM EST • Sports • nypost.com
The CNRS is breaking free from the Web of Science

From January 1st 2026, the CNRS will cut access to one of the largest commercial bibliometric databases, Clarivate Analytics'

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Dec 1, 2025 • 7:00 AM EST • Science • cnrs.fr
Science must move from materialism to mystery

Theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that modern science has become trapped in a framework that mistakes matter for the whole of reality. In this wide-ranging interview, Gómez-Marín challenges the foundations of materialism, defends the scientific study of near-death experiences, and calls for a new type of science grounded in mystery and a renewed sense of the sacred. He suggests that abandoning materialism could open the door to a deeper understanding of consciousness, death, and the purpose of human existence. Simon Custer: You are both a theoretical physicist and a neuroscientist, and you have also been fiercely critical of materialist theories of mind and consciousness. What do you think the ultimate nature of reality is?Àlex Gómez-Marín: I don't know what the ultimate nature of reality is, but what I try to first assess is whether the stories that they [mainstream science] have told us about it are right, or maybe whether there are other alternatives. That's why I've been a fierce critic of materialism. As a scientist, I realized that they had sold us this idea that to be a good scientist you also had to subscribe to many other -isms, like materialism, reductionism, and even secularism. And so first I think one needs to unmount these -isms, and then, as is happening today in consciousness studies, we have a huge landscape where there isn't only one game in town, the idea that matter is the only thing that really exists. But because we are studying the hard problem of consciousness, it may be the case that other views of reality, like idealism, or even dualism, or other theories like dual aspect monism... these are philosophical ideas that now, I think, have room in science to be taken seriously. How does something like materialism relate to dualism or idealism? What is materialism in the first place?Well, materialism is the philosophical position that matter is the only really ‘real’ thing in the universe. And I think that worked kind of well because science started 400 years ago and Galileo made that split, I call it the foundational wound. It was a great business move.He said, let's start doing science on that portion of reality that lends itself more easily to mathematization and measurement. So, for some reason, the solidity of this table or the movement of planets lend themselves very well to this foundational idea of science. But as time went on, 400 years later, we realized that we had forgotten the other side, which is what really matters.What really matters is pain, is love, is feelings, sensation, consciousness, which is very hard to define, but very intimate. We all know what it is. It's that thing that disappears when we go into deep sleep and comes back in the morning. SUGGESTED VIEWING On the edges of knowledge With Michael Shermer, Rupert Sheldrake, Güneş Taylor It's what it is like to be, as Nagel said. It's the feeling of being alive. So, materialism is good to study certain things, but then when it ossifies into this ideology and then is dressed like science, now it's preventing us from understanding these key questions that are really that everybody wants to know.Why are we here? Why do we feel reality? Where do we go when we die? And so we need other ways. We need pluralism. I'm only asking for having more options on the table and taking them seriously. Why does materialism fail to explain consciousness? For example, if you were to lobotomize me, I would not be a functional human being. What do you say to someone who might think that materialism adequately explains the mind?Well, here we could speak about different things. We could talk about physics or about neuroscience. I happen to have training with both.For instance, for neuroscientists, 99% of them, I'm not included in that portion, believe that the brain can only be a productive organ. It's an organ that somehow, somewhere, consciousness emerges. It's like a lamp. And then something happens, magic happens, and then consciousness emerges.That's the position you need to be if you're a materialist because if the only really ‘real’ thing is matter, then you need to say, just give us some more time and money and we'll figure out how mind emerges or is produced from matter. There are many philosophically sophisticated ways of criticizing this.Now there's another option, which is the brain as a permissive organ. This was said by William James more than 100 years ago.Now then the brain wouldn't be like this machine, like for instance, a heat engine whose smoke is consciousness, which is what we would have in the first big model, the productive model. But in the permissive model, the brain would be a kind of a filter. And so the brain would still have a very important role in consciousness, but it wouldn't be a productive role.It would be permissive, much like a filter or much like a prism which would receive light. And - I'm speaking metaphorically - it would receive the light of the mind and then it could reflect it and refract it.Now, with these two big options on the table, I think we can make progress into what I call the edges of consciousness, which are all these experiences, weird experiences that many people have, but we don't talk about enough, like near-death experiences, precognitive dreams, synchronicities. These experiences are very important for humans and they have a place in the permissive hypothesis and they are literally impossible in the productive hypothesis. So that's yet one more reason to explore alternatives to materialism. There may be anecdotal evidence for near-death experiences, but is there robust evidence that would be accepted by the majority of scientists who subscribe to the scientific method?Sure. And the plural of anecdotes, someone said, is data.And there's a lot of data. Actually, this year is the 50th anniversary, half a century, since Dr. Raymond Moody realized that we have two ears and one mouth and started listening to what his patients had to say about their experiences while they were clinically dead.The heart had stopped, breathing had stopped in these patients. These patients would come back and tell him these amazing stories that some people may say are hallucinations, but for the patients were hyper-real, like seeing light at the end of the tunnels, seeing deceased family members waiting for them, feeling bliss.___I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain.___And so he and others started taking them seriously and writing their accounts down. And then you can do a science based on that material of experience that people have. Now, on the more objective side, more recently people have started to measure what's going on in the brain when people are clinically dead and brought back. This has opened a proper field of study, which is near-death studies.Evidence is a difficult word, because sometimes people think that when you say evidence, this is just the final proof. Evidence is like in a jury. You bring testimony, you bring pieces of data that point in one direction or another.I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain. When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on. And that's revolutionary.That would entail that when we die, it's not game over, which, by the way, is the thesis of materialism. If consciousness survives, materialism dies. It's game over for materialism if something of us continues after we die. Do you think that there is mental continuity after death?Well, I think so, and I believe so, and I could also say I may have experienced it myself, because four years ago I had a near-death experience. I was in the hospital, I lost a lot of blood, and I saw those beings at the end of the tunnel, three beings, and there was yellow light. I was in a well, I was looking upwards, and I hadn't read about NDEs by then, but when I came back from this experience, I decided I would try to integrate this also in my professional life. Not just my personal life, of course, but my professional life as a physicist and as a neuroscientist. So I may have had the experience of glimpses of what an afterlife would be, and I'm not ashamed to say it in this way, and then one can do science of it, and then one can do philosophy of it.One can think about what -isms we were discussing, what views on reality would allow those experiences to be really ‘real,’ as opposed to, well, poor guy, the brain was kind of broken, it must have been a hallucination. Do you have a view about whether individuality or “the ego” persists after death, or whether we sort of merge into some sort of cosmic consciousness instead?I don't know, but my view would be along those lines you're suggesting. I think we could speak about a kind of universal mind, and then the problem is not how we emerge from matter, but how we fragment from a more holistic consciousness into these individual eddies and then when we die, this kind of dissipates.But I'm not sure. For instance, idealism would promote that view, but then what would survive of us after these eddies just vanish and become again the big Consciousness, I'm not sure what that would be. I don't know for sure, but I would tell you I believe something of us survives.And there are other lines of research, not just near-death experience, that can address this really hard question of survival. For instance, there are children who remember previous lives. This was studied by Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia for more than 50 years.___Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.___It's amazing research. He went all over the world, especially in the East, and collected all these case studies, all these stories. In plural, these were data of kids, very young age, who would describe up to 40 items that then he could go and verify.There was no internet. There was really no way the kid could know. Why would the kid say that when I was living in this other body and I was a woman and that's how my house would look like or that's how I would die, right? Again, there is evidence, not proof, but there's evidence not only that something weird and interesting is happening as we cross the threshold, but also when we come back to this life.Scientists should not be afraid of studying this, but they are because there's stigma. There's usually stigma upon the enigma, and this is so unfortunate. And one of the reasons is because of the ideology of materialism, because those things cannot be possible. What is wrong with the politics of science such that they have generated this stigma?So many things. Science is a human activity to begin with.So it falls prey to all our passions and ego and greed. That's one thing. Science is a job for the good and for the bad.You need to get a salary. You need to get grants. Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.And then, we didn't have time to unpack this, but science for many years become entangled, as I was suggesting before, to other -isms, materialism, secularism. So anything that smells like the afterlife, people may think has to do with God, and then they freak out.Anything that suggests that there's something about the mind that may not need a physical material substrate to exist, it smells like non-materialism. So, all these -isms are ideologically blocking that kind of research, and then there are all these sociopolitical constraints as to what should be studied and what shouldn't be studied.I call it the backstage of science. Sometimes we scientists or science communicators seem to speak as if the data is the only thing that matters. We say, well, data and theory.But then there's a third leg of this stool, which is all the politics that goes behind the scenes. And we often don't speak about this, and it's quite vicious and petty, and it's very real. Why is materialism so attractive to most scientists?Well, an easy answer is because we've grown up with it.It's what the educational system promotes, and that's what you hear when you go to university. So it's like growing in a culture. It feels like the air in which you breathe.So it's very hard to begin with to detect, well, maybe there's another alternative. Maybe there are other ways of doing science, other environments in which one could do science. That's one reason.And other reasons maybe are more profound, and I'm not qualified to explain them, but I could say, looking at this 400-year history of science, since it started around 1623 with Galileo's book The Assayer, that science went and coupled with all what's going on in the West.And so the fall of religion, you could say, and science presented us this new alternative that then could be coupled very well with other -isms, and this idea of growth, and then science losing its good twin brother, which was philosophy. There's a whole natural history of science starting as philosophy, kind of emancipating or breaking out from philosophy, and then marrying technology, and then marrying other social systems.From that point of view, materialism is a very convenient idea to propose. There were attempts, like the German idealists tried to do a more romantic science. But no, the idea prevailed, like Francis Bacon said: You should pursue nature through all her corners, he said, and make her spill her secrets.Our attitude towards nature in the science that dominates is very much reflecting how we treat nature in our society, in our culture, like a resource to extract secrets by force and then dominate it. How is materialism related to the notions of growth and progress? What's wrong with having a productive citizenry?This is another very interesting and very difficult question to answer.But there's this recent book coming out by Paul Kingsnorth. In it, he explains this idea of the machine and this idea of progress. And this, again, this conflation of more is better, of we need to go forward always, and convincing us that the way to do that is to continually extract more from nature. But because we don't have the religious context anymore, because God is dead, then what do we have? We have what we can do as humans with our own gadgets.It's kind of the story of the Promethean fire. We will just build anything to make ourselves God.A good example today is transhumanism. Transhumanism is this pseudo-religion dressed in technoscientific language whose goal is very religious. They promise immortality, they promise redemption, they promise transformation of the entire natural world, but it's done by human means through technology. Are you suggesting that we can't have ethics without religion?Well, we should have ethics with or without religion. That's another pruning that has happened in science. We say, forget about aesthetics, although some physicists still think that beautiful means probably true, and forget about politics. We pretend there's no backstage of science, and even let's forget about ethics.___Science needs to be in the service of mankind.___Scientists, when they become more like engineers, they're just thinking how to make things work so that they can go to the moon, go to Mars, make machines that think, but they don't think whether that's a good idea.And also consider metaphysics. Many scientists for a long time pretended, and maybe that comes from the stream of positivisms, that really one doesn't need metaphysics at all, except that materialism is always the metaphysics running the system.You see, it's not just ethics. It's the pruning of all of these, you could say, five main legs of philosophy that just makes a kind of unconscious science, a science that doesn't really know what it's doing. It's doing it very well locally, but it just doesn't know what it's doing globally. Do you think science has to have an ultimate vision and purpose behind it for it to be effective or for it to be meaningful and transformative?Yes, a way I would say that is that science needs to be in the service of mankind. And it hasn't been that. And we can see it through, you know, when we discovered the secrets of the atom, and all of a sudden, the Manhattan Project, and then we create nuclear weapons.And now we're trying to crack how machines may think, and now we're creating this mess, right? So science needs to be in service of mankind, not in service of a few ideas that maybe want to make more money or just dominate upon nature. What about planes, trains, automobiles, and modern medicine? Hasn't science served mankind by helping us develop those technologies?Yes and no. I see where you're going, and it's fair.I came here by plane, and it's a blessing. When I almost died, the surgeons did their job, and they saved my life. But these two forced choices between Luddites and Silicon Valley types, I think, of course, it's a false dichotomy.Progress, in a way, it's good, but we often don't speak about the dark side of the moon. We say the great things that progress has brought, and we don't speak about the disasters, the side effects that it has come with, and the same when we promise new technologies. We tend to think that any technology is great, that email is going to save us so much time because we don't need to write letters and send them anymore.Is that true? I spend so many hours a week writing emails. Let's just say there are great things about it and bad things about it. People like Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, for example, argue that we've made moral progress over time because of the Enlightenment. Do you think that's totally wrong-headed?I think he's emphasizing a side of the moon, and he does that very well, and you can find tons of plots where there's a slope going up and say it's great. But I think he should also tell the not-so-friendly story.But if your ideology is just to resist and continue to explain that the Enlightenment is the best thing ever and reason is the best thing ever… this feels to me like you're worshipping these abstractions.I'm very critical of it and also of these, again, science communicators and scientists that say, Oh, science says, in the name of science, experts say. It's like, come on, let's be careful because we can shoot ourselves in the foot by putting forth to the people an image of science that we know is not really true. Recently there's been a resurgence of spirituality and of people who say that they're spiritual but not religious, especially in the United States. If materialism is going away, what is going to fill that gap? Are we going to return to traditional religion? Do you see that being connected with the rise of the political right?I'm not a fortune teller, so I don't know what's going to happen. But, yeah, we could say we're in this post-materialist age and even post-secular age. One cannot come back to the past, but maybe just to contact with the roots is a good idea.What do I mean by that? I think we need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method. We need to do so in a culture where we realize humans cannot thrive in a vacuum where there's this idea that the sacred has to be removed.Now, how do we do that without bringing in back all the vices of religion? I don't know. I'm from a Catholic country.Here we are in England, so there are differences and interreligious dialogue has always been a challenge. But I think maybe a way of putting it is: after all these conflicts and branchings I was quickly alluding to, science from philosophy and then also from religion, now there's a time of reconciliation perhaps and maybe debates in the proper sense, like exchange of ideas in service of learning and getting into something higher than both poles. We need science to talk to religious people and it's interesting when people say they're spiritual and not religious.I think this is just a way of saying, no, I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. But at the end of the day, religions have offered us practices and grounding that we now desperately need. Everybody can and should just meditate or pray or do whatever they want, but we're in a crisis and it's time for reconciliation. What do you say to critics that say you are merely projecting our need for meaning onto a fundamentally indifferent universe?Yeah, I know that the typical science communicator says something like this. But we're not projecting. Human beings feed on meaning.It's the other way around. If you're a materialist, because the only thing that there is is matter, all that comes next, free will, consciousness, meaning, this is a kind of illusion that we need to explain.They're just craving for meaning, but there isn't really for them. I would also like to remind my materialist friends that for decades, if not centuries, they've said in the name of science, we know that this and this and this doesn't really exist. I think now they sense they're forced to say, well, actually, we don't know. We've been saying, for instance, that there's nothing after you die, and now probably they need to admit that they don't know the answer.___We need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method.___So it's a moment to open up possibilities and also to gently but fiercely critique these claims that I think harm society. If you say in the name of science, get on with it, when your father dies, you'll never see him again. Well, what the F do you know about it? You haven't studied the literature, you haven't had any of those experiences, and basically what you're doing is you're just doing marketing on ideology. This needs to stop. Do you think that it's scarier for some people to entertain the thought that there might be life after death, compared to a materialist worldview where you just die, given that there might be consequences for unsavory behaviour?Well, death and dying is scary. It's maybe the ultimate ending. It's a limit on life, and when we're in this conquest mode, we don't like limits.And it also has, there's a shockwave backwards, so I think if you change your notion of what death is or may be, you live differently. It also has consequences, as you're saying, for the future because this is not our only goal here and we come back in whatever form. And again, different religions would say different things. I the East, they are more happy with the idea of reincarnation, and here in the West, there are other preferences. But in any case, it changes how we live, and that's really what matters.It's not about just projecting or imagining what we'll be after, but how we live now and also how we treat those who are dying. So it goes from the individual to the families, to the hospitals.Now in the near-death research I do, this has ramifications at all these levels, all the way to society.But our society is thanatophobic. It has a phobia of death. We don't want to hear about death, and this is another thing we need to put on the table and be willing to talk about it. Do you think that we might get closer to answering ultimate questions like why is there anything at all if we jettison materialism?That’s an excellent question, Simon. Two things: we should stop treating reality, I believe, as a great sudoku, as an enigma, as something that with intelligence, money, and time that we will crack and instead treat reality more like a mystery. And what you do for in front of a mystery is not to be the clever guy in a class and say “I’ll solve you” but more like “I will bow and you will transform me.”I know this sounds a bit like a scientist speaking like a mystic. But I think this reorientation is needed. In the end, we won’t crack the big questions, but they will transform us. If we free ourselves from this prison of materialism, the way we will explore these questions will be freer, more creative, and in service of mankind. Do you think exploring mystery is the reason why we are here?I think we are here because, and this pseudo-theological argument I’m making off the cuff, But the One, the Absolute, if there is such a thing, had everything except limitation. We are that absolute experiencing that contingency. It’s like an act of divine proprioception. It’s a wonderful adventure, it’s just incredible to be alive. Perhaps we have forgotten why we are here and the whole point is to experience the flesh.Let me end by saying this. I criticize materialism harshly. I bang on this dead horse, because I think it’s dead. But matter is a great mystery. So maybe my invitation is as follows: hey materialist friends, come here, let’s work on materialism 2.0! Consciousness is a mystery, but matter is also a mystery. The fact that we can have an intersubjective experience consensus, the fact that we can apply mathematics, that we can measure things... the physical world we take for granted, but it is a great mystery too.Maybe that’s related to your last question: why are we here? Why did spirit decide to incarnate? Being in the flesh may be a great thing if spirit decided to do so.Àlex Gómez-Marín, thank you very much.My pleasure.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 7:00 AM EST • Science • iai.tv
Need help with your business? Easton begins offering free consulting through Lehigh U.

Easton's new partnership with the Lehigh University Small Business Development Center provides free confidential business consulting.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 6:30 AM EST • Business • lehighvalleylive.com
Netflix kills casting from phones

Unless you’re an ad-free user with legacy casting tech.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 5:20 AM EST • Technology • theverge.com
Inside Gen Z's obsession with renting everything

From dresses to strollers to wine glasses, renting lives in Gen Zers' heads rent-free.

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Dec 1, 2025 • 4:11 AM EST • Business • businessinsider.com
Glasgow catering business feeds community during holidays

Catering company delivers 367 free Thanksgiving meals.

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Nov 30, 2025 • 11:46 PM EST • Business • wbko.com
France wants to end free health care for foreign pensioners

If lawmakers push to charge retirees for health care, it will especially hit Americans who have made France their home.

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Nov 30, 2025 • 10:11 PM EST • Health • politico.eu
DraftKings promo code: Get $200 bonus, free NBA League Pass for Commanders-Broncos on Sunday Night Football

DraftKings Sportsbook offers a $200 bonus and three free months of NBA League Pass, and you can use it to bet on Sunday's NFL schedule

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Nov 30, 2025 • 7:38 PM EST • Sports • cbssports.com
Health Care Sticker Shock Coming for 450,000 New Yorkers

Federal budget cuts will force hundreds of thousands off New York's free Essential Plan, with some families facing $10,000 annual premium increases.

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Nov 30, 2025 • 7:00 PM EST • Health • nysfocus.com
Is MAHA influencing health policy? : Consider This from NPR

At the recent Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, summit - which was attended by the U.S. Secretary of Health and the Vice President - the agenda showed a shift toward alternative medicine, wellness and nutrition and away from conventional medication. Most of the speakers were not academic researchers or doctors. To discuss what happens when government guidance moves away from scientific consensus, Miles Parks speaks with Dr. Sandro Galea, a Distinguished Professor in Public Health, and Dean of the Washington University School of Public Health in St Louis, Missouri.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Avery Keatley and Jordan-Marie Smith. It was edited by Ahmad Damen. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Nov 30, 2025 • 4:02 PM EST • Health • npr.org
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Two new businesses set to open in Bay County with events and free food

New local Cumberland Farms and Costa Family McDonalds franchises to host grand openings. Perks? Free happy meals for a year, fried chicken samples.

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Nov 30, 2025 • 5:05 AM EST • Entertainment • newsherald.com
Seasons of Science brings free family science to local breweries

San Marcos Record - Sharing news, features and sports with the San Marcos community since 1912.

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Nov 30, 2025 • 1:00 AM EST • Science • sanmarcosrecord.com