News From Around the Web
#10 RFK Jr. Gives Update on Autism Research Involving Medicare, Medicaid Members - Dan Gooding and Gabe Whisnant for Newsweek, American Values, Just the News, AF Post, and Travis Pander on X
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is launching a new initiative to provide researchers with access to claims data and electronic medical records of Medicare and Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with autism. The effort aims to deepen scientific understanding of autism and other chronic conditions. The project involves a data-sharing agreement between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which collectively hold health data on nearly 150 million Americans. Researchers can examine anonymized datasets to explore patterns, treatment outcomes, and potential causes linked to autism...
#9 Trump Abruptly Pulls Surgeon General Nominee and Names New Pick With Ties to RFK Jr. - Nnamdi Egwuonwu and Brandy Zadrozny for NBC News, Tracy Beanz, Benny Johnson, Casey Means MD/Gary Brecka, Jillian Michaels, Holden Culotta, Laura Loomer and Brian Cates on X
President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to be surgeon general Wednesday, days after right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer criticized her, and he simultaneously announced a new pick who has close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump confirmed Nesheiwat's withdrawal on Truth Social and praised the forthcoming nominee, Dr. Casey Means, for “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials,” referring to the “Make America Healthy Again” slogan...
#8 Was Congress Scheduled to Vote on Rescissions? Why Didn’t That Happen?- Thomas Massie/Grok, Richard Crowe, W J Hayes, Men of the West, UncoverDC, and Pete on X
In early 2025, House Republican leaders tentatively planned to vote on a rescissions package proposed by President Donald Trump during the week of May 5, 2025. The package, expected to be sent to Congress in April 2025, aimed to cancel $9.3 billion in previously approved funding, primarily targeting foreign aid programs, the State Department, and public broadcasting entities like PBS and NPR. The rescissions process, governed by the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, allows the President to propose canceling appropriated funds, which Congress must approve within 45 days of continuous session via a simple majority vote in both chambers. This fast-tracked procedure was seen as a way to formalize spending cuts, particularly those pushed by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, while avoiding legal challenges to unilateral executive actions...
#7 Bernie Sanders Makes ‘No Apologies’ for Private Jet Travel on ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Tour - Madeline Coggins for Fox News, End Wokeness, Benny Johnson, Western Lensmen, and Ann Vandersteel TM on X
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is making "no apologies" for chartering private jets to travel for his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour stops across the country. The Vermont lawmaker and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have been gaining influence through their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, quickly becoming the face of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Organizers started the tour in response to President Donald Trump's second term to "take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country." With multiple rallies a week, Sanders defended his mode of travel, telling "Special Report" executive editor Bret Baier in an exclusive interview Wednesday, "that's the only way to get around."
#6 Catholic Cardinals Signal With Black Smoke There Is No New Pope Yet - Reuters, Dan/David Lammy, Josh Breslow, Fischer King, Amuse, and Carmandy Graff on X
Black smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling that the cardinals locked in a conclave have not yet chosen a new pope to guide the Roman Catholic Church.
Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square to wait for the smoke to pour from the flue on the chapel's roof, which it did shortly before noon (1000 GMT), marking the end of the morning voting session when two ballots are held...
#5 Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady as the Central Bank Weighs Impact of Trump Tariffs - Aimee Picchi for CBS News, Stocktwits, Bill Mitchell, Breaking 911, and Art Candee/Donald J. Trump on X
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it is leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged, resisting pressure from President Trump to lower U.S. borrowing costs as policymakers assess the economic impact of his trade policies. The Fed said it will maintain the federal funds rate at its current range of 4.25% to 4.5%, where it's been parked since the central bank last moved to lower short-term rates in December. The federal funds rate — the rate banks charge each other for short-term loans — helps determine what businesses and consumers pay in interest on loans and credit card debt.
#4 Trump Confirms ‘Full and Comprehensive’ Trade Deal With UK - Lucy Campbell and Tom Ambrose for The Guardian, Katie Pavlich, Western Lensmen, Shawn Farash, and Peter Schiff on X
Donald Trump has announced a trade deal between the UK and the US, saying the agreement is a “full and comprehensive one”. He wrote on his social media website, Truth Social: The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come. Because of our long-time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!
#3 Moderna’s Combo COVID and Flu mRNA Shot Outperforms Current Vaccines in Large Trial - Berkeley Lovelace Jr. by NBC News, The Japan News, Australian Science Media Centre, Toronto Sun, Fox 5 NY, and Cecilia bowie Alladin sane Parodi on X
Moderna’s combined COVID and flu shot outperformed the existing standalone vaccines for both viruses, according to the results of a phase 3 clinical trial published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The vaccine uses the same messenger RNA technology as Moderna’s approved COVID vaccine. (There are no approved mRNA-based flu shots.) The trial, funded by Moderna, included more than 8,000 adults aged 50 and older who were enrolled in October and November 2023. For people ages 50 to 64, the new vaccine was compared to Moderna’s COVID vaccine and the flu shot, Fluarix. For people 65 and older, it was compared to the COVID vaccine and a different flu shot, called Fluzone, which is a stronger dose typically given to older adults. The trial participants either got the existing shots or the new combination vaccine plus a placebo shot. (This way, both groups got two injections.)
#2 DeSantis Hosts Property Tax Relief Roundtable in South Tampa, May Veto Sales Tax Bill - Ty Russell for News Channel 8, Ron DeSantis, Forrest Saunders, Blaise Ingoglia, Brian Wright, Lisa 6321, and Florida Politics on X
There are two opposing plans in Tallahassee involving cutting taxes. Gov. Ron DeSantis has called on reducing or eliminating property taxes. State lawmakers are finalizing a plan in their budget that involves reducing the state sales tax. During a roundtable in South Tampa on Wednesday, DeSantis proposed that state lawmakers do two things relating to property taxes before the extended session ends. “I’ve proposed, we have the money to fully fund the education budget,” DeSantis said. “We could send you a rebate on your property taxes this year. We’ll only do it for homesteaded Floridians. We’re not going to do it for the snowbirds.” The governor said many homeowners could get a rebate from $300 up to $1,000 by December of this year, if lawmakers approve. He also pushed lawmakers to put language on the November 2026 ballot to reduce or eliminate property taxes altogether. “Which is really how you have to do it by a constitutional amendment to provide protections for homeowners. This is all very doable,” DeSantis said...
#1 Frontier Airlines Agents Jeer at Passenger After Hitting Him With Surprise Fee: ‘You Thought You Were Gonna Get On Your Flight?’ - Reuven Fenton and Emily Crane for New York Post, Mrs. Ricketts, Collin Rugg, Nic, and Pirateborn200yrs2late on X
Wild viral footage has captured Frontier Airlines gate agents getting into a bust-up with a passenger who had sniped, “I’m never flying this sh—y airline again” after being hit with an unexpected $25 fee just to check in. The caught-on-camera saga erupted when the male passenger — a 45-year-old married father of three — was trying to check in for his Frontier flight from Raleigh, NC, to Boston last Friday after a week-long business trip. The passenger, who didn’t want to be identified, told The Post he’d arrived at the airport with roughly 50 minutes to spare but wasn’t able to check in on the electronic kiosk because, unbeknownst to him, he had missed the airline’s 60-minute pre-departure window...
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Wake Up Call to Parents....
