The money problem in politics has nothing latest. We have been warned for a long time that America is or will likely be an oligarchy. But within the early days of President Donald Trump's second term in office felt a bit of different, and I feel it’s the next: Attention, not money, is the shape of power that interests him essentially the most.

Many of his billionaire holders didn’t make the cut in his inauguration. The Catbird seats were as a substitute filled by the titans of attention. It was the leaders of Facebook and Instagram and X and Tiktok and Amazon and Google, which Trump tried to see in front of him.

Washington is stuffed with lobby offices and donations because strong interests consider that something is obtained when dollars are spent. You are right. We have expected and accepted a grotesque measure of every day corruption in American politics – from quite a few decisions by the Supreme Court that give money to guard the speech, and from republicans of the congress who even fought modest reforms of campaign financing. But we’ve got no less than some rules to limit the facility of cash in politics and pursue their movements.

The same doesn’t apply to attention. If Trump saves Tikkok and in return before the 2026 TIIKTOK elections increases the Pro-Trump content, would that be illegal? Perhaps. But would we even know that it happened? If Elon Musk turns the dial to X to tend the conversation before the 2028 elections within the direction of the Republican Party, who will stop it?

New technique to power

Attention, not money, is now the fuel of American politics. It seemed clear in 2022 that Musk had overpaid when he bought Twitter for $ 44 billion. And whether it is assessed as a business transaction, he probably paid overpaid. The sales of X is way from justifying its purchase price. But we didn't know on the time and we don't know the way we appreciate the eye he bought. With regard to attention, Musk's purchase of Twitter made him essentially the most powerful person on the earth, except perhaps Trump. What is that value?

Oligarchy just isn’t a mere corruption. It describes what happens when prosperity is intertwined with the violation of rule. Musk just isn’t just searching for contracts or favors. He is searching for influence and centrality. He not only offers Trump money, but attention. And Trump was no less than so glad to make this trade. Former presidents had their wealthy supporters, and these supporters have gained access and even prey, but we had not viewed a transparent trade for power in the fashionable period. And to make this trade publicly, Musk and Trump opened a way that other attention oligar should want to go.

In Trump's world all the things is on the market. Most presidents and parties negotiate inside a circumscribed zone: they’re sure to existing interests and ideologies and guarantees. Some of the Silicon Valley executives split by the Democrats is that the Federal Trade Commission of Lina Khan was relentlessly pursued them and led many technological CEOs who had long supported liberal causes to feel cheated. Money in Washington is a hand on the steering wheel, nevertheless it isn’t the one hand on the steering wheel.

Trump's zone of deal-makeing is wider. It was Trump, who originally suggested to ban Tikkok primarily – a part of his wider campaign against the Chinese influence and the facility, certainly one of the few policy areas that he gave the impression to be very desirous about. Then he met Jeff Yass, a billionaire investor, whose company has a big proportion of Tiktok, and Trump's position turned. Now he’s attempting to be Tikok's Redeemer.

Trump explained his shift in how he was motivated by his hatred on Facebook. “You are a real enemy of the people!” He wrote in regards to the truth of social. He accused Mark Zuckerberg's expenses for the election integrity for his lack of 2020 and his response was partly to support the principal competitor of Meta. Elsewhere, he said about Zuckerberg: “We watch him exactly, and if he does something illegal this time, he will spend the rest of his life in prison.”

A greater investment

After he had closed peace with Trump in Mar-A-Lago, the President's resort in Florida, and moved the Meta guidelines in Trumpian, Zuckerberg was only a foothold from Trump in front of Trump, not to say . Trump is a greater investment than a median president: each the blessing of his favor and the implications of his hostility are more extreme.

I don't need to overdo my case. The motivations, interests and philosophies of the eye titans that differ from Trump. Grouping them means deleting obvious differences. Sundar Pichai just isn’t a musk. Jeff Bezos just isn’t chewing. The statement that Trump desired to make by putting her so prominently about his inauguration cannot reflect the role you should play. It is feasible that Musk and Trump fell out in a single or two years and have been business for the remaining as usual: a combination of cooperation and irritation, floating and discharge. Historically, Trump's alliances were only short -lived, especially when his allies exercise real power.

May or not it’s so. I will likely be glad if I look back on this column and browse with some embarrassment as an artifact of incorrectly placed alarm. But I’m not able to see how Trump America's strongest merchants pays attention, a few of the perfect seats in his inauguration and do as if he doesn't want anything from them or that there’s nothing that they need from him, for one Copy deal.

And the issue will exist beyond Trump. The right to consider that the social media platforms were biased against them for years, and the left will spend years of believing. As absurd as prosperity in America, attention is much more. As powerful as money is in politics, attention is much more. Most of us haven’t managed to control the role of cash in politics. The problem is worse for attention – and we’ve got not even began trying solutions.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — With every Ravens turnover, every forced field goal as an alternative of a touchdown and each failed two-point conversion that kept opponents just out of reach, the Bills moved closer and closer to what they wanted that I’ll come back to for years to return.

The Bills have finally returned to the AFC Championship Game. Their 27-25 victory over the Ravens exorcised several demons each this season and in previous seasons.

For the last three years, it's been like a record stuck in a loop, repeating the identical a part of the song, unnerving anyone who listens. In the divisional round, a highly talented and promising Bills team ultimately gave strategy to the Final Four to a different AFC superpower. First it was the Chiefs. Then it was the Bengals. Then the Chiefs again. But this yr…this yr was different.

“You learn from all the scars,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “You never want that feeling again.”

“I think there’s something intangible about this team that feels different,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “It’s kind of hard to put your finger on it.”

Knox isn’t alone. It's a sense shared throughout the locker room and permeates the complete fan base. Some think it's as much as the players. Others may point to the event of head coach Sean McDermott. However, this unquantifiable feeling about how different the 2024-2025 bills are literally produced a special final result than previously.

Since all of the talk was in regards to the Ravens and the way the Bills would must adapt to them, they forced the Ravens to adapt. The Bills held Derrick Henry under the century mark after allowing him to post nearly 200 rushing yards in Week 4. They took the fight to the Ravens' defensive position, who received rave reviews for his or her run defense, and for good reason. The Bills' running backs averaged 4.9 yards per carry on 26 attempts. They forced Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson into two game-changing turnovers.

And at the top of the night, the Bills stood there because the snow fell and the brilliant red, white and royal blue lights of the scoreboard made an enormous banner shine even brighter.

“Next stop: AFC Championship.”

And the subsequent stop is Kansas City – because in fact it’s.

The Chiefs team that taught the Bills a cruel lesson 4 years ago about what matters within the AFC Championship Game, that punished them for in-game errors and poor decisions en path to a catastrophic loss – well, there they’re again – the AFC goalies of the Super Bowl.

Only 13 players from the AFC Championship Game Bills team are still on the roster. Allen, Dawkins and Knox were there, together with Micah Hyde, Matt Milano, Taron Johnson, Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa, Cam Lewis, Reggie Gilliam, Quinton Jefferson, Tyler Bass and Reid Ferguson.

The original 13 are fully aware of the poetry of the upcoming showdown.

“Yes, 100 percent,” Lewis said. “I feel like we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I watched the (Chiefs-Texans) game with my girlfriend the other night,” Epenesa began. “She said, 'What if the Texans win?' I thought to myself, “Yeah, you recognize, on paper they're the weaker team, whatever, but how much nicer it might be to have the ability to beat the team that beat us just a few times previously and so forth.” ” The?' So I’m definitely on this side now that we’ve got the chance to do something and I’m looking forward to it.”

Lots has modified for the Bills between the primary AFC championship game and now.

At this point, the Bills were simply rookies. This was all latest for them, having only reached the wildcard around the yr before. They didn't know what they didn't find out about deep playoff runs. The expectation was that they might be back – and shortly. It was only a matter of time.

“Soon” wasn’t quite what everyone expected. The Bills have learned difficult lessons yr after yr, most of which were imposed on them by the franchise they’ll face next weekend.

Come Sunday, the Bills may have played Kansas City more times than any of their division rivals within the last five years. They've been there yearly for the reason that first AFC title game, and Sunday marked their sixth soirée at Arrowhead. It might be the eighth meeting between these two AFC giants within the last five years, 4 of which have are available the postseason.

But you don't must be reminded of how the last three turned out. Most of the team's fans have borne the burden like an elephant sitting on their collective chest.

AFC Championship Game in 2021 – a one-sided defeat. AFC Divisional Round in 2022 – a tricky loss because the victory was so close you may taste it. AFC divisional round in 2024 – one other loss so close that many wondered if the Bills would even return after an offseason roster refresh.

It all led to this yr – a return to the AFC Championship Game in a yr where nobody would have thought it was possible before the season. On Sunday, the Bills will face the Chiefs, an in-form Super Bowl contender who has been toughened by one agonizing playoff exit after one other.

“For the guys who were there [in 2021]“I think it will definitely be a little extra stone on the shoulder,” Knox began. “In some ways it can help. You can get a little carried away with it, but if you do it too intensely or for too long, I think it becomes distracting at some point. But if you just let it lie beneath the surface, if it helps you bring a little more motivation, a little more work into your week, then that's great. But we won’t dwell on it too much.”

That's considered one of many things that has modified about this Bills team.

Gone is the crafty Allen, who, for all his brilliance, had a penchant for game-changing turnovers. Gone are the one-dimensional, pass-happy Bills, who only let the ball run well through the air after loads of success. Gone is the weak offensive line of the past that led to uneven results. And gone is a head coach who typically opted for conservative in-game decisions.

In their place is a franchise quarterback who’s playing the most effective football of his life, a running game that may take all of the pressure off him at any point in the sport, an offensive line that’s considered one of the team's best strengths, and a coach with complete confidence in his players and the maths, not afraid of fourth defeats.

But against them might be a Chiefs team that has turned around several times during its incredible run of success while maintaining its class within the NFL. And definitely a team seeking to atone for its only lack of the 2024 regular season against the team that spoiled its perfect season.

The Bills and Chiefs are perfectly intertwined, each of their personal connections and their playoff history. But as at all times, neither can survive while the opposite survives.

“History has a way of repeating itself,” Dawkins said. “But sometimes it has a different result. We’ll see how it goes.”

There have been no reports of illnesses related to the avian influenza virus, which was identified this weekend in a retail sample of raw milk from a Fresno-based dairy.

But the dairy behind bird flu detection, Raw Farm LLC, is identical company that has been selling contaminated products which have caused many illnesses for the past twenty years.

In February, 11 people became unwell after eating Raw Farm's cheddar cheesebased on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Of these, five needed to be hospitalized.

Last 12 months, state authorities issued three recalls of its products. The bacteria Campylobacter has been present in milk And Salmonella has been present in cheese, milk and cream. Between 2012 And 2023At least 35 people became unwell after eating the raw products, which also led to recalls, data from the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration show.

“I almost killed my son when I made the decision to give him raw milk,” he said Mary McGonigle Martin of Murrieta, whose son Christopher nearly died in 2006 from hemolytic uremic syndrome brought on by E. coli bacteria after drinking raw milk that she said was purchased from the farm formerly referred to as Organic Pastures.

“He recovered from kidney failure, heart failure, a collapsed lung, acute pancreatitis, high blood pressure and seizures,” said McGonigle-Martin, who’s now the nonprofit’s board chair Stop foodborne illnesses. “When I made the decision to give my son raw milk, I didn’t know that something so terrible could happen to him.”

A spokesman for Raw Farms didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

A brand new potential threat is bird flu in raw milk that has not been pasteurized, a process that uses high heat to kill germs. Experts fear President-elect Donald Trump's entry of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to guide the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could increase exposure to the virus.

More than 400 herds of cattle have now tested positive for the virus, accounting for 40% of the state's dairy industry.

In the USA, 53 persons are infected with bird flu. Of these, 21 got here from poultry, 31 from dairy cows and one from unknown sources. In California, nearly the entire 29 human cases within the state are linked to dairy farms.

According to the state and county, on Nov. 21, Santa Clara County health officials identified the bird virus in a sample of raw whole milk they purchased at a retail store they didn’t name. The district contacted stores Friday and beneficial they remove the raw milk from sale.

In the meantime, Raw Farms has issued a voluntary recall of raw milk with lot number 20241109 and a best before date of November 27, 2024.

Food scientists warn that not only bird flu but other dangerous microbes have been shown to lurk in unpasteurized milk, a process that uses high heat to kill germs.

“The risk of possible infection from a pathogen that comes from raw milk is significantly higher than with pasteurized milk,” he said David A. Mills, professor within the Department of Food Science & Technology at UC Davis.

We asked food scientists questions on raw milk, pasteurization and the growing problem of bird flu.

Q: Can I catch bird flu from raw milk?

A: To date, there have been no human cases attributed to the consumption of raw milk. But in April, barn cats in Texas died after drinking raw milk from an infected dairy cow. The cats showed symptoms similar to depression, stiff body movements and blindness. Laboratory studies have shown similar results.

A study conducted on mice, reported within the May issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that the virus in “untreated milk can infect susceptible animals that consume it.”

Q: How do microbes get into milk?

A: Even healthy dairy cows can contaminate the milk with dangerous bacteria similar to E. coli.

That's not simply because the udders are near the rectum, Mills said.

“If you're on a farm and you have a lot of livestock, there's a little more droppings than most places,” Mills said. “Transfers will take place.”

After the milk is collected, small amounts of bacteria can multiply and grow.

Q: Why does pasteurization make milk secure?

A: Pasteurization kills bacteria through the use of heat to vary the form of the enzymes and the cell structure of the organism.

The exact temperature and time relies on the batch. Milk will be heated to no less than 145 degrees for no less than half-hour or 161 degrees for 15 seconds. in a big pool. Pasteurization can extend the shelf lifetime of food by several days or perhaps weeks.

Q: Is raw milk legal in California?

A: About 20 states ban the sale of raw milk, but it will probably be legally sold in California if a California dairy farm meets certain sanitation and licensing requirements, based on the state Department of Health. Animals have to be tested for certain diseases, including brucellosis and tuberculosis.

However, these requirements cannot guarantee that a dairy farm will produce raw milk products which might be freed from harmful germs, said tThe California Department of Public Health. Therefore, firms that produce and sell raw milk must display a warning label on all raw milk products.

Q: Isn't raw milk purported to be healthy?

A:According to CDPH, there isn’t any difference in dietary value between raw milk and pasteurized milk.

Raw milk shouldn’t be the identical as organic milk or milk that comes from grass-fed animals. Raw milk can still contain harmful bacteria and other germs.

Raw milk also cannot give you “good bacteria,” sometimes called “probiotics.” According to CDPH, probiotics are present in pasteurized dairy products like yogurt or kefir, that are safer to eat than raw milk.

Q: What is dangerous about raw milk?

A: A 2017 study found that unpasteurized milk, consumed by only 3.2% of the population, and cheese, consumed by just one.6% of the population, caused 96% of illnesses brought on by contaminated dairy products be caused.

In the United States, outbreaks linked to unpasteurized dairy products cause a mean of 760 illnesses and 22 hospitalizations per 12 months, primarily as a consequence of germs similar to Campylobacter and Salmonella. based on CDC.

The biggest risks come from these bacteria:

• Campylobacter: This pathogen may cause reactive arthritis and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which results in paralysis.

• Salmonella: This pathogen may cause a blood infection, irritable bowel syndrome, and reactive arthritis. Antibiotic resistance makes it difficult to treat salmonella.

• Ecoli. 0157:H7: This pathogen may cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), essentially the most common explanation for kidney failure in children. Some children will eventually need a kidney transplant. Children that suffer from HUS may additionally lose part or all of their colon, suffer from pancreatitis, seizures and strokes. Seizures and strokes may cause everlasting neurological damage.

The biggest risk of great illness is in children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women and other people with weakened immune systems. In general, most victims are children.

Additionally, raw milk can contain high levels of antimicrobial resistance genes when stored at room temperature a study by researchers at UC Davis. Bacteria with antimicrobial resistance genes, when passed on to a pathogen, can turn into “superbugs,” meaning that drugs used to treat infections or illnesses now not work.

Originally published: November 25, 2024 at 4:39 pm PST

It seems like a joke: poppy seeds laced with opioids.

In fact, it was a story arc Sitcom Seinfeld. But for some it was a tragedy.

People have died after drinking tea created from unwashed poppy seeds.

And after eating lemon poppy seed bread or an every little thing bagel, moms were reportedly separated from their newborns since the women failed drug tests.

Poppy seeds come from the plant produces opium and from which narcotics comparable to morphine and codeine are obtained. During harvest and processing, the seeds may turn into coated with the opium liquid.

Members of the House of Representatives and Senate have Legislative proposals “To prohibit the distribution and sale of contaminated poppy seeds in order to prevent harm, addiction and further deaths caused by poppy seeds contaminated with morphine.” The bill was one in all several on the agenda September 10 Hearing within the House of Representatives.

The day before the hearing The Marshall Project And Discover reported on a girl who ate a salad with poppy seed dressing before giving birth, tested positive for opiates within the hospital, was reported to child protective services, and saw her baby taken into protective custody. It was nearly two weeks before she was allowed to bring her baby home, the story goes.

“It's not an urban legend: Consuming poppy seeds can cause guests to test positive for codeine on a urinalysis,” the Defense Department said warned the military personnel in 2023.

The US Anti-Doping Agency issued one a protracted time ago similar warning to athletes.

The Center for Science within the Public Interest, a watchdog group, applied to the FDA in 2021 to limit the opiate content of poppy seeds. In May, after greater than three years of no response, it got here sued the agency Force motion.

“So far, the FDA has been negligent in protecting consumers,” said Steve Hacala, whose son died after consuming poppy seed tea and who has partnered with CSPI.

The lawsuit was placed on hold in July after the FDA said it might reply to the group's petition by the tip of February 2025.

The FDA didn’t reply to questions on this text. The agency generally doesn’t comment on litigation, said spokeswoman Courtney Rhodes.

A Study 2021 The study, co-authored by CSPI staff, found greater than 100 reports to poison control centers between 2000 and 2018 that resulted from intentional misuse or misuse of poppy seeds, said CSPI scientist Eva Greenthal, one in all the study's authors.

Only rarely will baked goods or other foods containing washed poppy seeds trigger positive drug tests, said doctors who’ve studied the issue.

It is “extremely doubtful” that the “relatively insignificant” amount of morphine in a bagel or similar would cause harm to anyone, said Irving Haber, a health care provider who has done so written about poppiesmakes a speciality of pain medicine and has signed the CSPI petition to the FDA.

On the opposite hand, tea created from large quantities of unwashed poppy seeds could lead on to addiction and overdose, doctors said. The risk increases if the person drinking the brew also uses other opioids, comparable to prescription painkillers.

Benjamin Lai, a health care provider who runs an opioid program on the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said he treated a patient who developed a long-term opioid addiction from consuming poppy seed tea. The patient, a person in his 30s, found it in a health food store and felt it might help him chill out and get well from understanding on the gym. After just a few months, he tried to quit and commenced experiencing withdrawal symptoms, Lai said.

Another patient, an elderly woman, developed withdrawal symptoms under similar circumstances but responded well to treatment, Lai said.

Some web sites tout poppy seed tea as having health advantages. And some sellers “may use specific terms such as 'raw,' 'unprocessed,' or 'unwashed' to signal that their products contain higher concentrations of opiates than properly processed seeds,” the CSPI lawsuit says.

Steve Hacala's son, Stephen Hacala, a music teacher, suffered from anxiety and insomnia, for which poppy seed tea is touted as a natural treatment, the lawsuit says. In 2016, at age 24, he ordered a bag of poppy seeds online, rinsed it with water and drank the conditioner. He died of morphine poisoning.

The only source of morphine present in Stephen's home where he died was commercially available poppy seeds, an Arkansas State Crime Lab forensic pathologist said in a letter to the daddy. The coroner wrote that Poppy was “very likely” answerable for Stephen’s death.

Steve Hacala estimated that the quantity of poppy seeds present in a 1-liter plastic water bottle at his son's home could have produced greater than 10 times a fatal dose.

Steve Hacala and his wife Betty have funded CSPI's efforts to bring attention to the issue. (KFF Health News Editor David Rousseau is on the CSPI Board.)

The lawsuit also cited moms who, like those in The Marshall Project and Reveal's investigation, violated rules protecting newborns. For example, although Jamie Silakowski didn’t use opioids during her pregnancy, she was initially prevented from leaving the hospital along with her baby, the lawsuit says.

Child protective services employees visited her home unannounced, interviewed her other children and questioned teachers at her school, she said in an interview.

During her maternity leave, she needed to undergo a drug test, Silakowski said. “Peeing in front of someone like I was a criminal – that was just shameful.”

Even members of the family questioned her and there was nothing she could do to clear the doubts, she said. “Relationships have been torn apart,” she said.

Tim Hortons' parent company, Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Burger King and Popeyes, didn’t reply to questions from KFF Health News.

In July, The Washington Post reported that Trader Joe's was stocking every little thing but bagel seasoning banned and confiscated in South Korea since it comprises poppy seeds. Trader Joe's didn’t reply to inquiries about this text. The spice is obtainable on the market on the corporate's website.

The USA Drug Enforcement Administration says unwashed poppy seeds will be fatal when used alone or together with other medications. While poppy seeds are exempt from drug control under the Controlled Substances Act, opium contamination within the seeds isn’t, the agency said. The Justice Department has taken criminal motion over the sale of unwashed poppy seeds.

Meanwhile, laws to manage poppy contamination has not gained much traction.

The Senate bill introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has two co-sponsors.

The House bill, introduced by Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), has none. Although it was on the agenda, it was not raised on the recent hearing.

©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Even for the previous US President Donald Trumpa master at attracting attention, it is sort of unattainable to host a counter-program in the course of the Democratic National Convention.

While the members and supporters of 1 party meet every 4 years for his or her biggest party, the opposite party must frequently endure every week of widespread ignorance, irrespective of how creative or dramatic their very own efforts to counter-program could also be.

However, this doesn’t mean that the opposing parties' campaigns should take a break in the course of the party conference week. They can and do recommend their arguments regarding the upcoming election, while the opposite party honors its candidates.

But because the attention of all journalists and the general public is concentrated on the party congress, these 4 days of meetings are anything however the optimal time for the opposing party to make its voice heard.

The typically one-sided media attention in the course of the congressional weeks is certainly one of the the explanation why political campaigns normally an upswing after the conference of a couple of percentage points. But the Impact of conventions on public opinion was much larger prior to now, when there was not such strong political polarization.

Conventional recovery

In 1992, for instance, the Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton was a single percentage point behind incumbent GOP President George HW Bush when the Democratic Convention After the convention, Clinton was up 29 points.

In 2000 GOP candidate George W. Bush a lead of 8 points over his Democratic rival Al Gore after the 2000 Republican Convention.

But these recovery phases are sometimes only short-lived.

As I discuss in my book Communication and character of the President,” even the nice upswings of 1992 and 2000 gave way much closer elections.

More recently, the one candidate to record a poll gain of greater than 4 percentage points after the convention was The 2008 Republican candidate, John McCain. He lost to the Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

Hardly any opportunities for political attacks

The best an opposing party can hope for during convention week is failure.

The problem is that such debacles are rare at a time when presidential elections are frequently not fraught with last-minute drama. Conventions themselves have increasingly turn into a script.

It wasn't all the time like this.

The turbulent Democratic Party Convention of 1968 offered Republicans quite a few opportunities to attract attention to the chaotic scenes in Chicago – and thus the chaos inside the Democratic Party. But that was not vital, since the nationally televised images of Chicago riot police The suppression of the Vietnam War opponents through using tear gas and batons spoke for itself.

Difficult vice presidential elections, corresponding to Democrat Tom Eagleton in 1972 And Republican Sarah Palin in 2008also can trigger lasting partisan reactions, because the Democrats quickly Trump selected JD Vancea U.S. Senator from Ohio, as his running mate.

These partisan attacks normally intensify in the times and weeks following the convention, especially if the vice presidential candidate has difficulty their position on the national stage.

Trump's playbook

In the times leading as much as the Democratic Party Convention, Republican officials emphasized: Democratic disagreements over Israel's war in Gaza. GOP leaders have also tried to capitalize on this potential dissatisfaction about how Vice President Kamala Harris became the party’s nominee without having to undergo a primary, a process that Trump called a “shot”.

The Trump campaign has tried to portray Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as a communist or pro-China And has wrongly argued that pictures of enthusiastic democratic masses The cheers for the ticket were generated by artificial intelligence.

Although some Republicans encouraged Trump spending less time talking about conspiracies and attacking Harris' character, Trump is drawn to his own strategy. Instead of following her advice, Trump has continued his personal attacks against Harris, by which he described her father as Professor of Economics at Stanford University“a Marxist”.

So far, nevertheless, Democratic Convention 2024 looks nothing like 1968. The comparatively small variety of demonstrators Inside and out of doors the convention hall, the Republican counterprogramming team didn't have much opportunity to use anything.

Not easy for the Democrats either

The Democrats' efforts to place together a counter-program in the course of the Republican Party convention earlier this summer were also unsuccessful.

The limited media attention the Democrats received in the course of the week of Trump’s re-nomination focused almost exclusively on the query of whether President Joe Biden would quit his candidacy for re-election – not the popular topic of the party’s counter-program makers.

Additionally, Biden's timing demonstrated the challenges in shaping narratives during opposition party congresses.

By Biden his announcement Although Harris would drop out of the race three days after the Republican National Convention ended on July 18, the launch of his campaign didn’t should compete with news of the Republican National Convention.

Congresses last lower than every week, whereas campaigns last for months. Unless there are major failures, this 12 months's counter-programs – like so many previous congress years – is not going to be remembered for long.

You’ve probably heard phrases like “climate crisis,” “climate emergency,” or “climate justice” more often recently as people try to speak the urgent risks and consequences of climate change. Danger is realbut is using this language actually convincing?

It seems that Americans are more knowledgeable about – and more concerned about – climate change and global warming than they’re in regards to the climate crisis, the climate emergency, or climate justice. The most up-to-date survey we conducted with a nationally representative sample of 5,137 Americans.

Furthermore, we found no evidence that the choice conditions increased people's sense of urgency, willingness to support climate-friendly policies, or willingness to act.

The familiar terms – climate change and global warming – generated at the least as much concern, a way of urgency and a willingness to act as climate crisis and climate emergency, sometimes much more. Climate justice, however, consistently performed worse, probably since it was the least well-known. Republicans, Democrats and independents reacted similarly.

Just do it

In our work as Research Psychologistswe examined how Americans reply to the best way climate change is communicated and discovered the necessity to use clear language.

For example, the people we interviewed for a study published in 2021 believed that climate experts were talk over their heads with terms like “adaptation,” “mitigation,” “sustainability,” and “carbon removal.” They wanted experts to make use of more familiar terms as an alternative.

This inspired us to jot down a brief guide to climate jargon, published in The Conversation. Using on a regular basis language makes information easier to know and even highly educated people prefer it.

Yet experts often use complex jargon because they’re aware of it, and so they may not realize that others are unfamiliar with it.

How the terms have developed

It has turn into common to discuss climate change and global warming as in the event that they had the identical meaning, but There are differencesThe term “climate change” refers to changes in the general climate, while global warming refers specifically to rising temperatures.

A historical review found that previously, people associated the term climate change less with the concept that humans are actively warming the planet than with the term global warming. Perhaps that is why Democrats used to just like the term global warming, while the popularization of the term climate change courtesy of Frank Luntz, an advisor to George W. Bush Administration.

Past surveys also found that Democrats considered global warming more serious than climate change, while Republicans considered climate change more serious than global warming. But after a recent reviewHowever, these partisan differences have now faded, with a majority of Republicans and Democrats expressing concern about each terms.

Alternative terms reminiscent of climate crisis, climate emergency and climate justice have been used to focus on other features of climate change and lift concern. In 2019, the British newspaper The Guardian The terms “climate crisis” and “climate emergency” were used to specific urgency.

With the term climate justice, activists draw attention to climate change as a human rights challenge: low-income people worldwide suffer probably the most from the implications of climate change, although they’re the least chargeable for it.

Conclusion: Avoid overheated language

Currently, the terms “climate crisis”, “climate emergency” or “climate justice” are less common and cause less concern than “climate change” or “global warming”.

Even if these terms are used more continuously, there isn’t a guarantee that they are going to increase concern or encourage motion. In fact, studies have shown that expressions reminiscent of climate crisis could backfire in the event that they don't resonate with people.

Our advice: Don't make the error of using heated language. Stick to familiar terms that individuals understand. For example, use “global warming” whenever you mean rising temperatures and “climate change” whenever you're referring to general changes within the climate.

In a digital world where individuals are just pixels on a screen, gender bias can appear in unexpected forms. This is what our research team discovered in a field experiment conducted in the Journal of Operations Management.

When individuals are online, anonymity and physical distance encourage them to behave in biased ways. previous work has shown. As professors who study Business analytics, Information systems, Operations management And Information technologyWe wanted to raised understand how gender bias works online. Therefore, we conducted a seven-month experiment with a web-based platform that provides health-related services and products.

The South Korea-based company, whose identity is to be kept secret, sells weight-management products which can be intended to be taken over several weeks. It also provides personalized dietary advice to users based on age, weight, height, lifestyle and other characteristics, and offers one-on-one consultations to reply customers' questions.

We focused on the platform's chat function, which connects users with paid local advisors who can answer their questions and recommend suitable products. After the exchange, users can rate the advisors.

We found that disclosing an advisor's gender resulted in clients providing more reviews and better rankings, especially when the advisor is a girl. In addition, opposite-gender client-advisor pairings resulted in higher rankings and stronger engagement than same-gender pairings.

Why it can be crucial

Researchers have extensively studied gender bias amongst employers, but bias amongst customers is commonly ignored. Our study delves into this lesser-known territory.

Understanding that gender bias is significant to think about core principles like equality and fairness can also be vital for business reasons. In the service sector, where interaction between employees and customers is essential to success, bias can affect customer satisfaction and ultimately the underside line. The stakes are especially high on online platforms, where matching the suitable service to the suitable user is critical.

When gender influences purchasing decisions, it's not only a social problem, it's also a financial one. Companies that successfully mitigate these biases can increase their profits while unlocking the total potential of their customer base. And understanding these biases is step one to addressing them.

What isn’t yet known

Our research suggests that firms can improve customer satisfaction by acknowledging gender bias. To help firms understand and reply to bias, researchers can take several vital approaches. For example, the mechanisms behind gender bias usually are not yet fully understood. It is significant to analyze why customers may respond more positively to advisors of the other sex and to discover the psychological and social aspects that play a job on this.

Researchers also needs to examine racial, cultural and age-related biases, amongst others. Future studies could examine how these biases interact with one another and what combined mitigation strategies could be effective.

The digital revolution has modified the way in which Americans do business, however it has also created recent challenges. One thing is evident: In the digital age, fighting bias isn’t just an ethical imperative. It is a business necessity.

The Research Brief is a summary of interesting scientific papers.

To understand how essential weather and climate risks are to the economy, watch investors. New research shows that two long-term seasonal weather forecasts particularly can move the stock market in interesting ways.

We often think that forecasts tell us what the weather will usher in the approaching days, but this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also predicts weather conditions for several months. These seasonal climate outlooks tell us whether that Hurricane season might be lively whether the winter It is probably going that it’s snowing or cold, and whether a The young or The girl A climate pattern is more likely to emerge that has the potential to affect weather across the United States

I study the impact of weather on economic activity an economist. In a brand new paper, an atmospheric scientist at NOAA and me analyzed the influence of long-term forecasts by taking a look at changing stock option prices over 10 years and across 1000’s of corporations.

We found that investors are paying thousands and thousands of dollars to guard themselves against the risks that would arise from NOAA's seasonal forecasts. Their bets suggest that seasonal climate matters to the success of corporations across the economy, even in sectors that will not seem particularly exposed to the weather.

Betting on seasonal forecasts in options markets

When you purchase a stock, you might be purchasing a share of ownership in an organization. The value of this stock is tied to the corporate's expected future profits.

If you purchase one Stock optionYou pay for the proper to purchase a particular stock at a particular price on a particular date in the long run. Importantly, the choice is just that: a purchase order option, not an obligation to buy. You pay extra for this flexibility.

If the stock's value declines, you’ll be able to simply let the choice expire and lose only the premium. However, if the stock price rises far enough, you’ll be able to exercise the choice and buy the stock on the lower cost included in the choice. Another form of option, called a “put”.“You can similarly sell stocks you already own.

The prices of those options tell us how uncertain investors are concerning the future economy.

Imagine knowing that in 10 days NOAA will release its forecast for the winter season. You are considering whether to speculate in a ski resort whose profits are directly depending on a snowy and snowy winter. They assume that the forecast will affect the ski resort's stock price, but they don't know by which direction it’s going to move.

The more uncertain investors are a few stock's future price, the greater their expected gains from holding the choice: they profit from all of the potential gains from sharp increases within the stock price and don’t face the downside risk of falling stock prices. And the greater their expected profit, the more they’re willing to pay for the choice and that higher the value of the choice in the marketplace. So, knowing that the winter season is coming, one could also be willing to pay more for an option on the ski resort's stock and increase the value of the choice out there.

While there’s now many predictions And Available data To give a sign of the approaching seasons, two forecasts are likely to move the market.

The outlook for winter and El Niño is impacting many businesses

We found that corporate option prices in all U.S. markets tended to fall from 2010 to 2019 following the NOAA release Winter outlookin October, and an important of them El Niño prospectspublished in June.

In other words, before the reports were released, traders were willing to pay the next price for options that might hedge against any news that might be released. Therefore, traders must be convinced that seasonal climate matters to corporations' profits and that forecasters may say something essential concerning the coming season's climate.

We didn’t find similar effects on option prices either NOAA or Colorado State University released their hurricane outlooks in May and April or as of Farmer's Almanac published its winter outlook in August. Traders appear to distinguish between prospects based on their perceived quality and the importance of what those reports may predict, fairly than on the premise of media attention.

The seasonal climate just isn’t only essential for the outdoor industry. We have found that the El Niño outlook for June is impacting the development, transportation and utilities industries – all industries that could be directly affected by the weather. It also affects options in other sectors, similar to manufacturing and education, possibly on account of spillover effects from other areas of the economy. NOAA's winter outlook has similarly far-reaching implications.

The only sector not clearly affected by the June El Niño outlook is agriculture, perhaps because El Niño and La Niña have the strongest impacts on winter weather when most agriculture is less vulnerable.

Traders are paying money to attend for the El Niño outlook

Trader interest within the El Niño outlook for June is especially interesting because NOAA releases an El Niño outlook every month. In most months, the outlook changes little in comparison with the previous month's forecast. But in June as soon as spring is overthe power to accurately predict future El Niño events is suddenly increasing.

We have found that retailers value this leap in quality.

The June outlook corresponds a $12 million award This shows that each 12 months, on average, traders are willing to place real money on the road simply to know what NOAA will say in its June forecast before committing to a stock. That's about 4 times higher than we determined with the typical May forecast.

Trader hedging shows that high-quality seasonal climate forecasts are only as essential to investors as they’re to communities, businesses and emergency responders Rely on these analyzes as you prepare for severe weather seasons.

It also supports the argument that it is smart to speculate in technology to enhance these forecasts. And it shows the importance from keep these views confidential until their official release, just like how the U.S. government closely guards key economic statistics before releasing them.

Celebrities born on today: Adele, 36; Henry Cavill, 41; Danielle Fishel, 43; Tina Yothers, 51.

Happy Birthday: With opportunity comes change. Be open to suggestions and follow a novel path that promotes growth and wisdom. Take the prospect to explore recent possibilities. Pay attention to details about the way you present yourself and what you possibly can offer. Follow your heart and don't let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams. The more you give, the upper the return. Their numbers are 7, 15, 23, 29, 33, 38, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Move forward with enthusiasm. A daring approach will assist you to raise awareness amongst your colleagues and encourage others to support your decisions. Don't take risks with money or health. An unexpected win is apparent. Weigh the professionals and cons and take an unorthodox step. 3 stars

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Take your time, absorb what's happening around you, and be wary if someone tries to push you in an unwanted direction. Stay true to yourself and your needs; You will move forward. An unexpected opportunity will change your perspective and direction. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Trust in your ability to figure things out and get things done. Use your intelligence, connections and persuasion techniques to outmaneuver anyone who tries to make the most of you. Feel free to step into the highlight and express your opinion. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21 – July 22): Let your imagination run wild and assuredly show what you may have to supply. Let your actions speak for themselves. Attend events that bring back memories and encourage rethinking of old ideas. Love is in the celebs; Don't let emotions and jealousy get in your way. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-August 22): Pay attention, learn and examine what you hear. Attend vigorous events that challenge you to think and act. An open mind frees you from boredom and encourages you to take into consideration someone or something that you may have shied away from previously. A reunion creates trust. 5 Stars

VIRGO (August 23-September 22): Someone or something unusual will change your perspective and point you in a brand new direction. Communication will result in an unexpected prospect. When you see a gap that intrigues you, don't accept less. Follow your instincts and pursue what makes you passionate. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Sign up, get entangled and make a difference. Don't let life pass you by and don't let what others say mislead you. Speak up and do what makes you completely happy. You hold the important thing to your heart; Share it with those you respect and protect. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Avoid disruption. Take the trail that permits you to experience and pursue what makes you completely happy. Don't let hesitation or doubt hold you back. Think about how you’re feeling and evaluate the relationships that bring you joy. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21): Relax, rejoice and surround yourself with the individuals who make you smile. Fun events will change your perception of life and your long-term goals. Don't let uncertainty weigh you down. An encouraging event or discussion with someone knowledgeable will open up recent possibilities. 5 Stars

CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19): Emotional matters will get in your way. Distance yourself from drama or anyone who tries to start out an argument. Focus on what brings you joy and take part in events that encourage you to make positive lifestyle changes. Personal gain and growth are nearby. Choose peace over chaos. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Observe, assess and consider your options. Don't accept what others suggest. Traveling, communicating, and reconnecting with the people, places, and belongings you miss will assist you to put things into perspective and make smart decisions. 4 stars

PISCES (February 19-March 20): You have more control than you’re thinking that. Stay focused when it's your turn to attain what you would like. Do your research and you will see the time slot you may have been searching for. Act in your instincts and let go of the past. 3 stars

Birthday boy: You are stubborn, ambitious and reliable. They are aggressive and productive.

1 star: avoid conflict; Work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can achieve something, but don't depend on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll achieve your goals. 4 stars: High goals; start recent projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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