Saturday, May 2, 2026
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Trump caves to pressure on surgeon general nomination
Picks an actual doctor though there are new questions
In his
announcement on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump called Means “a
strong MAHA Warrior," in reference to the Make America Healthy Again
movement fueled by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services.
The president
also blamed Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
for Means’ failed nomination, calling the senator "a very disloyal
person," and accusing him of "intransigence and political
games."
Means proved
too hard a pill to swallow
Though a graduate
of Stanford University School of Medicine, Means holds no medical license. She
dropped out of her surgical residency program, citing disillusionment with
traditional medicine, and pivoted to a career as a wellness influencer.
Her brother,
Calley Means, is a top Kennedy aide who has discussed taking psychedelics with his sister.
Means’ lack of
clinical experience, coupled with her contested claims on nutrition,
vaccines, contraception, and medical practice, raised eyebrows during her
nomination hearing, including from Cassidy, a board-certified
gastroenterologist who specialized in liver disease.
Cassidy grilled Means during her confirmation hearing,
asking her how she wanted to change childhood vaccination recommendations.
Means testified
that "vaccines save lives," but also falsely said that the science
was not settled on the debunked link between vaccinations and autism, and that
the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been linked to deaths.
"The measles
vaccine has caused some adverse effects that have harmed children. There have
been children who have died from the MMR vaccine,” Means said.
The fact Means
wouldn’t endorse the MMR vaccine showed that she was an inappropriate fit to be
surgeon general, said Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center
at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“She would be
serving as America's doctor who was unwilling to act like America's doctor,”
Offit told CIDRAP News.
Carb-heavy foods like bread and rice may trigger weight gain in unexpected ways.
Scientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories
Osaka Metropolitan University
Obesity increases the risk of many lifestyle-related
diseases, making prevention a major public health priority. Traditionally,
research has focused on high fat consumption as the main driver of weight gain.
This is why many animal studies rely on high fat diets.
However, carbohydrates such as bread, rice, and noodles are
consumed daily around the world, yet their role in obesity and metabolism has
not been explored as thoroughly. While many people believe that "bread
makes you gain weight" or that "carbohydrates should be
limited," it has been unclear whether the issue lies in the foods
themselves or in how people choose and consume them.
Like Other Rural Towns, Hopkinton Mulls Zoning Changes to Spur Revenue Growth
Some residents worry about town's rural character
By Rob Smith / ecoRI News staff
How do you revitalize a town with an aging
population and slim pickings for development?
"Rural Character" has been an obsession in Charlestown
That issue was the topic of a joint Town Council and
Planning Board 3½-hour hearing at Ashaway Elementary School last week, as the
town weighs changes to zoning regulations and its comprehensive plan sought by
a trio of private companies.
Warwick-based energy developer Revity Energy LLC owns a
number of properties along Main and Frontier streets, close to Exit 1 off
Interstate 95. The parcels are currently zoned as RFR-80, rural farming
residential, a zoning designation under the town’s ordinance.
Revity Energy is petitioning the town to change the zoning
of the properties, which are mostly open space, seeking the creation of an
“economic growth district” that would greatly expand the permitted uses of the
properties.
Friday, May 1, 2026
Brown University researchers launch energy tracker to measure increased fuel costs tied to war in Iran
Donald Trump's war on Iran has already cost you $200 in fuel price increases alone
Brown University
A Brown University research team is making it easier to track pain at the pump.
A new
digital tracker aims to quantify in real time the financial impact of
the war in Iran on energy costs for American consumers. As of mid-April, the
average American household has spent more than $150 in increased energy costs
from rising gasoline and diesel prices since the start of the conflict,
according to the tracker.
The project, led by Brown University political scientist and
energy researcher Jeff Colgan, highlights a growing U.S. consumer burden of
about $20 billion (as of mid-April) in increased energy costs from gasoline and
diesel since the start of the war with Iran on Feb. 28, 2026.
“This is an expense coming directly out of the pockets of
American consumers, and consumers can use the tracker to help plan for the
extra costs that might come with road trips or summer vacations,” said Colgan,
director of the Climate
Solutions Lab at Brown’s Watson School of International and Public
Affairs.
2500 union workers at Rhode Island Hospital ratify new contract
Let's see more of this at Rhode Island's other hospitals
“Local 251 has proudly represented workers at Rhode Island
Hospital for more than 30 years,” said Matt Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Local
251 and Teamsters Eastern Region International Vice President. “This agreement
shows that solidarity has the power to win strong successor contracts.”
The new agreement maintains strong Teamsters health care,
layoff protections, and adds access to FSA benefits. Rhode Island Hospital
Teamsters resisted many concessionary demands, instead making improvements on
job transfers, seniority rights, unused paid time payouts, tuition assistance,
shift differentials, and a new pay step for over two thirds of the bargaining
unit.
Get Fresh, Buy Local at RI Grown Farmers Markets
Love those fresh veggies!
Starting this weekend, shoppers can visit the RI Grown farmers market at Goddard Memorial State Park, held every Friday from 9 AM – 1 PM through Oct. 9, or the RI Grown farmers market at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park, every Sunday from 8:30 AM to 12 PM through Oct. 11, for locally grown, fresh food.
Early season offerings include plants, flowers, RI Seafood, spring vegetables, honey, and maple syrup. More vendors and summer crops will be added as the season progresses.
Keep a lookout for the RI Grown label, which certifies that a product was grown right here in the Ocean State. Local is closer than you think – follow RI Grown on Facebook, on Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter to find locally caught, grown, and made foods from RI farmers, fishers, and food producers.
China now outspends the US on scientific research
The consequences extend far beyond scientific ranking and clout
Caroline Wagner, The Ohio State University
China’s rapid rise in science has hit a milestone. The country’s investment in research and development has reached parity with – and by purchasing power measures has surpassed – that of the United States, according to a March 2026 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Both nations have crossed the US$1 trillion threshold on research spending.
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| The cause condemns the effect |
For 80 years, the U.S. operated the most productive scientific and technological enterprise in human history. Breakthroughs and advances that came from American labs included the internet; the mRNA vaccine; the transistor and its children, semiconductors and microprocessors; the Global Positioning System; and many more.
U.S. scientific and technological leadership was nurtured by sustained public investment in research universities and federal laboratories, as well as a culture of open inquiry. These investments turned scientific discovery into economic strength – accounting for more than 20% of all U.S. productivity growth since World War II.
In contrast, China had previously spent little to nothing on research and development. Some estimates show that China was among the lowest research spenders worldwide in 1980.
As a policy analyst and public affairs researcher, I study international collaboration in science and technology and its implications for public and foreign policy. I have tracked China’s rise across every major database for more than a decade.
The most recent reports showing that China is now outspending the U.S. on scientific and technological research is a turning point worth understanding clearly because, historically, global leadership in one sector – including technology and warfare – feeds into others. U.S. dominance is in question.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Here’s ‘What’s Next’ According to ‘No Kings’ Organizers
Starts May 1
Organizers of the latest round of “No Kings” demonstrations
held nationwide, in late March, concluded their post-game wrap-up, on March 31,
to be promising, “tonight is the night when we move from talking about what’s
next—to doing what’s next.”
“What’s next?” is a question “No Kings” organizers could
hardly avoid this week after an estimated 8 million people across the country
turned out on Saturday March 28, to once again oppose the Trump
administration’s deepening march into post-Constitutional authoritarianism.
So, what does “doing what’s next” look like according to “No
Kings” organizers?
In the most concrete terms, it looks like working class
people nationwide taking the “No School. No Work. No Shopping.” pledge on May
1—International Workers’ Day, as well as continuing to march, rally, and
organize.
Tea with Tina postponed for another event
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