Thursday's Mini-Report, 5.8.25
* As you might've heard by now, there's a new pope: 'Habemus Papam! The world's 1.4 billion Catholics have a new leader — Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the first American-born pope. The 69-year-old is originally from Chicago and has chosen the papal name Leo XIV.'
* An intensifying crisis: 'India and Pakistan appeared to be dangerously escalating their armed confrontation on Thursday, as both countries said that their military sites had come under attack, and heavy shelling and strikes were reported overnight on each side of their border.'
* An expensive military operation: 'President Donald Trump's fight against the Houthis never dealt a crippling blow to the militant group, but it has cost America more than $1 billion since March, including the thousands of bombs and missiles used in strikes, along with seven drones shot down and two fighter jets that sank, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the cost.'
* It'll be interesting to see how Congress responds to this effort: 'The FAA will embark on an ambitious three-year plan to modernize America's air traffic control systems and phase out the 'outdated technologies that are unable to meet' modern demands, officials said Thursday.'
* All is not well at NIH: 'The Trump administration terminated $1.81 billion in National Institutes of Health grants in less than 40 days, including $544 million in as-yet-unspent funds. That's according to an analysis published Thursday in JAMA, which relies on data from the Department of Health and Human Services' Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System.'
* Things aren't great at CDC, either: 'The Trump administration has terminated a federal advisory committee that issued guidance about preventing the spread of infections in health care facilities. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) crafted national standards for hand-washing, mask-wearing and isolating sick patients that most U.S. hospitals follow.'
* Things could be a lot better at NOAA, too: 'Federal scientists will no longer update a list of weather disasters that cause billions of dollars in damage, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. The list had been growing dramatically in recent years, a sign of both extreme weather and increasing development across the country.'
* Don't be surprised if this bill returns to the floor for a second attempt next week: 'A first-of-its-kind bill to regulate parts of the cryptocurrency industry stalled in the Senate on Thursday, after Democrats blocked it amid concerns in their party about how President Trump and his family are profiting from crypto. On a vote of 48 to 49, the measure failed to muster the 60 votes necessary to advance. It would have regulated so-called stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency tied to the value of an existing asset, often the U.S. dollar.'
See you tomorrow.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scientists Say These Are the Worst Ultra-Processed Foods You Can Eat
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The American Heart Association just released a big report on ultra-processed foods. Some ultra-processed foods are healthier than others, according to the organization. Experts say it's still important to limit how much ultra-processed foods you eat. Ultra-processed foods have been a hot topic in nutrition, with a government report released in May linking this food category to a range of chronic diseases. Now, the American Heart Association (AHA) has released a new scientific advisory statement, breaking down the best and worst ultra-processed foods you can eat, and their impact on health. This echoes a growing argument in the nutrition and health community, especially given that up to 70% of our food supply is made up of ultra-processed foods. 'Ultra-processed foods are such a large part of the American diet, and whatever we can do to steer our diet toward healthier options would be beneficial to our cardiovascular health,' says Cheng-Han Chen, M.D., interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA. Meet the experts: Danbee Kim, M.D.,, nutrition expert, weight loss surgeon, and assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Cheng-Han Chen, M.D., interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA; Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet; Kathleen Moore, R.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center So, which ultra-processed foods are considered 'healthier' and what does this mean for your diet going forward? Doctors and a dietitian explain. What are ultra-processed foods? The levels of food processing are classified under something called the NOVA scale. This scale lumps foods into these four main categories: Unprocessed and minimally processed foods: This includes foods that are in their natural state or barely altered, like strawberries, carrots, and milk. Processed culinary ingredients: These ingredients are created through minimal processing, like pressing, refining, grinding, or milling. The category includes things like olive oil and almond flour. Processed foods: Foods in this category are changed from their natural state. They usually have sugar, oil, salt, or other substances added. Canned tuna and some cheese fall under this umbrella. Ultra-processed foods: Ultra-processed foods contain ingredients like artificial colors and flavors, preservatives for shelf stability, and other ingredients to preserve texture. Many packaged foods are considered ultra-processed. What did the report say? The report doesn't have great things to say about ultra-processed foods, calling them a 'growing public health challenge.' Even more, 'most ultra-processed foods overlap with foods high in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium, which are already targets for cardiometabolic risk reduction,' the report states. The report lists a link between ultra-processed foods and a range of serious health complications, including heart attacks, stroke, sleep disorders, depression, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. But the report also stresses the importance of identifying 'high-risk' ultra-processed foods subgroups to break down healthier options within this category. By encouraging people to have less of the most harmful ultra-processed foods and steering them more towards 'a small number of select, affordable ultra-processed foods of better diet quality,' people may improve their health risks, the review says. The best ultra-processed foods The AHA stops short of saying that certain ultra-processed foods are actually healthy. But the organization flags some options as being better for you than others. Those include: Low-sodium whole-grain breads and crackers Low-sugar yogurts Tomato sauces Nut- or bean-based spreads Flavored dry-roasted chickpeas Unsweetened, dried fruit-based snacks Unsweetened high-fiber cereal Plant-based meat and dairy alternatives that are low in sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat, like soy milk and tofu 'Some ultra-processed foods can provide essential nutrients,' says Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet. 'In contrast, others are loaded with added sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. Knowing the difference helps you choose options that work best for your health and your lifestyle.' These foods 'can actually provide useful nutrients and help people get affordable, convenient foods—especially when fresh options are harder to find,' says Danbee Kim, M.D., nutrition expert, weight loss surgeon, and assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Labeling some ultra-processed foods as better than others may also help people make more informed choices, says Kathleen Moore, R.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 'Labeling all ultra-processed foods as 'bad' may discourage the consumption of some nutrient-rich convenient options, like whole grain breads, cereals and cereal bars, yogurt, and grab-and-go meals,' she says. 'Sometimes it is useful to use some ultra-processed foods to save time or to incorporate balanced meal options when fresh foods are limited. Knowing which ultra-processed foods are more healthy will help consumers make better choices.' The worst ultra-processed foods The AHA also broke down the least healthy ultra-processed foods. Those include: Chicken nuggets Sausage Hot dogs Sugar-sweetened beverages Liquid cheese products Cookies Candies Gummy fruit snacks Refined grain breads Tortillas Dairy-based desserts like ice cream Ready-to-heat meals made with refined grains, high fats, or processed meats like boxed macaroni and cheese or pizza Tortilla- and potato-based chips Is it OK to eat a lot of 'healthy' ultra-processed foods? While the AHA report called out healthier versions of ultra-processed foods, experts say that still doesn't mean you should load up. 'These can provide beneficial nutrients and fit into a balanced diet,' Gans says. 'However, still pair them with plenty of whole and minimally processed foods for optimal health.' Dr. Chen agrees. 'As much as possible, we should aim to eat whole foods rather than processed foods,' he says. But these foods have an important role for some people, as Moore points out. 'I work with many clients who incorporate ultra-processed foods into their weekly schedules for a variety of reasons,' she says. 'Some cannot seem to find time for breakfast, or have a work schedule that makes sitting down for lunch difficult. I have clients who are busy parents and benefit from a frozen family meal or 'grab and go' meal when sports events make it difficult to eat a home-cooked meal. Overall, I encourage my patients to limit ultra-processed foods to less than half of their overall consumption.' Dr. Kim suggests trying to have these foods in moderation. 'Think of 'healthier' ultra-processed foods as a tool—something you can lean on when they help make your diet more balanced or easier to stick to, but not something to make the star of your plate at every meal,' she says. How to reduce ultra-processed foods in your diet The best way to reduce ultra-processed foods in your diet is to focus on whole foods first, according to Gans. 'Be prepared. Stock your pantry with nutrient-rich staples like canned tomatoes, beans, and oatmeal,' she says. 'Include more fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains, and make small swaps, like 100% whole-grain bread for white.' In a perfect scenario, Gans says that the first ingredient in the things you eat should be a whole food. While you're at it, Dr. Kim suggests cutting back on the 'worst offenders,' especially sugary drinks, processed meats, packaged sweets, and salty snacks. 'The fewer ultra-processed foods you eat, the better—but it's about progress, not perfection,' Dr. Kim says. 'Swap out the unhealthy ones first, make room for healthier stand-ins when needed, and keep working toward a diet built mostly from whole, real foods.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? 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USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declares 'loyalty' to Trump, rules out a 2028 presidential bid
WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he's not running for president in 2028 and intends to remain in his position until President Donald Trump leaves office. The leader of the "Make America Healthy Again" movement said in an X post that his "loyalty" lies with Trump, and he dismissed speculation about his political future as part of a "smear campaign" from disgruntled Washington insiders who oppose the MAHA agenda. "They're pushing the flat-out lie that I'm running for president in 2028. Let me be clear: I am not running for president in 2028," Kennedy said. Kennedy competed for the presidency in 2024, first as a Democrat and later as an independent, before suspending his candidacy last August and throwing his support behind Trump. After the election, Trump made him HHS secretary. His comments ruling out a 2028 bid came far-right activist Laura Loomer accused Kennedy aide Stefanie Spear of using her position at HHS to lay the groundwork for Kennedy to run again. Loomer's comment came in a Politico interview and followed an Axios report in July that said Kennedy super PAC head Tony Lyons and Spear convened MAHA supporters on a call that left some attendees with the impression he was mulling another campaign. But in his social media post, Kennedy said, "The president has made himself the answer to my 20-year prayer that God would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic — and that's exactly what my team and I will do until the day he leaves office."
The Hill
15 hours ago
- The Hill
Obamacare faces a subsidy cliff — don't bail it out without reform
The controversy over the 2010 Affordable Care Act dominated Barack Obama's presidency. The implementation of ObamaCare caused health insurance premiums to soar and nearly collapsed the market entirely. The Biden administration responded by flooding the system with expanded federal subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025. To stop premiums for older workers with pre-existing conditions from suddenly leaping by $10,000, Republicans will need to extend part of this additional funding. But in return, they should insist on reforms to allow healthy Americans to purchase better value insurance with their own money. The Affordable Care Act required health insurers to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions at the same price as enrollees who signed up before they got sick. As a result, premiums more than doubled, millions of healthy enrollees dropped coverage and many insurers abandoned the market. The Affordable Care Act kept the individual health insurance market from falling apart completely by providing subsidies to low-income enrollees. But individuals earning more than $62,600 in 2025 would have faced full premiums without any assistance. Those unsubsidized enrollees felt the full pain of the Affordable Care Act's premium hikes. The legislation allows insurers to charge older enrollees up to three times what they do the youngest, and so unsubsidized premiums for near-retirees can be huge. This year, the benchmark unsubsidized premium for a 61-year-old individual in Washington, D.C., is $15,402 per year. Rather than fix ObamaCare's structure, the newly-elected Democratic Congress in 2021 threw money at the problem with the American Rescue Plan Act. By expanding eligibility for subsidies to higher earners, the act reduced the cost of health insurance for a 61-year-old earning $70,000 from $15,402 to $5,950 — with federal taxpayers covering the difference. That legislation also expanded the generosity of subsidies for lower earners. Those earning $22,000, who would have contributed $756 to the cost of insurance under the original Affordable Care Act, would get it entirely paid for by the federal government. This approach has been hugely expensive. In May 2022, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that subsidies for the Affordable Care Act would cost $67 billion in 2024. Last June, following a renewal of the American Rescue Plan Act's increased subsidies, the Congressional Budget Office's revised cost estimate for 2024 surged to $129 billion. A recent Paragon Institute report found that this leap in cost owed much to a surge in enrollment among those who received coverage free of charge. Paragon estimated that such enrollees accounted for nearly half of new enrollment, and that 5 million people may have misreported their income to claim free coverage, costing taxpayers an additional $20 billion. Insurers eagerly welcomed the influx of new healthy enrollees, who had not deemed it worth purchasing insurance from the individual market until the federal government paid the entire price. Such newcomers proved enormously lucrative, as they used less medical care than existing enrollees but generated the same revenue. Democrats, who received twice as much in campaign contributions as Republicans from Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2024, eagerly boasted about reducing the number of uninsured Americans, with little concern for the cost. The expiry of the American Rescue Plan Act subsidies is now looming again, set to expire at the end of 2025. It will be up to a Republican president and Republican-led Congress to find a way forward. Fiscal conservatives have little appetite to pay for renewing all the expanded ObamaCare subsidies. But nor will they feel comfortable letting the American Rescue Plan Act's enhanced subsidies expire entirely, as this would result in a $10,000-per-year premium hike on thousands of middle-income near-retirees. Congress should focus on targeted support by eliminating the cap on eligibility for the Affordable Care Act's original subsidies, which limit premiums at 9.5 percent of income, to avoid a sudden benefit cliff for those with incomes just above $62,600. But they should also let other expansions of subsidies expire. In return, Republicans should insist that Americans be allowed to obtain discounted premiums if they purchase insurance before they get sick. In 2017, President Trump allowed Americans to do this by purchasing short-term insurance. However, in 2024, the Biden administration limited the duration of these plans to four months. This came following pressure from big insurers, who claimed that allowing the expansion of such plans would prevent them from cross-subsidizing enrollees with pre-existing conditions by overcharging those who signed up while healthy. In reality, the restriction of these affordable plans has served mostly to inflate insurers' profits. Healthy enrollees remain able to purchase short-term plans afresh every few months; it is only those who subsequently become sick who are deprived of coverage. Regulatory protections for the long-term coverage of enrollees in non-ObamaCare plans should be strengthened; not weakened. Furthermore, with the extension of the American Rescue Plan Act's premium cap, federal subsidies taxpayers directly subsidize most enrollees. It is therefore unnecessary to also prohibit healthy enrollees from obtaining insurance plans which offer long-term coverage at good value for their money.
