
Sleep specialist backing RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement pushes to change school start times in America
Washington, D.C. – A sleep expert who is backing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is pushing for something he says people aren't talking about enough: sleep.
Jeffrey Rose, a New York-based clinical hypnotist and sleep specialist, is a friend and longtime supporter of Kennedy, who was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary in President Donald Trump's cabinet.
"[The MAHA] movement means a lot to me because I'm preaching health all the time," said Rose in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Rose said there is chronic sleep deprivation across the country, but more specifically in students.
"These high school kids are not able to be sharp and focus and to learn, it doesn't matter how good the schools are or the teachers or the reputation. Kids are exhausted in school."
Teenagers ages 13 through 17 should sleep 8-to-10 hours per 24 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"We need to get the kids an opportunity to get nine hours [of] sleep, which is impossible right now," shared Rose.
Rose started the Rockland County, New York, chapter of "Start Schools Later" – an organization made up of clinical professionals working to push back the start times in high schools across the U.S.
"There's no greater reform we can make for high school education," he said.
Rose said lack of sleep in its own way is a "gateway drug" with the side effects spilling into students leaning on relaxants like alcohol and marijuana, and then Adderall or Ritalin to focus.
The most current data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), developed by the CDC, showed that 77.3% of high school students reported not getting enough sleep on school nights.
"When [schools start later] you get less sickness because people are showing up with strong immune systems, less absenteeism, less car accidents, better sports outcomes, better. Everything is performed much better." said Rose.
"With the exception of Dr. Oz, I haven't heard too many people talking about sleep…I have talked to Bobby [RFK Jr.] about that, and he's listening to that."
"Now that he doesn't have to focus on getting confirmed, I could talk about the issues that are important to us, important to me, important to America," Rose added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
In 2022, California became the first state to mandate later school start times, with middle schools starting no earlier than 8 AM and high schools starting no earlier than 8:30 AM, according to the National Education Association (NEA).
Florida passed similar legislation in 2023, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Beginning in 2026, public schools are to start no earlier than 8:30 AM for high schools and 8 AM for middle schools, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reported.
A new bill (SB 296) filed in January by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, seeks to undo these start times before they take effect next year.
Supporters in favor of later start times feel it improves student focus and health, while those not in favor argue that it will impact working parents and conflict with after-school activities, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
"Still, later school start times can have ripple effects in school districts and the impact will not be felt equally by all students, families and educators. Addressing these potential drawbacks and listening to all stakeholders is critical, experts say, before districts take this step," the NEA's site states.
The NEA reported that a 2021 University of Minnesota study focused on 18,000 students in grades 5 through 11 showed grade point averages increased by 0.1 points, on average, after school start times were pushed.
"While the researchers categorized the sleep benefits as 'large,' the academic improvements were considered 'small,'" the NEA wrote.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of School Health said students in Colorado "felt less stressed and more rested three years after high schools started 70 minutes later and middle schools began 40-to-60 minutes later," according to the same source.
"Later start time initiatives focus on middle and high school students because that is the age group more susceptible to the ill effects of inadequate sleep."
Fox News Digital reached out to "Start Schools Later" for comment.
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Politico
38 minutes ago
- Politico
HHS justifies decision to stop recommending Covid shots during pregnancy with studies supporting the shots' safety
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The 2023 study shows a slightly higher rate of miscarriages among women who were immunized against Covid-19 during their pregnancies. But, Velez said, that after adjusting for 'variables that can confound a crude association,' like 'age, rurality, neighbourhood income quintile, immigration status, comorbidity' and other factors that could affect the outcome, Canadian researchers found 'no association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and an increased risk of miscarriage.' Raw numbers don't account for significant differences among the groups being compared — such as underlying conditions and when during pregnancy the people were vaccinated, said Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist who's consulted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists, including the Canadian researchers, use statistical methods to adjust for those factors, she said, which is how they determined the vaccine wasn't associated with miscarriage. In a statement, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon pointed to the raw study data, which showed a slightly higher rate of miscarriage in the first half of pregnancy for women who were vaccinated against Covid compared with those who weren't. 'The underlying data speaks for itself — and it raises legitimate safety concerns,' he said. 'HHS will not ignore that evidence or downplay early pregnancy loss.' Nixon added that HHS and the CDC encourage people to talk to their providers 'about any personal medical decision.' Vaccine researchers and obstetricians criticized the decision to remove the recommendation for pregnant women, and researchers cited in the HHS document largely dismissed any connection between Covid vaccination and miscarriages. 'Given that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is associated with serious maternal and neonatal morbidity, the current study can inform healthcare providers, pregnant women and those considering a pregnancy about the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in relation to miscarriage risk,' Velez and her co-authors wrote in the study. That research was based on health-system data from Ontario, Canada, and aligned with similar population studies in the U.S., Scotland and Norway. Similarly, HHS cited an April 2022 study in its document concerning mRNA vaccination in people undergoing in-vitro fertilization, which also found no adverse effects on conception rates or on early pregnancy outcomes. 'Administration of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines was not associated with an adverse effect on stimulation or early pregnancy outcomes after IVF,' the New York City-based researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai West hospital wrote in the study. 'Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in women who are trying to conceive.' The HHS document also includes an incorrect link for that study, instead leading to a different study — also cited in HHS' document — by Israeli researchers that found the vaccine 'appears to be safe during pregnancy,' with no increase in preterm labor or in newborns with low birth weight. That February 2022 study did note a possible increase in preterm birth rates for women vaccinated during the second trimester, and the authors suggested future investigations of outcomes based on the timing of immunization. HHS' assertion about significant risks to pregnant women 'contradicts the bulk of published studies,' said Dr. Paul Offit, an expert who has served as an outside adviser on vaccines to the FDA and the CDC. HHS deviated from past practice when it changed the Covid vaccine guidance last month, announcing the decision without the endorsement of an existing outside panel of expert advisers. Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told POLITICO at the time that he was disappointed by HHS' decision, and pointed to data showing that newborns can benefit from maternal antibodies from the vaccine for protection from Covid. 'In fact, growing evidence shows just how much vaccination during pregnancy protects the infant after birth, with the vast majority of hospitalized infants less than 6 months of age — those who are not yet eligible for vaccination — born to unvaccinated mothers,' Fleischman said.


Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Music festivals have become more open to harm reduction initiatives. How far will it go?
NEW YORK — The sounds of muffled percussion and audience cheers reverberate throughout the grounds. Brand activations, makeshift bars and restaurant pop-ups control traffic as a sea of bodies move from set to set. Sandwiched between is a row of nonprofits across familiar causes: hunger, housing and voter registration. It's a common music festival scene, until closer inspection. There is a new table, This Must Be the Place. The Ohio-based nonprofit offers attendees free opioid overdose reversal treatment and training on how to use it, an education acquired in under two minutes. Just a few years ago, their inclusion might've been unthinkable amid murky regulations and a lack of public awareness surrounding harm reduction. Advocates say drugs are commonly consumed at music festivals, making them ideal locations for harm reduction activities. While more music festivals are allowing such activities, activists are pushing for expanded efforts as some festivals remain cautious. Founded by William Perry and Ingela Travers-Hayward in 2022, This Must Be The Place has since given away an estimated $4.5 million in naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, at festivals and smaller community events. In the very beginning, without a 'proof of concept,' as Perry describes it, they had trouble partnering with festivals. Eventually, a few festivals in the Midwest agreed to let them table, which 'got us in the door with Bonnaroo in 2022,' says Perry, referring to the major U.S. festival operated by C3 Presents, one of the largest concert promoters on the planet. Now they have a presence at 35 major U.S. festivals — including Lollapalooza, Governors Ball and Besame Mucho — where they collaborate directly with C3 and their security personnel. The organization's growth overlaps with advancing federal regulations. According to Daliah Heller, vice president of overdose prevention initiatives at the global public health nonprofit Vital Strategies, naloxone distribution used to be determined by state regulations until 2023, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter nasal spray. 'We no longer need the prescription laws to be amended to allow for the distribution of naloxone,' she says. 'Now it's like buying aspirin — it's over the counter.' Last year, This Must Be the Place gave away 46,146 units of Narcan — a brand name for naloxone — through their national festival outreach. Emmett Beliveau, chief operating officer of C3 Presents, says working with This Must Be the Place was C3's first time implementing public-facing harm reduction strategies, in addition to the promoter's existing medical programs. Bringing the organization into C3's festivals was 'not in response to anything that has happened at one of our festivals,' he says, but rather because of the 'number of fatalities happening in our communities.' Some activists believe attendees are most responsive to receiving harm reduction education from peers instead of authority figures. And so, for the last three years, a nonprofit dedicated to combating accidental drug overdoses among young adults, Team Awareness Combating Overdose, has distributed fentanyl test strips and Narcan at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival . Former TACO CEO Kameran Mody says that music festivals are ideal locations for distribution and education because 'music and the use of drugs are synonymous with each other.' TACO distributes through what Mody describes as 'guerrilla-style marketing.' They enlist volunteers, train them on how to use naloxone, and ship Narcan and test strips to them to bring into the festival. They do not involve the festival organizers. Representatives for Coachella did not respond to The Associated Press' requests for comment. In 2023, a TACO volunteer administered Narcan to an unresponsive Coachella attendee exhibiting signs of an overdose. The organization says the attendee regained consciousness. 'That was one of our biggest successes,' Mody says. In 2019, at Bonnaroo, a 27-year-old man was found dead at his campsite — right after harm reduction activists had picketed the Tennessee festival because it didn't allow drug testing. The toxicology report found ecstasy and fentanyl in his system. At the time, under state law, test strips were criminalized and classified as drug paraphernalia. That's changed: In 2022, Tennessee decriminalized fentanyl test strips. By the end of 2023, 44 other states and D.C. had done the same. But in some states, drug paraphernalia laws are written in a way that isn't completely transparent — there are test strips that are not fentanyl-specific, Heller points out — and criminalization and social stigmas endure. Some have found workarounds. 'Even in the states where the legalities were a bit unclear, instead of just coming in and hoping things worked out, we would reach out to the health department, and say 'We run this project, how do feel about it?'' says Perry. 'We would end up with letters from the highest-ranking health official, either in the county or in the state, saying 'We approve of this.' That circumvented any roadblocks.' Some festivals, though, might be hesitant to use test strips because 'it's tough for them to admit that drugs are being used,' Mody says. Some festivals have even banned naloxone. While This Must Be The Place distributes fentanyl test strips at some Ohio events, C3 doesn't distribute test strips at its events and does not plan to. Beliveau doesn't believe fentanyl test strips are effective and expressed concern they could encourage drug use. Test strips, which can detect fentanyl in pills, powders or injectables, are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a low-cost means of helping prevent drug overdoses. At a three-day electronic music festival in Mexico City earlier this year, a booth provided free, anonymous drug testing. The initiative, known as 'Checa tu Sustancia' (Check Your Substance), was spearheaded by the Instituto RIA, a Mexico-based drug policy research and advocacy organization. When unexpected substances are detected, users received detailed information on what they are, their risks, potential interactions with other substances and dosage adjustments, empowering them to make informed choices. Perry says they are aware of smaller festivals in the United States conducting drug checking, but 'they do it in a very underground and whisper network way' to avoid criminalization. What Perry says his organization would like to see at music festivals in the future would be harm reduction areas — sections where attendees who have taken drugs can be monitored, not to 'get them into trouble' but to ensure safety. Heller says there are a number of groups working to destigmatize drugs, promote decriminalization, and promote drug checking. 'We already have drug checking happening in cities,' she says. 'It makes perfect sense to expand the settings where you would offer that to include music festivals. It's the same rationale. ... The issue is this idea of liability. You'd have to create a law, essentially, that would protect the festival from liability.'


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Honey Recall Map Shows Warnings Issued to Customers in 7 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its classification of a recall of certain Comvita honey products, affecting seven states. Comvita, a California-based company, recalled three of its manuka honey products last month as the induction seal was not properly fitted, meaning the product was leaking on the packaging. Newsweek has contacted Comvita outside of regular working hours via email for comment. File photo: a teaspoon with a jar full of honey. File photo: a teaspoon with a jar full of honey. Oliver Berg/dpa via AP Why It Matters Maintaining packaging standards is important as it can make consumers feel more assured that companies have followed regulatory guidance more closely, and ensured their products are properly manufactured and controlled. Given that many Americans are concerned about food safety and food recalls, maintaining standards and regulations are even more important if brands want to establish consumer trust. What To Know The affected products include: Comvita's Manuka Honey + Lion's Mane for Focus (355g), with lot codes 34828522 and 34835584, and expiration dates of January 21, 2026 and February 21, 2026 respectively Comvita's Manuka Honey + Cordyceps for Energy (355g) with lot codes 34828523 and 34835585, and expiration dates of January 22, 2026 and February 25, 2026 respectively Comvita's Manuka Honey + Reishi (355g) with lot codes 34828521 and 34835574, and expiration dates of January 21, 2026 and February 24, 2026 respectively There were 2,730 units sold of each product, to various states including Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Maryland, Florida, California, and Georgia. Comvita initiated the recall on May 23, and the FDA announced its classification of the recall on June 9. The FDA classification of the recall was a Class II, meaning it is a situation "in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote." What People Are Saying Professor Byron Chaves, a professor and food safety extension specialist in the department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, told Newsweek: "An induction seal is a protective seal commonly found on food containers, like jars or bottles, just under the cap. It's created using heat to attach a foil liner to the container's opening, forming a tight, tamper-evident seal. This helps prevent leaks, keeps the product fresh, and shows if the package has been opened." He added: "If an induction seal isn't properly applied, it can lead to leaks, contamination, and reduced shelf life. It also means the package may not show evident signs of tampering, which can raise safety concerns. In some cases, it could lead to regulatory issues or loss of consumer trust if the product appears unsafe or poorly sealed." What Happens Next Consumers are advised not to consume the affected products and return them to the place of purchase for a refund. As of June 9, the recall remains ongoing. The FDA did not specify if any illnesses had been reported in relation to the recall.