Latest news with #Georg
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Jon Ossoff Edges Out All But One Republican in New Georgia Senate Poll
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. Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, a Democrat, fares better than all but one of his Republican rivals heading into the 2026 midterms, when he will have to defend his seat from challengers. Why It Matters Republicans hold a slender majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, meaning they must win any and all seats up for grabs if they hope to more effecitvely push through their agenda without needing to rely on reconciliation. Republicans view Georgia, which narrowly supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as a major opportunity to make one such gain. The state has grown increasingly purple over the most recent elections: Senator Marjorie Taylor Green, a Republican, has already seen poor polling that could indicate Republican hardline politics may have limited appeal in what could be an incredibly contentious and tightly run midterm competition. What To Know According to polling data from polling and analytics firm Cygnal, Ossoff beats his closest republican rivals with some healthy margins. Only Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia Secretary of State, poses a considerable threat from the Republicans—unless Georgia Governor Brian Kemp decides to join the race. Raffensperger scored a statistical tie against Ossoff in the polling, and other potential rivals, including Kelly Loeffler, who previously ran against Ossoff and lost despite Trump's backing, fell outside of the margin of error, which Cygnal identified as plus or minus 3.4 percent. One potential stumbling block for Ossoff is Mike Collins, one of the current representatives from Georgia, who is behind Ossoff by only 2.5 points, putting him within the margin of error but outside of a statistical tie, such as the case of Raffensperger. While Cygnal did not poll Kemp versus Ossoff, the data showed that Kemp has an overwhelmingly positive net favorability: Kemp has a net favorability of over 25 percent compared to Ossoff's 7.7 percent. However, Cygnal found that between 11 and 13 percent of respondents were undecided, leaving much room for either side to gain an advantage as the midterms draw closer. Notably, when asked about a generic U.S. Senate ballot and whether the election was held today, would the respondents vote for a republican or Democrat, the republican came out ahead 48 percent to 44 percent. U.S. Sen. John Ossoff (D-GA) speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris at the Georgia State Convocation Center on July 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. U.S. Sen. John Ossoff (D-GA) speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris at the Georgia State Convocation Center on July 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Cygnal poll surveyed 800 Georgia voters, all of whom voted in the 2024 general election, and was conducted between May 15 and 17 of this year. Interviews were conducted over phone calls and text. Cygnal works with many Republican campaigns and groups, including the Republican Attorneys General, the Republican Senate Campaign Committee, and several governors, including Kemp and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, according to the firm's website. The polls also identified inflation in the economy as a potential top concern for voters going into next year's midterms, followed by threats to democracy, illegal immigration and border security, Social Security and Medicare, and government spending and waste. Half of all respondents said that they found that Georgia was going in the right direction while just over one-third said that the state was on the wrong track. What People Are Saying GOP operative Stephen Lawson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "If Brian Kemp runs for the U.S. Senate, Brian Kemp will be the next U.S. Senator from Georgia. "But if he takes a pass, Republicans should be much more judicious about who the nominee is, given the uncertain political environment and the fact that Jon Ossoff has proven he will be a formidable opponent." What Happens Next The midterm elections will take place on November 3, 2026, during which time Ossoff's seat will be up for grabs.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Enters Clinical Trials For The First Time
A hormone-free male birth control pill is undergoing clinical testing for the first time ever. The drug, called YCT-529, has performed incredibly well at limiting the production of sperm in mice and non-human primates, all while producing very few side effects. In male mice, the unique contraceptive kicks in within a month of use, reducing pregnancies in female mates by close to 100 percent. Male macaques require a higher dosage of YCT-529, but it also causes a rapid plummet in sperm count without severe side effects. Importantly, the animals soon regain their fertility when the medicine is stopped. The drug also causes no significant changes in three hormones important for sperm production: testosterone, FSH, or inhibin B. Similar to female hormonal birth control, male birth control that influences sex hormones can produce unwanted side effects, such as weight gain, depression, or increased levels of 'bad' cholesterol. In the past, these unforeseen consequences have stopped some effective forms from continuing in human trials. This has led scientists to try non-hormonal methods instead, and so far, they are proving hopeful. A phase 1 clinical trial for YCT-529 is already over and done, and while we don't yet know the results, they were successful enough that the drug is now entering phase 2, which assesses safety and efficacy. The trial began in New Zealand in September 2024. "A safe and effective male pill will provide more options to couples for birth control," says medicinal chemist Gunda Georg from the University of Minnesota. "It will allow a more equitable sharing of responsibility for family planning and provide reproductive autonomy for men." Georg's lab began investigating YCT-529 years ago because of its impact on a protein called retinoic acid receptor (RAR) alpha. This receptor interacts with retinoic acid – a metabolite of vitamin A – to influence cell growth, sperm formation, and embryo development. YCT-529 blocks RAR-alpha, and because it only targets this one version of the receptor, it limits possible side effects. The ongoing research has since received funding from the National Institutes of Health and brings together scientists from Columbia University, the University of Minnesota, and the pharmaceutical company YourChoice Therapeutics. Years ago, Georg and her colleagues said they would have clinical trials running by 2022. The research is running slower than predicted, but it's still heading in a positive direction. Chief science officer and founder of YourChoice Therapeutics, Nadja Mannowetz, says their animal studies have "laid the groundwork for human clinical trials of YCT-529, which are progressing efficiently." "With the unintentional pregnancy rate at nearly 50 percent in the US and globally, we need more contraceptive options, particularly for men," she adds. YCT-529 isn't the only non-hormonal male birth control under exploration. A 2024 study, led by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, tested another compound, called CDD-2807, which stops male mice from siring litters when it is injected. It is not yet undergoing clinical trials. The last time a male contraceptive was approved for sale was in the 1980s when scientists figured out how to do a minimally invasive vasectomy. A 2023 study surveying more than 2,000 male respondents found more than three-quarters were willing to use new contraceptives. "Women have shouldered the burden of pregnancy prevention for too long," Mannowetz said in a recent press release. "Data continue to show that men want to help, and they're willing to try new birth control options. Data also show women trust them to do so. After nearly two centuries of no innovation in male birth control, it's time for change, and we're pleased to be a part of it." The study was published in Nature Communications. One Simple Strategy For Weight Loss Outperforms Daily Dieting, Study Says Artificial Sweetener Can Trick Your Brain Into Feeling More Hungry A Common Sleeping Pill Could Reduce Buildup of Alzheimer's Proteins, Study Finds
