Latest news with #Lustig
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Navy veteran escalates defamation battle against Associated Press after local outlets pull article
FIRST ON FOX – U.S. Navy Veteran Zachary Young, who is seeking nearly $500 million in a defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press, continues to push for punitive damages after the outlet wrote he "helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young, who successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year, prevailed after alleging that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. When covering the trial in January, AP media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young's legal team has said that the AP article "went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and previously updated the complaint to include 40 Associated Press articles that use the term "smuggling" to describe criminal conduct. The court previously ruled that Young did nothing illegal. Young's attorney, Daniel Lustig, notified the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Bay County, Florida on Friday that U.S. News & World Report, WTOP News and The Minnesota Star Tribune have all removed their republication of the Associated Press article. "Each did so shortly after receiving Plaintiffs' letter. While none of these outlets formally admitted fault, the timing and action speak for themselves. These removals further support Plaintiffs' argument that the Defamatory Article was understood as a criminal accusation and carried reputational risk, and that the Associated Press's refusal to retract or correct its version, despite having greater knowledge and post-litigation obligations, reflects express malice and deliberate disregard for the truth," Lustig wrote in a court filing. "The removals also reinforce that the defamatory implication was clear to reasonable publishers, underscoring that AP's continued publication was not a good-faith editorial judgment but a knowing act of reputational harm," Lustig continued. "The Associated Press's decision to stand alone in continuing publication also reflects a reckless and knowing departure from accepted journalistic standards, which further supports the finding of actual malice." Lustig believes the court should authorize the filing of a claim for punitive damages. "We've now shown the court that the Associated Press escalated a false accusation even after multiple outlets who trust and rely on AP for content removed the article, and after a Florida judge ruled the claim was untrue," Lustig told Fox News Digital. "The damage to Mr. Young's reputation continues, and AP's refusal to correct the record while publicly calling the lawsuit frivolous isn't journalism. It shows malice," Lustig continued. "This filing asks the court to treat it that way." Indeed, the AP has referred to the lawsuit as "frivolous" in past statements to the press. "AP's story was a factual and accurate report on the jury verdict finding in Zachary Young's favor. We will vigorously defend our reporting against this frivolous lawsuit," an AP spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital. Young is seeking at least $18 million in economic loss, $50-75 million in reputational harm, $5-10 million in emotional distress and $300-350 million in punitive damages, according to a Notice of Filing. The Associated Press did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Economic Times
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Economic Times
Are you settling for pleasure while chasing happiness? Doctor explains the brain chemistry behind true fulfillment
The Seven Truths: Unpacking the Pleasure-Happiness Divide When Dopamine Drowns Out Serotonin You Might Also Like: Passenger offers seat to elderly man on bus, walks away with a life-changing lesson The System Is Rigged — And It's Selling You Pleasure A Radical Prescription: The Four Cs You Might Also Like: From career to fitness, what is secret of happiness? Billionaire Harsh Goenka shares a life lesson from Gaur Gopal Das Are You Really Happy — Or Just Numb? It began with a casual comment. In a striking anecdote from an old University of California lecture, Dr. Robert Lustig recounted a moment that sparked a profound realization. A woman, fresh from bariatric surgery, was asked how she stayed so slim. Her response was matter-of-fact: 'I eat only when I'm hungry.' To which another responded, 'Eating is for happiness.'That reply, simple yet striking, sent Lustig down a path of inquiry. Had we, as a society, blurred the line between hunger and emotional craving? Between fleeting pleasure and sustainable happiness?Lustig, professor emeritus at UCSF and a pioneer in childhood obesity research, presents a clear framework. Pleasure, he explains, is short-lived, visceral, and inherently self-centered. It's driven by dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brain's reward system. Think sugar highs, Instagram likes, and online shopping splurges — they light us up for a moment, but leave us emptier by contrast, is long-lasting, ethereal, and tied to giving rather than taking. Its chemical anchor is serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to calm, contentment, and connection. Unlike pleasure, it isn't addictive — you can't overdose on too much real kicker, Lustig says, is that dopamine and serotonin don't coexist peacefully. The more we chase dopamine-driven highs — through sugar, screens, status, or substances — the more we downregulate our serotonin receptors. In essence, the relentless pursuit of pleasure doesn't just fail to deliver happiness. It actively sabotages neurological seesaw is why today's hyperconnected, hyperstimulated lives leave so many feeling more anxious, lonely, and dissatisfied than ever Madison Avenue to Silicon Valley, Lustig argues, powerful industries have learned to exploit this confusion. They've hijacked our neurochemistry to sell pleasure as a stand-in for happiness. A fast-food meal becomes a comfort ritual. A social media notification mimics a hug. A shopping spree promises fulfillment. But none of these deliver the real his provocative book The Hacking of the American Mind, Lustig lays bare how corporations thrive on this neurological sleight-of-hand — and how we, unknowingly, participate in our own what's the cure? Lustig doesn't just diagnose; he offers a roadmap. His prescription for long-term happiness revolves around what he calls the Four Cs:Connect – Invest in genuine relationships. Whether it's friends, family, or even pets, human connection boosts serotonin and grounds us – Do something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, teach, share your knowledge — the act of giving nurtures – Take care of your mind and body. Sleep well, practice mindfulness, and stay active. Coping is not avoidance; it's – Reclaim control over what you eat. Preparing real food with real ingredients counters the chemical chaos of processed a culture that equates success with speed and fulfillment with consumption, Dr. Lustig's message is a call to pause — and question. Are you truly happy, or just comfortable? Are you finding peace, or merely escaping pain?You may not be addicted to a substance, but if the difference between a 'want' and a 'need' has blurred, it might be time to pleasure will always whisper — but happiness waits for those who listen more deeply.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Are you settling for pleasure while chasing happiness? Doctor explains the brain chemistry behind true fulfillment
It began with a casual comment. In a striking anecdote from an old University of California lecture, Dr. Robert Lustig recounted a moment that sparked a profound realization. A woman, fresh from bariatric surgery, was asked how she stayed so slim. Her response was matter-of-fact: 'I eat only when I'm hungry.' To which another responded, 'Eating is for happiness.' #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack PM Modi-led 'Super Cabinet' reviews J&K security arrangements Pakistan's General Asim Munir is itching for a fight. Are his soldiers willing? India planning to launch military strike against Pakistan within 24 to 36 hours, claims Pak minister That reply, simple yet striking, sent Lustig down a path of inquiry. Had we, as a society, blurred the line between hunger and emotional craving? Between fleeting pleasure and sustainable happiness? The Seven Truths: Unpacking the Pleasure-Happiness Divide Lustig, professor emeritus at UCSF and a pioneer in childhood obesity research, presents a clear framework. Pleasure, he explains, is short-lived, visceral, and inherently self-centered. It's driven by dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brain's reward system. Think sugar highs, Instagram likes, and online shopping splurges — they light us up for a moment, but leave us emptier afterward. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Happiness, by contrast, is long-lasting, ethereal, and tied to giving rather than taking. Its chemical anchor is serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to calm, contentment, and connection. Unlike pleasure, it isn't addictive — you can't overdose on too much happiness. When Dopamine Drowns Out Serotonin The real kicker, Lustig says, is that dopamine and serotonin don't coexist peacefully. The more we chase dopamine-driven highs — through sugar, screens, status, or substances — the more we downregulate our serotonin receptors. In essence, the relentless pursuit of pleasure doesn't just fail to deliver happiness. It actively sabotages it. You Might Also Like: Passenger offers seat to elderly man on bus, walks away with a life-changing lesson This neurological seesaw is why today's hyperconnected, hyperstimulated lives leave so many feeling more anxious, lonely, and dissatisfied than ever before. The System Is Rigged — And It's Selling You Pleasure From Madison Avenue to Silicon Valley, Lustig argues, powerful industries have learned to exploit this confusion. They've hijacked our neurochemistry to sell pleasure as a stand-in for happiness. A fast-food meal becomes a comfort ritual. A social media notification mimics a hug. A shopping spree promises fulfillment. But none of these deliver the real thing. In his provocative book The Hacking of the American Mind , Lustig lays bare how corporations thrive on this neurological sleight-of-hand — and how we, unknowingly, participate in our own discontent. A Radical Prescription: The Four Cs So what's the cure? Lustig doesn't just diagnose; he offers a roadmap. His prescription for long-term happiness revolves around what he calls the Four Cs: You Might Also Like: From career to fitness, what is secret of happiness? Billionaire Harsh Goenka shares a life lesson from Gaur Gopal Das Connect – Invest in genuine relationships. Whether it's friends, family, or even pets, human connection boosts serotonin and grounds us emotionally. Contribute – Do something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, teach, share your knowledge — the act of giving nurtures purpose. Cope – Take care of your mind and body. Sleep well, practice mindfulness, and stay active. Coping is not avoidance; it's resilience. Cook – Reclaim control over what you eat. Preparing real food with real ingredients counters the chemical chaos of processed diets. You Might Also Like: Peace first or happiness first? Rs 5,000 crore man's advice will make you rethink Are You Really Happy — Or Just Numb? In a culture that equates success with speed and fulfillment with consumption, Dr. Lustig's message is a call to pause — and question. Are you truly happy, or just comfortable? Are you finding peace, or merely escaping pain? You may not be addicted to a substance, but if the difference between a 'want' and a 'need' has blurred, it might be time to recalibrate. Because pleasure will always whisper — but happiness waits for those who listen more deeply.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Navy veteran suing Associated Press over Afghanistan story says 'smuggling' language implied criminal conduct
"Smuggling" could be the new "black market" in Bay County, Florida, if U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young's defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press goes to trial. Young, who successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year, alleged that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Throughout the CNN trial, Young's legal team pointed out the term "black market" is typically used to describe illegal behavior. When covering the trial in January, AP media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young is now seeking punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit against the AP for "an article that went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and on Saturday updated the complaint to include 40 Associated Press articles that use the term "smuggling" to describe criminal conduct. Navy Veteran Who Proved Cnn Defamed Him Sues Associated Press, Says He Was Falsely Painted As 'Smuggler' Young's counsel, Daniel Lustig from Pike & Lustig, submitted examples of the AP using the terms "smuggling," "smugglers" and "smuggle" when referring to illegal behavior, often related to deadly human trafficking. The lawsuit, which alleges the "AP blatantly accused Mr. Young of engaging in criminal human smuggling," claims that the AP has used the term "smuggling" in dozens of prior articles to "describe plainly criminal conduct such as human trafficking, drug operations, and transnational crime." Read On The Fox News App AP headlines submitted include "UK leader tells Interpol meeting world must 'wake up' to threat from people-smugglers," "Panama arrests 15 people for smuggling Chinese migrants through the Darien Gap," "Florida man at center of fatal human smuggling case pleads not guilty in Minnesota," "US government indicts Guatemalan suspect on smuggling charges over deaths of 53 migrants in trailer," and many more. Young is seeking the same venue for his lawsuit against the AP as he had with CNN: Bay County, Florida. The court previously found that Young did nothing illegal. The AP, which has stood by its reporting since Young's lawsuit was filed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on examples provided by Lustig. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RETRACTS AP ARTICLE ABOUT VETERAN ZACHARY YOUNG, BUT AP STANDS BY THE STORY Lustig said the CNN trial was proof that news organizations shouldn't automatically receive the benefit of the doubt. "The CNN trial showed us exactly how media companies operate under pressure – and how far they'll go to avoid responsibility when they know they've published something false. That harm is even more serious when the target is a veteran who served this country honorably. We're not intimidated by the Associated Press," Lustig told Fox News Digital. "We trust a Bay County jury to look at the facts," Lustig continued. "Just like they did before." Young believes the AP acted with actual malice and is seeking "damages in excess of $50,000.00, exclusive of interest, costs and attorneys' fees," along with punitive damages. Jury Finds Cnn Committed Defamation Against Navy Veteran, Settlement Reached On Punitive Damages Last week, U.S. News & World Report retracted its republished version of the AP report, but the AP continued to stand by its reporting. "AP's story was a factual and accurate report on the jury verdict finding in Zachary Young's favor. We will vigorously defend our reporting against this frivolous lawsuit," an AP spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Young's team has continued to amp up pressure on the AP, filing another amendment on Monday to include the news organization referring to the lawsuit as "frivolous" to media outlets. The AP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In January, a six-person jury decided Young was owed $4 million in lost earnings, $1 million in personal damages such as pain and suffering and said that punitive damages were warranted against CNN. A settlement was reached before punitive damages were decided by the article source: Navy veteran suing Associated Press over Afghanistan story says 'smuggling' language implied criminal conduct
Fox News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Navy veteran suing Associated Press over Afghanistan story says 'smuggling' language implied criminal conduct
"Smuggling" could be the new "black market" in Bay County, Florida, if U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young's defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press goes to trial. Young, who successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year, alleged that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Throughout the CNN trial, Young's legal team pointed out the term "black market" is typically used to describe illegal behavior. When covering the trial in January, AP media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young is now seeking punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit against the AP for "an article that went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and on Saturday updated the complaint to include 40 Associated Press articles that use the term "smuggling" to describe criminal conduct. Young's counsel, Daniel Lustig from Pike & Lustig, submitted examples of the AP using the terms "smuggling," "smugglers" and "smuggle" when referring to illegal behavior, often related to deadly human trafficking. The lawsuit, which alleges the "AP blatantly accused Mr. Young of engaging in criminal human smuggling," claims that the AP has used the term "smuggling" in dozens of prior articles to "describe plainly criminal conduct such as human trafficking, drug operations, and transnational crime." AP headlines submitted include "UK leader tells Interpol meeting world must 'wake up' to threat from people-smugglers," "Panama arrests 15 people for smuggling Chinese migrants through the Darien Gap," "Florida man at center of fatal human smuggling case pleads not guilty in Minnesota," "US government indicts Guatemalan suspect on smuggling charges over deaths of 53 migrants in trailer," and many more. Young is seeking the same venue for his lawsuit against the AP as he had with CNN: Bay County, Florida. The court previously found that Young did nothing illegal. The AP, which has stood by its reporting since Young's lawsuit was filed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on examples provided by Lustig. Lustig said the CNN trial was proof that news organizations shouldn't automatically receive the benefit of the doubt. "The CNN trial showed us exactly how media companies operate under pressure – and how far they'll go to avoid responsibility when they know they've published something false. That harm is even more serious when the target is a veteran who served this country honorably. We're not intimidated by the Associated Press," Lustig told Fox News Digital. "We trust a Bay County jury to look at the facts," Lustig continued. "Just like they did before." Young believes the AP acted with actual malice and is seeking "damages in excess of $50,000.00, exclusive of interest, costs and attorneys' fees," along with punitive damages. Last week, U.S. News & World Report retracted its republished version of the AP report, but the AP continued to stand by its reporting. "AP's story was a factual and accurate report on the jury verdict finding in Zachary Young's favor. We will vigorously defend our reporting against this frivolous lawsuit," an AP spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Young's team has continued to amp up pressure on the AP, filing another amendment on Monday to include the news organization referring to the lawsuit as "frivolous" to media outlets. The AP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In January, a six-person jury decided Young was owed $4 million in lost earnings, $1 million in personal damages such as pain and suffering and said that punitive damages were warranted against CNN. A settlement was reached before punitive damages were decided by the jury.
