Latest news with #PBD
Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gabbard considering Fox News-style briefings for Trump as he 'doesn't read'
Top intelligence officials are contemplating ways to better tailor their briefings to President Donald Trump, which could involve an unprecedented shift to Fox News-style presentations. Several people familiar with the discussions told NBC News that National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard is currently consulting various current and former intelligence officials to help make her briefings-called President's Daily Brief, or PDB-resonate better with the president, whom several claimed harbors a deep skepticism of the intelligence community. To make matters more difficult, the PBD is traditionally presented in a written format, which has proved difficult under the Trump administration as "the problem with Trump is that he doesn't read," one source claimed, making it an "a very uphill fight." He also has been taking fewer briefings on average than both Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Trump has only received 14 briefings thus far roughly over 130 days into his second term, which is far less than his first term, during which he had received 55 briefings within the same time frame. Meanwhile, in comparison, Biden received 90 and Obama received 63. While it is common for briefings to be tailored to a president's preferences, it would be unprecedented to make some of the changes being discussed. During his first term, Trump's intelligence team was advised to include fewer words and more images for the president's briefings, with Vice President Mike Pence allegedly telling briefers to "lean forward on maps," according to author John Helgerson. However, his second administration is reportedly considering wildly unheard-of ideas such as creating a Fox News-style briefing, which could involve hiring a Fox News anchor to host the presentation. If given the green light, the Fox News personality would have to undergo a process to obtain a high-level security clearance. White House officials have fiercely denied claims made in the NBC News report. White House Spokesman Davis Ingle slammed the report as "libelous garbage from unnamed sources" and DNI Press Secretary Olivia Coleman said it was "fake news," adding that the "so-called 'reporting' is laughable, absurd, and flat-out false." "President Trump has assembled a world-class intelligence team who he is constantly communicating with and receiving real time updates on all pressing national security issues," Ingle said in a statement. "Ensuring the safety and security of the American people is President Trump's number one priority." Given the "uphill fight," sources claim that Gabbard, an Afghan war veteran, has been open to such unconventional proposals. "There was bipartisan consensus that the PDB was in need of serious reform," a source familiar with the internal discussions said. "DNI Gabbard is leading that reform and is ensuring the President receives timely, relevant, objective intelligence reporting." The sources explained that the Fox News-style briefing option could be favorable given that President Trump is an avid watcher of the network and generally trusts its news personalities. Given the president's skepticism of the intelligence community, some are hopeful that a familiar face could soothe his concerns. Meanwhile, some lawmakers have expressed concern that doing so would further politicize the president's briefings to align with his pre-conceived beliefs and interests. The line of questioning comes as reports have surfaced claiming that Gabbard's Chief of Staff Joe Kent asked staff to revise their analysis of a Venezuelan criminal gang for potentially clashing with Trump's immigration policy. Reports have also surfaced alleging that two officials were fired "because they were unable to provide unbiased intelligence." "Absent evidence to justify the firings, the workforce can only conclude that their jobs are contingent on producing analysis that is aligned with the president's political agenda, rather than truthful and apolitical," Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned in a statement to NBC News. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Iksuda Therapeutics announces first patient successfully dosed in phase 1 trial evaluating IKS03 in advanced B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas
NEWCASTLE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Iksuda Therapeutics (Iksuda), the developer of class-leading antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) with clinically validated tumour-selective payload release formats, today announces the completion of dosing of its first patient with IKS03, a CD19-directed ADC, in a phase 1, first-in-human, clinical trial in patients with advanced B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This first-in-human study ( will evaluate the safety, tolerability, preliminary antineoplastic activity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of increasing dose levels of IKS03, and determine the recommended dose for dose-expansion. Efficacy will be further evaluated in disease-specific expansion cohorts. The study is currently enrolling patients across clinical sites in Italy, Spain, Australia, United States and Canada. Dr Dave Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Iksuda Therapeutics, said: 'With the first patient successfully completing the safety evaluation period with IKS03, Iksuda demonstrates its continued commitment to drive its differentiated ADCs through clinical proof of concept, further solidifying our position as a clinical-stage ADC-focused company. Although there have been advances in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in recent years, there remains a significant unmet patient need, and we hope that IKS03 will be able to build on the potential benefit-risk profile suggested by the data generated in preclinical studies.' About IKS03 IKS03 is a best-in-class CD19-targeting ADC delivering a tumour-activated prodrug pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) which was licensed from LigaChem Biosciences (formerly LegoChem Biosciences) ( Preclinical testing demonstrates best-in-class efficacy (vs in-clinic and marketed CD19-targeted therapies) in in vivo xenograft models and significantly raised maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in non-human primate disease models, demonstrating its potential to be the leading anti-CD19 therapy in B-cell cancers. About Iksuda Therapeutics: Iksuda Therapeutics is a clinical stage, UK-based biotechnology company focussed on the development of class leading antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting difficult-to-treat haematological and solid tumours. Iksuda's pipeline of ADCs is centred on a portfolio of prodrug DNA and protein alkylating payloads in combination with stable conjugation chemistries including its proprietary PermaLink ® platform. The Company's design concepts for ADCs are now clinically validated to significantly improve the therapeutic index of this important modality and improve the outcomes for patients living with cancer.
Metro
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Terrence Howard would 'cut his lips off' if he kissed a man on-screen
Terrence Howard has declared he would rather 'cut off his lips' than kiss a man for a movie role. The US star, 56, was talking about declining the opportunity to star as Marvin Gaye in a biopic, which would have apparently required it – 'and I wouldn't have been able to do that'. Appearing on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, the Empire actor began by revealing the 'biggest mistake' of his career was turning down the chance to portray Smokey Robinson in a biopic, a part the musician had personally asked him to play. However, he declined the Robinson role because he had 'just had conversations with [director] Lee Daniels about playing Marvin Gaye' in a separate biopic. Howard, who previously appeared in Marvel's Iron Man, says he was 'being faithful' to Daniels and their talks by not pursuing the project with Robinson – even if it broke the Miracles star's heart, as he claims. But he then revealed he ended up turning down the Marvin Gaye biopic after all because music legend Quincy Jones 'confirmed' to him rumours that I Heard It Through the Grapevine icon Gaye was gay. 'I was over at Quincy Jones' house and I'm asking Quincy, 'I'm hearing rumours that Marvin was gay,' and I'm like, 'Was he gay?'' Howard recalled. 'And Quincy's like, 'Yes'.' Howard then said he 'could not' star in the movie after hearing that because he 'couldn't fake it'. 'They would've wanted to do that, and I wouldn't have been able to do that,' he said of portraying a gay man in Gaye, and being required to kiss a male co-star onscreen. 'That would f**k me,' Howard added. 'I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off.' Host Maher said he wouldn't go as far as Howard but could understand his discomfort, commenting: 'It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man.' Howard also clarified that it was more about his commitment to the role as an actor than his view on sexuality. 'I can't play that character 100 percent. I can't surrender myself to a place that I don't understand,' he insisted. Gaye was married twice to women: producer Berry Gordy's sister Anna and Janis Hunter, with whom he shared children, Nona and Frankie. He adopted son Marvin III with Anna, who was the biological son of her 16-year-old niece, Denise. After earning the titles 'Prince of Soul' and 'Prince of Motown' with hits like How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), Let's Get It On and Sexual Healing, he was shot and killed by his father aged 44 after intervening in a fight between his parents. In a separate interview on the PBD podcast, Howard recently claimed that Sean 'Diddy' Combs once made sexual advances towards him while he was offering his services as an acting coach. However, the Oscar winner cut contact after his assistant suggested that, in his opinion, the music artist was 'trying to f**k' Howard during their hangouts. More Trending 'I was like: 'Oh, okay. Now I get it.' So now, no more communication. Now you know to be hands-off with somebody,' he said. He further claimed that he had always strived to 'be the man in the room, and that's always been my whole thing' as he spoke about his 'man card'. 'I've lost businesses because I don't bend over in that way,' he added. 'I don't compromise. I don't play gay roles. I don't kiss a man. I don't do that s**t because the man card means everything.' Combs, who is currently awaiting trial for charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution – which he denies – has been held in police custody in jail since September. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: The 5 best James Bond films ever made – including a record-breaking classic MORE: 'Bonkers' new thriller starring 90s heartthrob lands rare Rotten Tomatoes score MORE: Hollywood must learn this one lesson from The Hunger Games' bold announcement
Axios
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Democrats eyeing 2028 court the "manosphere"
Ambitious Democrats are increasingly jumping into a universe of podcasts and internet shows they once shunned: right-leaning ones geared toward men. Why it matters: President Trump won the majority of male voters last November — and made huge gains among those under 30, a group Joe Biden had won in 2020. Now Democrats are scrambling to counter Trump's version of masculine appeal. Trump made a point of going on popular shows that are part of the "manosphere" — including those hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Lex Fridman and Andrew Schulz. Driving the news: Since November, several potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have appeared on those shows, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California. Buttigieg, sporting a new beard, joined the "FLAGRANT" podcast and its right-leaning comedian hosts for more than two hours. (Trump appeared on it last fall). Earlier this month, Shapiro joined "The Men At Work Podcast," which describes itself as asking "thoughtful, dumb guy questions." Shapiro also has been making the rounds to talk about football and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. In January, Khanna was on the PBD podcast, which is hosted by right-wing commentator Patrick Bet-David and has a mix of politics and sports. Trump went on the podcast last fall. Between the lines: As these podcasts boomed, prominent Democrats shied away because of the hosts' controversial, sometimes offensive, comments that could upset the base of the party. Buttigieg acknowledged that dynamic to the hosts of "FLAGRANT," telling them that, sometimes unfairly, there's a "contagion of cancel culture" associated with sitting down with some hosts. "To me, it's worth some risk in order to reach everybody," he said. Buttigieg later wrote in a note on Substack that "one thing that is clear from the last election is that my side of the aisle must examine not only what we have to say, but how and where we say it." Zoom in: Schulz, one of the "FLAGRANT" co-hosts, has stirred controversy in the past with his jokes about race. Earlier this year, he said that "with Black people, if a white person isn't like a little racist around you, then you shouldn't trust them ... They got to be a little racist ... You got to let a little out." The liberal group Media Matters wrote last year that Bet-David's podcast was "a platform for far-right figures to promote conspiracy theories and bigotry." Since Trump's victory, however, Democrats — for now, at least — aren't getting as much backlash for appearing on such shows — a marked change from how many Democrats reacted during Trump's first term. During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, Democrats bashed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for appearing on Rogan's show and touting Rogan saying he probably was going to vote for Sanders. Biden and Democratic groups such as MoveOn and the Human Rights Campaign criticized Sanders, given that Rogan had said a transgender woman fighter shouldn't be allowed to fight against women. "Let's be clear: Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time," Biden tweeted. "There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights." Other Democrats also criticized Sanders because Rogan had said the n-word on his show. Rogan would apologize for that in 2022. Last year, some members of Kamala Harris' campaign were queasy about her appearing on Rogan's show. She ultimately didn't. Trump appeared on the show and Rogan later endorsed him, a move that some Democrats believe was important to Trump's victory. Sanders has defended his early venture to Rogan's show and has continued to go on similar podcasts.
