Latest news with #Poynter
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
US strips $1bn in funding for PBS, NPR for 'woke' news coverage
The US Congress on Friday pulled more than $1bn from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding for the two major public broadcasters, PBS and NPR, as well as 1,500 local stations across the country. The amount now being withheld would have covered up to several years' worth of grants for all those newsrooms, US media watchdog Poynter said. Federal funding only makes up roughly 16 percent of the PBS budget, and one percent of NPR's budget, Poynter noted, so it's the local stations in rural areas that are heavily reliant on federal support. Those stations are sometimes the only source for life-threatening weather alerts and guidance in those communities. The decision was part of a $9.4bn rescissions package that strips taxpayer funding from both public broadcasting and foreign aid projects, all of which were previously approved by Congress for those purposes. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The latest move came at the behest of the White House, which is scrambling to push through as many bills as possible to fund President Donald Trump's agenda before the November 2026 midterm elections, when Republicans could lose their majority. The package had already been advanced in the House of Representatives before being approved with slight amendments in the Senate, meaning the House had to push it through one more time before it goes to the president's desk. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Republicans were "finally ending taxpayer funding for PBS and NPR, two media organisations that have ridiculously used federal dollars to push a partisan left-wing agenda for many years". That "left wing agenda" was highlighted in a lengthy thread on X by the administration's dedicated "rapid response" social media account, which intends to "hold fake news media accountable". Among the accusations is that "PBS staff used 162 variations of 'far right' labels and only six 'far left' labels, an astounding ratio of 27 to 1," the administration said, citing the anti-liberal media monitoring site, Newsbusters. Trump's pick for UN ambassador says he'll use aid as 'leverage' for African votes Read More » PBS also "produced an entire movie celebrating a transgender teenager's so-called 'changing gender identity'," the account said, as part of its reasoning to defund the news outlet. However, there were also examples of critical, rather than positive, PBS coverage of Trump's first term, suggesting that, where possible, the administration is indeed trying to shut down or weaken coverage that does not flatter the president. NPR was similarly attacked for its coverage of immigration, given that back in 2021, it apologised for calling certain immigrants "illegal" rather than "undocumented". In 2013, the Associated Press style guide, which governs most US news outlets, said it no longer sanctioned the term "illegal immigrant" because only actions, not people, are illegal, it said. The Ad Fontes Media bias chart from January 2024 places both PBS and NPR squarely in the middle, whereas it shows outlets like CNN and Al Jazeera both skew left. The other $7.9bn cut to US government spending in the package is set to impact refugee and development programmes, as well as international disaster response. Much of that work was done by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), but the organisation has been defunct since early this year, and only some of its programmes survived and have been rolled into the diplomatic arm of the US government: the State Department. In a last-minute change in the Senate, Republicans voted to keep $400m in funding for the president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a resoundingly successful initiative begun by former president George W Bush to combat HIV and AIDS around the world. US foreign aid may very well be conditioned differently from here on out, and with the likely confirmation of Trump's pick for US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, who told lawmakers he would tie foreign assistance decisions to whether or not countries vote with the US at the international body.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Deaf Woman Films Video in Apartment—Everyone Warns Her About the Same Thing
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. When 34-year-old Rikki Poynter shared a video filmed inside her apartment, she didn't realize it would go viral for an unexpected reason. Content creator and disability advocate Poynter was prepping a quick dinner the night before a flight, and unbeknownst to her she'd left her microwave timer beeping in the background. In a video shared on July 9, Poynter, who is deaf, responded to a comment left on a previous TikTok: "You have something beeping in your apartment Rikki." Her reply video, cheekily captioned: "Deaf person can't hear jack in her own apartment," shows her investigating the noise. "Flashbacks to when people on Snapchat kept telling me my smoke alarm batteries were dying," she wrote in the video caption. Pictures from Rikki's TikTok where she shared how she found the unexpected beeping noise. Pictures from Rikki's TikTok where she shared how she found the unexpected beeping noise. @rikkipoynter/TikTok Speaking to the camera, she says: "Let's all figure out what it is together, shall we." As she walks around her apartment, hunting for the source of the sound. A few button presses on the microwave later, and the mysterious beeping stopped. "I didn't expect 1.2+ million views and a bunch of comments to come from it," Poynter, from Nebraska, told Newsweek. "I'm someone who is often stuck in the 300 view jail so it was surprising to me." Read more Server gets note from table mid-shift, what it says leaves her "sobbing" Server gets note from table mid-shift, what it says leaves her "sobbing" What started as a playful moment became a subtle commentary on how everyday experiences are shaped differently by disability. Her original video hadn't been about the beeping at all—it was about discrimination between people with different types of disabilities, an issue she regularly tackles. But the microwave timer became an unexpected punchline. In 2024, study by NORC at the University of Chicago study for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that 37.9 million Americans have hearing loss in both ears. While bilateral hearing loss grows exponentially after age 35, leaving one in three people ages 65 to 75 and about three out of four people age 75 and older with some form of hearing loss. "I didn't originally plan to share the video," Poynter said. "It just so happened I forgot I had the timer on... and then I wanted to keep the sassy going. Over the last decade, Poynter has built a platform focused on advocacy, accessibility, and connection—especially for deaf people who, like her, grew up without access to American Sign Language or proper support. It is estimated that around one million people throughout the U.S. use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate as their native language, making it the third most commonly used language in the U.S. after English and Spanish. ASL is used by the deaf, hard-of-hearing and those with communication disorders, giving people an essential tool for communication. Despite this, 98 percent of deaf people do not receive education in sign language, and 72 percent of families do not sign with their deaf children. "I want people to know that they have a community that's out there waiting for them if they would like to be in it," Poynter said.
Elle
23-06-2025
- Health
- Elle
Exosomes Are Quietly Replacing Rosemary in Hair Serums—Here's Why
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Rosemary oil had its moment as the buzzy hair growth ingredient for the past year or so, and before that, products infused with castor oil, saw palmetto, and copper peptides popped up on timelines everywhere. However, with the popularity of exosomes in skin care, the best exosome hair serums are increasingly filling the carts of those on a quest to stimulate hair growth, rejuvenate damaged follicles, and boost overall scalp health. Jess Poynter, trichologist and founder of Scalp Haven Hair Studio in Washington, has been paying close attention to exosomes for the past few years. While she typically recommends in-salon exosome treatments as the best way to see the full benefits of the regenerative ingredient, she has come across some exosome hair serums that she confidently recommends for at-home use. But first, Poynter stresses that it's important for shoppers to understand what exosomes really mean for hair and scalp health. 'Exosomes are microscopic messengers. You can think of them as tiny 'envelopes' released by cells to deliver instructions, repairs, and signals to other cells,' she explains. 'In the world of scalp health, they're part of the body's own communication system. They 'whisper' cues that can calm inflammation, support follicle resistance, and guide healthier hair behavior at the root level.' That said, not all exosome-fueled products are created equal. The best exosome hair serums seamlessly fit into a daily hair care regimen, and typically start to show results in about three months. Whether you're looking for a plant or platelet-derived formula, a whole hair care system, or are intrigued by the idea of ashwagandha exosomes, browse the picks ahead to find the best high-tech serum for you. Calecim Professional, a Singapore-based brand that specializes in skin care and hair care driven by stem-cell technology, has Ponyter's stamp of approval. Designed to work over six weeks, its Advanced Hair System is geared toward those with thinning, dry, or brittle hair. Each order comes with a derma stamper, which preps the scalp for maximum absorption; it also comes with six ampoules filled with a serum that contains the brand's signature PTT-6. The patented ingredient is a blend of some 3,000 proteins, which range from growth factors and cytokines to exosomes. In clinical trials, the serum was proven to increase the number of hairs on the scalp, improve the thickness of hair shafts, and boost the number of follicles on the scalp. Key ingredients: PTT-6 Size: 0.17 oz per ampoule, six ampoules are included in each boxOur expert says: 'This has a driver—their stamp tool—that really helps deliver the ingredients. Composed of proteins, hyaluronic acid, and cellular 'mesh' that helps connect everything together, this system can effectively improve regrowth communications.'—Jess Poynte Powered by plant-derived exosomes, Vegamour's pink-packaged Gro Hair serum is a longtime favorite of ELLE editors. One of our top serums for a fuller mane, the product is best used over the course of three months. The vegan formula is made with turmeric and red leaf clover to tame inflammation, copper-infused mung beans to enlarge hair follicles and stimulate growth, and plant stem cells to boost the hair's resilience. Users are particularly keen on the product's non-greasy feel, which makes styling after applying the serum a breeze. There's also an advanced formulation, Vegamour Gro+ Hair Serum, which is specifically designed to target shedding. Key ingredients: Plant-based phytoactives, peptides, plant stem cells Size: 1 oz A reviewer says: 'I love this product because it is not oily like the other topical products out there. I can actually use this in the morning before work, brush it through my hair, and it does not make my hair look greasy or oily. Nor does it make me break out.' Designed to reduce hair breakage and flood the scalp with nutrients, Nutrafol's physician-developed formula comes recommended by Elisha Smith, an international master educator for Balmain Hair Couture and the owner of Pipton beauty boutique in North Carolina. 'Scalp-focused exosome therapy is becoming the go-to for trichologists, facialists, and wellness clinics aiming to treat hair thinning, inflammation, and scalp aging from the root,' she says. For at-home treatments, this is her pick. 'Nutrafol Growth Activator ensures and activates stronger, thicker hair using the power of ashwagandha exosomes, which are 150 times smaller than any other composition on the market, and are therefore able to more effectively penetrate the scalp,' she says. Key ingredients: Ashwagandha exosomes, pea sprouts, Irish moss peptides Size: 1.7 oz Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars Our expert says: 'Skinification of the scalp is a thing these days, and I'm here for it. Biotech serums like this one are outperforming traditional hair-growth formulas in both data and design.'—Elisha Smith According to Andrea Hui Austin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Francisco, 'Plated Skin Science Hair Serum is the only hair regrowth product to contain platelet-derived exosomes, which are sourced from the body's natural repair system, and are specifically optimized for skin renewal.' Unlike plant-based exosomes. platelet-derived exosomes are naturally compatible with human skin. She adds that this type of exosome has also been clinically proven to improve the health of the hair follicle and promote hair proliferation. Key ingredients: Platelet-derived exosomes, antioxidants, natural extractsSize: 1 oz Plated Skin Science rating: 4.5/5 stars Our expert says: 'This product helps reduce inflammation and stress on the scalp skin and hair follicle, and delivers powerful nutrients that create an ideal environment for hair growth, reduce visible breakage, and enhance moisture retention, hydrating the scalp and leading to fuller, thicker-looking hair.'—Andrea Hui Austin, MD Yes, this is technically a face serum, but according to Poynter, the exosome-fueled salve is also beneficial for hair growth. 'This is composed of ingredients that help to strengthen and feed the delicate hair follicles around the face,' she says. Those ingredients include vitamins E and A, seaweed and kelp, hydrolyzed proteins, and growth factors. Key ingredients: Exosomes, hyaluronic acid, sea kelp, noni fruit, sea lettuce, brown algae, Irish sea moss Size: 1 oz Our expert says: 'This also contains Vitamin D3, which is great for cellular energy production.'—Jess Poynter Designed to support hair growth and density, Musely's prescription-strength hair serum has stem-cell-derived exosomes to reduce inflammation in the scalp and latanoprost to prolong the hair follicles' growth phase. Its other key ingredients include caffeine, which boosts circulation in the scalp, and melatonin to protect the hair follicles from damage caused by stress or environmental factors. The serum should be used nightly, as it's recommended to keep the hair dry for four hours following application, and each bottle contains a three-month supply. To get the prescription, you'll need to have a short online visit with a Musely medical provider; afterwards, the product can be shipped to your door. Key ingredients: Exosomes, latanoprost, caffeine, cetirizine, melatonin Size: 1 oz Musely rating: 4.7/5 stars A Musely reviewer says: 'This serum truly transformed my hair care routine. Its anti-inflammatory benefits soothed my sensitive scalp, and within six months, I saw noticeable new hair growth.' According to Hui Austin, an exosome hair serum—which is essentially a serum powered by the regenerative ingredient—helps stimulate healthy hair growth by facilitating the communication between the body's cells. The best exosome hair serums can also stimulate the hair follicle to transition into its active proliferation cycle, known as the anagen phase, for improved hair growth. Hui Austin says that in addition to stimulating hair growth, the best exosome hair serums can reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation in the scalp while repairing damaged hair follicles. In general, Hui Austin recommends an exosome hair serum to anyone who wants a visibly fuller head of hair. However, there are certain hair types and scalp conditions primed to receive extra benefits from the scientifically advanced serums. 'Exosome hair serums can create the biggest difference for anybody who is suffering from visible hair thinning,' Hui Austin says. 'Conditions such as male- or female-pattern balding also respond very well to exosome-based hair serums.' She adds that other hair-loss conditions, such as autoimmune alopecia areata, hypothyroidism, and stress-induced hair loss, usually require additional medical care. 'Adding an exosome-based hair serum can only be helpful in these conditions to improve hair regrowth as much as possible,' she notes. According to Daniel Gould, MD, PhD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with their doctors before using an exosome hair serum. 'This is primarily because there are no studies in those types of patients,' he notes. He also recommends that anyone with new-onset hair loss, anyone who is losing hair for medical reasons, or anyone who is on a new medication, should consult with a medical professional before trying an exosome hair serum. Andrea Hui Austin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in San Francisco. Daniel Gould, MD, PhD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. Elisha Smith, an international master educator for Balmain Hair Couture and the owner of Pipton boutique in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jess Poynter is a trichologist and the founder of Scalp Haven Hair Studio in the greater Seattle area. As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE contributor Jenny Berg spoke to experts about exosome hair serums. Using expert insights, she searched the internet for the top-rated serums on the market. How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster, According To Experts The Best Peptide Products for Longer, Thicker Hair The Best Red Light Therapy Hair Growth Devices of 2025 The Best Hair Growth Vitamins and Supplements, According to Experts
Style Blueprint
07-06-2025
- Health
- Style Blueprint
NursesMC is Turning Ninth Graders into Future Nurses
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit If you've tried to schedule a check-up lately or waited a little too long in the ER, you've probably felt the effects of the national nursing shortage. With more than 78,000 nursing jobs currently unfilled across the U.S., it's not just an inconvenience — it's a crisis. And it's no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic put this issue front and center. But in South Nashville, a new public charter high school, NursesMC, is gearing up to address the problem head-on, starting not in hospitals or universities, but in ninth-grade classrooms. Launching this fall, Nurses Middle College Nashville — or NursesMC, for short — offers a radically practical and refreshingly optimistic approach: train the next generation of nurses before they even toss their high school graduation caps. Backed by a $21.7 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies and formed in partnership with TriStar Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, NursesMC aims to create a seamless pipeline from high school to healthcare careers. And we're not just talking about future nurses memorizing anatomy terms from a textbook. Starting freshman year, students engage in immersive, hands-on learning experiences at local hospitals. By the time they hit 11th grade, they're interning (and getting paid for it), participating in simulation labs, and working directly with professional mentors. By graduation, they'll walk away with a healthcare certification, 12 college credits, and — unlike many of us at 18 — a clear career direction. Pin Dr. Andrea Poynter, a registered nurse and the Executive Director of NursesMC Nashville, is leading the charge. A Tennessee native with nearly two decades of clinical and teaching experience, Dr. Poynter believes that early, real-world experience is key to closing both opportunity gaps and hospital staffing gaps. 'NursesMC Nashville is here to be more than just a school — we are building a pipeline of future healthcare professionals who reflect the rich diversity of this city and are ready to serve their communities with skill and heart,' she says. 'By preparing students early for careers in nursing and healthcare, we're not only addressing workforce shortages but also strengthening trust between patients and providers, improving health outcomes, and expanding opportunities for families across Nashville.' That focus on diversity is intentional. The school is particularly committed to serving students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. In fact, the original NursesMC campus in Rhode Island, which opened in 2011, has seen enormous success with a student body that is nearly 90% Black, Hispanic, or from low-income communities. According to Dr. Poynter, 'within two years, 95% of past graduates were in the workforce and/or pursuing a higher degree in healthcare.' Nashville's new campus hopes to replicate — and expand upon — that success story. For current eighth graders ready to scrub in early (metaphorically speaking), enrollment is now open for fall 2025. The first class will kick off in August, and parents and students can learn more at ********** Keep up with the best parts of life in the South. Subscribe to StyleBlueprint! About the Author Jenna Bratcher Jenna Bratcher is StyleBlueprint Nashville's Associate Editor and Lead Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville 17 years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kari Lake brought back a skeleton crew to Voice of America. They're ‘angry most of the time'
While a federal appeals court appears to have given its blessing to the Trump administration's efforts to completely gut Voice of America, the bare-bones staff that Kari Lake brought back earlier this month has been wracked with low morale and confusion. 'I am angry most of the time I'm in there,' one staffer told Poynter this week. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA and its sister outlets, to reduce staffing down to the 'statutory minimum.' Lake, the failed Arizona politician who now serves as senior adviser overseeing the agency, subsequently laid off hundreds of contracted employees and placed the rest of VOA's staff on indefinite leave. Following a series of lawsuits from VOA employees and executives, Lake was ordered by a district court judge last month to restore Voice of America and bring back its workforce. Additionally, the judge ruled that the administration needed to reinstate Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. 'Not only is there an absence of 'reasoned analysis' from the defendants; there is an absence of any analysis whatsoever,' Judge Royce C. Lamberth wrote. Earlier this month, however, a three-judge appellate court panel decided to freeze the lower court's injunction, saying it needed more time to consider the merits of the case. On Thursday, the full appellate court said it would not intervene at this time. 'We are devastated and concerned that this ruling might lead to further adverse reactions from the administration,' Patsy Widakuswara, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit and VOA's White House bureau chief for Voice of America, told The Independent about the appeals court decision. 'But our day in court is not over yet, and we are committed to fighting until we can return to our congressionally mandated right to broadcast factual, balanced, and comprehensive new.' After Lamberth's initial order to return Voice of America to the air and staff it back up, a small group of 30 employees – from a staff of 1300 workers on leave – was brought back by Lake earlier this month. In an article for Poynter, Liam Scott – VOA's press freedom reporter until he was placed on leave in March and informed he would be terminated this month – spoke to several of the staffers who returned this month and described the 'grim and confusing' atmosphere in VOA headquarters. 'People who are in there do not see this as some kind of hopeful return,' one employee told Scott. 'I am angry most of the time I'm in there… They can't credibly say that they haven't shut us down when zero people are working,' Prior to the president's executive order, VOA broadcast in 49 languages around the world to a weekly measured audience of roughly 360 million people, some of whom live in highly censored authoritarian states. Now, according to those at the pared-down network, Voice of America's content is only translated into Dari, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto and Persian. 'The amount of programming that's being produced is not a credible replacement for what was on air before,' a staffer said. 'We were a 24/7 news operation. Now we're a five-minutes-a-day, five-days-a-week operation,' another source added. 'We all know that this is not what this place is meant to be doing.' Voice of America's primary English-language newsroom, meanwhile, produces just one television segment and a handful of articles a day, which are then translated into four different languages and published, according to Poynter. Notably, with press freedom experts expressing concern about Kremlin propaganda filling the airspace left vacant by VOA's absence, the network is not publishing in Russian in its current depleted state. At the same time, the small cohort that is currently working to produce what little VOA content they can is still following the network's charter, noting that they haven't received any editorial requests from the agency since returning. Interestingly, despite Lake's recent announcement that VOA had partnered up with MAGA cable channel One America News to provide a news feed, Voice of America has yet to air any OAN content. 'No one's really in charge,' a staffer told Poynter, noting the lack of clear leadership at VOA right now. Mike Abramowitz, the network's director, remains on administrative leave. The Independent has reached out to Lake and the USAGM for comment. While fewer than three dozen employees man the ship, hundreds of other full-time VOA staffers remain on the sidelines and in limbo as they wait to hear from the administration about their fate. All the while, Lake has cut other 'frivolous expenditures' from VOA and its sister broadcasters. In March, for instance, she canceled the agency's contracts to carry reporting from wire services such as Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The media agency also reneged on a 15-year lease for new office headquarters – even though it actually saved the government more than $150 million. Though much of the network's full-time staff remains on administrative leave, such as Widakuswara, hundreds of others have already been told they are gone. Last week, Lake announced that 584 total employees were terminated across the agency, the majority of whom came from VOA. 'We will continue to scale back the bloat at [the agency] and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans,' she told The Washington Post of the terminations before adding: 'Buckle up. There's more to come.' Widakuswara, meanwhile, bluntly described how she feels that Lake and the administration are treating the VOA staff at the moment. 'My assessment of the situation is that this is just more emotional terror that they're applying to us,' she told The Independent. 'There's no rhyme or reason why they're bringing people back and then kicking them out. To me, it feels like emotional terror to ensure obedience.'
