Life Expectancy Study Suggests U.S. Will Lag Behind

Posted by Editor on in Healthcare, Poverty, Science 0 Comment

“The study found that among high-income countries, the United States is likely to have the lowest life expectancy in 2030, with men and women expecting to live 79.5 and 83.3 years respectively – similar to middle-income countries like Croatia and Mexico. This was partly due to a lack of universal healthcare in the United States, and also due to factors such as relatively high child and maternal mortality rates, and high rates of homicides and obesity, the study said.”

How to Defeat Those Who are Waging War on Science

Posted by Editor on in Science 0 Comment

“Make no mistake: the War on Science is going to affect you, whether you are a scientist or not. It is going to affect everything—ranging from the safety of the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the kind of planet we live on. It will affect the kinds of diseases we get and the medicines we can use. It will determine our safety and security, and the privacy of our data and personal lives. It will dictate what our kids are taught in our schools, what is discussed in the news, and what is debated in the halls of Congress. It will affect the jobs we have, the kind of industries that thrive here, and what powers our economy. Here are five meaningful steps you can take.“

Trump’s Pick for Commerce Leaves Russia Questions Unanswered

Posted by Editor on in Executive Branch, Russia 0 Comment

“Wilbur Ross is likely to be confirmed as Donald Trump’s secretary of commerce on Monday despite unanswered questions about his ownership of a Cyprus bank that caters to wealthy Russians… This adds to a list of Russia connections that have dogged Trump’s tenure in the White House. Investigations are underway by the FBI, the intelligence community and Congress into ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia’s plot to influence the U.S. election.”

The Retreat from Town Hall: Reporters Pursue Access as Some GOP Officials Pull Back

Posted by Editor on in Town Halls 0 Comment

“Technology such as teleconference calls and Facebook enable government officials to claim that they are talking with constituents. But in the more controlled virtual space, they also are able to avoid potential confrontation with voters and questions from the press…But the appearance of access should not be mistaken for the genuine item—especially at a time when some politicians are retreating from contentious in-person encounters.”

Trump Ethics Monitor: Has The President Kept His Promises?

Posted by Editor on in Executive Branch 0 Comment

“Although Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office now, he continues to own stakes in hundreds of businesses, both in this country and abroad. Ethics experts say this vast international web of personal financial ties could influence Trump’s thinking on public-policy decisions. Trump has dismissed such concerns; he notes presidents are exempt from the conflict-of-interest rules that apply to Cabinet members and other government employees. Past presidents have complied voluntarily with the ethics rules. What Trump and his team have done is commit to certain steps that do touch on some of the ethics and conflicts-of-interest concerns. The Trump Ethics Monitor focuses on those promises and tracks their status.”