The United Nations just released a major report about the health of our planet, and the findings are pretty serious. According to the UN, the […]
We Know How to Prevent Black Lung. So Why Are Workers Still Dying?
There was a time when black lung was considered an inevitable consequence of working in a coal mine. Miners spent decades underground breathing coal dust, and many eventually developed the respiratory disease that became one of the most recognizable occupational hazards in America. We know better now. Scientists have understood the connection between inhaling dust and developing serious lung disease for generations. Workplace regulations have been written specifically to limit those exposures. Monitoring programs exist. Protective equipment exists. Medical screening exists. And yet American workers are still developing severe, sometimes fatal lung diseases caused by what they breathe on the…
The 9/11 Victims We’re Still Learning About
Twenty-five years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, researchers are preparing to study a group of people whose experiences have received considerably less attention than those of the firefighters, police officers, and other adults who responded to the disaster. They were children. Some were old enough to remember the planes striking the World Trade Center. Others were infants. Some were still in the womb. Many lived in Lower Manhattan or attended school nearby and were exposed to the enormous cloud of dust and debris created when the towers collapsed. Now, a major federal research effort is being established to examine…
The Cost of Closing Forest Research
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research and development facilities across more than a dozen states as part of a sweeping reorganization of the agency. The move has received considerably less attention than many of the administration's other changes to the federal government, but its implications reach far beyond the offices and employees directly affected. The Forest Service conducts research into some of the most fundamental questions facing America's forests. Its scientists study wildfires, invasive species, forest diseases, water resources, wildlife, and the ways forests respond to changing environmental conditions. The agency says the research itself is not being…
Where Is the Opioid Settlement Money Going?
When opioid manufacturers, distributors, and other companies agreed to pay billions of dollars to settle lawsuits over their role in the nation's opioid crisis, the…
America’s Historic Drop in Homicides Deserves More Attention
For years, Americans have been told that crime is one of the country's most pressing problems. Political campaigns have been built around fears of rising…
When AI Reads Your Medical Records
For years, artificial intelligence in health care was largely discussed as a future technology. Doctors might someday use AI to identify diseases, analyze medical images,…
The Growing Alarm Over Facial Recognition and ICE Detentions
For years, debates about facial recognition technology largely centered on local police departments, airport security, and private sector data collection. More recently, however, a different…
The Cost of Closing Forest Research
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research and development facilities across more than a dozen states as part of a sweeping reorganization of the…
When Politics Enters the Science: The Fight Over What Judges Should Know
The courts routinely deal with questions that judges cannot answer through legal precedent alone. What caused an environmental disaster? How reliable is a particular scientific…
Why Financial Literacy Matters More Than Ever
For generations, financial literacy has been viewed as a personal skill that helps people budget wisely, save for retirement, and avoid unnecessary debt. Today, it…
How Speculators Move Gas Prices
For most Americans, the price of gasoline feels deeply personal. It determines commuting costs, shipping prices, airline tickets, and, indirectly, the cost of groceries and…
We Know How to Prevent Black Lung. So Why Are Workers Still Dying?
There was a time when black lung was considered an inevitable consequence of working in a coal mine. Miners spent decades underground breathing coal dust,…
The 9/11 Victims We’re Still Learning About
Twenty-five years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, researchers are preparing to study a group of people whose experiences have received considerably less attention than…
Who Controls Hollywood Next? Netflix, WBD, and Paramount Collide
Netflix’s proposed purchase of key assets from Warner Bros. Discovery, followed by Paramount’s attempt to block the deal and substitute its own offer, has become […]
The Growing Crisis in Global HIV/AIDS Care
In late 2025, a troubling yet under-covered shift has begun reshaping the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Major funding cuts from Western governments—including long-standing contributors—are destabilizing […]
Did Hegseth Order an Illegal Hit?
Recent reporting has thrust U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) chief Pete Hegseth into a serious and growing controversy: the possible ordering of a military strike […]
Greene Exits Congress in MAGA Split
When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia announced that she will resign from Congress effective January 5, 2026, it marked the end of one of […]
The Epstein Vote Was a Historic Step Forward
Yesterday, the United States Congress officially took decisive action on the long-standing effort to release the files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The Epstein Files Transparency […]
A Deepening Crisis: Healthcare in Rural America
In the United States, the challenges facing rural healthcare are growing more acute. Though often less visible than urban medical issues, the strain on rural […]
Epstein Files Push Gains Steam, but Justice Still Uncertain
In the span of just a few days, Congress has taken several significant steps toward releasing long-sealed documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. […]
Democrats Blink: Schumer’s Caucus Folds After Shutdown Gains
In the wake of election victories for the Democratic Party, when the party appeared well-positioned to assert leverage, the decision by a faction of Senate […]
Off-Year Election Sends Big Message
Yesterday’s elections offered more than the usual state-and-local contests in a so-called “off-year” cycle—they served as a pronounced barometer of voter sentiment, a signal flare […]