Weekend-long immigration protests in LA. And, who won a Tony Award

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is revamping its vaccine advisory committee to address concerns about conflicts of interest, a move championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The goal is to rebuild public trust in vaccines by ensuring transparency and independence in decision-making.

Editor’s Note: Vaccines have become a hot-button issue, with skepticism growing over who’s calling the shots—literally. By restructuring the committee, HHS is trying to show they’re listening to critics and taking steps to make the process more credible. Whether it works depends on who gets a seat at the table and how much influence they really have.

Sly Stone, the groundbreaking frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, has died at 82. His band’s fusion of funk, rock, and soul in the late '60s and '70s reshaped music, influencing generations of artists. Though his later years were quieter, his legacy lives on—including an unfinished screenplay about his tumultuous, brilliant life.

Editor’s Note: Stone wasn’t just a musician; he was a cultural force who broke barriers with his racially integrated band and genre-blurring sound. His death marks the end of an era, but his impact—on everyone from Prince to modern hip-hop—is undeniable. The unfinished screenplay adds a poignant layer, hinting at a story he never got to fully tell.

Sly Stone, the legendary funk musician who led the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone, has passed away at 82. His family confirmed the news in a statement, marking the end of an era for a pioneer who reshaped music with his infectious grooves and genre-blending sound.

Editor’s Note: Sly Stone wasn’t just a musician—he was a cultural force. His band’s mix of funk, soul, and rock in the late '60s and '70s broke barriers, influencing everyone from Prince to hip-hop. His death isn’t just the loss of a great artist; it’s a reminder of how his music brought people together during turbulent times. If you’ve ever danced to "Everyday People" or felt the groove of "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," you’ve felt his legacy.

This article calls out George E. Bodgen for misrepresenting the legacy of Cordell Hull, a key historical figure in U.S. trade policy. The piece argues that protectionists are twisting history to justify their stance, when in reality, Hull's approach was about fostering cooperation, not isolation. It’s a pushback against cherry-picking the past to fit modern agendas.

Editor’s Note: Trade debates often lean on historical figures for credibility, but this piece warns against distorting their ideas. If policymakers base decisions on flawed interpretations, it could lead to misguided trade strategies that hurt economic growth—so getting history right matters.

A recent study digging into the effects of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) found no clear evidence that it improved mortality rates or physical health outcomes—despite the program’s goal of boosting healthcare access for low-income Americans. Researchers analyzed the best available data, and while expansion helped more people get coverage, it didn’t translate into measurable health benefits (at least not yet).

Editor’s Note: Medicaid expansion was a huge, expensive bet—so if it isn’t moving the needle on health outcomes, policymakers might need to ask why. Is it too soon to tell? Are people getting care but not the right care? Or is coverage alone not enough without better access to doctors, drugs, or preventive services? This isn’t the final word, but it’s a reality check for a polarizing policy.