The ‘spoken word’ is persuasive. Whether it comes in the form of political rhetoric, protest chants or Tik Tok videos, words have the potential to persuade people to think one way or another. Words are especially influential when they’re repeated, sometimes ad nauseam. Words get into people’s heads, like a tune you can’t stop humming. How else can racist politicians convince people thousands of miles away from the southern US border that their lives are under siege? The rhetoric driving anti-immigrant sentiment is lethal to the survival of the vast majority of migrants already trying to escape ..read more

When COVID confined us all to our homes, we knew that being with people outside our immediate family raised our risk of contracting the disease, unless we wore masks and got vaccinated. So, in a place where strangers are piled on top of one another and there was very little money for anything like masks or personnel to give vaccines, it’s no wonder that there was one place that ensured a higher death count from COVID. Unfortunately, thanks to a new study we now know exactly how high it was; Portugal is celebrating its democracy, but for how long?; By all predictions, the US has been able to av ..read more

It just makes sense that if every month we’re breaking heat records that this ‘hot’ trend can only continue. It is and climatologists are warning unusual heat will occur in the tropics this summer. We’ve seen it happening everywhere there is summer: parts of Africa, South America, Australia, etc. And that’s bad news. Heat is the biggest killer of people, more so than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes. Now, meteorologists have a new tool to forecast the heat and save lives; Oral health care is essential for overall good body health. Yet, many seniors find themselves foregoing the necessary treatm ..read more

Over the decades, the rest of the world has caught up, and in many cases, surpassed the United States when it comes to the ‘American Dream.’ Other developed countries, and a few less developed, have less gun violence, rank higher on the global “happiness” index, provide more services for the elderly and lowest income, provide college educations, recognize women’s right to choose and roles in government and on corporate boards, mandate a work/life balance AND have less people suffering from something the US now leads the planet in inflicting on its own; The world watched as the GOP-led House of ..read more

I thought the polls had to be wrong. How could Latinos throw their support behind Trump, endorse the border wall and be in favor of limiting migration into the US? Then I saw this study. It’s long been known in Latino communities that any policy targeting immigrants — which always seems to be synonymous with Latinos — always impacts US-born Latinos. Remember racial profiling? Latino drivers continue to suffer from this unspoken practice by many community police departments. With states trying to pass bills to make it easier to find and deport undocumented immigrants, a real fear among US-born ..read more

When the legalization of cannabis first began to sweep the nation, the intentional use was for medical purposes. However, recreational users soon overtook the market. Now, a new study highlights just who is using the most weed; Ever think of Sudan? We all should; Russian hackers are bad news. We see their handiwork on an almost monthly basis when they hold business data for ransom. Now, at the direction of Putin, they’re raising the stakes and this time they may not ask for money; Seems states botched more executions of Black prisoners and experts think they know why; and Sorry, but scientists ..read more

Israel’s intense retaliation on Hamas in Gaza has drawn worldwide condemnation for all the lives of innocent Palestinians caught in the (figuratively-speaking) crossfire. Condemnation of Israel has permeated our college campuses and Main Street USA, with an astonishing rise in antisemitism, according to the ADL; The Department of Homeland Security is releasing a new tool to combat online child sex exploitation; Caitlin Clark is a phenomenal women’s basketball player. So, why do 3 NBA mascots make more than her new WNBA rookie contract? Pay inequality has gone on for too long; No woman enjoys w ..read more

A selling point in any national political contest between opposing parties has always been if the party in power has kept people safe. Not so much on the international stage but within its own borders. The GOP like to say that the Democrats have made the country less safe and continually claim the country is more violent now than ever before. However, the data doesn’t show that scenario. In fact, it shows a different reality that bucks “alternative facts;” Do you know where Myanmar is? A recent UN report finds it’s a country worse off than believed; Every week, there is a headline about gun de ..read more

Former President Trump likes to boast — a lot. He claims to be the first, and best, at anything he thinks bolsters his image. However, what is happening today hardly enhances his standing in the nation or history. He will be the first US president to face a criminal trial. Ironically, he’s not boasting about it; Inflation is hitting everyone around the world. As we see in our own country, it’s worse for some than others. It’s proof of a widening money gap between the have’s and the have-nots. It’s not just a US problem. The World Bank just sounded an alarm that should make developed countries ..read more

According to a new poll, despair is making young men in the US more “conservative” as the presidential election nears. Could that be true? Well, in this case, I believe “conservative” translates into ‘playing it safe,’ not rocking the boat, especially with inflation still raging and employers downsizing without a moment’s notice. If there was one generation who always bucks the conservative label, in the traditional sense, it’s the younger generation. Historically, they’re the risk-takers, the ones who advocate for change. With finances shaky — a new report reveals workers actually only earn h ..read more