What's going on: It’s official — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now the secretary of Health and Human Services. In an interview with Fox News last night, he talked about vaccines, mental health, and eliminating harmful food additives from American diets (including a pitch for McDonald's to swap seed oils for beef tallow). But one big question remains: Will bird flu — aka the H5N1 avian influenza virus — make it onto Kennedy’s priority list? Scientists say it probably should. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday confirmed the virus has infected more humans than previously thought. Some veterinarians had asymptomatic infections after working with dairy cattle, including one vet who worked in states with no known bird flu cases in cows. Translation: Mild infections may be going undetected, meaning official numbers are likely underestimating its spread.
What it means: The jury is still out on how Kennedy will approach the bird flu (though we know he’s had a certain fascination with animal-related matters in the past). However, he’s already cast doubt on H5N1 vaccines and promoted raw milk — despite warnings it could contain the virus. Adding to scientists’ concerns: This new report was delayed for weeks due to the Trump administration's pause on CDC communications. Experts worry political interference is slowing critical public health updates at a time when fast action matters. Meanwhile, virologists warn that the more humans contract bird flu, the greater chance it mutates into something more contagious.
What's going on: You might be seeing the SAVE Act all over your feed, with critics warning it could make it harder for some women to vote. The bill — short for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act — was reintroduced last month and would require people to show proof of US citizenship IRL when registering to vote. That means showing a passport, a birth certificate, or another proof of citizenship (a standard driver's license or REAL ID doesn't count). According to The Brennan Center, roughly 21.3 million voting-age Americans don’t have this paperwork readily available, especially young Americans and people of color. And over 140 million lack a passport. Democrats warn the legislation would suppress turnout among marginalized groups, while Republicans insist it's about preventing noncitizens from voting in federal elections (a scenario studies show is rare).
What it means: Since a birth certificate is one of the most commonly accepted documents under the SAVE Act, some worry it could create a logistical nightmare for the 69 million married women in the US whose birth certificates don't match their legal names. Imagine a Kafkaesque twist on those Julia Roberts ads from earlier this year. The mere fact this bill even exists is enough to have Democrats drawing parallels to other setbacks for women, like the reversal of Roe v. Wade. But despite the outrage and concern, the bill faces long odds in the Senate, making it unlikely to become law.
What's going on: An asteroid might hit Earth in 2032, and while NASA says the chances of a collision are “extremely low,” they’ve also been creeping up since the space rock was first spotted weeks ago. Naturally, the internet is obsessed — because what’s more 2025 than a slow-burning asteroid casually lurking in the background? NASA now puts the odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth at 2.3%, up from 1.2% in January. So yes, technically, the risk has doubled, but let’s keep things in perspective: There’s still a 98%chance this goes the way of most internet panic spirals — nowhere. While NASA says they’ll likely rule out any risk entirely, they also, ever-so-reassuringly, acknowledged the odds could keep rising as they collect more data. Love that for us.
What it means: Before you start researching underground bunkers or brushing up on Armageddon quotes, let’s talk damage control. Yes, scientists estimate the asteroid — measuring between 130 and 300 feet across — is moving at a high velocity of 38,000 mph. But even in the unlikely event that this asteroid hits, the impact would cause local damage — so no need to start drafting your “it’s been an honor” farewell texts just yet. To get a better read, NASA is bringing in the big guns, its ultra-powerful James Webb Space Telescope, for a closer look in March. So if this news revealed whether you're a glass-half-full or half-empty person, congrats on the self-discovery.
Forget chocolate and roses — the real Valentine's Day treat is the return of Yellowjackets (the first two episodes are streaming now on Paramount+ with Showtime). The hit horror series, starring Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci, follows a high school girls soccer team stranded in the Canadian wilderness following a plane crash in 1996. Now, after surviving a brutal winter in season 2, the third season picks up in the summer, where distrust and rising tensions threaten their chances of rescue. Expect plenty of twists and guest appearances from Hilary Swank and Joel McHale.
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