Fascism edition. The post Wednesday Quick Takes appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

It has been implementing it for years. The post Iran’s Plan to Eliminate Israel appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

A federal judge in Boston blocked the Trump administration on Tuesday from barring gender identities on passports that differ from a person’s biological sex. U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction that expands on an April ruling that applied to six plaintiffs who sued the federal government. Kobick granted the plaintiffs’ request to make the lawsuit a class action, expanding the injunction to block President Donald Trump’s order restricting passports to only reflect biological sex. The judge’s order applies to “all people (1) whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them under the Passport Policy and/or who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and (2) who have applied, or who, but for the Passport Policy, would apply, for a U.S. passport issued with an ‘M’ or ‘F’ sex designation that is different from the sex assigned to that individual under the Passport Policy.” Also covered by the court order are “all people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them under the Passport Policy and who have applied, or who, but for the Passport Policy, would apply, for a U.S. passport with an ‘X’ designation.” On his first day in office, the president signed an order staking his administration’s position recognizing the reality of biological sex. The order was titled: “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government.” The order in part directed that the “Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall implement changes to require that government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, accurately reflect the holder’s sex.” Kobrick’s order is the latest in a series of wide-ranging injunctions leveled at the Trump administration blocking a broad swath of the president’s agenda. Republicans have taken steps to crack down on nationwide injunctions that have hobbled the Trump administration. Last month, the Department of Justice requested that the Supreme Court rein in the use of such orders. “For the first 170 years of American jurisprudence, nationwide injunctions were virtually unknown,” Solicitor General John Sauer wrote in a court filing. “Their use remained sparing until this century, when they saw a dramatic upsurge in 2017, followed by an explosion in the last three months.” “These injunctions exceed the district courts’ authority under Article III and gravely encroach on the President’s executive power under Article II. This Court’s intervention is urgently needed to restore the constitutional balance of separated powers,” he added. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) in March asked the House Committee on Appropriations in a letter to use Congress’ “power of the purse” to stop the “abuse of nationwide injunctive authority.”

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A team of scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne made a significant stride in the decades-long search for a cure for HIV. The researchers have developed a novel method for exposing hidden HIV within white blood cells using mRNA technology, a development they describe as “overwhelming.” For the nearly 40 million people living with HIV worldwide, this could represent a new direction in treatment. Current therapies suppress the virus but do not eliminate it, requiring lifelong medication. The persistence of the virus in so-called “reservoirs” of infected cells has long been one of the most daunting obstacles in curing HIV. Why hidden HIV is so difficult to treat HIV’s ability to lie dormant within white blood cells is a key reason why it’s been so hard to cure. These reservoirs are invisible to the immune system and unaffected by antiretroviral drugs. Even when the virus is suppressed to undetectable levels, it can reactivate if medication is stopped. “Delivering mRNA to these cells was previously thought impossible,” said Dr. Paula Cevaal, research fellow and co-first author of the study published in Nature Communications. The cells, a type of white blood cell, had historically resisted the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used to carry mRNA, which was a major barrier. The science behind the breakthrough To overcome this challenge, the team engineered a new type of LNP, dubbed LNP X, which the target white blood cells can absorb. Once inside, the mRNA triggers the cells to expose the latent virus, potentially making it vulnerable to treatment or immune clearance. “When our colleague first presented the results, we could hardly believe it,” said Cevaal. “It was a night-and-day difference from past attempts. We repeated the experiment multiple times and got consistent results.” This breakthrough leverages the same mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines, but with a unique formulation that allows it to reach a new type of cell. What comes next for the research While this is a promising development, scientists emphasize that the work is still in its early stages. So far, the technique has only been tested in lab settings using cells from HIV-positive individuals. Next steps would include animal testing, followed by safety and efficacy trials in humans, a process likely to take years. “In biomedicine, many things don’t make it into the clinic,” Cevaal cautioned. “But in the specific context of HIV cure research, we’ve never seen anything as effective at revealing the virus. That gives us real hope.” Dr. Michael Roche, co-senior author of the study, added that this approach could have broader applications, including in cancers where the same type of white blood cell plays a role. Implications beyond HIV treatment Experts outside the study have praised the breakthrough as a potential game-changer. Dr. Jonathan Stoye of the Francis Crick Institute said the research “represents a major potential advance in delivery of mRNA for therapeutic purposes to blood cells.” However, some remain cautious. Prof Tomáš Hanke from the University of Oxford questioned the feasibility of reaching all the virus-harboring cells in the body with this method. “The hope that all reservoirs can be reached this way is merely a dream,” he said. Even so, the discovery marks a major step forward. By making the invisible visible, researchers are inching closer to what once seemed unattainable: a functional cure for HIV. Source Study: Nature Communications— Efficient mRNA delivery to resting T cells to reverse HIV latencyThe post Scientists use mRNA to expose hidden HIV in breakthrough step toward cure first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Before your credentials or job title even enter the conversation, your brain and body are already working behind the scenes sending and interpreting signals of trust. These subtle cues, often unconscious, can make or break first impressions in the workplace. In an age of hybrid teams and digital communication, they matter more than ever. The good news? You don’t need to be a mind reader. You just need to be a little more mindful. According to Scott Hutcheson, PhD, a technology and engineering leadership expert and Senior Lecturer at Purdue University, trust isn’t a mystery. Hutcheson is the mind behind the Leadership Biodynamics Program, a behavior-based approach to executive presence. In short, it’s a series of small, intentional behaviors you can practice every day. Here are five science-backed ways to make others feel safer, seen, and more connected starting right now. 1. Give your full attention You know the difference between someone truly listening and someone just waiting for their turn to talk. So does your brain. Eye contact, leaning in slightly, nodding—all of these small behaviors signal active listening and help calm the other person’s nervous system. This reduces perceived social threats and builds psychological safety. According to research on neuroception (how our brains scan for signs of safety), showing you’re present and attentive makes others far more likely to see you as trustworthy. 2. Acknowledge what others bring to the table You don’t have to give a standing ovation every time a colleague speaks up. But small gestures like a sincere “thank you,” validating someone’s concern, or praising good work can go a long way. Acknowledgment triggers the release of oxytocin, the so-called bonding hormone, reinforcing trust and social connection. As Hutcheson explains, “Validation is a biological mechanism of social bonding.” 3. Be curious—not just charismatic It’s easy to default to your own experiences in a conversation. But when you keep the spotlight on the other person by asking thoughtful questions or letting them share more you amplify warmth. Behavioral research shows that people feel more positively about conversations when someone takes genuine interest in them. It’s one of the most underrated (and powerful) trust-builders. 4. Relax your vibe A friendly smile, a calm tone of voice, and an open posture might seem like soft skills but they have hard science behind them. These signals lower stress responses in others and encourage connection. Even subtle shifts can make a difference. A relaxed demeanor makes you more approachable and helps others self-regulate, especially in high-stakes situations. Humor, when used appropriately, can help too. 5. Let small actions speak loudly You don’t need grand gestures to build trust. Following up after a meeting, remembering someone’s birthday, or helping out before being asked can all send powerful signals of reliability and care. These consistent, thoughtful actions build what some call a “positive relational microclimate”. This is a kind of emotional weather system where trust, collaboration, and loyalty can thrive. Why warmth matters now more than ever In hybrid and remote workplaces, where hallway chats and coffee breaks are rare, intentional trust-building becomes essential. And science confirms: teams that build trust faster perform better, especially under pressure. As it turns out, trust isn’t about charisma or credentials. It’s about biology. And your biology already knows how to connect. You just have to let it.The post 5 subtle signals that make you more trustworthy at work (and beyond) first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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