President Donald Trump formally nominated the head of his personal Security Service security detail to serve as the director of the agency moving forward. Trump nominated Sean Curran, who sprung into action during the assassination attempt on Trump back in July, to the role in a post on Wednesday evening. “It is my great honor to appoint Sean Curran as the next Director of the United States Secret Service,” Trump said in a statement. “Sean is a Great Patriot, who has protected my family over the past few years, and that is why I trust him to lead the Brave Men and Women of the United States Secret Service.” “Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World,” he continued. “He proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have complete and total confidence in Sean to make the United States Secret Service stronger than ever before.” Trump highlighted Curran’s more than two decades of law enforcement experience, including his start as a Special Agent in the Newark Secret Service Field Office in 2001 where he carried out a wide range of important operations for the agency. CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT Curran served as Trump’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division during Trump’s first term in office where he had “direct oversight and responsibility of multiple protectees, and enhanced security plans for my residences.” Donald Trump Jr. teased out the nomination in a post last week where he called Curran a “great patriot” who “will stop all the insanity once and for all.” “There’s not a better person to be in this position!” he added. ? #BREAKING: President Trump will be naming Sean Curran, who heads his personal detail, to be Secret Service Director. Sean is a great patriot and will stop all the insanity once and for all. There’s not a better person to be in this position! ?????? pic.twitter.com/HWdIxuidYI — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 17, 2025

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Frailty may seem like an inevitable part of getting older, but it’s actually a diagnosable medical condition that affects resilience, independence, and quality of life. According to Dr. Linda P. Fried, geriatric medicine expert and dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, frailty can heighten the risks of health setbacks like hospitalizations and even earlier mortality. Defined by the “frailty phenotype” developed by Dr. Fried and colleagues, you’re considered frail if you exhibit three or more of these signs: muscle weakness, slower walking pace, low physical activity, diminished energy, and unintentional weight loss. These symptoms might seem minor at first but can quickly snowball, increasing the risk of falls or conditions like dementia. Fortunately, frailty isn’t a one-way street. “There are opportunities to reverse frailty, and that doesn’t get talked about enough,” says Dr. Robert Allison, a geriatric physician at West Virginia University. Even better? You can start strengthening your defenses against frailty at any age. Spotting the warning signs Before frailty fully develops, subtle clues might indicate “pre-frailty,” a transitional stage that’s easier to address. Dr. Hermes Florez, a public health physician-scientist, shares examples from his patients: struggling to open jars (a sign of weak grip strength) or noticing slower walking speeds while crossing the street. “Other indicators might include getting unusually fatigued after climbing stairs or having to take breaks during activities you used to breeze through,” Dr. Florez notes. Unexplained weight loss or low energy levels are additional red flags that shouldn’t be ignored. If you notice these signs, consider them a prompt to consult your doctor. Early intervention can significantly improve your outcomes. Move more, lift weights: your best defense Exercise is a cornerstone of frailty prevention. The standard recommendation for adults is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, coupled with at least two muscle-strengthening sessions. But to truly combat frailty, strength training is the MVP. “After age 30, maintaining muscle mass gets tougher for everyone—from elite athletes to everyday folks,” Dr. Florez explains. Regular strength exercises, like lifting weights or performing bodyweight movements such as squats and push-ups, can improve muscle mass and counteract frailty’s progression. Don’t forget balance exercises like yoga or tai chi, which can reduce your risk of falls by improving stability. Dr. Allison highlights research showing that combining balance and functional exercises can lower fall risk by 24 percent. “Frailty increases vulnerability to falls, so incorporating these exercises is crucial,” he says. Fueling your strength: protein is key While there’s no one-size-fits-all diet for preventing frailty, protein stands out as a particularly important nutrient. “Adequate protein intake helps maintain muscle mass,” says Dr. Fried. A 2020 review linked higher protein consumption with reduced frailty risk, suggesting that spreading protein intake across multiple meals is especially effective. How much protein do you need? The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, but many experts suggest aiming higher for frailty prevention. For personalized guidance, consult a registered dietitian who can tailor a meal plan to your needs. Don’t wait for “future you” to start It’s easy to think frailty is something only older adults need to worry about, but research shows signs can appear earlier than expected. A 2018 study found that by their late 30s, nearly 38 percent of women and 35 percent of men were considered pre-frail, with some even meeting full frailty criteria by their mid-40s. Symptoms like fatigue and slower walking may not seem urgent, but bringing them to your doctor’s attention early could make all the difference. “Many of my patients wouldn’t mention these issues unless paired with something alarming like chest pain,” says Dr. Florez. But identifying and addressing frailty markers during the pre-frail stage offers the best chance of reversing them. It’s never too late to take action Even if frailty has already set in, improvements are possible. “Frailty can be reversed,” Dr. Allison emphasizes. “It’s easier to address in pre-frail stages, but progress can happen at any point.” Building a foundation of physical activity, balanced nutrition, and regular health check-ins can help you regain strength and resilience. So, whether you’re in your 20s, 40s, or beyond, the time to act is now. Taking small, consistent steps to prioritize your health today can pave the way for a stronger, more vibrant tomorrow.The post How to spot early signs of frailty and build strength for the long run first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After decades of debate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned Red Dye No. 3 from the nation’s food supply. The decision, announced on January 15, marks the end of an era for a dye long criticized for its potential health risks. The move comes nearly 35 years after the FDA barred the dye—also known as erythrosine or FD&C Red No. 3—from cosmetics and topical drugs due to evidence linking it to cancer in lab rats. Now, food products, dietary supplements, and even oral medications will follow suit, with the ban taking full effect by January 2027 for foods and 2028 for ingested drugs. “A matter of law”: why now? “The FDA is taking action that will remove the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs,” said Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods. He explained that studies have shown the dye causes cancer in male rats exposed to high doses. While the mechanism doesn’t appear to apply to humans, the decision was guided by the Delaney Clause, a statute that prohibits the use of any additive found to cause cancer in animals or people. This isn’t the first time health advocates have raised alarms about Red 3. In fact, the FDA’s initial ban on its use in cosmetics came in 1990, but the agency didn’t extend the restriction to food. That decision prompted years of advocacy, culminating in a 2022 petition filed by groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). “This is a welcome, but long overdue, action from the FDA,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, director of CSPI. “Removing the unsustainable double standard in which Red 3 was banned from lipstick but permitted in candy is a step in the right direction.” What happens next? Food manufacturers now face a January 2027 deadline to remove Red 3 from their products, while ingested drug makers have an extra year to comply. Some companies are already ahead of the curve, swapping Red 3 for natural alternatives like beet juice, red cabbage, and purple sweet potato pigments. Sensient Food Colors, a leading supplier, notes that these natural substitutes are gaining popularity in the wake of growing consumer demand for cleaner ingredients. The FDA’s decision aligns with similar bans in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, where Red 3 is either strictly regulated or outright prohibited. California, too, will implement its own ban starting in 2027, and several other U.S. states are considering restrictions, particularly for foods marketed to children. A tale of two perspectives The ban has drawn praise from lawmakers and public health advocates, who see it as a critical step toward protecting children, the dye’s primary consumers. “The FDA should act quickly to protect the nation’s youth from this harmful dye,” read a letter signed by nearly two dozen members of Congress, emphasizing the higher exposure rates among children. But not everyone is on board. The International Association of Color Manufacturers defends Red 3, arguing that it’s safe at levels typically consumed by humans. They point to reviews by organizations like the World Health Organization, which reaffirmed the dye’s safety as recently as 2018. “When we do ban something, it will go to court,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf warned in December. He acknowledged the potential for legal challenges, particularly given the lack of direct evidence linking Red 3 to cancer in humans. Consumer attitudes drive change A growing number of Americans favor stricter regulations on food additives. According to an AP-NORC poll, about two-thirds of U.S. adults support reformulating processed foods to eliminate harmful ingredients like artificial dyes. Support is especially strong among college-educated and higher-income groups, with 8 in 10 college graduates backing restrictions compared to 6 in 10 without degrees. This shift in public opinion, coupled with increasing awareness of health and environmental issues, has made natural food coloring more than just a trend. For many, it’s a necessity. A final goodbye to Red 3 As the clock ticks down on Red 3, the FDA’s decision represents a significant, if delayed, victory for food safety advocates. While debates over its actual risks may continue, the move signals a broader shift toward prioritizing health over aesthetics in the food industry. And for consumers? It’s one less thing to worry about when reaching for that candy bar.The post FDA finally pulls the plug on Red Dye No. 3 in food first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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Co-host of "The View" Ana Navarro likened rapper Snoop Dogg to a "trained seal" over his decision to perform at a recent event celebrating President Donald Trump's inauguration.What's more, a few in the audience of "The View" seemed to react with shock at Navarro's comparison.'So I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump.'Navarro criticized Snoop Dogg's apparent shift in politics, given the rapper pretended to shoot a Trump clown in a 2017 music video — and prior to Trump's first inauguration, Snoop Dogg promised on social media to ridicule anyone who performed at the ceremony: “I’m gonna roast the f*** out one of you Uncle Tom a** n***** for doing it."Navarro said during Tuesday's episode of "The View" that "if you opposed and stood up against Trump in 2017, but you were there now. If you spoke up against Trump Jan. 7, 2021, but you were there now applauding him like a trained seal — Donald Trump has not changed, you've changed."Immediately after Navarro uttered the words "trained seal," a few in the audience seemed to react with shock as a handful of "oooh" exclamations were audible. But despite the smattering of gasps, the audience roundly applauded Navarro after she was done speaking.You can watch the clip from "The View" segment here. EW reported that Snoop Dogg performed over the weekend at the Crypto Ball, a pre-inaugural event. The Associated Press said that after a social media user posted a video of Snoop Dogg's performance, some were outraged by it. In a January 2024 interview with the Times, Snoop Dogg seemed to have changed his tune.“He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris," Snoop told the outlet regarding the founder of Death Row Records, which signed Snoop Dogg in the early 1990s, according to EW. "So I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump."EW said it reached out to a Snoop Dogg representative for comment.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Rumors have spread like wildfire that prison officials in Washington D.C. are refusing to release many January 6 prisoners despite President Trump’s pardons for 1,500 of them. And Senator Mike Lee believes that these rumors to be true. “I spoke to someone last night who had gone down personally to the D.C. jail, saw that only two of them had been released, and jail officials of the D.C. jail announced that they wouldn’t be releasing anymore last night,” Lee tells Glenn Beck on “The Glenn Beck Program.” “Now, this is not hard, Glenn. They have names, and they have pardons. They can identify those prisoners who have been pardoned, Trump’s directive was that they were to be released immediately as one should when one sees that somebody’s been pardoned, and they still weren’t out,” Lee explains. Glenn himself has noticed that in addition, the mainstream media is continuing to treat those pardoned like criminals. “I was watching CNN last night, and they had people stationed out there, and they were just complaining that criminals that had killed police officers on January 6 were just being released,” he says, adding, “You’re saying that there’s only two that were released last night and nothing yet this morning.” “That’s right,” Lee says. “My former staffer Sean Peterson was down at the D.C. jail, and he said that they released two of them through a back door, and then a jail official said we’re not releasing anymore tonight, even though there were apparently many more to be released.” “Now, again,” he continues, “These are people who have been pardoned, and this is a government that has done things like this for a long time. I’ve got story after story of horrible things they’ve done.” “Is this going to gain any traction?” Glenn asks, adding, “What are you going to do?” “The first thing we’ve got to do is make sure that these prisoners who have been pardoned are in fact released. But I think the word needs to spread. Now, obviously this is a niche issue. It is a local issue, and it’s an issue that’s very emotional for many of the people who live in and around the area,” Lee explains. “But I think more and more residents of D.C. are getting wise to the fact that something’s not working right,” he adds. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Newly-released body cam video shows the moment when a Jacksonville police officer shot a Florida man during a routine traffic stop. The cop was charged and reportedly terminated after the accidental shooting. On Dec. 13, 2024, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office police officer S. Lowry conducted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jason Arrington. The officer accused Arrington of driving through a red light, and Arrington disagreed. 'Holy s**t!'Body cam video shows Arrington being compliant during the traffic stop and informing Officer Lowry that he was armed with a gun. "So what we're gonna do is — just for my safety and your safety — I'm gonna have you step out of the vehicle," the officer instructs Arrington. "And we're just gonna remove the pistol from you." The officer continued, "Then we're gonna run your license and make sure everything is good, and then I'm gonna send you on your way." Officer Lowry informs two other officers at the scene that the driver is "very compliant" and "he does have a pistol on him." Police body cam video shows Arrington exiting the vehicle and then placing his hands on the roof of his truck. Officer Mindy Cardwell is seen on police body cam video attempting to extract the gun holstered in Arrington's waistband. "She tugged on the gun the first time, then she tugged again," Arrington explained before adding, "I don't know, she might have got nervous or whatever, and she pulled harder two more times, and that's when it discharged."Suddenly, a gunshot is heard in the video, and Arrington is seen slumping down in pain. Lowry can be heard screaming, "Holy s**t!"'Gun owners in this state should be able to carry their firearms without the fear of an officer pulling them over on the side of the road, then voluntarily disclosing they’re carrying a firearm, then being shot with their own weapon.'The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "While Officer Cardwell was attempting to remove the firearm, it discharged, striking Mr. Arrington in the leg."The bullet hit Arrington in the upper thigh and went through his right side. Body cam video shows Officer Caldwell's finger on the trigger of Arrington's handgun as she removes it from his waistband. Within seconds, blood is seen flowing down Arrington's leg, and he needs assistance from an officer to walk. Officer A. Weippert applies a tourniquet to Arrington's leg, and Arrington is seen grimacing in pain. The officer then cuts the pants off Arrington's leg to locate the gunshot wound. Following the police shooting, Officer Lowry is heard whispering to himself: "Goddamn." Lowry also is heard telling dispatch that the police shooting was a "negligent discharge."In a late-December press conference, Arrington announced that he planned to sue over the officer-involved shooting. “It messed with me as far as me working and stuff,” Arrington said. "Certain things in my job I can’t do no more, perform, like getting up on equipment and stuff, you know, different things.""I have to get on top of trains and unload stuff, forklift, crane, whatever I have to do at my job. It’s kind of hard for me to do it. I can do it, but it’s challenging, like real bad," Arrington stated.Arrington's attorney — Kay Harper Williams — stated, "Gun owners in this state should be able to carry their firearms without the fear of an officer pulling them over on the side of the road, then voluntarily disclosing they’re carrying a firearm, then being shot with their own weapon."Williams said she believes Officer Caldwell "was not properly trained" and "certainly did not follow proper protocol." Weeks after the incident, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a memo spotlighting how police should conduct stops involving a citizen legally carrying a concealed firearm. "The burden of proving an individual is not eligible to carry a concealed firearm falls on the investigating officer and is not an automatic presumption," the memo reads. "Unless an officer has articulable suspicion that the detained person presents a threat to the safety of citizens or officers or has knowledge that the detained person is ineligible to carry a concealed firearm, officers should not seize a firearm (i.e. remove it from holster, vehicle, pocket, bag, etc.) from someone lawfully carrying it."Internal Affairs launched an investigation, and Cardwell was hit with a sustained charge of incompetence.CBS News on Wednesday reported that Caldwell had been fired. A week after the traffic stop, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office dismissed the traffic citation against Arrington. You can watch police body cam footage from all three of the officers involved in the shooting incident at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's official Facebook page, but it should be noted that the video is graphic. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Ex-CIA Director John Brennan Whines and Weasels About Losing Security Clearance Over '51 Experts' Letter