White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday that a Parkinson’s disease doctor who visited the White House in January did, in fact, meet with President Joe Biden, correcting a false claim she had made the day before. Jean-Pierre had been asked whether a meeting on January 17 between White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor and neurologist Dr. Kevin Cannard, revealed by White House visitor logs, was related to Biden. The AP reported that it was the only visit the two had, at least on paper, between July 2023 and March 2024. That period came into focus because Cannard had visited the White House eight times during that span. Jean-Pierre responded to further inquiry by issuing a statement to the AP on Tuesday saying that she had previously relayed the misinformation to the media because “the date was not mentioned in the question.” “I want to be clear that the Jan. 17 meeting between Dr. O’Connor and Dr. Cannard was for the president’s physical,” she admitted. “It was one of the three times the president has seen Dr. Cannard, each time for his physical. The findings from each exam have been released to the public.” O’Connor said in a letter on Monday night that all of Biden’s neurological evaluations, which have taken place as part of his yearly physical, have been with the Parkinson’s expert. Dr. Tom Pitts, a quadruple board-certified neurologist based in New York City, said during an interview with NBC News this week that Biden “definitely” has Parkinson’s disease and degeneration of the brain. Last week, Jean-Pierre claimed that Biden “did not get checked out by the doctor” for a cold that he said he had during his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump late last month. However, Biden told Democrat governors in a private call that he did receive a check-up from the doctor after the debate.

A newly released study by scientists, mostly from Penn State University, outlines their technique of penetrating cancer cells and editing them to make them more vulnerable to cancer therapies. The proof-of-concept study was published July 4 in Nature Biotechnology. The scientists “devised an approach to edit cancer cells, delivering two new ‘switches’ into them. The first switch enables modified cells to outgrow the rest of the cancer cell population. Then, the second switch allows these cells to unleash a toxic drug onto the remaining tumor,” Kristel Tiandra wrote in LiveScience. Tiandra explained that the scientists inserted two “suicide genes” into non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC); one gene, aided by the cancer drug erlotinib — which usually stops a protein called EGFR from being activated — allowed the cancer cells to become resistant to erlotinib, thus permitting the team to control whether the cancer cells proliferated. The modified cancer cells grew faster than the unmodified cells that resisted the drug. Once more of the modified cells were added, the scientists stopped using erlotinib, and the growing cells stopped. “Once their trap was set, the scientists activated the second suicide gene using a harmless molecule called 5-FC. Cleverly, the second gene codes for an enzyme that helps cells transform 5-FC into a toxin, called 5-FU, that kills cancer. The 5-FU ultimately kills both the modified cancer cells and the cells surrounding them,” Tiandra explained. The team found that after 20 days of treatment, the modified cancer cells had outgrown the unmodified cells; by roughly 14 weeks after the initial treatment, the tumor’s volume had dwindled to zero. “We see this as something beyond the treatment of lung cancer,” lead study author Scott Leighow said. “We see this as a generalizable platform for delivering therapeutic genes in cancer and using those to create therapeutic opportunities that might lead to cures in the future.” Aaron Goldman, a cancer pharmacologist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told LiveScience, “I’ve not seen anything like this.”

According to an exclusive report from The Wall Street Journal, an analysis of billions of Medicare records showed private insurers connected to the federal government’s $450 billion-a-year Medicare Advantage program issued “hundreds of thousands of questionable diagnoses that triggered extra taxpayer-funded payments from 2018 to 2021.” The Journal noted that the program currently covers more than half of the 67 million seniors and disabled people on Medicare. It explained that insurers can add their own diagnoses in addition to the ones doctors submit for their patients. “Medicare gave insurers that option so they could catch conditions that doctors neglected to record,” the Journal stated, adding, “The Journal’s analysis, however, found many diagnoses were added for which patients received no treatment, or that contradicted their doctors’ views. The insurers make new diagnoses after reviewing medical charts, sometimes using artificial intelligence, and sending nurses to visit patients in their homes.” “They pay doctors for access to patient records, and reward patients who agree to home visits with gift cards and other financial benefits,” the Journal asserted. Between 2018 and 2021, Medicare compensated insurers roughly $50 billion for diagnoses the insurers had added. “The government paid all Medicare Advantage insurers more than $700 million from 2019 to 2021 for diabetic cataracts. Most of the diagnoses were added by insurers,” the Journal reported. Over 66,000 Medicare Advantage patients were diagnosed with diabetic cataracts despite the fact they had previously received cataract surgery. “It’s anatomically impossible,” Dr. Hogan Knox, an eye specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told the Journal. “Once a lens is removed, the cataract never comes back.” UnitedHealth spokesman Matthew Wiggin responded to the Journal’s report by saying its analysis was “inaccurate and biased.” He stated that Medicare Advantage “provides better health outcomes and more affordable healthcare for millions of seniors” than traditional Medicare. A spokesman for Humana echoed that the Journal’s analysis of treatment rates “is flawed and misleading.” However, the Journal claimed that more than a dozen experts said the news outlet’s methodology was accurate.

President Joe Biden is set to face a significant diplomatic challenge at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, D.C., from July 9-11, 2024. This summit marks a crucial moment as it will be the 75th anniversary of the alliance, bringing together 32 allied nations to address pressing global security issues, primarily focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the alliance's future strategy​​. Biden's leadership will be scrutinized as he aims to maintain unity among NATO members while managing divergent views on key issues such as Ukraine's membership. The summit is expected to highlight NATO's steadfast support for Ukraine, a stance Biden has championed since Russia's invasion in February 2022. He plans to use the summit to reinforce the message of unwavering support for Kyiv, arguing that Western aid has been pivotal in Ukraine's resilience against Russian aggression​​. Hello! Welcome to Washington, D.C. Capital of the United States, witness to the founding of NATO 75 years ago, and host of the 2024 #NATOSummit pic.twitter.com/YyB7rlcM8V — NATO (@NATO) July 9, 2024 One of the major points of contention is Ukraine's potential NATO membership. While Eastern European members and nations like Poland support Ukraine's eventual inclusion, key allies such as Germany and the U.S. remain cautious, citing the need for further democratic reforms and military readiness. French President Emmanuel Macron has recently aligned more closely with Eastern European leaders on this issue, adding to the complexity of the discussions​​. Another significant agenda item will be the formal approval of Sweden's NATO membership. Although Finland's accession was finalized earlier, Sweden's bid has faced objections from Turkey and Hungary. Biden has been actively involved in negotiations to resolve these issues, aiming for a breakthrough during the summit​​. Zelensky is in Washington for the NATO summit.Ukraine is not part of NATO (so why is he there). Children's hospital attacked. (why was he here). Russian peace deal on table. Zelensky rejected it. Refuses elections. How much will this cost?#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/gY99Itpycm — sonofabench (@therealmrbench) July 9, 2024 Additionally, Biden will push for continued NATO support for Ukraine as the conflict enters a critical phase. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to press for more definitive commitments from NATO leaders regarding military aid and a clearer path to membership. This comes against the backdrop of Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts, which have seen mixed results so far​​. Internally, Biden faces challenges from rising skepticism within the U.S., particularly from some congressional Republicans and GOP presidential candidates who question the extent of American financial and military support for Ukraine. This domestic opposition adds pressure on Biden to secure robust international backing for Ukraine at the summit, ensuring that the alliance remains united in its approach to Russian aggression​​. The summit also provides an opportunity for Biden to reaffirm NATO's broader strategic goals. This includes addressing the evolving security landscape, bolstering defense capabilities, and ensuring that all member states meet their defense spending commitments. The meeting will be a critical test of Biden's diplomatic skills and his ability to navigate complex international dynamics while reinforcing the United States' leadership within the alliance​​. As the world watches, Biden's performance at the NATO summit will have far-reaching implications for the alliance's future and the ongoing efforts to counter Russian threats. His ability to maintain cohesion among NATO members and secure concrete commitments will be crucial in shaping the alliance's response to current and future challenges. The post Biden Faces Major Test at NATO Summit appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

That is one way to unite a crowd

'A few seconds of history that changed the world'

'She knew that was sort of the retaliation moment'

A screenshot of a headline shared on Facebook claims philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates has launched a dairy alternative made from maggots called “maggot milk.” Verdict: False The claim is false. A spokesperson for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact. Fact Check: Gates […]

Another low is forming over the Atlantic

'I want him to do whatever he decides'