Dr. Richard Ogden Roberts III is a pediatric endocrinologist at the Texas Children’s Hospital who’s administered puberty blocking and cross-sex hormone medications to young patients suffering from gender dysphoria. He was also one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that sought to halt a ban against child sex changes, leveraging his medical credentials as he worked alongside radical activist organizations. Now he’s found himself at the center of a new scandal at the hospital, which has been enveloped in criticism after one whistleblower exposed the hospital for lying to the public about their offerings of transgender medical interventions to children and was then targeted by the federal government as a result. New allegations that Roberts committed Medicaid fraud have cast further doubt on his so-called “gender-affirming care” operation, with a whistleblower claiming that the hospital “is illegally billing Medicaid for transgender procedures” with the help of Roberts, who is now being investigated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton since the state bars the use of Medicaid funds for any and all medical interventions that seek to change people’s sex. Roberts embodies the partnership between radical transgender ideologues and the medical establishment. A closer look at Robert’s effort to halt Texas’ ban on child sex changes indicates that the doctor formed an alliance with far-left ideologues and activist groups, many of which enjoy the backing of the pharmaceutical companies that stand to profit from transgenderism in the process. Roberts himself has clearly adopted the core tenets of leftwing gender ideology. In one presentation on behalf of the Texas Children’s Hospital, Roberts repeated the line that child sex change procedures are “life saving and medically necessary” care, and even explained that he uses the preferred names and pronouns of “gender diverse” children behind the backs of parents. “I will often ask patients by themselves if there’s a name that they use privately and that they would like me to use around them, and if they are comfortable with me using that name and their pronouns with parents,” the pediatric doctor told the audience. It was fitting, then, when Roberts, a doctor ensnared by gender ideology, teamed up with professional transgender activists to try and stop the Texas bill. One of the organizations listed alongside Roberts in the lawsuit against Texas’ bill in defense of children is GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality. The organization advocates for the use of sex change operations on children and maintains what it calls an “equality map” that documents legislation that allegedly harms transgender youth “by blocking their access to best-practice medical care.” GLMA counts Roberts as one of its members, indicating that the embattled doctor pays annual membership dues to the transgender activist organization. PFLAG, one of the most powerful pro-transgender organizations in the country, was also a plaintiff alongside Roberts. The extreme organization directly promotes gender ideology to children and published a “transgender reading list for children.” The list includes “I Am Jazz,” a story about “a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings,” as well as the “Gender Now Coloring Book,” which is “meant to provide reflection and support unity by showing multiple genders standing together.” There’s also “What Makes a Baby,” described as a “children’s book that takes gender out of making a baby.” GLMA is backed by the pharmaceutical industry. Its website notes that it counts perhaps the single most powerful pharmaceutical lobbying organization, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), as a sponsor. PhRMA represents several different companies that produce drugs used by those attempting to modify their sex, including Abbvie, Bayer, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Teva US Speciality Medicines, and Eli Lilly. The companies under its umbrella collectively produce drugs that are used to block puberty, as well as estrogen and testosterone drugs. PhRMA is no stranger to backing the transgender movement, which many of the companies it represents have a financial stake in. Together with Pfizer, the lobbying organization previously bankrolled a project from the Human Rights Coalition, an influential LGBT activist group, as it pushed gender ideology into hospitals across the country. Novo Nordisk, another pharmaceutical company with financial interests in transgenderism, backs the organization that Roberts is a member of and that sued Texas alongside the doctor. The company produces six different estrogen drugs classified as estradiol, which can be used off-label in men who identify as women. GLMA is also sponsored by Pfizer Rx Pathways, a project of the infamous pharmaceutical titan that produces drugs used by those who are attempting to change their sex. Pfizer, for example, has Aldactone, a product that has been called “the most commonly used androgen blocker in the U.S.,” by the University of California San Francisco Gender Affirming Health Program. There’s also Depo-Provera, a Pfizer product used to feminize men who identify as women, and Depo-Testosterone, an injection used by women who are attempting to become men. The pharmaceutical titan also makes Synarel, a drug that can block puberty. Synarel is a nasal spray and has been suggested as an alternative to injections. GLMA isn’t the only transgender activist organization that receives funding from pharmaceutical interests and attempted to stop Texas’ bill, however. Like GLMA, PFLAG too has taken money from pharmaceutical interests that stand to gain from child sex change attempts. Abbvie Pharmaceuticals, the company behind a puberty blocking drug called Lupron Depot that has been successfully used to chemically castrate sex offenders, previously indicated that it financially supported PFLAG, among other organizations that push child transgenderism. Pharmaceutical companies had a role in funding both the plaintiffs in the case as well as the activist law firms that represented them. The Transgender Law Center, which was among the organizations that represented Roberts and the other plaintiffs, also boasts big pharmaceutical backers. Nestled between the names of individual donors is Pfizer, which creates the aforementioned litany of drugs used in gender transition attempts, and Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the company behind an anti-androgen drug used to feminize men who identify as women. Lambda Legal, yet another pro-transgender organization that represented the plaintiffs, took money from Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of the testosterone therapy drug Axiron. As connections between activists and medical interests have become increasingly apparent, some have warned that an unholy alliance between the two was being formed. “These medical interventions are costly, and they must be maintained for the lifetime of the user, generating significant profits for Big Pharma,” January Littlejohn, a Parent Advocate with Do No Harm, told The Daily Wire last year. “It is not surprising that big pharma would partner with an organization aiming to normalize a mental health issue from which they would profit immensely.”

Mel Brooks teased sequels to both “Spaceballs” and “History of the World, Part 1” back in the ‘80s. The former made its intentions clear in tongue-in-cheek fashion – “Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money,” Brooks’ character said in the film. The 97-year-old funnyman is finally making good on his promises, but the results threaten a legacy up until now has remained bulletproof. The same holds for other aging stars who can’t let their signature franchises go. Brooks. Mel Gibson. Danny Glover. Eddie Murphy. Their quest to revive long-dormant IPs could remind us why we loved them in the first place. Or, more likely, they’ll make us wish they left well enough alone. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Peabody Awards Brooks’ legacy has remained certified gold despite the occasional clunker (“Dracula: Dead and Loving It,” “Life Stinks”). His big-screen classics like “The Producers,” “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles” remind us of a time when comedy had no guardrails. Funny was funny, and no one did it better than Brooks. His “Producers” revival on the Great White Way only polished his gleaming brand. He’s still vibrant and funny in his 90s, but he recently decided to revisit “History of the World Part I” for a modern generation. Uh oh. The result? Hulu’s multi-episode “History of the World Part 2,” created by comics eager to add their woke bromides into warped historical takes. Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes and Nick Kroll couldn’t duplicate Brooks’ old-school wit. Instead, they inserted lectures along with a black Jesus (Jay Ellis) and Mary Magdalene (Zazie Beetz). Is anyone still talking about the 2023 series? Will it be rewatched as aggressively as Brooks’ version? Sadly, Brooks served as a producer and narrator on the sequel series.  That comes to mind as news of a “Spaceballs” sequel hit the news. Josh Gad of “Frozen” fame will co-write and star in the film, also to be produced by Brooks. The original “Spaceballs” proved hit or miss, but characters like Pizza the Hut and Barf, the Chewbacca riff played by John Candy, became part of comedy lore. The film also arrived as “Star Wars” fever still gripped the culture. Today, “Star Wars” is mostly a punchline. If Team “Spaceballs” leans into the Disney “Star Wars” era and its heavy-handed agenda, it could have a solid satirical base. We’ll see. Eddie Murphy is much younger than Brooks, but at 63 he’s also returning to the saga that made him a superstar. The Netflix original “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (July 3) brings Murphy’s fast-talking hero back alongside some familiar franchise faces – Judge Reinhold, John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot. Melinda Sue Gordon/Netf. IMDB. Copyright 2024 Netflix, Inc. The franchise’s two sequels made money but proved shadows of the cutting original. The latest sequel has been teased for some time, but now it’s a streaming title, skipping theaters entirely. That alone feels wrong. Plus, the shadow of “Coming 2 America” hangs heavily over the project. That belated sequel, another streaming original (Prime Video), lacked the humor and heart of the original. It, too, bowed to the Woke Gods in its alleged yuks. Will “Axel F” improve on that model or sink to its lows? Murphy is a relative rookie compared to Danny Glover. The veteran actor, nearing his 78th birthday, will reprise his role as Det. Roger Murtaugh in a fifth “Lethal Weapon” film. So says 68-year-old Mel Gibson, set to star and direct in the latest installment of the action franchise. The last film in the saga hit theaters in 1998. Gibson said the latest installment is an homage to late director Richard Donner who helmed the previous installments. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images Gibson is still mending fences following his infamous, antisemitic meltdown. Glover works regularly, but he hasn’t anchored in a film in some time. The irony? The 1987 original featured Glover’s classic line, “I’m too old for this s***,” which he uttered when he was roughly 40. What will he say this time? Age is a common denominator in all of the above, but it doesn’t imply great art can’t be made by older artists. Nor are belated sequels necessarily a bad idea. Yes, we didn’t need “Zoolander 2,” but “Anchorman 2” didn’t embarrass its fan base. Even better was Martin Scorsese’s belated sequel to “The Hustler,” 1986’s “The Color of Money.” Pairing Paul Newman with Tom Cruise proved worth the wait. The best stars learn how to age gracefully. Clint Eastwood has directed several excellent films, including “Sully” and “American Sniper,” in his golden years. Clint Eastwood in Juror #2. Clint Eastwood. Juror #2. Warner Bros. The stars of the “Bad Boys” franchise, 50-somethings Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, have factored Father Time in with their more recent adventures. Lawrence’s character nearly expires in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” but the film uses the plot point to great comic effect. Age has added both gravitas and gravity to a silly saga, and it’s a better series as a result. Still, older stars risk not only embarrassing themselves in projects from their youth but diminishing their creative legacies in the process.  The search for more cash can be addictive, but celebrities should proceed with extreme caution. * * * Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at @HollywoodInToto. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

A troubling new report reveals that the United States is experiencing its most severe drug shortages in over a decade, with life-saving medications becoming increasingly scarce. According to the latest data, there are now 323 active drug shortages, surpassing previous records and raising significant concerns about patient care and public health. The shortages are affecting a wide range of medications, including critical chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, and emergency medications. Hospitals across the country are struggling to manage these shortages, which are forcing doctors to make difficult treatment decisions and, in some cases, delay essential care for patients. There are now 180 Entries on the FDA list of Drug Shortages, June. “Resolved”, does not necessarily mean “healthy supply” for a surge in demand. https://t.co/JNEUrBlSC2 pic.twitter.com/kzx0HsuUIC — Jammer (@AcrossTheMersey) July 17, 2023 The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) attributes the shortages to multiple factors, including economic pressures on generic drug manufacturers, supply chain disruptions, and quality control issues at production facilities. Paul Abramowitz, CEO of ASHP, emphasized that these challenges are creating a crisis not just of quantity but of quality, with significant implications for patient safety and healthcare delivery. The Biden administration has come under fire from Republicans for what they perceive as inadequate handling of the situation. Critics argue that the administration's focus on other policy areas has left critical vulnerabilities in the nation's drug supply chain unaddressed. The administration recently released a white paper outlining potential solutions, but many believe more immediate and decisive action is needed. Does anyone think she has the capacity to deal with drug shortages ? She just seems vacant. Perhaps if we mention to Michael Gove drug shortages he may spur himself into action? pic.twitter.com/yRU75IzmAf — Chris (@Oakymoron) January 21, 2024 Among the proposed solutions are increasing domestic production of critical drugs, enhancing FDA inspection capabilities, and establishing strategic stockpiles of essential medications. However, these measures require significant investment and coordination across federal agencies and private sector partners, which some argue is not happening quickly enough. The shortages are having a pronounced impact on patients with cancer and other severe illnesses. Dr. Amanda Fader of Johns Hopkins Medicine highlighted the dire situation faced by oncologists, who are struggling to secure enough chemotherapy drugs to treat their patients. The scarcity of platinum-based drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin, is particularly concerning, as these are essential for treating various types of cancer. In addition to chemotherapy drugs, other critical medications like ADHD treatments and sterile injectable drugs used in emergency and procedural settings are also in short supply. This widespread scarcity is placing enormous pressure on healthcare providers and compromising patient care across the country. As the situation deteriorates, there is growing bipartisan support for legislative action to address the root causes of these shortages. Policymakers are calling for reforms that ensure a more resilient and reliable drug supply chain, including incentives for domestic manufacturing and stricter quality controls on international production facilities. The escalating drug shortage crisis underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policy solutions that prioritize patient safety and healthcare stability. As lawmakers and healthcare leaders grapple with this challenge, the stakes could not be higher for millions of Americans who rely on these essential medications. The post US Drug Shortages Reach Critical Levels, Prompting Urgent Calls for Action appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Ascension, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States, has been grappling with the aftermath of a significant ransomware attack since early May. This incident has brought to light serious operational vulnerabilities and has had a cascading impact on patient care across its facilities nationwide. The cyberattack, which was detected on May 8, forced Ascension to take many of its electronic systems offline, including those crucial for patient documentation, medication ordering, and test results. This disruption has persisted for weeks, severely hampering the ability of medical staff to provide efficient care and raising significant safety concerns. The on-the-ground reality of healthcare cyberattacks. https://t.co/xlThFVnZAQ — Matt Sztajnkrycer (@NoobieMatt) June 19, 2024 The attack was reportedly initiated when an Ascension employee inadvertently downloaded malware, leading to unauthorized access to the hospital’s network. The initial response involved shutting down affected systems to prevent further spread, which resulted in the suspension of electronic health records (EHR) access and other critical functions across 19 states​. In the wake of the attack, Ascension has been working tirelessly to restore its systems. As of early June, the hospital chain announced partial restoration of its EHR systems in several locations, including Florida, Alabama, and Austin, Texas. Full restoration across all facilities is expected by mid-June. Patients at Ascension hospital network given lethal doses of narcotics after disastrous cyberattack https://t.co/bYE01CRAmM pic.twitter.com/GqasH3QPvd — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 19, 2024 The prolonged downtime of electronic systems has had a notable impact on patient care, particularly in critical units. Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph in Wichita have reported significant challenges in managing medication dosages and verifying patient information, which are crucial for the care of vulnerable patients such as preterm babies​. Lisa Watson, a medical ICU nurse, described the situation as "a recipe for disaster," highlighting the risks of medication errors due to the lack of automated systems. This sentiment was echoed by other medical professionals who pointed out that manual processes are not only time-consuming but also prone to errors​. The Ascension cyberattack is part of a growing trend of ransomware attacks targeting healthcare institutions. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in outdated or poorly secured systems, often demanding hefty ransoms to restore access. The prolonged recovery time in Ascension’s case has drawn criticism from cybersecurity experts who argue that health systems should have more robust backup and recovery protocols in place​​. In response to these challenges, Ascension has offered credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected patients and employees. Additionally, there is a push for enhanced cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents and ensure the resilience of healthcare IT infrastructure​​. The post Hospital Cyberattack Raises Concerns Over Operational Lapses appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

Chan Plante is an amazing 24-year-old woman. She has walked through a den of wolves but has come out alive and thriving. To explain, we need to backtrack to this journey’s beginning with a quick recap. In 2020, Chan caught the original strain of COVID-19. She was lucky, and her mild case cleared up in a week. She went on with her life. At 21, she had just landed a dream job as “the editorial assistant for the editor-in-chief at PEOPLE magazine.” Then, her luck ran dry. She had a stroke that resulted in surgery to have her right eye removed, and her mom has been with her through the entire process. @chanplante Shoutout my mama for being braver than me in this moment #partialblindness #chronicillness ♬ snowfall – Øneheart & reidenshi When Chan Plante had her first stroke in March 2021, months after recovering from COVID-19, she went to the hospital, and they told her she was having an anxiety attack. They sent her home, but her problems continued. In June, she had a second stroke and this one left damage. After an MRI, they diagnosed an ischemic stroke due to the stenosis of her carotid arteries. They placed stents to open the arteries. However, by November, the numbness returned. Testing revealed a mass behind her eye; it wasn’t long before she lost vision in her right eye. Chan moved from New York back to Arizona, where she had a family to offer support. She took her story to TikTok and now has almost half a million followers. About her TikTok page, she says, “My page is about healing and positivity – and dealing with an absurd situation. Many people believe positive humans are just born this way – but I think it’s something I’ve had to practice. I was tired of suffering.” Moving On After Having Her Eye Removed At first, eye removal was not a viable option. Doctors had to get the swelling under control because it was pushing Chan’s eye out of the socket. Now that she has had her eye removed, there are options for prosthetics or other cosmetic procedures. Right after the surgery, Chan was afraid to look in the mirror, so she asked her mom to describe what it looked like. In the video above, you can tell that her mom is also apprehensive, but she has only positive words. Image from TikTok. Her mom’s loving smile and reassuring words were perfect. When her mom described what Chan looked like, she said, “You look like you have two matching freaking eyes … with your eyes closed.” The young woman has a natural beauty that shines through. Chan Plante wears an eye patch occasionally, but she isn’t shy about filming TikTok episodes without it. There is an open GoFundME page to support Chan Plante’s journey. This brave young lady is still facing challenges. You can follow her journey on Instagram and TikTok. After everything that has happened, she has never lost her positive outlook. Having her mom in her corner after having the eye removed is a great plus. If this story touched your heart, please share. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post After Having Her Eye Removed, Frightened Daughter Asks Mom To Describe What It Looks Like appeared first on InspireMore.

There’s so much that goes into overcoming our fears and anxieties. There’s the internal work we have to do ourselves, of course, but that doesn’t take away from the power of having the support of others. For the entirety of his adult life, Augie Leija has never taken off his shirt in public, even to go swimming. Body positivity is something so many of us struggle with, but it’s only just now something that’s openly discussed. Because of this shift in society, moments like the one Augie experienced in the video below are more possible. In it, Augie is enjoying a day at the beach with his fellow cruise-goers. One man in particular was hyping up the crowd as he playfully showed off his canon ball skills. Only wanting to get his feet wet, Augie inched his way to the shore. Once there, a man began to encourage him to take off his shirt. This encouragement quickly spread, particularly when the man doing canon balls joined. @augiedance #motivation #bodypositivity #bodyimage #motivational ♬ original sound – Augie Leija Understandably, kind folks asked for more details on what prompted so many to cheer, concerned that Augie may have felt pressured. On the contrary, Augie is happy to report that there was nothing but love and positivity on the beach. “That [canon ball] guy was pretty much egging everyone on, but in a really good way,” Augie says, “I don’t know how to explain it. He was just like, ‘It’s okay, man! You can do it!'” Body Positivity Wins When Kind Crowd at the Beach Encourages Man to Take Off His Shirt @augiedance Replying to @BEHEMOTH6674 ♬ original sound – Augie Leija Best of all, Auggie and his main hype man continued to chat and hang out after the video ended. How cool is that!? It goes to show that there are so many ways to have a positive impact or make a new friend. “As a big guy, this made me cry. All I ever want is body positivity because I would never judge anyone’s body,” someone shares in the comments, with another adding, “These are the humans I wanna share this planet with.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Love Yourself: Entire Beach Cheers Along As Man Takes His Shirt Off In Public For The First Time In Years appeared first on InspireMore.

'stems from allegations that he sexually assaulted an exotic dancer and then chased her with a firearm'

This is another one of those "I wish I was rich" moments

California has become a test case of the suicide of the West. Never before has such a state, so rich in natural resources and endowed with such a bountiful human inheritance, self-destructed so rapidly. How and why did California so utterly consume its unmatched natural and ancestral inheritance and end up as a warning to […]

‘I didn’t think a human being would be able to drink so much water at one time,’ Trump remarked