So it begins… There’s a debate scheduled for next Thursday, June 27. It’s hosted by CNN, and at the Biden campaign’s request, there’s no audience to feed Trump energy. Trump might not even show up. Biden’s handlers might pull the plug, if the president is determined to be having a sundowning moment. Both candidates had their moments: Biden was led offstage by former President Barack Obama at a fundraiser when he apparently stood in one place too long, leading to speculation of him “freezing” (it’s not the first time). At least one person at the fundraiser hosted by Jimmy Kimmel thought Biden needed a helper (Obama). Trump met with a group of the nation’s most powerful business leaders, including the CEOs of Apple, JPMorgan, and Walmart. Funny how these guys have no qualms meeting with a convicted felon. Maybe it’s because they both realize that Alvin Bragg customized a case prepared especially for Trump back in 2018, when the crook Michael Cohen was offered a golden handshake by the feds for taking the rap on two campaign contribution violations (when they had him dead to rights on all kinds of tax and financial crimes), tying him to the “hush money”. These CEOs understand that mere felonies won’t stand in the way of presidential electoral politics. Just like mental decline and advanced age won’t. Gun collector (he wants your gun) Mike Bloomberg dropped $20 million in Biden’s wallet, adding to another $40 million pledged, bringing Democrat fundraising somewhere in the same universe as Trump’s post-conviction numbers. Trump and the RNC hauled what the AP called a “jaw-dropping” sum of $141 million in May, which to me is a good indication the felonies didn’t slow down Trump’s campaign. This included a $50 million bullet by Timothy Mellon, scion of the gilded-age Mellon family fortune. The Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc., announced a $3.5 million ad buy in Georgia and Pennsylvania for early July. Meanwhile, the Biden campaign dropped an insane $50 million in ads for June, to remind the nation that Donald Trump is a convicted felon. As if people had to be told. Funny how the story about how Judge Juan Merchan alerting attorneys of a Facebook post that could lead to severe jury contamination has disappeared. MSNBC even coughed up–out loud–their intention to have the story “go nowhere.” It’s possible the post was just “s**tposting” or trolling. But we’ll never hear about it again, just another day in what Rush Limbaugh called the “drive by media.” I’ve spoken my piece about Merchan’s screw ups that, to me, will likely lead to all the convictions getting overturned–as long as it’s after the election. And now, Hunter Biden was convicted of a real felony–a gun charge, because the crack-addled son of the then-sitting VPOTUS decided he needed to carry weapons because he always carried cash. The gun ended up in the trash, while the (very real) laptop ended up abandoned at a computer repair shop. The conviction happened despite now-President Biden’s best efforts to shut down the investigation, and tell prosecutors to give his son the smallest slap on the wrist possible in a plea deal. A skeptical judge brought that stinky stream of garbage juice into the sun to marinate, and thus we have an actual conviction in an open-and-shut trial. Compare that to Trump, who could have pardoned Cohen in 2018 (it was the feds, after all), but let Cohen go up the river, where he lived in relative (for a con) luxury for less than two years, before being released to serve the rest of his “sentence” at his Park Avenue digs. And that’s not even the beginning. Now is where the real ugly stuff starts. Fox News published a poll showing Biden ahead by 2 points (within the margin of error), and the rest of the media picked up that softball to highlight how Trump “melted down” when he saw it. But look at the polling averages, for months: Trump leads in every battleground state, where the election will really be decided. Wisconsin (0.3%), Arizona (4.6%), Nevada (5.6%), Georgia (5.0%), Michigan (0.2%), Nevada (5.7%), North Carolina (5.3%), Pennsylvania (2.3%). They keep saying Biden will eventually slide ahead, and Trump won’t be able to raise money. They keep saying it while it’s not happening, as if saying it will make it happen. Biden will have spent nearly $50 million in ads plastered all over television and social media in June, and all it got him was a measly two-points in one poll. The debate next week (if it happens) will highlight just how fragile the old man is, and just how crazy Trump is. But the mood of the country is tilting crazy (which is why some Democrats are so in love with Robert F. “brain-worm” Kennedy). Neither candidate is fit to do another four years. But we are being drawn into the maw of this ugly campaign like the “planet killer” in Star Trek ate whole worlds. The Doomsday Machine has been activated, and it’s being fed an avalanche of cash, from both the filthy rich, and the working people. All I can do it stand by in awe, watching us be consumed. I’ll end with a stock tip. Conagra Brands. They own the biggest popcorn brand: Orville Redenbacher’s. It’s $28.50 a share, a steal. Believe me, popcorn’s gonna be big after Labor Day. Follow Steve on Twitter @stevengberman. The First TV contributor network is a place for vibrant thought and ideas. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of The First or The First TV. We want to foster dialogue, create conversation, and debate ideas. See something you like or don’t like? Reach out to the author or to us at ideas@thefirsttv.com. 

Shane Hawkins makes a surprise appearance with Foo Fighters at the first of their two stadium shows in London

Politico reports that Amy Coney Barrett may be poised to split conservatives on the Supreme Court because she may not be the originalist she claimed to be. Progressive Woodrow Wilson began the idea of an activist Justice and a living Constitution. Read “America Transformed,” subtitled “The rise and legacy of American Progressivism.” Justice Amy Coney […] The post Justice Barrett Believes in a Living Constitution Based on Whims appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

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.