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New York Times
05-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
Where Are the Men in Boys' Lives?
The importance of role models for girls seems irrefutable. Efforts since the 1990s to provide female role models have had great success opening doors for girls and young women, who now outpace boys in education, outnumber men in law and medical schools and excel in male-dominated fields like tech and politics. At the same time, boys have many fewer male role models in their daily lives. While men still fill most positions of power across American society, the people who interact with children are largely women. Occupations like pediatrics have switched to mostly being done by women, while those that were always female-dominated, like teaching, have become more so. Most of the Adults in Children's Lives Are Women The share of women and men in each role: Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Pew Research Center, University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, Scouting America, National Congregations Study, American Board of Pediatrics By The New York Times At a crucial time in their lives, boys are increasingly cared for by women, especially the many boys whose fathers aren't a regular presence. This lack of male role models, say researchers, parents, young men and those who work with them, is contributing to their struggles in school and employment — and the overall feeling that they're adrift. Working with children has long been considered women's work, and as a result, has been undervalued, with low pay and a stigma against men doing it. The share of professional men in children's lives has decreased even more in recent decades. Over roughly the same period, single-mother households became more common. Mentorship groups say they struggle to find as many male volunteers as there are boys who need them. And as families have become more insular — participation in community groups and churches has declined, and children spend less time playing outside with neighbors — children get to know fewer adults. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill' faces fierce religious backlash
Donald Trump and the Republican Party are facing furious backlash from faith leaders and parishioners concerned about the devastating impact that their sought-after budget cuts are projected to have on many Americans. Trump, who has attempted to portray himself as anointed by God, is pushing for a highly unpopular bill that includes steep cuts to nutrition assistance and health care programs, along with tax cuts that would largely benefit the rich. And many literally ordained faith leaders are denouncing his goals. In a letter to U.S. senators last week, an interfaith coalition of religious leaders from across the country slammed how the bill could potentially strip health care and food benefits from millions of Americans, and for pursuing a mass deportation campaign that could ensnare some of their parishioners — a concern shared by MAGA-friendly leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, as well. 'In our view, this legislation will harm the poor and vulnerable in our nation, to the detriment of the common good,' the coalition wrote. 'Its passage would be a moral failure for American society as a whole.' The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to senators on the same day, praising the bill for seeking to crack down on abortion but denouncing other parts of the legislation: We are grateful for provisions that promote the dignity of human life and support parental choice in education. These are commendable provisions that have long been sought by the Church. However, we must also urge you to make drastic changes to the provisions that will harm the poor and vulnerable. This bill raises taxes on the working poor while simultaneously giving large tax cuts to the wealthiest. Because of this, millions of poor families will not be able to afford life-saving healthcare and will struggle to buy food for their children. Some rural hospitals will likely close. Cuts will also result in harming our environment. The bishops also denounced the 'enforcement-only approach' to immigration in the Senate version of the bill, calling it 'unjust and fiscally unsustainable.' Meanwhile, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., who is a Baptist pastor, helped illustrate the growing religious backlash against the legislation when he brought a contingent of faith leaders with him to pray in the Capitol rotunda on Sunday. The rotunda has been a site for faith-based resistance to the GOP's budget for weeks now. In April, the Rev. William Barber II was arrested there alongside fellow faith leaders Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steven Swayne as they held a prayer in opposition to the legislation. (The arrests resulted in tickets.) Five other faith leaders were arrested there the following week for doing the same thing. At times, I think it may be easy for some to give in to MAGA's messianic propaganda that frames Trump — flawed as he is personally — as some sort of spokesperson for religious Americans. But there's a deep and enduring tradition of faith leaders standing up for liberalism and basic dignity in this country. And Trump's policies — perhaps, none more than his self-described 'big, beautiful bill' — are bringing that tradition to the fore. This article was originally published on
Russia Today
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Trump is the first US leader in decades to tell Americans the truth
The United States faces a 'colossal' number of internal problems, and President Donald Trump is the first American leader in many decades to openly admit that, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RT's Rick Sanchez on Wednesday. Moscow remains cautiously optimistic about mending relations with Washington, because President Trump has at least openly declared his intention to focus on 'saving America' instead of meddling in other countries' internal affairs, Zakharova told Sanchez in response to a question about whether Trump could resist the forces seeking deeper confrontation with Russia. 'Finally, a man has arrived in the White House who isn't talking about other parts of the world or dealing with problems of various population groups on other continents. He is the first in decades to tell the American people – and the world – that America needs to solve a colossal number of colossal problems,' she said. 'This man had it all: money, fame, popularity, comfort, family – everything he wanted. He was even president. He could have said, 'From now on, I'll live for myself.' But instead, he came back and said he'll run again – not for money, fame, or popularity, but to try to save his country. That gives me additional optimism,' she added. Zakharova specifically noted Trump's stance on gender as a sign that 'normalcy' might return to American society. 'Everyone can feel how they want to feel. You want to be a table – that's your right. Want to be three dogs at once? You're welcome. You can seek treatment or not, it's up to you… But only a man and a woman were created,' she said. President Trump declared that the US would officially recognize only two genders during his inaugural address in January. He then signed several executive orders reversing protections for trans individuals, ending federal support for gender reassignment procedures on minors, and banning trans women from women's sports while removing 'radical gender ideology' from the military. Donald Trump has also promised to end US involvement in endless wars during his campaign, but has since alienated some supporters with his vocal support for Israel's ongoing bombing campaign against Iran – amid growing concerns that Washington may become directly entangled in another foreign conflict. WATCH FULL INTERVIEW:
Washington Post
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Harvard should win in court. But academia still needs a reckoning.
Harvard University looks likely to win its legal battle against the Trump administration over foreign student visas and many of the school's grants and contracts, and it deserves to. The administration's escalating attack on the university (and, by extension, the rest of higher education) is clumsily executed, disdainful of due process and inimical to American principles of free speech, free association and free inquiry. It is also a strategic mistake. China, America's biggest geostrategic rival, has four times as many people as the United States, which means four times as many bright strivers with the potential to create the next big thing. Yet, the United States has been able to fight above its weight class, economically and militarily, because it has had the benefit of being an open society. China's intrusive authoritarian bureaucracy stifles the creativity of the country's vast talent pool, while America imports the best and brightest students from all over the world and allows them to use their abilities to the fullest. This difference helps explain why the United States continues to lead the world in many of the industries of the future and generate lifesaving medical breakthroughs. So it is easy to agree with the many university presidents who recently wrote in an open letter: 'The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society.' At the same time, no one in academia should confuse winning the legal battle against the present White House with triumphing in the larger war that conservatives are waging on higher education. U.S. universities are vulnerable, and they are in for a long fight for public support. In the past decade, trust in higher education has dropped precipitously. Ten years ago, a robust majority of Americans told Gallup they had a 'great deal' or 'quite a lot' of confidence in higher education; today, only one-third of Americans say the same. Meanwhile, the share who say they have 'very little' confidence or 'none' has risen to 32 percent from 10 percent. The fact that their targets are no longer particularly popular has made it easier for Republicans — in state government as well as in the White House — to attack the foundations of academic independence. The rising cost of college and the declining wage premium for college graduates might have contributed to this shift. Lingering anger about the covid-19 pandemic aimed at public health authorities and other academic elites could be a factor. The most common complaint among universities' detractors is that they have become too politicized — especially favoring left-wing or progressive thinking. Academics justly protest that this perception is exaggerated, that most professors teach technical subject matter, not political ideologies. Yet the exaggeration has formed around a large grain of truth. In a recent survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, almost half of conservative faculty said they regularly 'can't express their opinion on a subject because of how other faculty, students, or the administration would respond.' But not only conservatives feel this way. Students and faculty of all political stripes now frequently report that they self-censor on campus when politically controversial topics come up in class, online or in conversations with other students. In an academic community in which 'diversity statements' are required of new hires (and professors can be denied jobs merely for criticizing them), university administrations and disciplines issue official statements embracing social justice causes, journal editors apologize for or withdraw papers that offend the left, and conservative professors are becoming an increasingly endangered species, even moderates or those on the center-left can reasonably wonder what they're allowed to say, and universities can seem drastically out of step with mainstream society. The worst of this political fever might be behind us, but academia will have to take strenuous action to restore its reputation as defenders of the free exchange of ideas. Universities cannot convincingly demand that the government respect their academic freedom unless they consistently make the same demand of their own teachers and leaders. Renaming the diversity, equity and inclusion office will not suffice; they need to foster a campus environment in which the frank discussion of ideas is the core value. If they do not, they will find the public yawning as conservative attacks intensify and courts struggle to contain the damage. Judges might force the Trump administration to restore visas for foreign students and funding for research programs that have been revoked without due process, but the government would still have many levers left to pull. State legislatures, too, can cut funding for public schools, or tie it to significant restructuring. Every new student visa applicant can be scrutinized and justifications can be found for rejection that courts will be reluctant to second-guess. Grants can be directed toward more compliant schools. How would a judge with no background in science declare which projects are most worthy of funding? Such tactics are not wise, but they are available and, unless universities regain the public's trust, government officials might deploy them. Schools might also face legal scrutiny of their hiring practices based on the perception that, in their understandable zeal to close racial gaps, they have recently disfavored White, straight and male candidates, at odds with the Civil Rights Act. Until now, 'reverse discrimination' lawsuits have often been hard to win, in part because majority group plaintiffs may face a higher bar to prove their cases and because filing such suits would make it hard to get other jobs in many industries. But the Supreme Court has just made it easier for plaintiffs to win such cases, and the government has reportedly threatened Harvard with a 'pattern or practice' investigation that obviates the need for any plaintiff. All of which means that Harvard's current, righteous legal fight, while essential, is still less important for universities in the long run than the battle for American hearts and minds. Schools need to convince the country once again that they do vital work that serves all Americans.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnson & Johnson unveils first-in-human results for pasritamig, showing early anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer
Pasritamig, a first-in-class bispecific T-cell-engaging antibody, shows potential in mCRPC with outpatient dosing designed for the community setting Data show low rates of treatment-related adverse events, signaling human kallikrein 2 (KLK2) as a novel, highly specific target CHICAGO, June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson announced today new data from a Phase 1 study evaluating pasritamig (JNJ-78278343), a first-in-class bispecific antibody that activates T-cells to harness the body's immune system against prostate cancer cells, showing promise in patients with advanced disease who have progressed after multiple lines of therapy. These first data on pasritamig, from the first-in-human study, demonstrate that pasritamig appears well-tolerated and exhibits a promising antitumor activity in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), highlighting the potential of KLK2 as a novel target for T-cell engagement in advanced disease.1 These data were presented as an oral presentation (Abstract #5017) at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and published simultaneously in The Journal of Clinical Oncology. Pasritamig is a novel T-cell engager designed to bind both CD3 on T-cells and KLK2—a prostate-specific antigen with minimal expression outside of the prostate. Pasritamig activates T-cells by binding to CD3 and directing them to KLK2- expressing tumor cells, engaging the body's immune system to specifically target these cancerous cells. This differentiated approach aims to deliver a targeted treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer, while potentially reducing the high-grade toxicities historically associated with T-cell engagers. "These first-in-human results for pasritamig are highly encouraging, demonstrating that KLK2 is a viable target for T-cell engagers in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer," said Capucine Baldini*, M.D., Ph.D., Drug Development Department (DITEP), Institut Gustave Roussy, and presenting author. "The data show a promising safety profile, with manageable adverse events and no AEs leading to treatment discontinuations or ICANS observed, with 40 percent of patients having no treatment-related AEs at all. Given the limited treatment options for mCRPC, these findings support further investigation of pasritamig and the role of KLK2-targeted T-cell therapies as a potential new approach for patients with aggressive disease." "Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains one of the most difficult stages of prostate cancer to treat, particularly for patients who haven't responded well to previous treatments," said Jeff Infante, M.D., Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. "This investigational approach underscores our commitment to developing innovative and practice-changing medicines that are well-tolerated and can be easily administered in community practice settings." The Phase 1 first-in-human study (NCT04898634) evaluated 174 patients with ages ranging from 36 to 89 years old and on average having received four prior therapies (range 1-13). The recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of pasritamig was 3.5mg on day 1, 18mg on day 8, 300mg intravenously on day 15 and then once every six weeks. The RP2D safety group also included patients treated once every three weeks as the toxicity profiles were very similar. The RP2D efficacy group only included patients treated at the RP2D once every six weeks.1 Within the RP2D safety group (n=45), treated once every three or six weeks, 100 percent had previously received androgen receptor pathway inhibitors, 75.6 percent had undergone taxane chemotherapy, and 37.8 percent had been treated with Lutetium 177 vipivotide tetraxetan prostate-specific membrane antigen radioligand therapy.1 The most common treatment- related adverse events (TRAEs) were Grade 1/2 infusion-related reactions (24.4 percent), Grade 1 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) presenting as fever only (8.9 percent, no steroid or tocilizumab was administered) and no reports of higher grade CRS. No TRAEs leading to treatment discontinuation or dose reduction were reported and no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) was observed. Grade 3 TRAEs were infrequent with 4.4 percent of patients reporting transient AST/ALT increases and neutropenia. There were no dose-limiting toxicities reported. The favorable safety profile of the RP2D regimen enabled convenient outpatient administration on a patient-friendly, once-every-six-weeks schedule.1 Of the patients in the RP2D efficacy group (n=33), treated once every six weeks, 42.4 percent achieved a 50 percent or greater reduction in their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels with a median rPFS of 7.9 months (95 percent confidence interval [CI] 2.9, not estimable [NE]) and 21.2 percent of patients continuing therapy. Treatment with pasritamig showed durable disease control and rPFS that compares favorably to historical data in heavily pretreated patients with mCRPC.1 Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer occurs in a significant portion of prostate cancer patients, with many progressing despite initial therapies.2 Overall survival from diagnosis of mCRPC patients ranges from 13.5 to 31.6 months, and lower in patients who have progressed on therapy.3 Treatment options remain limited, underscoring the urgent need for safer and more effective therapies.4 About Pasritamig (JNJ-78278343)Pasritamig (JNJ-78278343) is an investigational T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody (bsAb) targeting human kallikrein 2 (KLK2) on prostate cancer cells and CD3 on T-cells. This approach is being evaluated in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a patient population with limited treatment options. About Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC)Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a challenging and aggressive stage of prostate cancer where the disease progresses despite androgen deprivation therapy.2 Patients often experience metastasis to bones and lymph nodes, leading to poor outcomes and limited treatment options, including chemotherapy and second-line hormone therapies.5 The median overall survival ranges from 13.5 to 31.6 months depending on the site of metastasis, with a typical range of 15–36 months across the broader population.3,6 Survival rates can vary significantly depending on factors such as prior treatment history, disease burden, and response to therapy. The need for more effective treatments is critical, as the disease continues to impact a large number of men globally, with mCRPC being responsible for a substantial number of prostate cancer-related deaths. About Johnson & JohnsonAt Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at or at Follow us at @JNJInnovMed. Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen Global Services, LLC and Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC are Johnson & Johnson companies. Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of JNJ-78278343. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. Source: Johnson & Johnson *Dr. Capucine Baldini has provided consulting, advisory, and speaking services to Johnson & Johnson; Dr. Baldini has not been paid for any media work. 1 Baldini, C., et al. Phase 1 Study Results of Pasritamig (JNJ-78278343) in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. June 2025.2 Scher, H. I., et al. (2016). "Treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer: Current and future strategies." Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 13(10), 577-590.3 Wallace KL, Landsteiner A, Bunner SH, Engel-Nitz NM, Luckenbaugh AN. Increasing prevalence of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in a managed care population in the United States. Cancer Causes Control. 2021;32(12):1365-1374. doi:10.1007/s10552-021-01484-44 Ravi P, Mateo J, Lorente D, et al. Clinical prognostic factors and management of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a population-based study. PLoS One. 2015;10(10):e0139440. doi:10.1371/ Ryan, C. J., et al. (2015). "Abiraterone acetate in metastatic prostate cancer: A new era." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(10), 1051-1060.6 Kawahara, T., Saigusa, Y., Yoneyama, S. et al. Development and validation of a survival nomogram and calculator for male patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone acetate and/or enzalutamide. BMC Cancer 23, 214 (2023). Media contacts:Oncology Media Relations oncology_media_relations@ Investor contact:Lauren Johnsoninvestor-relations@ U.S. Medical Inquiries +1 800 526-7736 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Sign in to access your portfolio
