Latest news with #ScrippsNews
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cops Zip-Tie Elderly Anti-Trump Protesters in Wheelchairs
A shocking viral video shows Capitol Police arresting wheelchair-bound protesters—then zip-tying their wrists. The group, at least one of them a senior, was part of a protest against cuts to Medicaid in Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which is currently in front of the Senate. The video, shared by left-wing political activist Aaron Black, shows a line of wheelchair users being escorted from the Senate office building by police officers. The protestors in the video were peaceful, according to Scripps News, which also ran footage of the protest. As cops moved in, protestors can be heard chanting, 'No cuts to Medicaid.' Scripps reported that some of the protestors briefly unfurled a banner reading 'DON'T KILL US' but police quickly took it down. Capitol Police told the Daily Beast that a total of 33 people were arrested for protesting inside the congressional building, which is illegal. One other person was arrested for crossing a police line outside. 'It should be noted that there are other places on Capitol Grounds where people can lawfully demonstrate without issue,' the police said. The human cost of Medicaid cuts will be devastating, and @SenMcConnell thinks we'll just "get over" it? He's wrong. They are arresting people in wheelchairs at the Capitol right now, because they are afraid of losing their health care. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid — Aaron Black (@ABlackPolitical) June 25, 2025 The protest was organized by Popular Democracy, a progressive advocacy group. Many social media users reacted to the video with outrage. 'Zip ties? How on earth did they think a disabled person confined to a wheelchair would attack them? Run over their foot?' wrote X user @burrell_barney. Bluesky user @martijon had a similar response: 'Why would you zip tie elderly people in wheelchairs? One guy looked fully quadriplegic. WTF?' Trump's much-touted thousand-plus-page bill passed the House last month by a single vote. However, it has sparked controversy on many fronts and faces an uphill battle in the Senate as Republicans try to settle their disputes over its wide-ranging content. The bill's cuts to Medicaid have sparked some of the fiercest disagreement. If passed, the legislation would institute new stipulations for beneficiaries, such as co-pays for those earning above the poverty level and work requirements for many adults without children, according to The Washington Post. The Senate version of the bill takes the cuts even further by rolling back federal support for states that widened Medicaid's coverage through Obamacare.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- USA Today
Think again before clicking 'unsubscribe' on spammy emails. See safer options.
Think again before clicking 'unsubscribe' on spammy emails. See safer options. Show Caption Hide Caption Americans reported losing $470M to text scams In 2024, Americans reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages, according to new data from the Federal Trade Commission. Scripps News A word to the wise: That "click to unsubscribe" link at the bottom of those unwanted email newsletters and new product announcements may do the exact opposite of what you'd hoped. TK Keanini, CEO at cybersecurity software seller DNSFilter, recently told the Wall Street Journal that clicking the "unsubscribe" link in hopes of getting off annoying email lists could do more harm than good, if you happen upon the wrong one. Instead of adding users to a "do not send" register, the links could instead send them to a mock landing page or give scammers the exact confirmation they were looking for, allowing them to pick out better potential victims, according to Keanini and DNSFilter, per the outlet. Here's what to know about safely freeing yourself from a cluttered inbox full of spam. Think twice before hitting 'unsubscribe' At least one in every 644 "click here to unsubscribe" links led to potentially malicious websites, DNSFilter found, per the WSJ. While some may be looking for people to input personal information, such as an email address or other account details under the guise of "unsubscribing," others are simply testing to see if you are paying attention. Like with spam callers who repeatedly call but leave no message or follow-up, some of these links serve the purpose of simply telling the person on the other end that you have received, looked at and clicked on items within their messages. An individual's initial click may not lead to imminent doom, but it can identify them as a potential future target. Do this instead Most email service providers and platforms have a built-in unsubscribe feature that does not require interacting with any shady links. The easiest and most common are the 'list-unsubscribe headers," the banner with a hyperlink from your mail provider that is usually positioned in or right above or below an email's header. Clicking through this should allow you to unsubscribe from repeat emails without going to an external website. On the other hand, if the email or sender is one you never want to see again, you can simply mark either as spam, delete the unwanted message and block the sender's email address. You can even block a sender's IP address in case they send those annoying blasts from several different accounts. You can also set up manual filters for emails that will automatically divert them to your spam box, or if you want to keep things even more contained, set up a separate email address to use when interacting with potentially spammy sources. Some services even have a built-in email hiding option, like Apple's 'Hide My Email."
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
The Social Security crisis is coming one year earlier than we thought
The Social Security crisis is coming one year earlier than we thought Show Caption Hide Caption Social Security uncertainty and policy changes are driving more people to file With a significant rise in Social Security applications, retirees face financial decisions influenced by legislation and economic concerns in today's climate. Scripps News The Social Security shortfall date just moved a little bit nearer. New federal projections, released on June 18, show that the combined Social Security trust funds will pay 100% of benefits until 2034 before becoming depleted. That date is one year earlier than the Social Security Administration reported a year ago. 'As in prior years, we found that the Social Security and Medicare programs both continue to face significant financing issues,' program trustees wrote in a summary of their 2025 annual report. The Social Security Administration faces a funding crisis in the not-so-distant future. Trustees say the projected shortfall in retirement benefits has risen to $25.1 trillion through 2099, up from $22.6 trillion a year ago. The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund, which pays benefits to retirees and their families, is projected to pay total scheduled benefits until 2033, according to the new report. 'At that time, the fund's reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 77% of total scheduled benefits,' the report states. The separate Disability Insurance Trust Fund is fully funded through at least 2099, the agency reports. The combined programs, however, can pay 100% of benefits only through 2034. At that point, the program's reserves would be depleted. New Social Security shortfall dates alarm retirement advocates Retirement advocates sounded alarm at the findings. The new projections "show the trust fund for Social Security is going to be depleted one year sooner than was projected last year, which means that Social Security recipients may see a 19% reduction in their Social Security income one year sooner," said Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO of AARP, in a statement. "Congress must act to protect and strengthen the Social Security that Americans have earned and paid into throughout their working lives. More than 69 million Americans rely on Social Security today and as America's population ages, the stability of this vital program only becomes more important." Social Security faces a shortfall because the program spends more than it takes in. In 2024, the OASI Trust Fund cost $1,327 billion to administer, but income totaled only $1,224 billion, a shortfall of $103 billion. The notion that Social Security faces a shortfall suffuses the national conversation about preparing for retirement. Older Americans wonder if their monthly checks will go down midway through their golden years. Younger Americans have doubled down on retirement savings, partly out of fear that Social Security won't fully support them.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
'Cruelty over care': Transgender care advocates blast Supreme Court
'Cruelty over care': Transgender care advocates blast Supreme Court Show Caption Hide Caption Supreme Court will hear case about bans on gender-affirming care for minors A case involving a law in Tennessee that restricts puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors will be heard by the Supreme Court. Scripps News Organizations and advocates for transgender youth blasted the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on June 18 that upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Advocates said the high court's decision was a major blow to transgender rights and medical organizations that have endorsed gender-affirming care for minors. The decision came about five years after the court ruled that transgender, gay and lesbian people are protected by a landmark civil rights law barring sex discrimination in the workplace. In the Tennessee case, the high court said that preventing minors from using puberty blockers and hormone therapy does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The Tennessee House Republican Caucus cheered the ruling as a "proud day for the Volunteer state and for all those who believe in protecting the innocence and well-being of America's children." The Tennessee Equality Project, an advocacy group that fights anti-LGBTQ legislation, said in a statement that the organization was "profoundly disappointed" by the high court's decision. The decision further erodes the rights of transgender children, their families and doctors, the group said. "Gender-affirming care is proven to save lives," the group's statement said. "Major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, support gender-affirming medical and psychological care because it saves lives and improves mental well-being." Kimberly Inez McGuire, executive director of Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, said the Supreme Court chose "cruelty over care." "This decision upholds a dangerous and deeply unjust law that strips families of their rights, criminalizes love and support and puts the lives of young people at risk," McGuire said in a statement. The decision means transgender adolescents who live in states that restrict gender-affirming care could have difficulty accessing such care, said Lindsey Dawson, associate director for HIV policy and director for LGBTQ health policy at KFF, a health policy nonprofit. Dawson said 25 states have gender-affirming care bans in effect, though only Arizona and New Hampshire ban gender-reassignment surgery. Some transgender youth who live in states restricting care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy might choose visit states without such bans. However, that option wouldn't be an option for transgender youth and their families who lack the financial means to travel for care. "If you are minor who needs access to this medically necessary care, you simply can't get it if you live in one of these states," Dawson said. More details: Supreme Court to weigh key transgender care case: What's at stake for minors Trump administration targets transgender care The decision comes as President Donald Trump's administration has targeted other aspects of transgender care. After taking office, Trump signed an executive order stating the U.S. would not "fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support" gender-affirming care. In April, the federal agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid told states not to use Medicaid funding to pay for gender-affirming care for minors. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the federal agency will stop paying for gender reassignment operations or hormone treatments for those under 18. A 2023 study in the medical journal JAMA Network Open found gender-affirming surgeries were most popular with young adults. More than 25,000 people ages 19 to 30 received these procedures from 2016 through 2019. Fewer than 8% of patients − a total of 3,678 − were 12- to 18-year-olds. Contributing: Maureen Groppe,
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
'Razor blade throat': What to know about COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1
'Razor blade throat': What to know about COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 Show Caption Hide Caption COVID variant brings 'razor blade throat' to California A new COVID variant is causing people to experience such severe sore throats that they say it feels like swallowing razor blades. Scripps News - KGTV San Diego A painful sore throat, often referred to as "razor blade throat", is just one of the symptoms of a new COVID-19 variant. This variant is currently being monitored by the World Health Organization. "Considering the available evidence, the additional public health risk posed by NB.1.8.1 is evaluated as low at the global level," the WHO stated in a report. "Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease." In May, the WHO released a report stating it was monitoring the variant, but the variant is spreading quickly, according to the university. The new COVID-19 variant was first detected in China in January. What is NB.1.8.1? NB.1.8.1 is one of the latest variants of COVID-19, a "slightly upgraded version" of the LP.8.1 variant that is prominent right now, said Subhash Verma, microbiology and immunology professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. Verma previously said NB.1.8.1 may be able to be transferred more easily than LP.8.1. Additionally, he said that NB.1.8.1 is able to evade antibodies created by vaccines or past infections more easily than LP.8.1. "NB.1.8.1 is likely to spread more rapidly and evade our immune defenses more easily than LP.8.1, which is why this variant requires careful monitoring," Verma said. USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on the variant. What is 'razor blade throat?' An extremely sore throat, or "razor blade throat", is a symptom that's currently being associated with the new variant. People with the variant are saying that it feels their throats are covered with razor blades, according to Los Angeles Times, Fox News, SF Gate, and other news outlets. Many people have also taken to social media to describe the "razor blade throat". It isn't the first time a symptom like this has been described. With other strains, people said their throats felt like they had shards of glass jutting out, due to the extreme pain of their sore throats. This symptom, however, is gaining more popularity as the COVID-19 variant spreads. What are the symptoms of NB.1.8.1? The CDC has not outlined symptoms that are specific to the NB.1.8.1. variant. Verma said that NB.1.8.1 symptoms appear similar to those of earlier COVID-19 variants. The CDC outlines the following as common COVID-19 symptoms: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Sore throat Congestion or a runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting The CDC advises seeking medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms: Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Depending on skin tone, lips, nail beds and skin may appear pale, gray or blue How can you protect yourself from NB.1.8.1 and other variants? The World Health Organization states that currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against the NB.1.8.1 variant. In a webpage dated Jan. 7, 2025, the CDC advises that everyone over the age of six months get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, specifically the 2024-2025 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. It also suggests people who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine, are age 65 and older, are immunocompromised, live at a long-term care facility, are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, and/or want to avoid getting long COVID, should get the vaccine, especially. However, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently recommended changes to COVID vaccinations. On May 27, Kennedy said the COVID-19 vaccine would no longer be included in the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. And on May 20, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it plans to require new clinical trials for approval of the annual COVID-19 boosters for healthy individuals under the age of 65. This could mean that some who still wish to receive the vaccine may have to pay out of pocket. What is a COVID-19 booster shot? Updated and annual COVID-19 vaccines are actually not "booster shots." Boosters are additional doses of the same vaccine that are needed to maintain immunity, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Updated vaccines protect against new variants of a virus, like NB.1.8.1. RFK Jr. says COVID-19 vaccine no longer recommended for some The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says. How to (still) get a COVID-19 test for free Increasing Community Access to Testing, Treatment and Response (ICATT), a federal program, continues to provide free COVID-19 testing to individuals without health insurance. According to the CDC, as of May 27, more than 19,000 locations across the country offer free testing. To find a location near you that offers free testing, visit Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
