Interview, Other
Legally bombed: Trump cases dropped
- US legal challenges against Donald Trump are expected to be delayed or dismissed during his presidency, with state-level cases in Georgia likely delayed until he leaves office or dropped entirely due to potential prosecutor changes.
- While federal prosecutions have been dropped, the legal principle of presidential immunity and the scope of official acts remain unresolved, with the Department of Justice explicitly avoiding setting precedents that would immunize all presidential actions.
- There is uncertainty regarding whether political opponents in a potential 2028 Democratic victory would reinstate former cases, though it is deemed unlikely given that voters re-elected the former president despite knowing of the issues.
- The President-elect has announced tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and threatened 10% on imports from China, with debates ongoing regarding whether these are serious proposals or strategic opening bids intended to force negotiation.
- US iodine levels have fallen by more than half between the 1970s and 1990s and are currently just below sufficiency, leaving approximately half of women of reproductive age with inadequate intake.
- Iodine deficiency poses significant risks to pregnancy and early childhood, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and stunted cognitive and physical development, with the WHO estimating 2 billion people globally are affected.
- Public health interventions such as iodizing salt are described as cost-effective solutions costing approximately 10 cents per person annually to prevent levels from dipping further below sufficiency.
- Dietary shifts toward dairy alternatives and the consumption of processed or specialty non-iodized salts are identified as key factors contributing to the decline in iodine intake.
- Workplace elevator interactions are characterized by high risks of incompetence and awkwardness, with specific protocols suggested for opening/closing doors, minimizing conversation with strangers, and navigating crowded social environments.
- Communication in elevators is governed by variables of familiarity, occupancy, and proximity, with strict advisories against networking and a recommendation to remain silent with strangers while calibrating conversation length to the journey time with acquaintances.