January 1, Supreme Court Rules Against Immigrants

Good morning Americans,

On Monday, the Supreme Court voted unanimously that people living in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are ineligible to apply for permanent residency. Justice Elena Kagan wrote that federal immigration law prohibits those who enter the country illegally and now have TPS from obtaining “green cards” to remain here as permanent citizens. There are 400,000 people with TPS status, which protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally.

Be wary of which social media trends you follow. Cardiologists are warning against a TikTok “dry scooping” challenge, which consists of users swallowing pre-workout powder and chasing it with a liquid. “As pure dry powder, there is no dilution and the fast entry into your bloodstream results in an immediate release of supplements,” said Dr. Satjit Bhuri, cardiologist and founder of Upper Eat Side Cardiology. “This, like ephedrine, causes an abrupt increase in adrenaline and puts the heart in overdrive.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki likened reporters from Fox News and other right-wing outlets to “representatives of the Russian and Chinese media asking questions directed by their government … propaganda pushers” that should be treated with caution. Her comments come on the heels of tense interactions with reporters over questions about Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent email kerfuffle.

This week the FDA approved a new drug for Alzheimer’s treatment for the first time in almost 20 years, ignoring warnings from experts that the treatment hasn’t shown ability to help slow the disease. The FDA said it granted approval for Aduhelm based on results that seemed “reasonably likely” to benefit patients suffering from Alzheimer’s. Analysts have estimated that a year’s worth of treatment with the drug could cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

In Virginia, Smyth County Sheriff Chip Shuler is quitting the Democratic Party due to its views on law enforcement. Shuler, who’s been elected twice as a Democrat, put out a press release that said (in part), “I am changing to the Republican Party because of the relentless attack on law enforcement by Democrats in Richmond and Washington.”

Lastly, 25 states are withdrawing early from federal unemployment programs this week. Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi and Missouri will be the first to opt out of the pandemic-era benefit, as of June 12. The remaining states will do the same through July 10. Approximately 3.9 million Americans will be impacted by these decisions.

Be well,

Fraser Dixon

Sources

• Supreme Court rules against immigrants with temporary status
• What is ‘dry scooping’? Latest TikTok trend could be dangerous for your heart
• Jen Psaki likens Fox News reporters to Russian and Chinese propagandists
• FDA approves much-debated Alzheimer’s drug panned by experts
• Virginia Sheriff Chip Shuler leaves Dem Party over ‘relentless attack on law enforcement’
• States will start cutting off federal unemployment benefits this week. Here’s a map of where (and how soon) aid is ending