Singer and songwriter, Sade celebrates her 62nd birthday today. For years, she has provided the perfect soundtrack for weekends filled with intense cleaning, deep reflection and creating a peaceful atmosphere. The British-Nigerian songstress has been credited as one of the most successful British female artists in history, and is most often recognized as a major influence on contemporary music. Sade’s voice is both soothing and inviting. Her vocals create a real-life sound bath, which harmoniously heals and calms any listener. Have you ever met someone who did not enjoy the relaxing sounds of Sade?
We crafted a list of 16 sultry Sade tracks that are perfect for winter to celebrate this queen on her birthday.
1. By Your Side
This is definitely one of Sade’s top tracks and an ultimate fan favorite. “By Your Side” was released in 2000 with a pleasant melodic tune that is absolutely irresistible. You have to revisit this song a few times after the first listen. The simplicity of the lyrics, paired with an unforgettable melody, makes it hard not to listen over and over again.
2. No Ordinary Love
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Debuting in 1992, Sade premieres an instant classic with “No Ordinary Love.” This sultry single is simply one where Sade is tooting her own horn. “This ain’t no ordinary love, beloved.”
3. Is It A Crime?
Sade always sported a classic hoop, red lip and ponytail. Similar to her look, Sade’s music continues to resonate with generations to come. The sensual saxophone solo in the beginning that introduces the song is timeless.
4. Hang Onto Your Love
This Sade classic is a bit more upbeat. The video is set in a casino full of patrons dancing to the sounds of Sade and her band playing paper instruments. “In heaven’s name why are you walking away. Hang onto your love.”
5. Love Is Stronger Than Pride
In 1988, Sade delivers on “Love Is Stronger Than Pride.” This heavy drummed single is one that we can all relate to. No matter how much you may dislike a past lover, it is often hard to stop loving someone you truly care about. Is love stronger than pride?
6. Bullet Proof Soul
“Bullet Proof Soul” is an underrated classic from Sade and her bandmates. It is certainly a sultry sound to snuggle in bed to this winter season.
7. When Am I Going To Make A Living?
Sade owned the 80’s with hit single after hit single. In 1984, she debuts this single that, unlike many of their songs about love, a song about achieving and believing in yourself.
8. Smooth Operator
In 1984, “Smooth Operator” was released and the world was no longer the same. The iconic track accompanied by Sade’s airy vocals creates an uplifting single to keep your spirits high in the cold wintery months.
9. Soldier Of Love
This single debuted later in Sade’s career in 2010. The trumpet and snare drum opens with a militant feel that is perfect to emote being a “Soldier of Love.” A perfect addition to your sultry Saturday morning playlist.
10. The Sweetest Taboo
A common theme in Sade’s music seems to be a heavy kick drum which provides a smooth soundtrack to assist her comforting vocals. This song is definitely one of her most iconic tracks with a simple melodic hook that is both catchy and relatable to all the lovers out there.
11. Paradise
It’s all about a musical introduction for Sade and the band. “Paradise” debuted in 1988 and the single makes you feel like you’ve escaped to an island with just you and your lover. A blissful single that may help you avoid the troubles of winter’s brisk air.
12. Never As Good As The First Time
This single has a cinematic opening that fits perfectly for your favorite 80s film. It really is nothing like the first time and Sade is here to remind you.
13. Slave Song
We had to share at least one live version from Sade. Her performances are so calming and the ideal soundtrack for a relaxing weekend. Kick your feet up and enjoy!
14. I Never Thought I’d See The Day
Sade’s songs were always so musical. This song provides peaceful, airy sonics that is intrinsic for a restorative winter playlist.
15. Flower Of The Universe
“Flower of the Universe” premiered on Disney’s A Wrinkle In Time in 2018. Like all of Sade’s music, this single represents what a lover’s universe feels like in the most euphoric way possible. No I.D. lends his hands for the remix on the movies soundtrack.
16. Immigrant
Sade opens this live performance saying this single is dedicated to her father who was an immigrant leaving their country in Nigeria. She mentions that this song was a sketch in her mind since she was a small child. The last addition to your sultry Sade songs consummate for winter.
Enjoy these sultry sounds on the queen’s birthday. Happy Birthday to the iconic voice that is Sade!
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s DeBriefed. An essential guide to the week’s key developments relating to climate change.
Hottest hat-trick
STATE OF THE CLIMATE: Scientists have announced that 2025 was either the second or third hottest year on record, with close margins between last year and 2023, reported the Associated Press. The newswire noted that “temperature averages for 2025 hovered around – and mostly above – 1.4C of industrial era warming”. Bloomberg said that this happened despite the natural weather phenomenon La Niña, which “suppresses global temperatures”, meaning “heat from greenhouse gases countered that cooling influence”. Carbon Brief’s comprehensive analysis of the data found cumulative global ice loss also “reached a new record high in 2025”.
OVERHEATING OCEANS: Separately, the world’s oceans “absorbed colossal amounts of heat in 2025”, said the Guardian, setting “yet another new record and fuelling more extreme weather”. It added that the “extra heat makes the hurricanes and typhoons…more intense, causes heavier downpours of rain and greater flooding and results in longer marine heatwaves”.
FIRE AND ICE: Wildfires in Australia have destroyed around 500 structures, said the Sydney Morning Herald, with a “dozen major fires” still burning. A wildfire in Argentinian Patagonia has “blazed through nearly 12,000 hectares” of scrubland and forests, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, parts of the Himalayas are “snowless” for the first time in nearly four decades, signalling a “climatic anomaly”, reported the Times of India.
EMISSIONS REBOUND: US emissions rose 2% last year after two years of declines” due to a rise in coal power generation, said Axios, in coverage of research by the Rhodium Group.
‘UNINVESTABLE’ OIL: US president Donald Trump may “sideline” ExxonMobil from Venezuela’s oil market after its comment that Venezuela is “uninvestable”, reported CNBC. TotalEnergies is also “in no rush to return to Venezuela”, said Reuters.
PRICE WARS: The EU issued guidelines that will allow tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to be removed in exchange for minimum price commitments, said Reuters.
‘RECORD’ AUCTION: The UK government has secured “8.4 gigawatts of new offshore wind power” in a “record” auction, said Sky News. Although the auction saw some price rises, this will likely be “cost neutral” for consumers, Carbon Brief said – contrary to the “simplistic and misleading” narratives promoted by some media outlets.
COP STRATEGY: The Guardian reported that Chris Bowen, the Australian minister appointed “president of negotiations” for COP31, plans to use his role to lobby “Saudi Arabia and others” on the need to phase out fossil fuels.
The size of a new climate fund unveiled by the Nigerian government, according to Reuters.
Rooftop solar in the EU has the potential to meet 40% of electricity demand in a 100% renewable scenario for 2050 | Nature Energy
Natural wildfires, such as those ignited by lightning strikes, have been increasing in frequency and intensity in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by climate change | Global and Planetary Change
Engaging diverse citizens groups can lead to “more equitable, actionable climate adaptation” across four pilot regions in Europe | Frontiers in Climate
Both China and India saw coal power generation fall in 2025, in the “first simultaneous drop in half a century”, found new analysis for Carbon Brief, which was widelyreportedaroundtheworld. It noted that, for both countries, the decline in coal was driven by new clean-energy capacity additions, which were “more than sufficient to meet rising demand”.
What are China experts watching for in 2026?
The year 2026 will be pivotal for China’s climate policy. In March, the government will release key climate and energy targets for 2030, the year by which China has pledged to have peaked its emissions.
At the same time, with the US increasingly turning away from climate policy and towards fossil fuel expansionism, China’s role in global climate action is more important than ever.
Carbon Brief asks leading experts what they are watching for from China over the year ahead.
After decades of rapid growth, independent analyses suggest China’s CO2 emissions may have plateaued or even begun to decline in 2025.
The transition from emissions growth to stabilisation and early decline will be the key watch point for 2026 and will be shaped by the forthcoming 15th five-year plan. [This plan will set key economic goals, including energy and climate targets, for 2030.]
However, the precise timing, scale and enforceability of these absolute emissions control measures remain under active debate. Chinese experts broadly agree that if the 2021-2025 period was characterised by continued emissions growth, and 2031-2035 is expected to deliver a clear decline, then 2026-2030 will serve as a critical “bridge” between the two.
First, the 15th five-year plan inaugurates the “dual control of carbon” system. This year marks the first time industries and local governments face binding caps on total emissions, not just intensity.
Second, the national carbon market is aggressively tightening. With the inclusion of steel, cement and aluminum this year, regulators are executing a “market reset” – de-weighting older allowances [meaning they cannot be used to contribute to polluters’ obligations for 2026] and enforcing stricter benchmarks to bolster prices ahead of the full rollout of the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Cecilia Trasi, senior policy advisor for industry and trade, ECCO
China’s solar manufacturing overcapacity is prompting Beijing’s first serious consolidation efforts. At the same time, its offshore wind technology is advancing rapidly [and there are] signals that Chinese wind companies are pursuing entry into European markets through local production, mirroring strategies adopted by battery manufacturers.
Together, these dynamics suggest that the next phase of cleantech competition will be shaped less by trade defense alone and more by the interaction between Chinese supply-side reforms and global market-absorption capacity.
China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry has been the primary force pushing the global passenger vehicle market toward clean energy. That momentum should continue. But a growing headwind has emerged: tariffs. Mexico, Brazil, Europe and the US are just a few of the countries raising barriers, complicating the next phase of global EV expansion.
One new wildcard: the US now effectively controls Venezuelan oil. If that meaningfully impacts global oil prices, it could either slow – or unexpectedly accelerate – the shift toward clean-energy vehicles.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
A full-length version of the article is available on the Carbon Brief website.
SHAPING THE LAND: In addition to land use shaping the climate, climate change is now increasingly “changing the land”, according to satellite monitoring by World Resources Institute, creating a “dangerous feedback loop”.
‘POSITIVE TIPPING POINTS’: A commentary co-authored by climate scientist Prof Corinne Le Quéré in Nature argued that several climate trends have locked in “irreversible progress in climate action”.
FROM THE FLAMES: Nick Grimshaw interviewed musician and data analyst Miriam Quick on how she turned the 2023 Canadian wildfires into music on BBC Radio 6. (Skip to 1:41:45 to listen.)
Pick of the jobs
DeBriefed is edited by Daisy Dunne. Please send any tips or feedback to [email protected].
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Great Job Anika Patel & the Team @ Carbon Brief Source link for sharing this story.
NICK FUENTES (HOST): Our featured story, we’re talking all about Renee Good, the 37-year-old activist who was shot and killed by ICE last week, tragically.
…
I have to tell you, it is really striking that there was apparently a divide about this on the far right. And it seems that the more race-conscious, immigration-restrictionist, far-right people knew that this is not a tragedy, this is probably a good thing. And then it seems that the Israel critical, Jewish critical elements on the far right, for whatever reason, said this is a horrible tragedy and they’re coming out against ICE. And I saw some ridiculous cope about this. I saw some people say that ICE is trained by the Israeli Defense Forces, so this is Trump siccing the IDF on white people, on white women. Wow, that’s a stretch. That’s a new one. And I’m really shocked by that, but it’s a little bit alarming.
…
Nobody on our side should be mourning this person. Once you know who she is and what she’s about and everything, and yes, actually all of that matters. I see a lot of people hand-waving that away and saying, “It doesn’t matter what side she’s on. She’s a human being.” Don’t get me wrong, I wish we lived in a world where nobody was dying and nobody had to die and we weren’t engaged in this conflict. But the fact of the matter is, as we all know, we are.
We do live in a world where we are engaged in a political struggle. We are engaged in a war actually, and the stakes could not be higher. This is about our civilization. This is about our ancestors, about our posterity. Their future is at stake, whether white people exist as a race. And everything that that entails, Christendom, Western civilization, all of it, it’s all at stake. And of course we have people in the country that are fighting to prevent this from happening, fighting to prevent us from preserving these things all the time.
And so, it absolutely matters what side of this issue you’re on. We’re being invaded. The people come here. They take advantage. They loot and pillage. They get caught red-handed, in this case in Minneapolis, this Somalian enclave, they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, stealing perhaps billions of dollars of federal assistance and other money. And some people, it’s their first instinct to jump in and defend those people literally at the peril of their own life. I say, if that’s a game you want to play, good riddance.
Great Job Media Matters for America & the Team @ Media Matters for America Source link for sharing this story.
For many patients today, a decision about which weight loss medication to try may come down to several factors, including what other medications they take, which drugs are covered by insurance or are most affordable, and whether people prefer pills or injected medicines, Dr. Jay says.
“I advise people to speak to their physician to choose an initial medication and see how they respond,” Jay says. “It’s not uncommon to switch medications or have to add a second or third medication.”
This weekly injected medicine was approved by the FDA in 2023 to treat adults with obesity and overweight adults with at least one weight-related chronic health problem.
How it works: Tirzepatide mimics two hormones that regulate insulin secretion and digestion: glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). It is widely believed to be the most potent weight loss drug ever approved for sale: In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, participants using the highest dose lost an average of 22.5 percent of their body weight.
Common side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation.
Interactions and risks: Rare but potentially dangerous reactions include severe gastrointestinal disease and acute injury to the pancreas, kidneys, or gallbladder.
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Wegovy was approved by the FDA to treat adults with obesity as well as adults who are overweight and also have at least one weight-related chronic health problem. The weekly injected form of the medicine was approved in 2021, and the once-daily oral version was approved in 2025.
How it works: It’s another GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a hormone in the brain that regulates appetite.
Common side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, and fatigue.
Interactions and risks: It can’t be used in combination with liraglutide or other GLP-1 receptor agonists that are prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Like other drugs in this family of medicines, including tirzepatide and liraglutide, it carries an increased risk of pancreatitis and has been linked to thyroid tumors in animals.
Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave)
This oral drug was approved by the FDA in 2014.
How it works: It’s a combination of two drugs that are used to treat addiction and depression, and it suppresses appetite and makes people feel full sooner.
Common side effects: Constipation, dizziness, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, increased blood pressure, elevated heart rate, insomnia, liver damage, nausea, and vomiting.
Interactions and risks: It shouldn’t be used by people with uncontrolled blood pressure, seizures, a history of anorexia or bulimia, people taking psychiatric drugs containing bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), or individuals dependent on opioids or in withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. It can increase suicidal thoughts or actions.
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
This daily injected drug was approved by the FDA in 2014 for adults and in 2020 for children ages 12 and older with obesity.
How it works: It’s in a family of medicines known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which work by mimicking a hormone in the brain that regulates appetite and food consumption.
Common side effects: Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, and increased heart rate. Rare side effects include an increased risk of pancreatitis, and it’s been linked to thyroid tumors in animals.
Interactions and risks: In a smaller dose, liraglutide is used as a diabetes medication called Victoza, which should not be used in conjunction with Saxenda.
Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)
This pill was approved by the FDA in 2012 for adults who are overweight or obese, and in 2022 for patients ages 12 and older with obesity.
How it works: This combination pill suppresses appetite and makes people feel full sooner.
Common side effects: Constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, tingling in hands and feet, brain fog or cognitive impairment, and difficulty sleeping.
Interactions and risks: It shouldn’t be used by people with glaucoma or hyperthyroidism, by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or by some individuals with a history of heart attack, stroke, heart rhythm disorders, kidney disease, or mood problems.
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
This pill was approved by the FDA in 1999 as a prescription weight loss drug (Xenical) and in 2007 at a lower dose for nonprescription use (Alli).
How it works: It works in the gut to limit the amount of fat absorbed from foods you eat.
Common side effects: Diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, and oily stool leakage.
Interactions and risks: It’s linked to rare cases of severe liver injury; dangerous interactions with cyclosporine, a drug to prevent organ transplant rejections; and the potential for malnutrition if patients don’t take a multivitamin. Orlistat has been shown to decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins as well as some prescription medications, including Amiodarone (used to treat irregular heartbeats)and ciclosporin (used to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis). Orlistat may also affect the dosage of warfarin, an anticoagulant.
Great Job Lisa Rapaport & the Team @ google-discover Source link for sharing this story.
Elon Musk’s X is experiencing its second large-scale outage this week.
The site and app, formerly known as Twitter, are either not loading at all or glitching into life briefly before throwing up error messages like gang signs.
The site Down Detector shows nearly 80,000 reports of X being down starting at around 10am eastern time, and is still down at the time of this writing.
This is the second major outage at X this week, following an earlier technical issue. It comes as the platform faces criticism after Grok, xAI’s chatbot that is integrated into X, has been fulfilling user requests to manipulate real photos of women, and even children, into nonconsensual sexual and violent imagery.
The recalled fridges have electrical components that can short circuit and ignite the plastic used to make the product — risking fires and potential burns for users. The company has received six reports of fires resulting in property damage linked to these products, according to the CPSC.
The 330,000 Frigidaire minifridges now under recall carry the model number EFMIS121 and were sold exclusively at Target, both in-stores and online, for about $30. Curtis International says the recalled fridges were made between January 2020 and December 2023.
The 634,000 minifridges recalled last year had model numbers EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149 and EFMIS175 and were sold by retailers like Walmart and Amazon for between $36 and $40, per the CPSC. Another 26 incidents that included the products overheating, melting or catching fire were reported at the time, as well as two related smoke inhalation injuries.
Owners of the recalled minifridges are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Curtis International’s website to learn how to request a refund. Eligible consumers will need cut their product’s power cord, write “recall” in permanent marker on the fridge’s front door and send photos to the company.
Curtis International has licenses to make and distribute a range of consumer electronics and appliances — including some Frigidaire products. But the larger Frigidaire brand is owned by the Electrolux Group, a Swedish company.
Great Job NBC Staff and AP & the Team @ NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth for sharing this story.
A program in New York City is helping train people for jobs in energy efficiency – and changing their lives.
Smith: “It gives people hope. And it gives people opportunity that they might not feel like they had.”
Munir Smith graduated from the nonprofit Stacks and Joules’ building automation training program. It’s run in partnership with Henry Street Settlement, a social service agency on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Trainees learn how to install and operate technology that automates a building’s lights and HVAC equipment, which can save a lot of energy.
Michael Conway, cofounder of Stacks and Joules, says the program goes beyond teaching skills. It also provides comprehensive support to students, some of whom struggle with poverty or homelessness.
Conway: “If housing comes up, there’s access to support there. If there’s food or nutritional requirements, if there’s transportation, if they need eyeglasses, if they need, you know, clothes that are appropriate for interviews.”
So by helping trainees overcome barriers, the program provides a path to well-paying careers in energy efficiency.
Smith: “And so, you know, I’m always looking at my classmates achieve great things. … So it’s a proud fraternity to be in.”
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
Great Job YCC Team & the Team @ Yale Climate Connections Source link for sharing this story.
In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.
Lest We Forget
“We had whistles. They had guns.”
—Becca Good, wife of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. Renee was an American mother of three, whose murder sparked protests against ICE in Minneapolis and cities across the country.
A vigil on Jan. 14, 2026, at a memorial near the site where Renee Good was killed in Minneapolis. Good was fatally shot by an immigration enforcement agent during an incident in south Minneapolis on Jan. 7. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)
“If you have ever received healthcare in America, you have been cared for by a nurse. A federal proposal under review excludes graduate nursing education from consideration as a professional degree and therefore excludes nurses from some federal graduate student loan programs. Over time, this could impact both patient safety and access to healthcare services. A strong nursing workforce is critical to high-quality patient care.”
—Virginia Nurses Association president Dr. Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN. The Trump administration plans to remove graduate-level nursing programs from their list of “professional degrees,” which will greatly restrict the amount of federal student loan support available.
“In one night, the Sandy Creek flood wiped out everything my family had built over 36 years—three homes, our business, and our sense of safety. We lost neighbors, were stranded for days without help, and watched as FEMA response was delayed while families were left to survive on their own.
“More than five months later, many are still homeless, and only 36 percent of FEMA claims in our area have been approved. Disasters don’t care about politics, and emergency response shouldn’t either. FEMA must be independent, fully funded and strengthened—because when it fails to function, real families pay the price.”
— Brandy Gerstner, survivor of the Sandy Creek flooding in Texas. More than 80 disaster survivors shared their stories at the U.S. Capitol and warned of systemic failures under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Disaster survivors in front of the U.S. Capitol.
“To my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight: Our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter, and our dreams deserve space.”
—Actor, singer and songwriter Teyana Taylor at the Golden Globessent a powerful message after winning the award for Best Supporting Female Actor in a Motion Picture.
“Over the past several weeks, Republican members of Congress and local elected officials across the country have actively spread vile, anti-Muslim and xenophobic rhetoric that puts millions of innocent people at risk. Some have called for the ‘expulsion of Muslims from western nations;’ the ‘revocation of citizenship’ of Muslim Americans; and gone so far as to say that Islam is ‘incompatible with our culture and our governing system.’ These statements are deplorable, dangerous, and disqualifying for any elected official.
“Calls to target Muslims through deportation or denaturalization are as hateful as they are un-American. Normalizing Islamophobic behavior and rhetoric gives license to the racist fearmongering that has long endangered Muslim American and South Asian communities.”
—The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) warned about the normalization of anti-Muslim hate, amid a 238 percent increasein anti-Muslim and anti-South Asian slurs leading up to New York Mayor Mamdani’s election.
“Make no mistake, this new wave of ICE agents descending on American cities is a purposeful campaign of fear and intimidation by the administration meant to distract from Trump’s cruel policies that have tanked the economy and are impacting everyday Americans who can no longer afford basic needs like healthcare, rent, utilities, medicines and groceries.
“Violence like this does not exist in isolation—it undermines public safety and strikes at the very foundation of our democracy. It’s atrocious, it’s dangerous, and it’s un-American.”
+ Minneapolis woman Renee Good was killedby on-duty ICE agent Jonathan Ross while in her car observing ICE activity. A viral video shows Ross firing three times through the driver’s side window as Good attempted to turn away, and a male voice calling her “fucking bitch.” ICE refused to allow an onlooking doctor to provide first aid, delaying six minutes until EMS arrived.
This morning, an ICE agent murdered a woman in Minneapolis—only the latest horror in a year full of cruelty.
As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on us all. New York stands with immigrants today, and every day that follows.
+ Many members of the Trump administration immediately blamed Good, lied about her actions before the shooting and downplayed the horrific killing by claiming she was “disrespectful” and even a “domestic terrorist.”
Kristi Noem is a stone-cold liar who has zero credibility.
There is nothing to suggest the shooting of an unarmed woman in Minneapolis was justified.
This heinous killing must be criminally investigated to the full extent of the law.
+ Antiabortion lawyer March Bell was confirmed by the Senate as inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services. “March Bell is an antiabortion zealot whose record of extreme partisanship and ethical misconduct should have immediately disqualified him for this watchdog position. We are deeply concerned that he will use his new role to harass reproductive health care providers with endless audits and investigations and seek to block funding for this vital care,” warns Katie O’Connor, senior director of federal abortion policy at NWLC Action Fund.
+ A federal court temporarily blocked Trump’s attacks on DEI by deciding Head Start childcare programscan continue to use words like “women” and “race” on grant applications.
+ Jan. 6 was the five-year anniversary of the insurrection. Last year, President Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 insurrectionists. At least 33 peopleinvolved on Jan. 6 have been rearrested since 2021, with six charged with child sex crimes, two with rape and five with illegal possession of weapons.
+ The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will now block abortion care at all VA health facilities, with no exceptions for rape or serious health risks. They will also prohibit providers from offering abortion counseling or referrals.
+ A group of faith leaders and civil liberties organizations are challenging the Trump administration’s policy allowing immigration raids at houses of worship. In February, a federal court upheld 30 years of protections and barred immigration enforcement at or near those sensitive areas, but the government has appealed.
+ Tennessee state employee Monica Meeks was fired for criticizing Charlie Kirk on her personal Facebook account. Now, she’s suing for reinstatement and damages due to the illegal firing.
+ South Carolinians are working to stop their governor from deploying National Guard troopsto police Washington, D.C. They argue it violates state law and is a politically-motivated misuse of power.
+ An appeals court allowed the Trump administration to continue “defunding” Planned Parenthoodby stripping their Medicaid funding in 22 states and D.C. This policy puts the health of over a million patients at stake, and has already led to the closure of 20 health centers in the past few months. Recent polls show 65 percent of the publicoppose banning Medicaid funding for those clinics.
+ New York Gov. Hochul and NYC Mayor Mamdani announced a plan to expand free childcare for 2-year-olds in New York City, and make childcare more affordable for all children under age five.
The Congressional Black Caucus emphasized: “For Republicans, cruelty is always the point. Donald Trump is wielding a politically vindictive agenda against blue states across the nation while sacrificing the well-being of women and children in his path of destruction. Not only are these assistance programs intended to make childcare more affordable for families struggling to make ends meet, but they also provide critical stability to the childcare economy. This loss of funding threatens the foundation of a job sector that operates on slim margins and is supported largely by women of color—specifically Black women.”
+ The Wyoming Supreme Court overturned two antiabortion laws, deciding that they violate a 2012 voter referendum stating “each competent adult shall have the right to make his or her own healthcare decisions.”
+ Almost a quarter of American adults provided care last year to someone with a medical condition or disability. The demand for at-home caregiverswill continue to rise, but recent Medicaid cuts could threaten programs supporting at-home hospice and end-of-life care. Organizations like Wake and Compassion & Choices are teaching families how to care for their loved ones and act as death doulas.
+ The House of Representatives passed two bills criminalizing gender-affirming carefor trans youth and banning their Medicaid coverage. If enacted, the laws would threaten medical providers with up to ten years in prison. Conversely, the bills actually endorse non-consensual surgery on intersex infants and children.
+ After two National Guard members were shot in D.C., the Trump administration immediately increased restrictions on Afghan refugeesand froze the asylum process. ICE began specifically targeting 1,800 Afghans with past deportation orders.
+ The State Department has refused to provide information about their plansto destroy a $10 million contraception stockpile meant to go to low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The pills, implants and IUDs have been abandoned in Belgium since the Trump administration slashed USAID, which could lead to hundreds of thousands of unplanned pregnancies.
+ On Jan. 12, roughly 15,000 nurses went on strike at New York City hospitals. The nursing strike, now the largest in the city’s history, comes with demands for increased salaries and new contract provisions on AI and workplace violence.
+ Just minutes before he was set to be expelled from the Nebraska legislature on Jan. 13, now former Republican state Sen. Dan McKeon resigned following allegations that he inappropriately touched a legislative staffer. His expulsion—which is said to have had the 33 necessary votes needed to remove him—would have been the first expulsion of a lawmaker in Nebraska’s history, according to the National Women’s Defense League.
+ Claudette Colvin, a legend of the Civil Rights Movement, died on Jan. 13 at 86. At just 15 years old, Colvin was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white woman in Montgomery, Ala., inspiring the actions Rosa Parks 9 months later and eventually the Montgomery bus boycott beginning in 1955. Colvin went on to become a plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case Browder v. Gayle, which lead to the desegregation of Montgomery’s busses.
How We’re Doing
+ Since October, Meta has restricted or removedthe Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp accounts of more than 50 reproductive health organizations and queer groups. Repro Uncensored reported more than 200 similar incidents this year worldwide, compared to 81 last year. Many accounts have been reinstated, but the increase in 2025 is concerning.
+ Worldwide, women work more hours than men and earn just a third of what men are paidper hour, when unpaid domestic labor is taken into account. When domestic work is not included, women earn just 61 percent of what men make. The largest gender gaps in hours worked is over 12 hours a week, while Europe, North America and Oceania see a gap of six to seven hours per week. But in all regions, women are employed less and earn less than men.
+ Sixty percent of Americans are buying cheaper or less groceries, and 28 percent have skipped meals to save money. Black and Latino adults are most affected, with almost 40 percent skipping meals.
Almost a quarter of American adults have been forced to get a second job or side work to make ends meet. Sixty-four percent of Black Americans and 55 percent of Latinos have more than $5,000 in non-mortgage debt, with almost half of Black adults carrying more than $10,000 in debt.
+ Politics along with healthcare and housing costs are fueling a mental health crisis in the U.S. Non-white adults are more likely than white adults to say their mental health is poor or only fair. Overall, 68 percent of Americans say the country is on the wrong track, and 80 percent believe the next generation will have it harder.
An abortion-rights rally outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments in the case of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine on March 26, 2024. The case challenges the 20-plus-year legal authorization by the FDA of mifepristone, a commonly used abortion medication. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)
+ Just half of Americans have heard of mifepristone, and less than a quarter are aware it is used for most abortions in the U.S. About 40 percent say abortion pills are safe, but the same amount are unsure. This is a decrease since 2023, when 55 percent said they were safe and 35 percent unsure.
Over two-thirds of adults, including half of Republicans, oppose banning mifepristone nationwide or making mailing abortion pills a crime.
+ More than 91 percent of the top streaming shows in 2024were created by a white person, with white men making up 79 percent of show creators. White actors were overrepresented, cast in 80 percent of all roles. This marks a troubling decrease in diversity from previous years.
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(WBAP/KLIF) — A planned Muslim community slated for North Texas hits another snag.
The former East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), now re-branded as “The Meadow”, has failed to achieve preliminary approval from Collin county development services.
Collin county Judge Chris Hill issued a release, Thursday, explaining that the group behind “The Meadow” failed to provide necessary documentation to initiate the review process.
Collin county cited the lack of documentation assuring that electric and wastewater services will be provided for the community by utility companies.
Hill says once the required documentation is provided, the approval process can move forward.
(Copyright 2026 WBAP/KLIF Newsroom News. All rights reserved.)
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