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Under Trump’s tariff changes, both companies face new import taxes of up to 145% on Chinese goods and will lose the duty-free exemption for shipments under $800. What was the de minimis rule? Previously, the de minimis rule allowed packages […]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been known for his unproven and fringe views, including attempts to link autism to factors such as vaccines without evidence.

Now, a new plan to gather and analyze patient data from various sources across the country as part of a massive autism study is raising alarm bells from those who worry it will fuel misinformation and could be used for nefarious purposes.

Compiling data and creating a new registry for autism

CBS News reported that the National Institutes of Health, which operates under the Department of Health and Human Services, announced earlier this week that it would compile patient data relating to autism from a wide variety of sources to facilitate a study of the causes of autism Kennedy previously announced. The new database will combine data from private sources such as testing labs and pharmacy chains with patient information from government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indian Health Services, as well as possibly sourcing patient data from Medicaid and Medicare.

The government will additionally create a new registry that it will use to track people with autism, which will be integrated into the larger database. Between 10 and 20 groups of researchers, coming from outside the government but chosen by NIH, would be granted access to this data to conduct research into the causes of autism. NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya touts the effort as a way to do unprecedented research on autism, as well as an opportunity to streamline access to data that is often hard to obtain or cross-reference. Bhattacharya also promises that “state of the art protections”  would be put in place to protect patients’ confidentiality.

Fear and skepticism over RFK Jr. and the government’s intentions

Despite assurances that the data will be used carefully and securely, this new plan has raised serious concerns about the intentions of this new database and “autism registry.” Kennedy has long pushed notions that there has been a massive spike in autism cases, making the idea that environmental factors and vaccinations are largely to blame despite a lack of scientific evidence for these proposals. Recently, Kennedy rejected the thought that increased diagnoses come from more comprehensive testing and expanded definitions of autism. He also offended many people with his negative depiction of people with autism as people who would never do basic activities like date, play sports or hold jobs.

People with autism and skeptics of government overreach have raised alarm bells about the new registry and its potential for misuse.

“As an autistic adult, I admit this makes me uncomfortable,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s committing mass HIPAA violations on behalf of a public eugenicist who sees autism as something to be ‘cured.’”

As an autistic adult, I admit this makes me uncomfortable. It’s committing mass HIPAA violations on behalf of a public eugenicist who sees autism as something to be “cured.” The registry is not meant to help autistic folk, I assure you. https://t.co/J3TteksbaQ— Mímir (@eyeofthephantom) April 23, 2025

Another said, “Autism registers can and will be used against autistic people to deny agency and care,” adding, “This is a terrible idea.”

As I’ve mentioned, autism registers can and will be used against autistic people to deny agency and care. This is a terrible idea. https://t.co/tiFDGyrCtw— Veronica 🍃🌹🥑🚊✊🇵🇱 (@ladyvoldemort) April 22, 2025

Some have even raised concerns that the registry could be used for eugenic policies, pointing to past regimes that have forcibly sterilized or even killed people with disabilities and others labeled “undesirable.”

wth? Tracking autistic people in the US like social policies of “eugenics” in Nazi Germany that placed biological improvement of German people by selective breeding?These NAZI policies were then used to justify the involuntary sterilization and mass-murder of those deemed… https://t.co/61WcL2vdTQ— LynnZ (@ZemanLynnZ) April 23, 2025

With plans moving ahead to create the new autism registry and consolidated health database, it remains to be seen how this newly amassed data will be used or misused. But the views of the people gathering the data and the potential for abuse are already raising major red flags about this unprecedented use of Americans’ health information.

Nearly half of Americans in the U.S. live in areas with failing air quality, according to the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report. Experts warn the nation’s air pollution crisis is worsening, putting millions at greater risk for respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Without proper policies in place, the outlook for cleaner air remains bleak.

Pedro Pascal is standing by his trans sister, Lux Pascal, and the LGBTQ+ community at large.

According to People, while attending the U.K. premiere of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, the actor wore a white T-shirt with “Protect the Dolls” emblazoned on it.

Connor Ives designed the shirt to honor trans women

The “Protect the Dolls” shirt, which Pascal wore earlier this month during his 50th birthday celebration on April 6, per Deadline, was designed by Conner Ives. The outlet reported that the tee was shown at Ives’ runway show during London Fashion Week in February and is part of a larger effort by Ives to highlight the atrocities trans women around the world face, with “dolls” being a term of endearment the LGBTQ+ community uses to refer to transgender women.

Ives told The New York Times he was inspired to use fashion as a means to advocate for trans people politically and socially.

He said, “In the modern day, what is more ubiquitous than the graphic T-shirt?”

Ives added, “It was very reactive. I knew I wanted to say something, given what we’ve observed in the last few months with the U.S. government and the current political regime.”

Other celebrities have been spotted wearing the tee, including Troye Sivan, who wore it while performing with Charli XCX during her Coachella set.

Pascal’s choice of wearing the shirt was especially timely as the U.K. Supreme Court ruled on April 16 that the legal definition of a woman is rooted solely in biological sex. The decision, which the U.K. government said will offer “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers, according to The Athletic, actively pushes trans women out of equality law.

Proceeds from the “Protect the Dolls” tee are being donated to Trans Lifeline, a crisis hotline that provides peer support for transgender people, The New York Times reported.

Pascal is an avid supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has been particularly vocal about trans womens’ rights since Lux came out in February 2021, People reported. He’s publicly stood by his sister amid her transition. According to LGBTQ+ outlet Them, Pascal has described Lux as “one of the most powerful people and personalities I’ve ever known.”

Lux, an actor and activist, graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City in 2023.

In February, Pascal took to Instagram to share his support of trans people with a photo of a poster that reads, “A world without trans people has never existed and never will.”

“I can’t think of anything more vile and small and pathetic than terrorizing the smallest, most vulnerable community of people who want nothing from you, except the right to exist,” Pascal wrote in a comment on the post.

Pascal also shared a video on his Instagram Stories at the time of Carla Antonelli, Spain’s first trans senator, who called out her colleagues for being anti-trans and “making our lives absolutely unbearable” while addressing Parliament, Ireland’s LGBTQ+ media outlet GCN reported. In addition to that clip, he shared a video of late trans activist Cecilia Gentili, including part of her speech at the New York University Lavender Graduation ceremony in 2023.

“Know who you are. Progress is inevitable,” Pascal wrote along with the video, referencing comments Gentili made.

A new report found that child welfare investigations in New York City disproportionately target low-income Black and Latino families. This has led them to lose or be denied employment. Research was conducted by legal advocacy group Legal Services NYC, who sifted through data from January 2020 through July 2022 from the city’s Administration for Children’s Services.

The report conducted by Legal Services NYC found that Black and Latino New Yorkers accounted for 81% of investigations, although they make up 48% of the city population.

“There’s an overpolicing now that’s occurring, that is disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic folks in New York City and survivors of domestic violence,” Washcarina Martinez Alonzo, a senior staff attorney with Legal Services NYC, said in an interview with Gothamist.

Most instances of neglect are actually poverty

In 2022, over 70% of substantiated reports were categorized as neglect. However, some experts say that there is no difference between neglect of a child by failing to provide basic needs and instances of poverty.

Joyce McMillan, the executive director of the nonprofit JMAC for Families, told Gothamist that families are being penalized for being poor in most cases. For instance, investigations regarding neglect can be conducted over a crowded home, a lack of food in the home, or the use of candles over electricity because they can’t afford the bill.

“Once a family is investigated, they’re at risk of being separated,” McMillan said, adding that what they need is more support and money.

Reports of neglect can show up in background checks for eight years. It can bar some families from certain jobs involving children and hinder their ability to find employment.

Anyone can report allegations of domestic violence

The report found that 28% of investigations between 2020 and 2022 involved domestic violence. It also noted that anyone can report allegations of abuse and deploy local child welfare agencies to investigate. This system can be used to make false accusations, according to the report.

“Anybody can make this call. Your neighbor can make this call. Your landlord can make this call. Your abusive ex can make this call. Anybody can make it,” Martinez Alonzo said. “They don’t ask for the information of the folks making the report, and suddenly you get child welfare involvement in your life.”

In these instances, the consequences can be long-lasting, as reports for abuse can appear in background checks for 28 years.

“You can’t be an MTA bus driver, kids may be on your bus,” Martinez Alonzo. said. “You can’t work at an ice skating rink, you can’t work at a bowling alley, these are places where children may be. You can’t work at an amusement park, you can’t work in the library, you can’t be a janitor in a school.”

Three fraternity members charged in connection with the alleged hazing death of Caleb Wilson were expelled from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Caleb McCray and Kyle Thurman were expelled via the Beta Sigma chapter, while Isaiah Smith was expelled via the Lambda Alpha chapter, according to WBRZ. Their names are listed on the organization’s website under the “Expelled Persons” directory.

The three members’ alleged involvement with Wilson’s death

McCray, Thurman and Smith were expelled following their alleged involvement in the death of Wilson, a Southern University student who died in March. Smith had the title of “Dean of Pledges” for the chapter and was in charge of the new members when Wilson died, according to WBRZ.

He and Thurman were charged with felony hazing, while McCray was charged with manslaughter and felony hazing.

Wilson died after attending an off-campus pledge event for the fraternity. He was allegedly punched in the chest as part of an initiation ritual, which led to a seizure and death.

Caleb Wilson’s family is raising awareness about hazing

Since Wilson’s death, his family has put up billboards across New Orleans to draw attention to the incident and hazing. The campaign started while Omega Psi Phi members are in the city for their Ninth District Meeting.

“Caleb Wilson. He had a future. Hazing took it away,” one sign reads, according to WWL Louisiana.

His family has been in touch with Louisiana State Representative Delisha Boyd, who introduced the Caleb Wilson Act to prevent hazing.