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Tag: Expert

  • Some people tape their mouths shut at night. Doctors wish they wouldn’t

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    Having your mouth taped shut is the stuff of nightmares — but some people are doing just that to themselves. And in an attempt to sleep better, no less.Doctors say don’t do it.Some on social media say it’s a hack for getting more and better sleep and to reduce snoring. The claims — which are not backed by science — are taking off on places like TikTok, sometimes pushed by people working for companies selling related products.”The studies behind mouth tape are small, the benefits are modest and the potential risks are there,” said Dr. Kimberly Hutchison, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert at Oregon Health & Science University. Some of those risks include making sleep disorders like sleep apnea worse, or even causing suffocation.It is better to breathe through your nose most of the timeMouth breathing in adults is not a major health problem, but it is better to breath through your nose, experts say. Your nose is a natural filtering system, trapping dust and other allergens before they can get to your lungs.If you’re breathing with your mouth open at night, you could wake up with a dry mouth and irritated throat, which can contribute to bad breath and oral health problems. Mouth breathing is also associated with more snoring.Don’t rush to use mouth tapeBut even though breathing through your nose is better than breathing through your mouth, taping your mouth shut isn’t the best way to fix the issue.There’s no strong evidence it helps improve sleep. A few studies have been conducted, most of which showed little or no impact, but they were so small experts say conclusions should not be drawn from them.And meanwhile, there are the potential dangers to be avoided.Dr. David Schulman, a sleep doctor at Emory University, said there are other things to try, like prescription mouth pieces that can open up your airway, or a CPAP machine. If you’re a smoker or are overweight, for example, quitting smoking and losing weight can help.Mouth breathing could be a sign of something serious — so find outThe safest approach is to figure out why exactly you are breathing with your mouth, because there could be something else going on.You may be breathing through your mouth because you have obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep because of a blocked airway. The disorder is linked to both open mouth breathing and snoring, and is typically treated with a CPAP machine.”The reason sleep apnea can be bad is that any decrease in the quality of sleep can affect you day to day or over the course of your life,” said Dr. Brian Chen, a sleep doctor at the Cleveland Clinic. “Depending on how bad the sleep is, you may just feel sleep deprived or require more sleep.”The best thing to do, Emory’s Shulman says, is get a sleep test, some of which can be done at home. “It’s always better to know than not know,” he said. “And if you know that something’s going on and you choose not to pursue therapy, at least you know you’re making an educated decision.”

    Having your mouth taped shut is the stuff of nightmares — but some people are doing just that to themselves. And in an attempt to sleep better, no less.

    Doctors say don’t do it.

    Some on social media say it’s a hack for getting more and better sleep and to reduce snoring. The claims — which are not backed by science — are taking off on places like TikTok, sometimes pushed by people working for companies selling related products.

    “The studies behind mouth tape are small, the benefits are modest and the potential risks are there,” said Dr. Kimberly Hutchison, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert at Oregon Health & Science University. Some of those risks include making sleep disorders like sleep apnea worse, or even causing suffocation.

    It is better to breathe through your nose most of the time

    Mouth breathing in adults is not a major health problem, but it is better to breath through your nose, experts say. Your nose is a natural filtering system, trapping dust and other allergens before they can get to your lungs.

    If you’re breathing with your mouth open at night, you could wake up with a dry mouth and irritated throat, which can contribute to bad breath and oral health problems. Mouth breathing is also associated with more snoring.

    Don’t rush to use mouth tape

    But even though breathing through your nose is better than breathing through your mouth, taping your mouth shut isn’t the best way to fix the issue.

    There’s no strong evidence it helps improve sleep. A few studies have been conducted, most of which showed little or no impact, but they were so small experts say conclusions should not be drawn from them.

    And meanwhile, there are the potential dangers to be avoided.

    Dr. David Schulman, a sleep doctor at Emory University, said there are other things to try, like prescription mouth pieces that can open up your airway, or a CPAP machine. If you’re a smoker or are overweight, for example, quitting smoking and losing weight can help.

    Mouth breathing could be a sign of something serious — so find out

    The safest approach is to figure out why exactly you are breathing with your mouth, because there could be something else going on.

    You may be breathing through your mouth because you have obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep because of a blocked airway. The disorder is linked to both open mouth breathing and snoring, and is typically treated with a CPAP machine.

    “The reason sleep apnea can be bad is that any decrease in the quality of sleep can affect you day to day or over the course of your life,” said Dr. Brian Chen, a sleep doctor at the Cleveland Clinic. “Depending on how bad the sleep is, you may just feel sleep deprived or require more sleep.”

    The best thing to do, Emory’s Shulman says, is get a sleep test, some of which can be done at home. “It’s always better to know than not know,” he said. “And if you know that something’s going on and you choose not to pursue therapy, at least you know you’re making an educated decision.”

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  • How To Spot a One-Sided Friendship Before It Drains You

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    Friendship is often described as one of life’s greatest buffers against stress and loneliness. But when the balance tips and you find yourself giving far more than you receive, the relationship can shift from a source of strength to a steady drain.

    Experts told Newsweek that the earliest warning signs of a one-sided friendship are easy to overlook—yet noticing them could spare years of resentment.

    “True friendship isn’t transactional; it’s built on mutual care and showing up in both the easy and difficult moments,” said Sharon Yu, a licensed family therapist in California.

    Zoe Asher, a friendship coach and host of the friendship-focused podcast Accidentally Intentional, added: “At the end of the day, friendships are supposed to be a two-way street. If you’re the only one paying the tolls long-term, then it isn’t friendship—it’s a drain.”

    Dr. Kimberly Horn, a research psychologist and author of Friends Matter, For Life, said the science backs this up: “When the balance consistently tilts one way, tension builds, and reciprocity, the heartbeat of friendship, breaks down.”

    Here’s how to spot the red flags before they take a toll, according to the three experts.

    1. You Are Always the One Reaching Out

    “If you’re the one consistently initiating texts, calls, or plans—and they rarely do the same—it can be a sign that the friendship depends on your energy to keep it alive,” Yu told Newsweek.

    Asher said she once needed to be confronted by a friend to realize she was not pulling her weight emotionally. That conversation did not end the relationship—it made it stronger. She hopes that her experience can encourage others to communicate their needs.

    “She gave me a gift by extending the opportunity for me to clarify, and from there, we built something deeper,” Asher said.

    2. They Are Absent When You Need Support

    Yu advised watching how present a friend is in difficult times. If they disappear when you are struggling but expect comfort when it is their turn to get support, the imbalance is clear.

    Still, Asher warned against treating crisis support as the only measure of friendship. The podcast host said that lots of people think a “good friendship” means having someone who will drop everything when you are in crisis, but that she considers this metric a really low bar.

    “If your entire definition of friendship is based on emergencies, then you’re treating it like a transaction,” she said. “Arthur Brooks talks about the value of ‘useless friends,’ and I love that phrase. He means the friends who aren’t there just to fix something, but to simply enjoy life with you.”

    For Asher, the casual coffee hangouts, the last-minute accountability check-ins, and the random laughs on a Tuesday night matter just as much as being there in the tough times. The podcast host says that an important caveat is that there are seasons where a friend genuinely does not have much to give. They could be in the midst of grief, caregiving, dealing with a health concern or burnout.

    Horn noted that inconsistent support, what she calls “ambivalence,” can result in higher levels of stress under the surface.

    “Unpredictability in a friendship forces your body into constant vigilance, causing an unhealthy stress burden,” she said.

    3. Conversations Center Around Them

    “When most of your interactions revolve around their stories, their stress, or their successes, while your own life goes largely unnoticed, this imbalance can leave you feeling unseen,” Yu said.

    Horn added that when this happens, resentment is never far behind.

    “If you often leave time together feeling drained, resentful, or questioning your value, the friendship is probably taking more than it gives,” she said.

    4. Celebrations Do Not Go Both Ways

    Asher recalled a client who shared a career win only to be met with jealousy from their friend, rather than a congratulations.

    “Moments like this cut deep,” she said. “True friends don’t just show up when you’re down; they are also the ones cheering you on.”

    Sometimes, though, flat reactions may come from insecurity rather than a lack of care. Asher suggested giving friends the chance to rise to the occasion, by communicating to them that the “win” is a big deal and that they would love to celebrate alongside them.

    5. Boundaries Are Not Respected

    “If you express a need for space, rest, or a boundary and it’s dismissed, minimized, or guilt-tripped, it’s worth noticing,” Yu said. “Respect for each other’s limits is a cornerstone of sustainable, affirming relationships.”

    Asher added: “If you saying ‘no’ means your friend guilt-trips you, gets angry, or disappears, then the friendship isn’t really mutual. That shows they wanted your compliance, not your connection.”

    6. The Relationship Feels Like Obligation

    Yu said that when you find yourself saying “yes” out of habit or guilt rather than genuine desire, the friendship may no longer feel nourishing.

    Horn explained that if you start “keeping score” of who texts, calls, or makes plans, that bookkeeping itself is a signal that something is wrong.

    “It’s because the lack of reciprocity has left you feeling undervalued, unseen,” she said. “That mental bookkeeping is a red flag.”

    7. You Leave Interactions Feeling Drained

    Yu urged people to check how they feel physically and emotionally after spending time with a friend.

    “Do you feel lighter, understood, or grounded—or instead, exhausted, anxious, or diminished?” she asked.

    Asher agreed, adding that friendships should lift you up, not shrink you down, but the podcast host says these moments can be opportunities rather than endings.

    “Instead of silently stewing on it, I encourage others to bring it up,” she said. “Hard conversations can either unlock a whole new level of depth—or give you the clarity that it’s time to let go.”

    Not every season of imbalance means a friendship is doomed. Life circumstances can temporarily tilt the scales, and sometimes, an honest conversation is all that is needed to restore reciprocity.

    Sometimes you can rebuild something new instead of labeling a friend “toxic” or walking away at the first sign of hurt. In fact, some of the deepest connections hinge on hard conversations.

    But if the signs of a one-sided friendship keep piling up, the experts unanimously agree it may be time to reassess, as friendships have a bigger toll on our emotional lives than we often perceive.

    As Horn, whose book about friendship was endorsed by Mel Robbins, put it: “Research shows when we trust our friends to be as equally generous of time and spirit as we are, we work harder to keep the bond—opening up in ways that deepen the friendship.”

    Are you and your friend stuck in an argument? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

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  • Secret Service thwarts massive telecom threat near UN General Assembly

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    Secret Service thwarts massive telecom threat near UN General Assembly

    The Secret Service thwarted a massive telecom threat near the United Nations that could have disrupted New York City’s communications.

    Updated: 2:39 PM PDT Sep 23, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ


    White House Correspondent

    The Secret Service stopped a massive telecom threat near the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Tuesday, just as world leaders gathered for meetings.Agents described the threat as one of the most sweeping communications threats ever found on U.S. soil, involving a hidden network capable of knocking out cell service across the city. Investigators discovered more than 300 SIM servers containing over 100,000 SIM cards within 35 miles of the U.N. headquarters. These servers had the potential to send out millions of fake calls and messages, which could cripple cell towers, jam 911 calls, and flood networks with chaos. An agent compared the potential impact to the blackouts following 9/11 and the Boston Marathon, noting that this system could trigger such a shutdown on demand.Experts warn that the threat extends beyond phones, as banking, emergency services, and even the power grid rely on telecom networks. Matt Pearl from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, “A lot of this traffic goes over telecom networks, and in some cases, specifically, wireless networks. And so just literally everything in modern life could be hampered or taken down by this.”The investigation is ongoing, with the Secret Service indicating that the operation was highly organized, costing millions, and early signs suggest foreign actors may be involved. Experts say building such a system is not particularly difficult, with the main challenge being financial rather than technical expertise. They are also hard to detect, raising concerns that similar networks could exist in other cities.

    WASHINGTON —

    The Secret Service stopped a massive telecom threat near the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Tuesday, just as world leaders gathered for meetings.

    Agents described the threat as one of the most sweeping communications threats ever found on U.S. soil, involving a hidden network capable of knocking out cell service across the city. Investigators discovered more than 300 SIM servers containing over 100,000 SIM cards within 35 miles of the U.N. headquarters.

    These servers had the potential to send out millions of fake calls and messages, which could cripple cell towers, jam 911 calls, and flood networks with chaos. An agent compared the potential impact to the blackouts following 9/11 and the Boston Marathon, noting that this system could trigger such a shutdown on demand.

    Experts warn that the threat extends beyond phones, as banking, emergency services, and even the power grid rely on telecom networks.

    Matt Pearl from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said, “A lot of this traffic goes over telecom networks, and in some cases, specifically, wireless networks. And so just literally everything in modern life could be hampered or taken down by this.”

    The investigation is ongoing, with the Secret Service indicating that the operation was highly organized, costing millions, and early signs suggest foreign actors may be involved.

    Experts say building such a system is not particularly difficult, with the main challenge being financial rather than technical expertise. They are also hard to detect, raising concerns that similar networks could exist in other cities.

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  • Asking Eric: After missed birthday party, friend stops calling

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    Dear Eric: I’ve been friends with a girl for at least 10 years. Recently she had a birthday and our circle of friends planned on going to a local bar to celebrate. I decided not to attend because I wasn’t able to afford a $10 cover charge. I told her that and she seemed to be OK with it.

    But then I noticed that I wasn’t hearing from her like I usually did. I asked another friend, and they said they were under the impression that she was upset and disappointed with me because I didn’t go out for her birthday, so I sent her a text apologizing and saying that I really couldn’t afford it and that I live from paycheck to paycheck and I thought she’d understand.

    She responded by saying she understood because she lives from paycheck to paycheck and also that she considered me a close friend and that she was upset and disappointed I didn’t then come out for her birthday and she went on to say that if it hadn’t been on her actual birthday she wouldn’t have minded as much, which never made any sense to me.

    She also said she needed time and that she should eventually get over it. Well, it’s been three months, and I haven’t heard anything. I feel like texting her again to say if she doesn’t consider us friends anymore then I would like to know because I have some stuff, she asked me to keep at my house, and I would give it back.

    I told two of my other friends and they feel she’s being childish about the whole thing. What are your thoughts?

    — Weary Friend

    Dear Friend: She’s being more than childish; her response is unfair and uncaring. She’s allowed to make whatever plans she wants for her birthday — and everyone deserves to feel special — but she’s also an adult and adults understand that sometimes we can’t afford to do things we want to do. Adults also understand that special occasions can happen anytime. After the age of, say 16, missing a birthday party is not a reason to sever a friendship.

    If she’s not serious about wanting to rebuild this friendship, then returning the items you’re holding for her and wishing her well is the best option.

    Dear Eric: My younger brother (54 yrs) is a chronic alcoholic. He’s now developed Cirrhosis and he has little time left.

    I’m his older sister, who realized more than 30 years ago that binge drinking and alcoholism seemed to affect us siblings, so I stopped, completely.

    I never got on his case about his drinking, but we drifted apart due to his excessive drinking and the erratic behavior it brought out.

    Sadly, this diagnosis is what has brought us back together. I call him weekly, talk about funny stories from the past and try to keep his spirits up.

    We lost a sister years ago, when she was 7 years old, to a childhood illness. My parents were devastated as it was sudden and unexpected. My mother is gone, but my father, still going strong in his 90s, is still with us.

    My father lives too far away to visit my brother and they only rarely talk on the phone. There are four adult children in our family.

    There is a disagreement as to whether we should tell my father. I believe that a parent has the right to know. They have been through more than their adult children give them credit for and should be able to say goodbye. Others are saying we shouldn’t say anything because “it could kill dad.”

    There is no question my brother will pass before my father. Do you think a parent should be told that their child is sick and passing?

    — Sad Sister

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • ICE offers big bucks — but California police officers prove tough to poach

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    In the push to expand as quickly as possible, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is aggressively wooing recruits with experience slapping handcuffs on suspects: sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and local cops.

    The agency even shelled out for airtime during an NFL game with an ad explicitly targeting officers.

    “In sanctuary cities, dangerous illegals walk free as police are forced to stand down,” the August recruitment ad warned over a sunset panorama of the Los Angeles skyline. “Join ICE and help us catch the worst of the worst.”

    To meet its hiring goal, the Trump administration is offering hefty signing bonuses, student loan forgiveness and six-figure salaries to would-be deportation officers.

    ICE has also broadened its pool of potential applicants by dropping age requirements, eliminating Spanish-language proficiency requirements and cutting back on training for new hires with law enforcement experience.

    Along the way, the agency has walked a delicate line, seeking to maintain cordial relations with local department leaders while also trying to poach their officers.

    “We’re not trying to pillage a bunch of officers from other agencies,” said Tim Oberle, an ICE spokesman. “If you see opportunities to move up, make more money to take care of your family, of course you’re going to want it.”

    But despite the generous new compensation packages, experts said ICE is still coming up short in some of the places it needs agents the most.

    “The pay in California is incredible,” said Jason Litchney of All-Star Talent, a recruiting firm. “Some of these Bay Area agencies are $200,000 a year without overtime.”

    Even entry level base pay for a Los Angeles Police Department officer is more than $90,000 year. In San Francisco, it’s close to $120,000. While ICE pays far more in California than in most other states, cash alone is less likely to induce many local cops to swap their dress blues for fatigues and a neck gaiter.

    “If you were a state police officer who’s harbored a desire to become a federal agent, I don’t know if you want to join ICE at this time,” said John Sandweg, who headed ICE under President Obama.

    Police agencies nationwide have struggled for years to recruit and retain qualified officers. The LAPD has only graduated an average of 31 recruits in its past 10 academy classes, about half the number needed to keep pace with the city’s plan to grow the force to 9,500 officers.

    “That is a tremendous issue for us,” said Brian Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Assn. of California, a professional advocacy organization.

    A person walks near the stage during a hiring fair by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Aug. 26 in Arlington, Texas.

    (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

    ICE, too, has long failed to meet its staffing targets. As of a year ago, the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations — it’s dedicated deportation force — had 6,050 officers, barely more than in 2021.

    As of Sep. 16, the Department of Homeland Security said it has sent out more than 18,000 tentative job offers after a summer recruitment campaign that drew more than 150,000 applications.

    It did not specify how many applicants were working cops.

    At an ICE career expo in Texas last month, the agency at times turned away anyone who didn’t already have authorization to carry a badge or an honorable discharge from the military.

    “We have so many people who are current police officers who are trying to get on the job right now and that’s who we’ve been prioritizing,” one ICE official at the event said.

    But the spirited pursuit of rank-and-file officers has sparked anger and resentment among top cops around the country.

    “Agencies are short-staffed,” said David J. Bier, an immigration expert at the Cato Institute. “They are complaining constantly about recruitment and retention and looking every which way to maintain their workforce — and here comes along ICE — trying to pull those officers away.”

    Law enforcement experts say that outside of California, especially in lower income states, many young officers take home about as much as public school teachers, making the opportunity for newer hires to jump ship for a federal gig even more enticing.

    Some fear the ICE hiring spree will attract problematic candidates.

    “The scariest part keeping me up at night is you hear agencies say we’re lowering standards because we can’t hire,” said Justin Biedinger, head of Guardian Alliance Technologies, which streamlines background checks, applicant testing and other qualifications for law enforcement agencies.

    At the same time, the Trump administration is finding ways to deputize local cops without actually hiring them.

    The Department of Homeland Security has dramatically overhauled a controversial cooperation program called 287(g) that enlists local police officers and sheriff’s deputies to do the work of ICE agents.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at a news conference at the Wilshire Federal Building in June in Los Angeles.

    (Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times)

    As of early September, according to the program website, 474 agencies in 32 states were participating, up from 141 agencies in March.

    Some states such as Georgia and Florida require their agencies to apply for the program. Others, including California, forbid it.

    But that, too, could soon change.

    The administration is exploring ways to force holdouts to comply, including by conditioning millions of dollars of funding for domestic violence shelters, rape crisis hotlines and child abuse centers on compliance with its immigration directives. In response, California and several other states have sued.

    Even in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions such as Los Angeles, where local laws prohibit cops from participating in civil immigration enforcement, police officers have found themselves tangled up in federal operations. The LAPD has drawn criticism for officers responding to the scenes of ICE arrests where confrontations have erupted.

    “We get called a lot to come out and assist in providing security or making sure that it doesn’t turn violent,” said Marvel, the police advocacy organization president.

    “The vast majority of peace officers do not want to do immigration enforcement because that’s not the job they signed up for,” Marvel said. “We want to protect the community.”

    Among the agency’s most vocal critics, the push to beef up ICE is viewed as both dangerous and counterproductive.

    “Punishing violent criminals is the work of local and state law enforcement,” said Ilya Somin, law professor at George Mason University and a constitutional scholar at the Cato Institute. “If we were to abolish ICE and devote the money to those things, we’d have lower violence and crime.”

    The cash and perks ICE is dangling will inevitably draw more people, experts said, but some warned that newly minted deportation officers should be careful about mortgaging their future.

    The potential $50,000 hiring bonus is paid out in installments over several years — and the role may lack job security.

    At the same time Trump is doubling ICE’s headcount, he’s also rewriting the rules to make it far easier to ax federal workers, said Sandweg, the former Obama official.

    That could come back to haunt many agency recruits four years from now, he said: “I think there’s a very good chance a future Democratic administration is going to eliminate a lot of these positions.”

    Zurie Pope, a Times fellow with the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, contributed to this report.

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    Sonja Sharp, Sandra McDonald, Brittny Mejia

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  • Asking Eric: New husband wants to go on vacation without his wife

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    Dear Eric: I’m a newly married 69-year-old woman who was previously a widow after 43 years of marriage. My present husband and I have been married for a little over a year. We dated in high school and coincidentally ended up together.

    Prior to getting married, my husband didn’t ever mention he wanted to go on an African Safari with his adult son and now it has come up frequently. I have made it clear it upsets me that he wants to do this, travel without me, and made it clear I am not paying for this adventure of his. Why would I not be included? But I would never desire to go on an African Safari either.

    I don’t understand it, this wanting to be away from me for that long. It hurts me deeply that they didn’t do this stuff all those years when he was single. Now he’s retired so possibly that’s why his son has come up with this idea. His son barely comes around as he struggles with anxiety.

    I do not know how to handle this. It tears me apart to think this man I’ve fallen in love with thinks nothing of being away from me for so long. I married this man to be a couple through thick and thin.

    Please help me come to grips with all of this. Am I being unreasonable and unfair?

    — Left At Home

    Dear Left: Let’s look at this from your husband’s point-of-view — he’s recently retired, so he finally has more time for bucket list items. He’s also newly married, so it’s likely that his free time is less available for events with his son than it might have been before you were together. It makes sense, then, that they’d want to do this once-in-a-lifetime trip together. I would strongly encourage you to celebrate this with him, instead of begrudging it. In short, it is unfair to hold this trip against him.

    Be happy for your husband but don’t beat yourself up too much. Transitioning to this new relationship after a 43-year marriage is going to take some adjustment. You love each other, but you’re also still learning about each other.

    But, for the health of your relationship, it will be important for you to remember that both you and your husband have full lives. While you’re committed to building a life together, there are going to be things that each of you does on your own.

    This safari trip is not about you; it isn’t an example of your husband abandoning you. Try to see it for what it is — a rare opportunity for him to pursue a dream and a chance for you, back home, to find something that brings you joy, as well. When you’re reunited, you can tell each other what you’ve learned and discovered.

    Dear Eric: I met an interesting man recently and agreed to a date, and within a few minutes of the start of it we realized we had grown up in the same town and already knew each other. I was younger by a couple of years, and we didn’t know each other well, but we shared an extended friend group. I have a vivid memory of being in the back of his truck when he intentionally hurt an animal while driving. He did not express any remorse, quite the opposite.

    He wouldn’t pull over and I became physically ill. That image has stayed in my mind.

    He says he’s a different person now, nearly 15 years later. I’m having a hard time even thinking about getting past it. Should I even try? Can a 17-year-old horrible person turn into a 31-year-old person with integrity and empathy? Should I try to get over this image that was seared into my 15-year-old brain?

    — Old Habits

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Central Florida doctor unveils kratom research findings, potential dangers

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    Central Florida doctor unveils kratom research findings, potential dangers

    Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center emergency medicine physician and toxicologist, Dr. Josef Thundiyil, joins WESH 2 to discuss the potential dangers of kratom.

    ALERT AND FOCUSING ON A SUBSTANCE CALLED KRATOM. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, THE FDA HERE SAYS THIS SUPPLEMENT IS TYPICALLY MARKETED AS AN ENERGY BOOSTER, MOOD LIFTER, PAIN RELIEVER, AND OPIOID WITHDRAWAL REMEDY. IT’S FOUND AT DISPENSARIES, EVEN RESTAURANTS, SOMETIMES INFUSED WITH DRINKS. AND DESPITE ITS GROWING POPULARITY, THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUBSTANCE. SO HERE TO GIVE US ANSWERS AND SHARE RESEARCH AND FINDINGS, WE HAVE EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND TOXICOLOGIST AT ORLANDO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, DOCTOR JOSEPH DUNHILL. GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. OKAY, SO YOU’VE DONE THE WORK HERE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE’VE HEARD A GOOD BIT ABOUT LATELY. THE KRATOM PRODUCTS. WHAT ARE YOUR FINDINGS IN TERMS OF LOOKING INTO THIS SUBSTANCE THAT IS REALLY WIDELY POPULAR AND WIDELY AVAILABLE? YEAH. AS A BACKGROUND, THERE’S A FEW CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME UP. NUMBER ONE, IT’S VERY UNREGULATED. THERE’S ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT CHEMICAL ALKALOIDS IN THIS. THE SECOND IS THAT WE KNOW IT’S ADDICTIVE. SOME OF THE REPORTS FROM PEOPLE IS THAT IT’S COMPULSIVELY ADDICTIVE. PEOPLE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A DAY TO GET SORT OF A FIX WITH IT. THE OTHER THING WE KNOW IS THAT IT INTERACTS WITH EXISTING MEDICATIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE ON. WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE INTERACTIONS ARE. AND THEN THE FINAL THING, EVEN BEFORE I GOT INTO THIS RESEARCH, IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE’S NO PROVEN MEDICAL BENEFITS. SO PEOPLE ARE USING THIS WITH THE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPING, BUT WE DON’T KNOW THAT IT’S HELPING THEM WITH ANYTHING. AND YOU WORKED WITH A LOT OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. MORE THAN TWO DOZEN, I BELIEVE. YEAH. WE WORKED ACTUALLY. IT WAS A GROUP OF US PHYSICIANS. WE ESSENTIALLY REACHED OUT TO 25 MEDICAL EXAMINERS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. REALLY TO TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IS, ARE PEOPLE DYING FROM KRATOM? AND WE FOUND SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS. WE ACTUALLY HAD THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SEND US ANY REPORTED DEATHS, AND WE FOUND ALMOST 40 DEATHS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT FIVE YEARS. OKAY. AND WAS THIS TIED TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC? THE SUBSTANCE AND OPIOIDS OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES? NO, THESE ARE DEATHS IN THE ABSENCE OF OPIOIDS. NOW, WE KNOW THAT THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE RESEMBLES OPIOIDS. AND THAT’S WHAT GAVE US THIS CONCERN THAT IT COULD CAUSE DEATH. AND WE STILL ARE LEFT WITH NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHY SOME PEOPLE DIE AND SOME PEOPLE DON’T. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT STILL HAS SOME SIGNIFICANT DANGERS WITH IT. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, AS A PHYSICIAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO SOMEONE WHO’S, YOU KNOW, THERE’S SOMETHING THAT MAY CAUSE SOMETHING AS SEVERE AS DEATH? WHAT WHAT ARE YOU ADVISING PEOPLE? I WOULD ADVISE TREMENDOUS CAUTION. IT IS UNREGULATED. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS DON’T HAVE ANY DOSING LISTED ON IT. WE KNOW IT INTERACTS WITH MEDICATIONS. YOU KNOW, MY TYPICAL ADVICE WOULD BE TALK TO YOUR PHYSICIAN ABOUT IT. BUT WHAT I’M FINDING IN THE COMMUNITY IS THIS THERE’S ENOUGH UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE THAT EVEN YOUR PHYSICIAN MAY NOT KNOW WHAT ALL THE INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES ARE. SO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. AND AT THE MOMENT, I PERSONALLY WOULD ADVOCATE FOR SAFETY. BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE IS HARM. WE KNOW THERE’S ADDICTION. ANYTIME THERE’S A POTENTIAL FOR ADDICTION AND ESCALATING USE, WE NOW KNOW THAT IT CAN ALSO CAUSE DEATH. YEAH. WHAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS YOU’RE SEEING WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUBSTANCE? YEAH. FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT, WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN TERMS OF WHO MIGHT BE AT RISK. SO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY SUFFER FROM ADDICTION BECAUSE THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING TO HELP THEM GET OFF OF SUBSTANCE USE. I ALWAYS AM CONCERNED ABOUT ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS. FOR THIS REASON, PEOPLE WHO ARE ON OTHER MEDICATIONS BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL TO INTERACT. AND SO THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICINES, BUT ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER AND THE ELDERLY. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RISK GROUPS THAT WE GET CONCERNED ABOUT. YEAH, WELL, THIS IS REALLY AMAZING FINDINGS AND GREAT RESEARCH THAT YOU AND ALL THESE OTHER PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS HAVE WORKED ON COLLECTIVELY. WE’RE GOING TO POST SOME MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE SO YOU CAN FIND OUT AND HELP NAVIGATE YOUR JOURNEY. IF YOU IF YOU HAV

    Central Florida doctor unveils kratom research findings, potential dangers

    Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center emergency medicine physician and toxicologist, Dr. Josef Thundiyil, joins WESH 2 to discuss the potential dangers of kratom.

    Updated: 10:00 AM EDT Sep 15, 2025

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    Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center emergency medicine physician and toxicologist, Dr. Josef Thundiyil, joins WESH 2 to discuss the potential dangers of kratom.Click here to learn more.

    Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center emergency medicine physician and toxicologist, Dr. Josef Thundiyil, joins WESH 2 to discuss the potential dangers of kratom.

    Click here to learn more.

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  • Asking Eric: Widowed mother-in-law wants to bring new beau for holidays

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    Dear Eric: My mother-in-law, Dana, 79, was married for 51 years before her husband passed six years ago.

    She still visits us frequently. When she does, she stays at either our house or one of my husband’s sister’s homes.

    Within the last six months, my MIL began dating another senior gentleman, Peter. Apparently, Dana and Peter knew each other in high school and recently reconnected.

    As of this writing, only the two sisters have met Peter. Now there is discussion of the Thanksgiving holiday. Dana would like to bring Peter to meet the rest of the family, and she’s upset because there are conflicting opinions on where she and Peter should stay.

    I told my husband I would not feel comfortable hosting my MIL and her boyfriend in our home over the holiday weekend. We only have one guest room. Equally, I think my sisters-in-law feel the same. My nephew said he does not like the idea of someone, not his grandfather, staying in their home at all, especially a holiday break. Again, I’m not in disagreement.

    Meanwhile, Dana is upset because she feels no one is giving Peter a chance. I suggested that Dana and Peter stay at a hotel, but Dana feels that we should be more accommodating to her and Peter, especially since they will be traveling to our area via train and neither will have local transportation. I feel it’s a lot to ask to include someone else who is essentially a stranger to us in our homes. I’m sure Peter is a nice man, and my MIL enjoys his company, but am I, or my sisters-in-law, being unreasonable?

    — Crowded House

    Dear House: Your home, your rules, your comfort level. However, it would be helpful for everyone involved to consider Dana’s position here, as well. Six years after going through the grief and disruption of her husband’s death, she’s found new companionship, which can be wonderful but also has its own challenges. This is new territory for her as well as for you. There are bound to be some hiccups.

    Much of the letter was focused on Peter being a stranger. And I acknowledge that is a hurdle, maybe an insurmountable one. But I wonder if Peter is really who everyone is thinking about here, or if this is more about holding a space for Dana’s first husband. Peter’s presence doesn’t displace Dana’s first husband in the family structure, nor — I presume — in her heart. She has to understand that everyone grieves and adjusts in their own way. But everyone else has to understand that Dana is still alive and this relationship is part of her life now.

    If the unmarried grandchildren in your family aren’t allowed to bring home significant others to stay in the same room, then explain to Dana that this policy has to be universally applied. However, if that’s not the case, don’t make her the victim of a double standard. See if there’s a time between now and Thanksgiving that she can bring Peter down to meet you casually. That will make him less of a stranger.

    Dear Eric: When my dad passed away, with my mother already gone, it took my brother seven years to settle his estate.

    He was living in dad’s house and not in any hurry. I spoke to him several times trying to encourage him to get it done. But nothing worked. So, I finally got a lawyer’s help. It worked and now he will not talk to me. Was I wrong in thinking it took too long?

    — Estate Dilemma

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Asking Eric: Single mom wants to start relationship with handyman

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    Dear Eric: I’m a 40-year-old single mom of twin 5-year-olds. I’m a professional woman, but due to my commitments to my children and the overall daily grind, I have little to no time for socialization and dating.

    However, I need occasional help around the house, and my cousin (let’s call her Jen) was kind enough to refer me to her handyman. He’s helped me with several projects over the last year, and I sense a mutual physical attraction.

    I am aware that my cousin had a sexual relationship with this man at some point long ago, but it was never serious, and she is currently in a new relationship and very much in love. Would I be awful to pursue this new friend? I am lonely and find very few opportunities to meet new people with my time constraints. I could really benefit from some fun.

    — Lonely in NYC

    Dear Lonely in NYC: Awful? No. If you’re worrying about betraying your cousin, she can’t (and doesn’t seem to want to) lay claim to every former paramour. But there are a lot of intertwined relationships here, so I would tread more carefully than if the handyman was just a casual acquaintance.

    First, there’s the fact that he’s working for you, specifically in your home. If you were to pursue a relationship with him, I’d first find another handyman and be clear with him about why.

    But you’re both adults and any adult entering into a romantic or sexual relationship should be communicative about boundaries, pitfalls and needs. So, you and he should have an adult conversation before going any further. What are your needs, what are his, what are the concerns, where do things get hazy? Is what you want — something that fits into your life and schedule — what he wants?

    It sounds like your ideal situation right now is something simple. And even though he’s attracted to you and already in your home sometimes, I don’t know that this is as simple as it seems. If this was a Hallmark movie — call it “Mr. Fix-It,” perhaps — the courtship would be sealed by a series of glances and a sudden rainstorm. But life is not a Hallmark movie. No offense to Hallmark movies, we’re better for it because we get to talk things out and avoid confusion. No rainstorms needed.

    Dear Eric: My sister and her husband visit my area at least once a year. They presume they’re going to stay at my home with each visit. In turn, she expects my husband and I to visit her while we travel through her area.

    I can no longer do this.

    She’s a loud, chaotic and competitive narcissist, who I cringe being around. Her noise battery never runs out and the thin ice on our relationship is ready to crack.

    It’s taken me a lifetime to work through the scars created by her insecure, never wrong, center stage, toxic ego and I’m living my life no longer behind her.

    I’ve quietly and repeatedly tried to help, for I know she struggles with herself, but my attempts are fruitless.

    For my own sanity, I won’t host her here any longer, or visit, but I don’t know how to approach this without her having one of her typical major meltdowns. I value your thoughts.

    — Love Her But Dislike Her

    Dear Love Her: A guest can’t simply put in a reservation for your house without your say. So, you can avoid her visits by making yourself and your home unavailable the next time. Tell her you don’t have the capacity to host, or you’ll be out of town, or you just can’t make it work.

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Asking Eric: Son’s new girlfriend has a rude way of joking

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    Dear Eric: My son is 35 and his new girlfriend of three months is 32. They’re both very smart. They are both very well educated. She’s funny. She’s smart. I really enjoy my time with her except for when she falls into these pits where she talks about him like he’s not there and puts him down. She says things like “Well, I told your son to do this and, of course, he didn’t” or “I told him this he didn’t think that was right and, of course, I was right, and he was wrong.” He laughs it off, she laughs it off, and I change the subject and laugh it off.

    But it’s not funny to me. I have my own experience of living with a manipulative person who started small and grew, too. Basically, controlling my whole life.

    She really likes me and aside from this I like her as well.

    I don’t want to overstep my bounds at all. What should I do? I’m just uncomfortable with it and I don’t know what to do.

    — Uncomfortable Mom

    Dear Mom: As it’s only been three months, your son and his girlfriend are still learning their relationship, and you’re still learning your relationship with his girlfriend. So, this is a great time to define a boundary for yourself and incorporate it into how you and the girlfriend interact.

    Because she’s directing her comments to you, it’s not overstepping to tell her “This isn’t a way I like to be spoken to about my son. Let’s find a different way of talking.” It can be gentle but firm. It need not create conflict. She may come from a family that needles or teases. She may have seen relationships where this behavior was modeled. That doesn’t mean that it has to stand, especially with you.

    It’s up to your son and his girlfriend to define how they want to communicate with each other, but you’ll be setting a good example for both of them if you clearly communicate to her what you’re hearing and what might be getting in the way of more closeness. She may think she’s joking, but she’s misreading her audience, and you should tell her that.

    Dear Eric: My mother is 90. Years ago, I moved 800 miles away for college. Since then, I have visited my hometown at least once a year. I am now 63.

    We talk on the phone weekly or biweekly. My parents are divorced. I have no relationship with my father.

    My mom has always favored my brothers financially. One brother for at least $100,000 over the years, the other somewhat less but still substantial — new cars, medical bills and other things.

    I am proud that I pay my own way. But the inequity hurts me.

    When I tell my mom I am hurt, she just looks at me and says I would do the same for my son. Well, after the recent death of my brother my mom needs to update her will. She just told me she is thinking about leaving everything, around $500,000, to my niece.

    I am so hurt. The reason she wants to cut me out of her will? I don’t need the money. Again, I am left feeling less than. And I find it is more than I can deal with. I am fighting tears constantly, feel unloved, like the afterthought, marginalized. And just so darn hurt.

    I want to go no-contact. She has shown me many times over the years I am last. How do I cut her out of my life at this point? How do I forgive, again? How do I move on, again?

    — Hurt Daughter

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Asking Eric: Friend breaks off contact after her husband’s death

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    Dear Eric: “Sue” and I have been neighbors and friends for more than 50 years. She and her husband are godparents to one of our children, we are members of social groups together, like book club and bridge group. We have shared many occasions together, at the holidays and with our families.

    A couple of years ago her husband (and our friend) died after a short illness. After the funeral, I called her many times, let her talk and asked her out for lunch. She was always “busy” with appointments or “kids coming” so we never got together. In the meantime, she has told me about her “wonderful neighbors” and that they “are just like family.” It is very hurtful and puzzling.

    I don’t know how to feel or what to think about this. We have had her over to our house a couple of times. Things went well until it was time to leave. She told me I don’t know what it is like and wouldn’t until my husband dies. She never calls me, so I have given up on that, too.

    I know everyone deals with grief differently. But what should I do when I have been “ghosted” by a long-time friend? (I see this person at social events like book club, bridge and at church.) Do I just go on and hope that she will “come out of it”? (Frankly, I’m not sure I like her much now.) Or have I lost a long-time friend?

    — Hurt Friend

    Dear Friend: One of the things that makes this so hard is that both you and Sue are hurting but you’re hurting in different ways and for different reasons. Those differences have made it difficult for you to align, but it’s not impossible. It sounds like, when Sue told you that you don’t know what it’s like, she was attempting to communicate something very complex. And while it may not have seemed like it at the time, I think it was her attempt to let you in.

    When some people lose a spouse, or a parent, or a child, the world gets split into two segments: those who have been through it and know what the pain is like. And those who don’t. Grief is isolating and it’s ever-changing, and it’s all-encompassing sometimes. So, this sorting can be an act of self-preservation — a way of making sense of a world where all the rules have changed.

    You can have sympathy, you can show her love, you can show up in a myriad of ways, but right now there are aspects of your life that trigger her or are hard to navigate. So, I want to strongly encourage you not to write her off. I know you’ve reached out repeatedly; please don’t take it personally that she needs this distance. Your friendship has changed, just like every other relationship in her life. But that change is not an ending. If you continue to be present, friendly, and loving in those small social interactions, the bedrock of your relationship will remain intact and you may be able to build something new, a relationship that’s shaped around the people you both are now.

    Dear Eric: I’m responding to your reader “Raising Voices”. Raising Voices had two friends who refused to wear hearing aids and RV was frustrated trying to talk with them. You were right in your advice to RV to tactfully encourage them to see an audiologist because hearing loss can lead to dementia as well as a greatly diminished quality of life.

    As someone who has worn hearing aids for 15 years and got them in my early 40s, I would like to also add that, when people ask you to repeat yourself, please don’t say the same exact words only louder — it’s frustrating for both the speaker and the listener.

    Oftentimes, it’s certain sounds in words, like the S and F sounds, that are difficult to distinguish and make understanding difficult. If someone asks you to repeat yourself, use different words that mean the same thing. My husband sometimes yells at me, and I still can’t understand him, even with hearing aids (and he should know better since I’ve had hearing loss since I’ve known him, but that’s another story).

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Asking Eric: New supervisor experiences workplace revolt

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    Dear Eric: I started a new job a year ago. I took over as a supervisor at a municipal agency and from an individual who was retiring and who is a friend of mine.

    The position that I took over for had a number of employees who were retired and had part-time jobs. They were very loyal to him, and he let them do what they wanted as long as it got done. There was no structure at the workplace.

    I tried to implement small things while starting out and, each time, I would get the response that that’s not how we have done it before.

    I didn’t want to make it like it was my way only, but things needed to change. If I complained to my supervisors, then they would think I was doing the complaining and that I could not get along with anyone. They wouldn’t listen to me at all.

    It’s to the point where every time I walk in the door and ask to get something done, the employees do the exact opposite. It’s embarrassing to work there. I have no support on either end. I enjoy the job, but my staff does not respect me.

    I am at a loss for what I should do. I don’t know who is in charge there because I don’t feel like I am.

    Do you have any suggestions or ideas about what I can do?

    — Disrespected Supervisor

    Dear Supervisor: It can be very difficult to inherit someone else’s workplace culture. And, when you’re in a supervisory role, a lot of the negotiation becomes about what you need to adjust to and what you need to change. That’s a dance that goes on for a while. Respect from the employees you supervise is important here and I don’t want to dismiss that, but it’s also crucial to think about the expectations that are being placed on you, the expectations that you’re placing on yourself and the expectations you have for the workplace.

    To that end, see if you can get clarity from your supervisors about what success looks like for you, how they measure it and what systems are in place to encourage growth. These systems may not exist — many workplaces are imperfect. But this information could help you to modify your expectations of yourself and, in turn, take some of the frustration out of the working relationships you have with the employees you supervise.

    You also might want to talk to your friend. He created this imperfect system and, while you clearly don’t want to perpetuate it, he might be able to give insight or cheat codes. Ask him, “how do I deal with these people?”

    Shifting a culture is more akin to turning a cruise ship than a speed boat. Smaller steps are going to be necessary and the first should be finding one thing about your job performance that you feel good about and pouring your energy into that.

    Dear Eric: My best friend and I, both females and in our 60s, used to do everything together. Last year, she met a nice man and after a brief courtship, they married. I even performed the wedding ceremony.

    Now, we barely see each other, and maybe text or call once a week, if that.

    I knew and understood that our friendship was going to change once she married and I expected that, but I never thought it would be so drastic. Her husband gets upset if she wants “girl time” with me and even other friends. I feel really hurt and discarded. I’m not sure if I should talk to her about it or leave it be. I don’t want to cause a rift between us or make it awkward.

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    R. Eric Thomas

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  • Mortgage rates are rising. Experts cite economic strength, inflation and possible Trump win

    Mortgage rates are rising. Experts cite economic strength, inflation and possible Trump win

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    In September, the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2020, giving hope to prospective home buyers that mortgage rates would follow suit.

    But instead of declining, home loan costs marched higher.

    On Thursday, mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported the average rate on a 30-year home loan rose to 6.72%, up from 6.54% a week earlier. It was the fifth consecutive week of increases.

    “People are confused,” said Jeff Lazerson, president of Mortgage Grader in Laguna Niguel. “They are saying ‘What’s going on?’”

    The fact that mortgage rates have gone up despite the cut underscores that while the Federal Reserve influences mortgage rates, it does not set them.

    Instead, rates are determined by what institutional investors who purchase bundles of mortgages are willing to pay for them and a variety of factors influence those investors.

    One is the benchmark rate the Fed cut in September, which sets a floor on borrowing costs throughout the economy. Another is expectations for inflation. That’s because when purchasing 30-year mortgages, investors don’t want to see the value of their investment eaten away as the years march on.

    Mortgage rates fell in advance of the Fed’s decision in September, because investors priced in the expectation the Fed would be able to cut because inflation had eased.

    Experts said one major reason rates have risen since is because economic data has come in stronger than expected. That’s convinced investors inflation will stay higher for longer and the Fed won’t be able to cut rates as much as they otherwise could have. Similarly, if the job market is stronger, there’s less of a need to cut rates to spur growth.

    “You see a lot of positive economic surprises,” said Kara Ng, an economist with Zillow, who cited a strong jobs report in September as one example.

    Political factors could be at play as well as presidential election polls have tightened in recent weeks.

    Chen Zhao, an economist with real estate brokerage Redfin, said it appears investors increasingly believe former President Trump will best Vice President Kamala Harris and retake the White House.

    According to a recent survey from the Wall Street Journal, most economists predict inflation and interest rates would be higher under policies proposed by Trump, who among other measures has called for sweeping tariffs on imported goods.

    “The link between tariffs and inflation is just very stark,” Zhao said. “There is not a lot of controversy there.”

    As rates rise, home buyers feel the pinch.

    Lazerson, the Orange County mortgage broker, said he’s seen business slow to a “trickle” after an initial burst when rates dropped around the Fed announcement.

    The reason is simple math.

    When rates hit their recent bottom of 6.08% in September, the monthly principal and interest payment on a $800,000 house would have been $3,870. It’s now $4,138.

    According to the weekly Freddie Mac survey, rates are still below 7%, a level last seen in May. However, a daily tracker from Mortgage News Daily puts them above that threshold.

    Zhao said what happens with rates next depends on a variety of factors, including who wins the election and what policies they actually enact.

    If there isn’t a policy shift, she would expect mortgage rates to come down next year because inflation is easing. On Thursday, an inflation measure closely watched by the Federal Reserve dropped to near pre-pandemic levels.

    Even so, economists say borrowers shouldn’t expect pandemic-era mortgage rates of 3% and below. Those rates were the byproduct of a massive federal effort to revive an economy where unemployment hit levels last seen in the Great Depression.

    “We are talking about [mortgage rates in] the high fives, low sixes” Zhao said. “If President Trump does win, there is certainly a lot more risk that rates could be higher.”

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    Andrew Khouri

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  • Global Restaurant Industry Authority Aaron Allen Offers Expert Commentary Backed by PhD-Level Data Insights

    Global Restaurant Industry Authority Aaron Allen Offers Expert Commentary Backed by PhD-Level Data Insights

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    CHICAGO, August 20, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Aaron Allen, a leading expert in the global restaurant industry and CEO of Aaron Allen & Associates, is now offering his expertise as a go-to media source for timely commentary on the most pressing trends affecting the $4.5 trillion global foodservice industry. With a library of data and statistics curated over two decades, supported by a team of PhD-level data scientists and statisticians, Allen provides unparalleled insights that blend quantitative analysis with qualitative, anecdotal expertise.

    Recognized as a TopVoice by LinkedIn’s executive editors, Allen has been featured in top-tier media outlets such as Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, Fox, Forbes, Fortune, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His ability to simplify complex subject matter and offer nuanced perspectives makes him an invaluable resource for journalists working under tight deadlines in the fast-paced world of news cycles.

    Key Trends and Insights Available for Commentary:

    Restaurant Bankruptcies: Allen can discuss the recent uptick in restaurant bankruptcies, providing a deep analysis of the economic and operational factors driving this trend and why it’s expected to continue accelerating.

    Consumer Dining Behavior & Population Migration: With significant shifts in consumer behavior influenced by population migration, Allen offers insights into how these changes are impacting the restaurant industry globally.

    Technological Divide: Allen can speak to the growing technological divide between well-resourced restaurants and those struggling to keep pace, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, and drive-through performance.

    Leadership Shakeups: Recent leadership changes at major restaurant chains have highlighted underlying industry pressures. Allen can provide context and analysis on the causes and implications of these shakeups.

    Activist Investors: The rise of activist investors is a continuing concern for publicly traded restaurant companies. Allen is available to comment on the strategies these investors are employing and the potential outcomes.

    Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): Drawing from extensive experience in commercial and operational due diligence, Allen can offer insights into current M&A activity and what to expect in the near future.

    Labor Costs & Regional Differences: As labor costs rise globally, Allen can discuss how restaurant chains are adapting to these challenges in various states and countries, noting the differences in strategies across regions.

    Inflation & Menu Strategy: Allen offers expert commentary on how inflation is affecting menu pricing and how restaurants are retooling their menus to balance cost pressures with customer expectations.

    Store Layouts & Location Strategies: With changing consumer behaviors, Allen can speak to how restaurants are rethinking their store layouts and location strategies to stay competitive in today’s market.

    Financing & Franchising Dynamics: As new dynamics in financing and franchising emerge, Allen is well-positioned to comment on the implications for the global foodservice industry.

    Whether journalists need a quick comment or a comprehensive analysis, Aaron Allen is available across time zones globally, providing responsive and insightful commentary tailored to meet the fast-paced demands of the media industry.

    About Aaron Allen & Associates

    Aaron Allen & Associates is a leading global restaurant industry consulting firm that has advised executive leadership of emerging and established brands across six continents and 100 countries. The firm’s expertise spans growth and expansion strategies, performance optimization, M&A advisory, and cutting-edge industry intelligence. With over 2,000 consulting engagements, the firm is a trusted advisor to restaurant chains, foodservice companies, hotel chains, suppliers, and investors.

    Source: Aaron Allen & Associates

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  • Experts, analysts share latest on attempted assassination of Donald Trump – WTOP News

    Experts, analysts share latest on attempted assassination of Donald Trump – WTOP News

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    Former President Donald Trump is out of the hospital after an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

    Former President Donald Trump is out of the hospital and recovering after a 20-year-old, who the FBI identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, attempted to assassinate the current Republican nominee during a Saturday evening rally in Burke, Pennsylvania.

    Here’s the latest expert insight, reporting and analysis from WTOP News following the stunning turn of events on Saturday and its ongoing effects in the U.S.

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    Devlin Barrett, Washington Post Law enforcement reporter speaks on law enforcement response to the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Ivy Lyons

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  • Column: How’d the grandpa debaters do? Three experts on aging size up Biden, Trump

    Column: How’d the grandpa debaters do? Three experts on aging size up Biden, Trump

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    Not a good night for Biden.

    Not a proud night for Trump.

    A sad night for the United States.

    That’s my take after watching the presidential debate, but I didn’t watch alone. I enlisted three experts on aging to share their observations. I was focused on a single question while watching President Biden debate former President Trump. At their advanced ages — Biden at 81, Trump at 78 — is either up to the task of running the country?

    This has been a hot topic for months, with many people convinced that Biden has lost his mental sharpness. (Not that Trump’s mental state hasn’t come into question.) I asked my three experts not to do a political analysis, or to make a medical diagnosis, because as I’ve written more than once, that’s a complicated process that can’t be performed from a distance.

    California is about to be hit by an aging population wave, and Steve Lopez is riding it. His column focuses on the blessings and burdens of advancing age — and how some folks are challenging the stigma associated with older adults.

    What I wanted was their take on command, coherence, competence, composure, reason and skills of communication and articulation. Aging takes a toll, physical and mental, but you can be an old 60-year-old and a young 85-year-old because everyone ages differently.

    Biden froze up early on. He failed to come up with a word he was fumbling for while speaking about the national debt, and he looked lost.

    One of my experts, Dr. Zaldy Tan, director of the Memory and Aging Program at Cedars-Sinai, emailed to say a televised debate can be like a “cognitive stress test” and is “bound to bring about subtle, albeit normal, age-related changes in one’s mental agility.”

    It seemed to me, however, that with a scratchy, weak voice and a sometimes-vacant look in his eyes, Biden might be in trouble.

    He and Trump both seemed pretty agile though during one exchange in which they took off the gloves and went bare-knuckle.

    “You have the morals of an alley cat,” Biden said, staring down his foe while listing a few of Trump’s many transgressions.

    “I didn’t have sex with a porn star,” Trump insisted, and if there’s a political campaign button with that claim on it, I’d like to buy a bushel of them.

    The candidates took turns accusing each other of being criminals, which made me think back on another low point in American politics, when Richard Nixon insisted, as his presidency was in flames, “I am not a crook.”

    Former President Trump speaks during a debate with President Biden in Atlanta.

    Former President Trump and President Biden took turns accusing each other of being criminals during the debate.

    (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

    Another of my debate watchers was Dr. Myron Shapero, an urgent care physician in Beverly Hills. I wanted his perspective because he’s older than either Biden or Trump by a good stretch. Shapero is 90, and he thought Biden did not have a good night.

    “I think it’s obvious that Biden is not Biden anymore,” said Shapero. “What Trump needed was someone sharp, sure, strong, who could counterpunch … and Joe always had that capacity.” On Thursday, “he didn’t have it.”

    Shapero said the word that came to mind, as the night wore on and he studied Biden’s performance, was “flustered.”

    “It’s the aging process, and everyone handles it differently,” said Shapero. “He was vacant. He was not fully present, and it was painful to see.”

    Dr. Tan was more forgiving in his assessment.

    “Besides the speech impediment,” he said, referencing a longtime Biden affliction, “it is possible that he experienced mind wandering, more commonly referred to as losing one’s train of thought. The tendency to mind wander increases with higher stress levels, sleep deprivation and taking certain medications.”

    Caroline Cicero, an associate professor in the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC, said she saw a sitting president who was not at his best.

    “Viewers surely noticed that President Biden did not command confidence in his performance,” Cicero said. “His blank stares left me wondering if his strategy was not to react and to stay stone-faced, so that he didn’t appear to be a grumpy old man.”

    Cicero said she wondered why Biden at times did not respond “more directly” to Trump attacks. “Reaction times do slow with age,” she said.

    Three people watch the presidential debate in a lounge in a Chicago neighborhood.

    Tanzella Young, left, Crystal Blakley and Jason Sanford watch the presidential debate at the M Lounge in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago.

    (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

    Early in the debate, when Biden trailed off, Trump said: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said, either.”

    Trump went in for the kill, as Dr. Shapero saw it.

    “Smelling blood made him nastier and more pathological,” Shapero said. “I feel that substance-wise, [Trump] was filled with lies, but stylistically, I think he came off stronger because he was less maniacal” than he usually is.

    One can ask whether Trump, a man aggressively removed from truth and civility, is fit for office. And Biden scored some points in exposing his opponent’s many barnacles, including the fact that he’s a convicted felon.

    But what I saw in Biden was a decent man and career public servant who is past his prime.

    What I saw in Trump was the usual boast and bluster, with no apparent ability or desire to control his own worst instincts.

    They ended the debate arguing about who had the better golf handicap.

    Lord help us.

    Steve.lopez@latimes.com

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    Steve Lopez

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  • Rosa, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s oldest otter and a social media star, dies at 24

    Rosa, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s oldest otter and a social media star, dies at 24

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    Rosa, the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s oldest sea otter and one of its social media stars, died Wednesday, the aquarium said in a statement.

    The southern sea otter, 24, had served as a surrogate mother for 15 otters, the most in the aquarium’s history. She outlived the life expectancy for her species in the wild, which is typically 15 to 20 years, according to a post by the aquarium on Facebook.

    Rosa was known for her blond head and “her signature head-all-the-way-back swimming style,” the aquarium wrote.

    “Rosa was one of our most playful sea otters, and even at 24 years old, she would still be seen frolicking and wrestling with the younger otters when she instigated it,” said Melanie Oerter, curator of mammals.

    “Rosa was usually found sleeping against the window while on exhibit with her chin tucked tight into her chest and her tail swishing back and forth,” she said.

    She first arrived as a “five-pound, four-week-old pup after being stranded as an orphan in September 1999,” and was released into the wild for several years, according to a page about Rosa on the aquarium’s website. She returned to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2002 after experts determined that she had become too accustomed to humans and was not suited for life in the wild.

    In the past several weeks, Rosa’s health deteriorated, and experts at the aquarium decided to euthanize her. “She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her caretakers,” according to the aquarium’s post.

    In the post, the aquarium called Rosa a “charismatic ambassador for her threatened species” who played “a leading role in the story of sea otter recovery from near-extinction during the fur trade.”

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    Terry Castleman

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  • Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus found in L.A. County

    Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus found in L.A. County

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    Los Angeles County has detected mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus for the first time this year.

    The mosquitoes were recovered from a trap in the Winnetka neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District said Saturday.

    “While the presence of West Nile Virus in our community is not unusual, this early detection serves as a critical reminder for all residents to take preventative actions,” said Steve Vetrone, the director of scientific and technical services at the vector control district, in a prepared statement. “We urge everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to eliminate standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.”

    The main spreader of the West Nile virus in California is the culex mosquito, which becomes infected with the virus by feeding on the blood of infected birds. The disease is usually spread to humans through mosquito bites.

    About 20% of people infected with West Nile virus have symptoms, which can include fevers, headaches, body aches, nausea, skin rashes and fatigue. In rare cases, the infections can lead to serious brain and spinal cord inflammation. People who are 60 and older have a higher risk of complications.

    There is no human vaccine for West Nile virus. Public health officials say the best way to protect yourself is to wear insect repellent and long sleeves and pants in mosquito-infested areas.

    It also helps to eliminate standing water, where mosquitoes breed. Experts recommend emptying out any standing water in rain gutters, buckets, planters or any other area that can hold water for more than a week.

    Neglected swimming pools with green water can also be reported to the local vector control district for treatment.

    Experts have warned that California’s record-breaking rainfall could lead to a boom in the mosquito population and an increase in West Nile virus.

    There were 461 cases of West Nile in humans in California last year, and 19 were fatal, according to the California Mosquito-Borne Virus Surveillance and Response Program.

    The number of mosquitoes with West Nile virus in the Golden State rose about 78% between 2013 and 2023, the program said.

    California has reported 25 samples of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus so far this year, up from five at the same time last year, according to the data. Of those 25, 18 were found in Riverside County.

    The state has also reported 17 dead birds carrying the virus, up from 14 at the same time last year.

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    Laura J. Nelson

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  • Drownings rose among young children after decades of decline. It’s ‘highly concerning,’ CDC says

    Drownings rose among young children after decades of decline. It’s ‘highly concerning,’ CDC says

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    During the pandemic years of shuttered pools and difficult-to-find swim lessons, the drowning rate of very young children increased significantly in the U.S., following decades of declines, according to a new federal report.

    Drowning rates among children 1 to 4 were about 28% higher in 2021 and 2022, compared to 2019, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, 461 children ages 1 to 4 died in a drowning accident, which is the number one cause of death among babies and toddlers. Rates are not yet available for 2023 or 2024, so it’s unknown whether deaths have declined since then.

    Reading by 9’s guide to reading readiness. Find expert tips, book recommendations and resources for parents of kids under age 5.

    But children ages 1 to 4 already had the highest rates of drowning, even before the pandemic. The recent increase is “highly concerning,” said Tessa Clemens, a health scientist in the CDC’s Division of Injury Prevention and lead author of the new report.

    While the exact reason for the increase is unknown, the shutdown likely played a role, she said.

    “Many public pools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited the availability of swim classes. Once pools reopened, many facilities faced shortages of trained swimming instructors and lifeguards,” said Clemons. For many families, swim lessons and safe swim areas remained difficult to come by.

    In Los Angeles, lifeguard shortages have continued to be a problem. Last summer, some public pools cut their hours and swim lessons were canceled because lifeguards were so difficult to find. Pandemic shutdowns fueled the so-called “great resignation,” in which many college-aged lifeguards quit to return to school or seek work in other industries. Many never came back.

    Facing another likely shortage as summer approaches, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation has increased lifeguard wages by 20% this year.

    Experts say water safety should be top of mind for families, especially in Los Angeles County, home to about 250,000 swimming pools, 96% of which are attached to single-family homes, according to a 2016 analysis.

    Cecilia Prillwitz drops her 7-year-old son at school.

    Are you a SoCal mom?

    The L.A. Times early childhood team wants to connect with you! Find us in The Mamahood’s mom group on Facebook.

    Share your perspective and ask us questions.

    The CDC recommends that families begin swim lessons early — even while their children are babies.

    “It’s never too young to really have that exposure to water to get comfort with it,” said Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer. “What I would say though, is even at that age if they do know how to swim, it’s still really important to have close parental supervision.”

    The CDC also recommends:

    • Building and revitalizing public pools to increase access to swimming for all people, including those with disabilities
    • Promoting affordable swimming and water safety lessons
    • Building fences at least 4 feet tall that fully enclose and separate the pool from the house
    • Not drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating or other water activities.

    Overall, more than 4,500 people of all ages died due to drowning each year from 2020 to 2022 — 500 more per year compared to 2019. That’s one person every two hours. Native Americans and Black Americans have long been at greatest risk, the result of decades of segregation at public and private pools. Those disparities grew even worse during the pandemic.

    Almost 40 million adults (15.4%) in the United States do not know how to swim and over half (54.7%) have never taken a swimming lesson.

    “It’s never too late to take that swim lesson, to get those water safety skills, particularly as we’re going into the summer,” said Houry. “It can save your life, it can save your family member’s life.”

    This article is part of The Times’ early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed.

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    Jenny Gold

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  • Girardi judge cites calls with Erika Jayne, ugly sweater in competency ruling

    Girardi judge cites calls with Erika Jayne, ugly sweater in competency ruling

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    The judge who found Tom Girardi competent to stand trial saw evidence he was faking memory problems in his relationship with his reality star wife and in the shabby cardigan the normally dapper man wore for mental exams.

    In a 52-page decision unsealed Friday, U.S. Dist. Judge Josephine Staton wrote that the disgraced former attorney met the legal standard to face wire fraud charges stemming from what prosecutors describe as a decades-long, $100-million scheme that robbed law firm clients.

    “Defendant clearly understands the nature of the charges against him,” the judge wrote. She said Girardi’s “purported denial of knowledge of the charges made against him [and/or the purported failure to remember such charges once reminded of them] is wholly lacking in credibility.”

    Staton’s competency finding was disclosed last week, but the decision explaining her reasons was held back to allow for redactions of personal information. Much of her ruling is based in the conclusions of experts who testified at series of hearings last fall.

    The judge also pointed to Girardi’s claim that he did not remember his wife, the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne. The pair have been married for more than 20 years, though she filed for divorce in 2020 as his financial problems emerged.

    “Defendant’s denial of any memory of a third wife is undercut by the fact that, during a clinical interview, he answered a phone call from her, accurately remembering she was leaving to fly to Spain that day,” the judge wrote, referring to testimony from a neuropsychologist who examined Girardi for the government.

    Staton also noted the ill-fitting and hole-ridden burgundy sweater that Girardi, known during his career for immaculately tailored suits, chose to wear to court, interviews with lawyers and medical experts. Prosecutors have suggested it was part of a calculated plan to portray himself as mentally addled. Staton noted how Girardi would dig through a hamper looking for the sweater before key meetings with psychological experts.

    “This tended to show that Defendant’s short-term memory was intact because he recalled having that sweater, sought it out to wear on that day, and found it in the laundry,” she wrote.

    Girardi’s lawyers have argued that the 84-year-old, who resides in the dementia ward of a nursing home, has no short-term memory and does not recognize them or remember the criminal case against him when they meet.

    A magistrate judge entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf last year because of the competency issue. With that decided, normal proceedings in the case are to resume with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

    Staton allowed that his advanced age might make him less of a help to his lawyers than at the pinnacle of his career, when his “superior cognition and his abilities as a civil trial attorney would have been likely to result in an exceptional ability to participate in his own defense.”

    But, she concluded, “any actual diminishment of these abilities or of his cognition is not as severe as Defendant presents it and, stripped of the feigning and/or exaggeration described by the experts and found by the Court herein, Defendant retains the ability ‘to assist properly in his defense.’”

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    Harriet Ryan

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