LIVE: Urgent Trigger Warnings, Plus RFKjr & Autism…

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.Trigger Warnings: Trump Disbands CongressSources:Democracy Now!democracynow.org/2025/10/8/adel…“Scary Precedent”: GOP Blocks Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva from Taking Seat Amid Epstein Files FightRepresentative-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election for a House seat in Arizona two weeks ago, has still not been sworn in to Congress. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is blaming the government shutdown for the delay, even though he previously expedited the swearing-in of multiple Republicans who won their special elections before election results were even in. It’s more likely, say supporters, that Grijalva is being held up to prevent what she has pledged will be her first act in Congress: adding her name to and thus triggering a vote on California Congressmember Ro Khanna’s bill for the public release of files related to the federal investigation of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. “She needs to get sworn in today,” says Khanna, adding that every day Grijalva is not seated in the House “is breaking precedent and depriving people of who they voted for.” Grijalva says, “This is an incredibly scary precedent to set. If you don’t agree with the politics of the speaker, then they can keep you out of your duly elected office.” Khanna and Grijalva also discuss the legacy of Grijalva’s late father, the longtime Arizona Congressmember Raúl Grijalva; the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration; right-wing attacks on freedom of the press; and more.AP Newsapnews.com/article/house-…Speaker Johnson keeps the House away as he fights to end the government shutdownHouse members’ absence during the government shutdown is creating a political dilemma for Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and is testing his leadership.Chicago Tribunechicagotribune.com/2025/10/10/mik…Speaker Mike Johnson keeps the House away as he fights to end ...Mike Johnson is the speaker of a House that is no longer in session.POLITICOpolitico.com/news/2025/10/0…Mike Johnson sticks to no-show shutdown strategy as ... - Politico“There is absolutely no reason for the House to be out of session,” GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley said. “It’s embarrassing.’Democratic Erosion Consortiumdemocratic-erosion.org/2025/04/18/how…How to Erode a Democracy: Hungary’s Illiberal Turn Under OrbánThis blog post examines how Viktor Orbán has used media control, legal manipulation, and populist nationalism to methodically destroy Hungary’s democratic institutions and turn the nation into the first “illiberal democracy” in the EU.NPRnpr.org/2025/04/20/nx-…Hungary’s Orban demonstrates how to dismantle democracy - NPRThe dismantling of Hungary’s democracy is a point of fascination for political scientists around the world — including those advising the Trump administration.cnncnn.com/2020/03/30/eur…Hungarian parliament votes to let Viktor Orban rule by decree ... - CNNHungary’s parliament has voted to allow Prime Minister Viktor Orban to rule by decree indefinitely, in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic, giving the populist leader extra powers to unilaterally…CNNcnn.com/2025/10/08/pol…Tempers flare between Democratic senators and Speaker Johnson over Grijalva’s swearing in and shutdown strategyArizona’s Democratic senators got into a hallway confrontation with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday as the government shutdown’s eighth day dragged on.RFKjr & Autism: I Wrote a Foreword Just for YouSourcesCounter/neutral positions from regulators and clinical bodies* European Medicines Agency (EMA), PRAC communications on paracetamol in pregnancy: EMA has stated available evidence does not establish a causal link; use remains appropriate when clinically indicated at the lowest effective dose. Overview page: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/referrals/paracetamol* (If needed: EMA general paracetamol product information hub where PRAC updates are posted.)* American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG Guidance: Acetaminophen use during pregnancy. ACOG states evidence of neurodevelopmental harms is inconsistent and methodologically limited; acetaminophen remains appropriate when indicated. Practice Advisory/FAQ landing: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/medication-safety-during-pregnancySystematic reviews/meta-analyses with nuanced conclusions* Alemany S et al. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen and ADHD and autism spectrum symptoms in childhood: meta-analysis/pooled observational evidence. European Journal of Epidemiology (2021). Publisher page (Springer): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-021-00757-3U.S. federal perspective* U.S. FDA Drug Safety (Acetaminophen use in pregnancy). FDA has not concluded causality with autism; advises using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration. Consumer/Drug Safety hub: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/acetaminophen-overdose-and-liver-injury-know-ingredients-your-medicine* For pregnancy-specific FDA language, see: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/medication-use-during-pregnancy-and-lactationSupportive association signals (observational; not proof of causality, few supportive links exist)* Ji Y et al. Association of Cord Plasma Biomarkers of In Utero Acetaminophen Exposure With Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry (2019). Link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2753510Evidence on emotional and social pain blunting* Social pain/evaluative processing: Experimental psychology studies have reported that standard doses of acetaminophen can reduce the distress of social rejection and blunt affective evaluations, suggesting overlap between physical and social pain processing in the brain. These findings support the idea that acetaminophen influences affective components of pain perception, though effect sizes are modest and not uniformly replicated across all paradigms. pbs​* Risk of overgeneralization: While these lab findings are provocative, they do not establish acetaminophen as a mood treatment. Regulatory and clinical bodies do not recommend acetaminophen for depression, and evidence for sustained antidepressant benefit is lacking. pbs This is a public episode. 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