Court rules Pfizer must face lawsuit over program promoting diversity
On Friday, Jan. 10, a federal appeals court revived a conservative group’s lawsuit against Pfizer. The lawsuit targets a fellowship program at the pharmaceutical giant meant to boost the number of Black, Latino and Native American leaders in the company.
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals revisited its decision from last year and ruled that the advocacy group Do No Harm had standing to sue Pfizer over the program. The group alleges Pfizer’s program discriminates against white and Asian-American applicants.
The ruling may make it easier for groups to challenge race-based programs at a time when many conservatives are calling on companies to end hiring and policies rooted in diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.
In 2023, the Supreme Court blocked colleges from using race-conscious affirmative action when considering candidates for admission.
Since then, there has been a ripple effect of new laws, lawsuits and company policy changes curbing programs promoting DEI.
And 10 states now have laws restricting or banning DEI programs, with most focusing on public institutions like colleges and universities. All 10 enacted the laws after the Supreme Court’s decision.
While the lawsuit against Pfizer can now proceed, the company has already changed its policies around the program that prompted the lawsuit. Pfizer updated the criteria to allow anyone, regardless of race, to apply.
RFK Jr. pick: Democratic governor ‘excited,’ conservative outlet opposed
President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are dominating the news cycle this week. One of the most anticipated announcements came Thursday, Nov. 14, with Trump nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.
The reaction is mixed and crosses party lines. For instance, a right-leaning news outlet has come out against Trump’s pick, while a Democratic governor has expressed support.
Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., posted a message on X, saying he was “excited” that Trump would appoint Kennedy.
“Before you mock him or disagree, I want to share with you some quotes that, if he follows through, show why I’m excited,” Polis wrote.
I’m excited by the news that the President-Elect will appoint @RobertKennedyJr to @HHSGov. He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA. I hope he leans into personal choice on vaccines rather than… pic.twitter.com/cILtTYplcn
Polis highlighted Kennedy’s plans to reduce drug prices, overhaul the FDA’s nutrition department and shift away from pesticide-intensive agriculture.
“He will face strong special interest opposition on these, but I look forward to partnering with him to truly make America healthy again,” Polis wrote.
Some Republican lawmakers, including Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, have praised Kennedy’s potential appointment, calling him “brilliant.”
However, some Democratic lawmakers, including Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, have criticized the nomination, calling it “dangerous.”
Some of the media, both left-leaning and right-leaning, have expressed concerns over Kennedy’s nomination, with coverage centering on his controversial remarks about vaccines.
The Associated Press labeled Kennedy as “an anti-vaccine activist,” while PBS described him as someone who “has promoted vaccine misinformation.”
The AP’s article highlights a podcast interview in July, when Kennedy said, “There’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” The AP added Kennedy “still believes in the long-ago debunked idea that vaccines can cause autism.”
The New York Post’s editorial board also came out against the nomination, saying, “Putting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of health breaks the first rule of medicine.”
The Post’s editorial reads, “The overriding rule of medicine is: First, do no harm. We’re certain installing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Health and Human Services breaks this rule.”
In his endorsement of Kennedy, Gov. Polis cautioned Kennedy not to ban vaccines but to “lean into personal choice on vaccines.” In a later interview with MSNBC, Kennedy said, “I’ve never been anti-vaccine” and wouldn’t take vaccines away.
He reiterated in a 2016 interview with NBC that vaccinations should be a matter of personal choice.
The nomination has also affected the stock market. Following the announcement, shares of vaccine makers dropped sharply. Moderna fell 6%, Pfizer dropped more than 4% and Novavax declined by over 2%.
US pays $72 million to pharmaceutical companies for bird flu vaccine
As the number of human cases of H5N1, also known as bird flu, grow, the United States announced on Friday, Oct. 4, that it is providing vaccine manufacturers with $72 million to double their ready-to-use bird flu vaccine stockpile. Manufacturers currently have nearly five million ready-to-use doses and expect to have about 10 million by the beginning of 2025.
The funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will allow four companies producing the inoculations to bring the vaccine out of a storage stockpile and put them in pre-filled syringes for quick distribution in case of a public health emergency.
Other companies like Pfizer and Moderna are continuing efforts to develop an mRNA bird flu vaccine similar to COVID-19 shots.
The announcement by the U.S. comes as two more farm workers in California tested positive for the virus on Thursday, Oct. 3. They continue to be monitored for symptoms. At the time this report was published, the workers had no respiratory symptoms and only exhibited conjunctivitis or pink eye.
The latest human infections bring the total number of cases in people to 16 in the United States. Currently, there are no recommendations for anyone in the country to get a bird flu shot and health officials maintain that the risk of the virus to humans remains “low.”
DHHS said that its spending on the vaccinations is out of “an abundance of caution” and “is essential in preparing for a public health emergency.”
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris closed out the Democratic National Convention (DNC) by accepting her party’s nomination for president. And one of the largest diamonds ever found was just unearthed in Botswana. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted her party’s nomination for president. The Democratic National Convention came to a close Thursday night, Aug. 22, after Harris addressed the crowd, laying out more of her policy vision for the nation and going after her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
During her speech, Harris vowed to create what she called an “opportunity economy.” She also reiterated her stance that Israel has a right to defend itself but pressed for a cease-fire deal and pledged to reform the U.S. immigration system.
When Harris turned her attention to the former president, she blamed Trump for Republicans voting against a bipartisan border bill, said he sent a mob to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and highlighted his now-criminal record.
“The biggest reaction is why didn’t she do the things she’s complaining about,” he questioned. “She could’ve done it three and a half years ago. She could do it tonight, by leaving the auditorium and going to Washington D.C. and closing the border. She doesn’t need a bill. I didn’t have a bill; I closed the border. She could still do them. She’s got four and a half to five months left.”
All eyes will be on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third-party candidate, on Friday, Aug. 23, as he’s set to hold a press conference. The speculation is Kennedy will be dropping out of the presidential race and potentially endorsing Trump.
They had planned to march toward the convention center but were blocked by rows of police in riot gear.
#WATCH : More videos of Massive pro-Palestine protest engulfs DNC convention
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, outraged over Dems' backing for Israel in the Gaza war.
The group of about 40 unconfirmed delegates and supporters spent Wednesday night, Aug. 21, outside the United Center on the sidewalk and remained there until after 8 p.m. Thursday before finally going back inside to the convention.
Supreme Court allows Arizona to enforce proof-of-citizenship law
The United States Supreme Court agreed to temporarily reinstate a portion of a 2022 Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship when people register to vote. In a 5-4 ruling, the high court gave a partial victory to Republicans who have been trying to enforce proof of citizenship as a requirement to cast a vote in November.
While the justices ruled the state can enforce the requirement of proof of citizenship to vote using the state’s registration form, the court turned down other requests that would bar voters who registered using a federal form or by mail unless they showed proof of citizenship.
This is only a temporary ruling while litigation continues. So, it’s unclear as of now if, come November, voters in the state will have to show documentation they’re a legal resident to cast a ballot.
Canadian government orders arbitration to end rail labor dispute
The Canadian government has intervened in a labor dispute involving thousands of freight train workers. The deadlock on workers’ contract negotiations could have led to a major economic disruption, impacting goods coming into the United States.
The trains are expected to resume running in a few days.
FDA approves updated COVID vaccines
The FDA has approved updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. This puts the new shots on track to reach most Americans within days.
Today, we approved and granted emergency use authorization for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. https://t.co/pul33IEnIw
These shots target a strain called KP.2, which was the dominant COVID strain in May when a summer surge of the virus began, but now only accounts for roughly 3% of all U.S. cases, according to the CDC. Still, Pfizer and Moderna said their KP.2 vaccines can produce stronger immune responses against other circulating sub-variants than last year’s shots.
Second largest diamond ever found is discovered in Botswana
The second largest diamond ever found was just unearthed in Botswana, according to the Canadian mining company that discovered the gem in one of its mines in Africa. The massive, 2,492-carat diamond is the biggest to be found in more than a century and it was located using X-ray technology.
The mining company presented Botswana’s president with the huge stone on Thursday, Aug. 22. The diamond will be evaluated over the next several weeks and will likely sell for tens of millions of dollars.
The colossal stone is believed to be the biggest one found since a 3,106-carat diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and cut into smaller stones — some of which make up the British royal family’s crown jewels.
Texas sues Pfizer, says company lied about efficacy of COVID vaccine
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against Pfizer. The lawsuit claims that Pfizer intentionally misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer asserted 95% efficacy for its vaccine because it offers “relative risk reduction” for recipients. However, Paxton argues that this claim is misleading, pointing out that the same study, which cited the vaccine’s efficacy, found less than 1% “absolute risk reduction” in vaccine recipients.
Paxton claims that the pharmaceutical company misrepresented the vaccine’s effectiveness in the interest of larger profits. The company’s total revenue more than doubled following FDA approval of its COVID vaccines, with the portion attributed to COVID-19 immunizations exceeding $74 billion in the past two years.
Also in the lawsuit, Paxton accuses Pfizer of being part of a larger effort to censor social media posts that voiced skepticism over the company’s vaccines.
“In summary, Pfizer intentionally misrepresented the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine and censored persons who threatened to disseminate the truth in order to facilitate fast adoption of the product and expand its commercial opportunity,” the lawsuit states.
“We are pursuing justice for the people of Texas, many of whom were coerced by tyrannical vaccine mandates to take a defective product sold by lies,” Paxton said in a press release.
In a statement, Pfizer said its representations about the vaccine have been “accurate and science-based,” and that it believed the Texas lawsuit had no merit.
Severe weather continues to take hold over the United States during the week of July 16, with a tornado hitting a Pfizer plant in North Carolina and passengers on a Delta flight getting sick due to the Las Vegas heat. The tornado hit just after midday on Wednesday, July 20.
There were no serious reports of injury at the Pfizer plant, with all employees safely evacuated and accounted for. However, Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone reported 50,000 pallets of medicine were “strewn across the facility and damaged through the rain and the wind.”
According to the Pfizer website, the North Carolina plan produces anesthesia and other drugs as well as nearly 25% of all sterile injectable medications used in U.S. hospitals. Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, said the damage “will likely lead to long-term shortages while Pfizer works to either move production to other sites or rebuilds.”
While there were no injuries at the Pfizer plant, other parts of Nash County weren’t so lucky. The county reported 13 injuries and damage to 89 buildings.
The tornado at the Pfizer plant came as the rest of the country deals with searing heat and rising floodwaters. Days after Phoenix set a record for the longest streak of 110-degree days, torrential rain flooded communities in Kentucky.
Meteorologists warned of a “life-threatening situation” in the communities of Mayfield and Wingo, Kentucky. Forecasters expected up to 10 inches of rain to fall on parts of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., declared a state of emergency Wednesday.
“Please pray for Mayfield and areas of Western Kentucky impacted by significant flooding,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement. “We’re working to assess the damage and respond. Just like every challenge we’ve faced, we will be there for all those affected. We will get through this together.”
In Las Vegas, at least one Delta passenger was taken to the hospital for heat-related illness after the plane sat on the tarmac for hours on Monday, July 17. Multiple passengers were treated on site.
“What an INSANE experience. First we were delayed because you did not have a flight attendant. Then we finally board and sit for almost 3 hours on a hot plane in 111 degree weather. Now we are heading back to the gate cause people are passing out,” Krista Garvin, a field producer for Fox News who was on the flight, tweeted. “Paramedics are on now. I’ve seen a total of three people wheeled out so far. Oxygen tanks are being pulled out. They said to press your call button if you need medical assistance. Babies are screaming crying. They’re handing out sandwiches to the diabetics.”
@Delta what an INSANE experience. First we were delayed because you did not have a flight attendant. Then we finally board and sit for almost 3 hours on a hot plane in 111 degree weather. Now we are heading back to the gate cause people are passing out. We are now being told you
Forecasters said little relief appears in sight from the heat and storms. Miami has endured a heat index of 100 degrees or more for weeks, with temperatures expected to rise this weekend.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to buy biotech firm Seagen
Pfizer has agreed to buy biotech firm Seagen for $43 billion. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer is “deploying financial resources to advance the fight against cancer.”
Seagen is a leading researcher and developer in cancer treatments. It produces several cancer drugs that are able to target tumors with a toxic agent.
Seagen currently has nine studies underway exploring different immunotherapies to fight cancer. Pfizer will acquire and expand those studies and immunotherapies if the deal obtains shareholder and federal approvals.
Pfizer expects the acquisition to be complete by the end of this year if all goes according to plan. Seagen, a growing company, is expected to increase its revenue in 2023 by 12% at $2.2 billion. Pfizer will go into debt and dip into cash to finance the $43 billion transaction, but it projects a $10 billion profit by 2030.
Midday rundown: China claims spy balloon, COVID drug creates mutations
China has now confirmed a surveillance balloon found hovering over the U.S. is Chinese; a drug to treat COVID-19 is creating mutations and robots are taking over Amazon. These stories and more highlight the daily afternoon rundown for Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
Blinken postpones China trip amid controversy
China is claiming the balloon found hovering over sensitive sites in the western U.S. was a weather research satellite that had blown off course. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was said to be traveling to China this weekend for important discussions with the Chinese president about the war in Ukraine. Now, those conversations are on pause as the U.S. monitors what they believe to be a spy balloon belonging to Beijing hovering over the country.
Matters of airspace security have been brought into question and all eyes are on how the White House will respond.
Texas winterization efforts working
Harsh winters can be a difficult climate for the south to handle. Texas has been put to the test this winter with several hard freezes and one severe ice storm that hit parts of the state this week. But so far, energy experts are applauding the state’s efforts to keep power on.
In 2021 more than 100 people died as a result of the state’s energy grid failing. Rolling blackouts lingered during back-to-back ice storms that brought temperatures as low as 6 degrees. Since then, Texas has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in updates to better winterize their facilities.
Gov. Greg Abbott also signed legislation to reform the state’s power grid and operations. Officials say that so far, it seems to be working.
Merck drug creating new COVID mutations
A drug given emergency authorization by the FDA to treat COVID-19 back in 2021 is creating new concern worldwide. According to a new study, Merck’s COVID-19 drug is causing mutations of the virus.
While the new strands are said to be harmless for now, researchers say this is highlighting the risk of using drugs that tinker with COVID’s genetic code.
The anti-viral drug was initially seen as a breakthrough treatment. But it was quickly overshadowed by a Pfizer COVID-19 pill, so it hasn’t been widely used in the U.S. But in China, the use of the Merck drug has just been approved.
Researchers worry what COVID-19 mutations could, once again, originate in China and spread around the world.
Robots taking over Amazon workforce
Amazon’s workforce could be taken over by robots by 2030. One investor is predicting that more than half of Amazon workers will be robotic in 7 years.
The investor says Amazon is adding about 1,000 robots each day. She calls it a “robot revolution.” And robots are already edging out people for Amazon jobs. Right now, about one third of Amazon’s workforce consists of machines.
According to the investor, going robotic is saving companies big time by cutting costs on human labor.
ChatGPT sets record as fastest growing app
If you haven’t heard of ChatGPT yet, you’re quickly falling behind the times. The AI chatbot is taking over your phone’s app store.
100 million people used the app in January, and after launching just two months ago, it’s now the fastest-growing phone app in history. For reference, it took TikTok nine months to reach 100 million users and it took instagram more than 2 years.
With so much popularity, it’s now time to capitalize. The company is rolling out a $20 monthly subscription for users to unlock certain features of ChatGPT.
Arrest made in Dallas Zoo monkey theft
Now to a story Straight Arrow News has been following closely that has led to bizarre headlines. A missing leopard, a dead vulture and stolen monkeys. These cases have al come out of the Dallas Zoo.
A major update has come down Friday that a 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection to one of these mysteries: the disappearance of two monkeys. Davion Irvin has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty related to the monkeys missing from the Dallas Zoo.
The monkeys were reported stolen from their habitat on Monday. By Tuesday, they were found unharmed in the closet of an empty home.
The Dallas Zoo continues to seek answers in recent events.
Midday rundown: Iran targets US journalist, COVID booster linked to stroke
A murder-for-hire plot by Iranians targets a U.S. journalist; the FDA is easing blood donor restrictions on gay men; and New York Uber and Lyft drivers will have to drive an electric vehicle by 2030. These stories and more highlight the daily afternoon rundown for Friday, Jan. 27, 2023.
Iranians arrested in journalist murder plot
Three Iranians have been arrested and charged in an assassination attempt against a U.S. journalist who resides in New York. The female target is an exiled journalist from Iran and an outspoken critic of the Iranian regime. She often writes about the government’s human rights abuses.
This is the second time the U.S. government has saved her life. In 2021, the FBI arrested four Iranians involved in a kidnapping plot.
New FDA blood donor guidance
The FDA has unveiled new guidance Friday to relax blood donor restrictions for gay and bisexual men.
The restrictions the agency is looking to ease were first put in place in the 1980s during the HIV/AIDS crisis. The new guidance involves an individual risk assessment said to be more “gender-inclusive.”
The agency says there is a nationwide blood shortage and that’s the main factor behind the changes.
New York City will require Lyft, Uber to use EVs by 2030
People who drive for Uber and Lyft will have to have an electric vehicle by the year 2030 if they want to work in New York City. New York City announced a new policy that will require Uber and Lyft to have a “zero-emission” fleet in just seven years.
Since the announcement was made, Uber and Lyft have both already applauded the city’s efforts, saying reducing emissions is an important goal they all share.
COVID-19 booster shot linked to stroke
The FDA continues to investigate a potential increased stroke risk in older adults who received a Pfizer booster shot. While the data isn’t overwhelming, officials still call it “statistically significant,” meaning “likely not by chance.”
Most of the confirmed cases had also received a flu vaccine at the same time, which officials say might be a factor. They also emphasized much more analysis of the data is needed.
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Mental health tops parental concerns
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of children as schools closed and families isolated from the public. Now, parents are concerned about how that may have taken a toll on their child’s mental health.
According to a Pew Research study, the mental health of their children tops the list of parental concerns.
Four out of every 10 parents who participated in the study say they are “extremely” or “very worried” that their children might struggle with anxiety or depression. Three out of every four parents say they are at least somewhat concerned over their child’s mental well-being.
Since the pandemic, there have been reports of a growing youth mental health crisis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports 49.5% of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives.
The second highest concern for parents surveyed was bullying.
Robot dog runs 10 feet per second
The next time you hit the beach, you could come face-to-face with a robotic, headless dog. Meet Raibo, the robot dog capable of running through the sand at nearly 10 feet per second.
The AI canine is a quadrupedal robot that makes real-time decisions to adapt to various types of ground surfaces without prior information.
The robot dog might be more obedient than some real pets. He can cozy up on his dog bed, and do it on command.
Project Veritas video purports to show Pfizer exec discussing COVID mutations
An undercover video from the conservative activist group Project Veritas is causing controversy on social media. It appears to show a Pfizer executive discussing the idea of artificially mutating the coronavirus in an effort to create vaccines preemptively.
In the video, an interviewee identified as Jordan Trishton Walker is heard saying, “One of the things we’re exploring is why don’t we just mutate it [the virus] ourselves so we could preemptively develop new vaccines.”
The 10-minute video documents a conversation between an unidentified reporter and an interviewee Project Veritas identifies as “Jordan Trishton Walker, Pfizer Director of Research and Development – Strategic Operations and mRNA Scientific Planning.”
In the first set of clips, the reporter asks: “Is Pfizer ultimately thinking of mutating COVID?”
The interviewee replies: “Well, that is not what we say to the public, no. That’s why it was, it was a thought that came up in a meeting and we were like, ‘Why do we not?’”
The video, which has amassed over 12 million views on Twitter at press time, has been retweeted thousands of times. Many users have targeted the multinational vaccine manufacturer Pfizer, which has not yet responded to the report or verified the interviewee as one of its employees.
Project Veritas, which describes itself as a “journalism enterprise,” has been criticized frequently for utilizing deceptive tactics in its reporting and selectively editing videos to present a misleading narrative. The group has been involved in several controversies, and its credibility has been called into question by journalists, media outlets, and fact-checking organizations.
While the group claims this interview is evidence of a conspiracy, there is currently little trace of Jordon Trishton Walker on the web or on Pfizer’s website. Project Veritas provided vague screenshots in an effort to prove the identity of the person in question, but his identity has not been independently verified.
As of press time, Pfizer has not commented on the contents of the Project Veritas video or responded to questions from Straight Arrow News.