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I'm sure this is just to fend off inevitable lawsuits.
Los Angeles, CA
Earlier this month, Tesla rolled out a new firmware update that added a pair of new driving modes for the controversial full self-driving (FSD) feature. One, called “Sloth,” relaxes acceleration and stays in its lane. The other, called “Mad Max,” does the opposite: It speeds and swerves through traffic to get you to your destination faster. And after multiple reports of FSD Teslas doing just that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to know more.
In fact, “Mad Max” mode is not entirely new—Tesla beta-tested the same feature in Autopilot in 2018, before deciding not to roll it out in a production release after widespread outcry.
These days, the company is evidently feeling less constrained; despite having just lost a federal wrongful death lawsuit that will cost it hundreds of millions of dollars, it described the new mode as being able to drive “through traffic at an incredible pace, all while still being super smooth. It drives your car like a sports car. If you are running late, this is the mode for you.”
Earlier this month, we learned that the NHTSA had opened a new preliminary investigation into Tesla following dozens of complaints of its EVs running stop signs or crossing into oncoming traffic while operating under FSD. Now, according to Reuters, NHTSA is seeking more information from the automaker about “Mad Max” mode.
“NHTSA is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information,” it told Reuters, adding that “[t]he human behind the wheel is fully responsible for driving the vehicle and complying with all traffic safety laws.”
“Tesla is deliberately programming cars to exceed speed limits and drive aggressively, putting everyone on our roads at risk. This ‘Mad Max’ rollout is the latest iteration of Tesla’s preference for aesthetics and sales over safety, and I urge regulators to take action to prevent this technology from being unleashed,” said Brett Schreiber, founding partner at the firm that won the aforementioned wrongful death lawsuit.
They should have just called it "BMW/Nissan mode."
Los Angeles, CA
A 61-year-old man in California is lucky to be alive after a combination of herbal supplements he was taking for joint pain ended up utterly wrecking his body, landing him in intensive care and in a delirious state for months. His case is reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases.
The man turned up at a hospital in San Francisco in bad shape, but with nonspecific problems that had begun just two days earlier. His back hurt, he was feverish, nauseous, bloated, and he hadn’t been eating much. He was so weak he couldn’t walk or get out of bed without help. His heart rate and breathing rate were high. His blood pressure was low. There were multiple wounds on his lower body in various stages of healing.
Initial exams and lab work revealed Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in his blood. There was also an abscess on his shoulder and an infection in and around his spine, which was worsening. Doctors wanted to perform a surgical procedure to relieve the pressure building up on his spinal cord and nerves, but his blood pressure was too low—and then he went into hemorrhagic shock from bleeding in his gastrointestinal tract. Doctors transferred him to the intensive care unit.
There, evaluations of his GI tract found more problems: his esophagus was severely inflamed, there was an ulcer in his stomach, and an “oozing” ulcer in the upper part of his small intestines. Though doctors were able to stabilize the bleeding in his GI tract, he kept going downhill. His blood pressure dropped further, and his breathing deteriorated, leading doctors to intubate him.
Haywire hormones
At that point, doctors became suspicious that there was something wrong with his adrenal glands. These glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, make steroid hormones, including the glucocorticoid cortisol, sometimes called the “stress hormone.” In response to stressors, complex interactions and feedback loops between the hypothalamus (a hormone-coordinating part of the brain) the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands control the release of cortisol—this is called the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis). From there, cortisol plays a variety of critical roles in the body, including helping to control blood pressure, suppressing immune responses, regulating blood glucose, and controlling metabolism. When the axis is disrupted and cortisol isn’t being released as it should be, it can result in nonspecific symptoms similar to the man’s case in a condition called adrenal insufficiency.
The man’s doctors consulted with endocrinologists and soon confirmed the suspicion—he had low cortisol levels and low levels of a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that spurs the release of cortisol.
The doctors got to work trying to figure out what was causing his adrenal insufficiency, which can be caused by various problems, from an autoimmune attack to cancer. But it was a conversation with the man’s family, rather than medical tests, that revealed the root cause.
The man’s family told doctors that, up until a few months prior, he had been taking three different types of herbal supplements that claim to treat joint pain. The man had taken the supplements for four years, and sometimes as often as four times a day, but he had stopped using them in the lead-up to his illness.
Deadly doses
The supplements were: Artri King, Nhan Sam Tuyet Lien, and Linsen Double Caulis Plus. All are known to contain unlisted glucocorticoids, according to the Food and Drug Administration. And testing of two of the man’s supplements by the hospital confirmed the presence of the steroids.
Doctors determined that the man had essentially overdosed on the glucocorticoids—he had taken doses that exceeded the normal levels of glucocorticoids in the body. The steroids likely suppressed immune responses, leading to his infections and GI ulcers. But, more significantly, the excess steroid levels also caused his HPA axis to essentially shut down. While it’s possible to get the HPA axis back up and running after withdrawal from excessive steroid use, the amount of time that takes can vary. Further, if a person stops taking large doses of glucocorticoids abruptly, rather than gradually—as in the man’s case—and particularly after chronic use—also as in the man’s case—it can lead to an adrenal crisis. In retrospect, the man had all the signs of a crisis.
The doctors started treating him with hydrocortisone (medication cortisol) to get him out of danger. But it took six weeks before his HPA axis showed signs of recovery on tests. By that time, he had developed recurrent bacterial infections in his blood and had persistent delirium. It was only after several months in the hospital that he was able to be discharged back home.
In the end, the doctors describe the man’s case as a cautionary tale. Many Americans use supplements, but their efficacy is largely unproven, and they are not rigorously regulated for safety. And even though, in this case, the FDA had issued warnings specifically about the three supplements the man took, his case highlights that public awareness of such dangers remains low.
“Clinicians must remain vigilant in assessing supplement use and educate patients on potential risks, particularly regarding hidden glucocorticoids, to prevent serious health complications such as adrenal insufficiency,” the doctors conclude.
It's a good thing he didn't get vaccinated, too...
Los Angeles, CA
Donald Trump just cut off all trade negotiations with Canada because an Ontario ad campaign quoted Ronald Reagan accurately. The quotes are real. The context is accurate. But Trump called them “fake” and “fraudulent,” and the Reagan Foundation—the institution literally tasked with preserving Reagan’s legacy—backed him up by lying about what their own guy said and even threatening frivolous litigation in support of Trump’s temper tantrum.
Now, thanks to Trump’s meltdown, millions more people are watching Reagan’s actual words. And learning that Trump’s entire tariff philosophy directly contradicts what Reagan believed and said.
The ad that triggered all this is pretty straightforward. A few weeks ago, Ontario Premier Doug Ford launched a $75 million campaign using clips from a 1987 Ronald Reagan radio address about the evils of tariffs and the benefits of free trade. You can see it here:
Ford’s politics are often Trumpian, but he’s not backing down from a stupid trade war. So he pulled Reagan’s own words and ran them as a 60-second spot.
The ad campaign is definitely targeting Republicans and business execs. It first ran on the very MAGA Newsmax and the very business-focused Bloomberg, but has been expanding to Fox News (of course), CNBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN and others.
Apparently, somewhere this week, Donald Trump saw it, and it made him sad. And when Donald Trump gets sad, he lashes out like a six-year-old. He claimed that the ad was “fake” and because of that he was cutting off all trade negotiations with Canada.
If you can’t see that image, it’s Trump spewing on social media:
The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs. The ad was for $75,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT
So, first off, it’s a bit weird to cut off all negotiations with Canada based on an ad from one province, Ontario, which is run by a politician from a different party than the Prime Minister. But, okay.
But the bigger issue is the claim that the Reagan quotes are “fake” or “fraudulent.” They’re not. The Reagan Foundation put out this statement, and the only “misrepresentation” is in the Foundation’s own statement:
That one says:
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute learned that the Government of Ontario, Canada, created an ad campaign using selective audio and video of President Ronald Reagan delivering his “Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade,” dated April 25, 1987. The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter. We encourage you to watch President Reagan’s unedited video on our YouTube channel.
So, first off, note the difference between what the Foundation said and what Trump said. The Foundation claims that the ad is “using selective audio” in a way that “misrepresents” Reagan. Trump took that claim (which was already bullshit) and said it means the ad is “fake” and “fraudulent.” It is neither.
The Foundation also suggests it might sue, which is laughable. They have no claim here and any attempt to go to court would fail, and fail in an embarrassing manner.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has gone fully Trumpy—their website is packed with MAGA interviews—and now they’re lying about what Reagan actually said and believed. The institution designed to preserve his legacy is rewriting it to please Donald Trump.
It’s pathetic.
But, of course, the Streisand Effect kicks in, and now everyone can watch what Ronald Reagan actually said in that address:
It’s only five minutes long. Every quote in the Ontario ad is in there, accurate both in text and in context. The speech was framed around Reagan’s decision to impose tariffs on certain Japanese products in response to Japan dumping below-market semiconductors, which Reagan argued violated an earlier agreement.
However, he was quite clear throughout that he was a strong believer in free trade and against tariffs, and he was only doing this, regretfully, in response to Japan violating an earlier trade agreement.
Reagan explicitly contradicted Trump’s claim that tariffs are “very important to the national security and economy of the US.” Reagan said the opposite.
Incredibly, Trump freaking out and lying about this ad is making many more people watch it and learn what Reagan actually said about tariffs and free trade. Even CNN, which pretty typically just repeats whatever Trump says, is pointing out that Trump’s claims here are nonsense and Reagan very clearly spoke out against tariffs.
On top of all this, Canada is now cutting trade deals with China and other countries in Asia. This is effectively pushing our closest ally into the waiting arms of our biggest economic rival.
This is stunningly bad policy: a foreseeable disaster stemming from a stupid approach to trade, kicked into overdrive by a presidential temper tantrum over accurate quotes from a politician many in the MAGA world pretend to idolize. Trump lied. The Reagan Foundation lied to back him up. And now Canada is cutting deals with China while the world learns that Reagan explicitly opposed everything Trump claims tariffs accomplish.
Congratulations to everyone involved. You’ve Streisanded the world into a history lesson, and handed China a trade partner in the process.
There's also a fake Thomas Sowell account on Twitter that went full MAGA on tariffs despite that position being diametrically opposed to the real Thomas Sowell's position.
Los Angeles, CA
Vice President J.D. Vance—the guy who falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio—was upset after Politico reported "leaders of Young Republican groups" shockingly "referred to Black people as monkeys and 'the watermelon people' and mused about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. They talked about raping their enemies and driving them to suicide and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery."
However, Vance wasn't noticeably outraged by the 251 times these GOP activists used vile terms or proclaimed admiration for Adolf Hitler. He instead was upset by the "pearl clutching" criticism of the chat group. In a feat of moral gymnastics, Vance reprinted a series of offensive text messages from Virginia's Democratic candidate for attorney general. Vice presidents used to embrace their role as national leaders who could calm passions rather than partisans who rub salt in every wound. No longer.
Normal people have the capability of, you know, condemning both things. But in MAGA-world.\, one never backs down nor criticizes one's own side. The most disingenuous part of Vance's post is where he excused these comments as coming from a "college group chat." Young Republican groups do include some college-aged members, but also professionals nearly the age of Vance. Identified commenters are well into adulthood, with one a chief of staff for a GOP lawmaker and another an elected state senator.
To their credit, the Young Republicans organization issued a strong denunciation of the comments, although I was horrified by reading the online responses to it. A large number of MAGA responders savaged the group for apologizing. In reality, none of this has taken place in a vacuum. The Republican Party that I knew from the 1980s to 2010s had many flaws, but it never tolerated this kind of cruelty and bigotry. Parties rot from the head down, and you know what happened in 2015.
The conservative movement always had many members of what's known as the Old Right, as well as classical liberals, with the latter dominating after World War II and throughout the Cold War. Old Rightists were hostile to free markets and preferred big-government economic policies such as tariffs. They embraced a more isolationist foreign policy that despises international cooperation (NATO, the United Nations). They prefer exerting U.S. power rather than promoting what they see as namby-pamby concerns about human rights.
Most significantly, the Old Right always saw America as a nation built by a specific people (white Anglo-Saxons and Christians) and rejected the view of America as a democratic idea that's welcoming to all peoples. The Trump-controlled GOP signals the triumph of that form of conservatism and the end of Reaganism. Read former GOP presidential candidate Pat Buchanan if you doubt me. I'm not the first person to notice how closely the party now mirrors his ideas.
So none of this edge-lording is surprising in a party that has swapped Ronald Reagan's uplifting "City on a Hill" slogan for "mass deportation" placards. I admittedly spend too much time on social media, but I've been shocked over the last few years as I've read an increasing amount of bile from members of a party who used to know better. To paraphrase theologian David Bentley Hart, Trump removed the sewer cover, and we see what's oozed out.
Look at the online ecosystem. Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes have practically become mainstream. Popular broadcaster Tucker Carlson hosts guests with rather unusual takes about Nazi Germany. An older Republican activist, a few years ago, warned me that the new crop of online-focused young, mostly male GOP activists likes to revel in far-right tropes. Unfortunately, the party is no longer run by adults who can guide them. In a few months, I expect these Young Republicans to restart their GOP careers without missing a beat.
And the administration always doubles down. It certainly isn't interested in assuaging concerns about the authoritarian and racially tinged direction in which the movement appears to be headed. On the day the news broke about the chats, The New York Times reported that the administration is "considering a radical overhaul of the U.S. refugee system that would slash the program to its bare bones while giving preference to English speakers, white South Africans and Europeans who oppose migration." Old Righters have been calling for this for years.
Yes, yes, the Left has tons of its own anti-Semitic and racist baggage. I also know conservative activists are in some ways reacting to the oversensitivity of progressives, who built a cultural system that shames people for accidental slights such as referring to others by the wrong pronoun. But something is deeply amiss in the modern conservative movement. If you believe that concern about these chats is just pearl-clutching at "boys-will-be-boys" behavior, then you're not paying attention to the frightening radicalization of young MAGA culture.
This column was first published in The Orange County Register.
The post Vance's Reaction to Racist Group Chats Will Embolden the Worst Republicans appeared first on Reason.com.
What's particularly disappointing and, frankly, gross about Vance is that he's married to a "brown" person whose ethnicity is *also* the target of many of his racist friends.
Los Angeles, CA
A Florida immigration enforcement dashboard was quietly edited to remove evidence of arrests of U.S. citizens after a local media outlet asked about the arrests.
The Miami New Times reported on October 15 that data showing the arrests of nearly two dozen U.S. citizens disappeared from Florida's Suspected Unauthorized Alien Encounters dashboard, a database maintained by the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement.
The dashboard lists state and local police encounters with 5,966 suspected illegal immigrants since August 1. Of those, 3,052 were arrested on federal immigration charges by Florida state agencies. Another 1,753 people were arrested on local and state charges.
However, the New Times reported that the database used to show 21 U.S. citizens were arrested and charged. Additionally, nine other U.S. citizens had encounters with law enforcement but were not arrested.
"The New Times emailed the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement, DeSantis' office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for an explanation," the publication wrote. "While we did not receive a response, the dashboard figures for U.S. citizen encounters and arrests changed significantly by the time of this reporting. The dashboard now shows there have been only two reported encounters with U.S. citizens, and only one citizen was arrested on local or state charges."
An October 10 Tampa Bay Times story also reported that the dashboard showed "at least two dozen" encounters with U.S. citizens.
As of today, October 24, the dashboard shows one encounter with a U.S. citizen and zero arrests.
The Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement did not respond to requests for comment.
Transparency advocates say Florida has cloaked its immigration enforcement operations in an unprecedented and sometimes illegal level of secrecy. For example, state contracts for Florida's controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" detention camp were removed from a public database and replaced with far less detailed documents after media outlets began writing about them this summer.
Records showing immigration stops and arrests of U.S. citizens are both a legal and public relations headache for the federal government and the State of Florida.
As President Donald Trump's mass deportation program has continued, more and more evidence of U.S. citizens being harassed, assaulted, and arrested during immigration enforcement operations has accumulated around the country. And despite the Trump administration's vehement denials that it is racially profiling suspects during immigration sweeps, ProPublica recently reported that it had tallied 170 cases of citizens being detained, almost all of them Latino. Lawsuits are piling up accordingly.
Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst and consultant at the Florida Immigration Coalition, points to cases such as Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez, a U.S.-born citizen who was arrested in April under a Florida law that had been blocked by a federal judge earlier that month. He was then held in a county jail under a federal immigration detainer, despite his mother providing his birth certificate and a judge dismissing the charge against him—and despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) having no authority to detain a U.S. citizen.
"He was arrested doubly wrong," Kennedy says. "He was arrested under an immigration law that was not supposed to be enforced and that was not even applicable to him because he's a U.S. citizen."
"We know that U.S. citizens are being arrested in Florida right now because we see stories like this one that are super-suspect and a civil rights nightmare," Kennedy continues. "Then we see a dashboard put out by the state of Florida where they had like 30 arrests, and when the press gets a hold of it, that number drops to zero and there's no explanation given. I think that's weird."
The post Florida Scrubs Arrests of U.S. Citizens From Immigration Enforcement Data appeared first on Reason.com.
The government continues to lie about what it's doing.
Los Angeles, CA
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