Sabbath gasbags, May 11

 News Nation “The Hill Sunday:” Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.)

ABC’s “This Week:” Rev. Peter M. Donohue, president of Villanova University; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

NBC’s “Meet the Press:” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy; Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

CNN’s “State of the Union:” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick; former Gov. Chris Sununu, (R-N.H.); Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.)

CBS’ “Face the Nation:” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby; Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, (D-N.M.); Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas); Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago; British Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson; Sam Rose, director of United Nations Relief and Works Agency Affairs in Gaza

Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday:” Lutnick; Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); Rep. Jared Moskowitz, (D-Fla.)

Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures:” Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council Director 

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.); Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan Opposition Leader; Frank Bisignano, Social Security Administration Commissioner

https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/5294092-sunday-shows-preview-trump-signals-more-trade-deals-on-horizon-first-american-pope-elected/

Protein found in rheumatic diseases causes inflammation in COVID-19 patients

 The sCD13 protein has been previously identified by a rheumatology research team at the University of Michigan as a powerful inducer of inflammation in multiple autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis.

High levels of the sCD13 protein are also now being seen in blood and lung tissues of COVID-19 patients.

Researchers from University of Michigan Health, in collaboration with external institutions such as the NIH and Weill Cornell Medical School, have been able to identify this protein as a prominent cause of inflammation in the SARS-CoV-2 infection, more commonly known as COVID-19, using data sets from three separate cohorts of COVID-19 patients.

The work is published in the journal JCI Insight.

Formation of the sCD13 protein occurs by shedding of CD13 from the surface of certain types of cells, through a process that occurs in autoimmune disorders and as the body attempts to fight off the COVID-19 virus.

When this response is excessive, it is termed hyperinflammatory, and can exacerbate the severity of the disease.

The inflammatory response of increased amounts of sCD13 in COVID-19 patients is normally located in the lungs, where the virus levels are highest. Complications include respiratory failure requiring supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation. Additional complications include the formation of blood clots within small arteries of the lung.

These clots obstruct the flow of blood through the lung.

In some diseases, the formation of blood clots can be caused by NETs, neutrophil extracellular traps, which are sticky webs that are extruded by the neutrophil, a type of white blood cell.

In their research on sCD13 in COVID-19, the U-M Health researchers showed that sCD13 caused NET formation, following binding of sCD13 to two types of receptors on the surface of the neutrophil.

"In severe cases of COVID-19, this inflammation in the lungs can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, which causes difficulty breathing and can result in significant respiratory failure," said Eliza Tsou, Ph.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at University of Michigan Health.

"When determining the severity of a COVID-19 infection, especially in patients that are experiencing extreme respiratory symptoms due to the virus, physicians can assess the level of sCD13 proteins as an indicator of the severity of the hyperinflammatory response within the patient."

Tsou notes that evidence of the sCD13 protein impacting inflammation in COVID-19 also opens new avenues for treatment of the virus.

"The sCD13 protein and its receptors have emerged as new targets for treatment in pre-clinical trials for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis with success in animal models of these diseases," said Tsou.

"As these treatment methods move into their clinical trials, it is important for researchers and providers to note that targeting the sCD13 protein also has a potential future role in the treatment of severe COVID-19 cases."

More information: Pei-Suen Tsou et al, Soluble CD13 is a potential mediator of neutrophil-induced thrombogenic inflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infection, JCI Insight (2025). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.184975

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-protein-rheumatic-diseases-inflammation-covid.html

'GLP-1 RA meds found safe and effective for treating obesity in adults with mental illness'

 Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can lead to significant weight loss and improve blood sugar control in adults with severe mental illness, as well as having positive effects on mood, well-being, and quality of life in those both with and without mental illness, according to a systematic review of the available evidence being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Malaga, Spain (11–14 May).

The work is also published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.

"Our findings suggest that GLP-1RAs might be just as safe and effective in adults with mental illness as they are in mentally healthy individuals, significantly reducing psychotropic drug-induced weight gain and improving glucose control, while protecting cardiometabolic health," says lead author Dr. Sigrid Breit from the University of Bern, Switzerland.

"These results are particularly important for people with severe mental disorders who are three times more likely to be living with obesity than the general population."

Mental illnesses are associated with an increased risk of weight gain and metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Estimates suggest that around 60% of people with severe mental disorders are living with overweight or obesity.

Substantial weight gain is also a common side effect of many mood-altering drugs (psychotropics), which include antidepressants and antipsychotics, especially for individuals with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and major depressive disorder who must take their medications indefinitely to reduce the risk of symptom relapse.

Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1RAs like liraglutide and semaglutide mimic the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which stimulates insulin production and lowers blood sugar levels. More recently, they have emerged as effective treatments for obesity—slowing digestion, increasing feelings of fullness, and reducing hunger.

However, evidence for the impact of GLP-1RAs in individuals with obesity and mental illness is limited. There have also been concerns that these medications may increase the risk of suicide and self-harm.

To find out more, Swiss researchers systematically reviewed the evidence from clinical trials and case series examining the safety and the impact of GLP-1RAs on psychotropic drug-induced metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as mental illness outcomes from January 1st, 2010 to August 31st, 2024.

Data were analyzed for 36 studies involving a total of 25,677 adults (aged 18 or older) from 19 countries. Eighteen studies examined the effect of GLP-1RAs on weight loss, glucose control and mental illness outcomes in adults with a severe mental disorder, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and alcohol use disorder.

The other 18 studies examined emotional well-being and quality of life in adults with overweight or obesity but with no history of severe mental illness following GLP-1RAs treatment.

Overall, four different GLP-1RAs were investigated in the trials—liraglutide (also known as Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy), exenatide (Byetta or Bydureon), and dulaglutide (Trulicity).

The analysis found that treatment with GLP-1RAs led to significant weight loss and improved glycemic control in adults with mental illness taking psychotropics.

The greatest weight loss was reported in a randomized trial of liraglutide (up to 3 mg daily). Participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder using this medication lost up to 5.3kg more of their starting weight and lowered their glucose levels (HbA1c) by 3.6 mmol/mol more after six months compared with participants taking placebo. Semaglutide (2.4 mg once weekly) caused weight loss of up to 15.7% after 68 weeks in patients taking antidepressants compared with placebo.

No link with suicidal thoughts or behavior

Importantly, the results showed that GLP-1RAs were not associated with a worsening mental state, suicidal behavior, new mental illness diagnoses, or increased psychiatric admissions.

For example, analysis of four studies on suicidality in adults with bipolar disorder, major or bipolar depressive disorder or no mental illness found that liraglutide was not linked to significantly increased rates of suicidal ideation (having thoughts of suicide). Two further studies of exenatide in patients with alcohol use disorder and liraglutide in bipolar disorder found no significant difference in suicidal behavior compared with placebo.

Dr. Breit cautions, "Until we have better evidence, people taking GLP-1RAs should be carefully monitored, especially those with mental illness."

Beneficial impact on mental health

The analysis also found that GLP-1RAs had a beneficial effect on mental health in adults with and without mental disorders. Five studies found that they were safe and improved mental illness outcome and quality of life in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, major depressive disorder, and bipolar affective disorder.

In adults without mental illness, GLP-1RAs demonstrated a superior effect on mood, emotional well-being, and quality of life compared with insulin and other antidiabetic drugs. For example, a randomized trial in patients with type 2 diabetes found that liraglutide (1.2 or 1.8 mg) significantly improved emotional well-being and general perceived health compared to glimepiride (8 mg daily).

Dr. Breit explains, "GLP-1 RAs may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, potentially due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, which can also help reduce neuroinflammation."

She adds, "This research provides much-needed evidence in support of GLP-1RAs to help safely address the burden of obesity in people with mental illness.

"However, more data from large-scale randomized trials and longer treatment and follow-up periods are needed to establish the long-term efficacy of GLP-1 RAs, as well as future studies exploring whether these medications might be useful for the direct treatment of mental health disorders."

More information: Sigrid Breit et al, The effect of GLP-1RAs on mental health and psychotropics-induced metabolic disorders: A systematic review, Psychoneuroendocrinology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107415

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-glp-ra-medications-safe-effective.html

A Canada-China embrace?

 

By Eric Utter

Now-former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau famously complimented China’s government.

Newly installed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is a globalist who has frequently criticized his American counterpart, President Donald Trump.

Though Canada and China have had their difficulties, some reports indicate that the two nations are ready to “move forward” in their relationship.

If Canada agrees to remove restrictions on Chinese investment. And if it agrees to a “joint” research station in the Arctic. It appears China is wooing Canada by explaining the “benefits” of an expanded relationship — and by openly and furiously respecting Canada’s “sovereignty” unlike President Donald Trump.

As unlikely as it may seem, it occurs to me that, if Canada does substitute China for the U.S., it is, in fact, guaranteed to lose its sovereignty. It will condemn itself to eventually being a Chinese vassal, or part of America by force.

Let me explain.

China is famous for getting 'partner' countries on the hook with its debt, as it has done with its $240 billion Belt and Road initiative. Many have learned the hard way just what they lose.

What's more, the U.S. simply cannot tolerate a significant Chinese presence on its 4,000+-mile-long border with its erstwhile buddy.

The end result would be one of the biggest, most consequential -- and needless -- turnarounds in history.

It would be as dumb a move as any country has ever made.

Deliberately and methodically turning a strong and generous long-time ally into an enemy you have no hope of defeating is not bright. Inviting China to help you would likely trigger a world war.

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! Over a trolling prank. Does any sane person really believe Trump was going to try to take Canada by force? Greenland? He never tried annexing a nation in the entirety of his first term, nor has he done so thus far in his second.

Unlike, say, China, which is effectively trying to annex the world via its ‘Belt And Road’ initiative.

Or could Canada be bifurcated? Commies to the East (naturally), free people to the West? World War II had its Vichy, France. Could the next one have, say, Winnipeg, Canada, with everything to the east being occupied and controlled by China, everything to the west being an American protectorate? What a dangerous juxtaposition that would be!

How many Canadians would want that?! How many might stand with communist China as opposed to the U.S.?

“French-Canadian” is one thing but Chinese-Canadian quite another. “Hey, we’re now part of ‘The Peoples’ Republic,’ eh?! Better red than dead, eh?!” The Chinese might finally get better at hockey, but Canadians will lose much without gain.

Saskatchewan and Alberta seem like sane provinces. I don’t wish to be presumptuous, and it is of course their choice, but might they not realize they’d be better off as equal and “cherished” American states? As it is, the national government in Ottawa is using and abusing them like Bill Clinton with an intern. Among other things, the ruling elites have decided that fossil fuels must soon be banned, a disaster for the oil and gas producing provinces.

It is one thing when a small, Central American nation goes totalitarian/communist, but quite another for the second largest (by land mass) nation on Earth to start going down that path.

Tragically, most of the Canadian people do not really know what they have done to themselves, even after the past decade of unbroken decline, due to blinding hatred of President Trump.

Years ago, a self-proclaimed ‘Niche Canadian’ named Mark Steyn wrote an excellent book titled, “After America.” Ironically, the great author could well have written “After Canada” instead.

If Canada falls, a preposterous notion in days of yore due to its size and America’s continuous defense largesse, but one that seems as likely as not now, it would be unspeakably bad for Canadians.

But it would also be devastating for the world at large.

China cannot be allowed access to the massive natural resources the U.S.’s northern neighbor possesses, or it would be curtains for everyone else. And I doubt Canadians want to live in a smog-ridden country whose forests, rivers, lakes and air have been spoiled, let alone be assigned a score on a “Social Credit System,” and effectively be under 24/7/365 surveillance.

But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe many are already so far down the rabbit hole they don’t care. Or maybe they have contracted the most virulent form of TDS known to man -- and would rather relinquish their freedoms than do anything that could please President Trump.

Let’s hope this far-fetched scenario never comes to pass. But China never acts other than in its own interest. Its overarching goal is to be the world’s hegemon. And those who know their history know that anything is possible.

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/05/canada_and_china_to_reconcile.html

America's Largest Grid Operator Warns Of Summer Power Shortages

 When America's largest power grid operator warns of "growing risks" of summer power shortages, people pay attention—especially now, after witnessing Spain's brief brush with net-zero collapse, when its failing green energy grid triggered the worst blackout in a generation.

PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid operator in the U.S., issued a warning Friday that extreme heat this summer could collide with record electricity demand, potentially triggering disruptions... 

"This season also marks the first time in PJM's annual assessment, however, that available generation capacity may fall short of required reserves in an extreme planning scenario that would result in an all-time PJM peak load of more than 166,000 MW," the grid operator warned. 

PJM reported it expects around 179,200 MW of available generation capacity this summer, along with 7,900 MW of contracted demand response—resources activated during extreme heat when 65 million customers across its service area, spanning 13 states and the District of Columbia, are setting air conditioning thermostats to max cool. 

The grid operator warned that a perfect storm of retiring fossil fuel plants, sluggish renewable energy growth, and soaring demand could trigger shortages for the first time:

"PJM continues to voice concerns about the supply and demand imbalance driven by generator retirements and the slow build of new resources in the face of accelerating demand growth."

Meanwhile, U.S. power demand continues to increase because of electrification trends that fall under the 'Powering Up America' theme we have laid out for readers (read here), including the buildout of massive AI data centers, electric vehicles, and onshoring trends. Earlier this week, Goldman's Hongcen Wei offered his take on America's power.

PJM's warning about potential summer shortfalls is a direct consequence of aggressive net-zero and green energy policies, which have destabilized power grids and driven prices higher—particularly in Mid-Atlantic states governed by far-left lawmakers. 

Goldman Says Mid-Atlantic Power Prices "Finally Caught Up To AI Data Center Load Growth Story" https://t.co/6BInBek7Zz

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 4, 2024

It's now up to the Trump administration to push for the restoration of reliable fossil fuel generation to reestablish grid stability (some good news so far). A fragile power grid isn't just an infrastructure issue—it's a national security threat. Those who undermined the nation's grid with green agendas to force grids to retire stable power production for unreliable power generation with Chinese solar panels must be held accountable. 

https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/americas-largest-grid-operator-warns-summer-power-shortages

DOGE Announces Deactivation of 500,000 Federal Credit Cards

 by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said on May 7 that it has canceled about half a million “unneeded” credit cards used by federal agencies.

In a post on social media platform X, DOGE wrote that over the past 10 weeks, its program to audit “unused” or “unneeded” credit cards has been expanded to 32 federal agencies.

DOGE, led by tech billionaire and Trump administration adviser Elon Musk, said that more than 500,000 agency credit cards were deactivated in that time period, out of roughly 4.6 million active cards and accounts used by the government.

“So, still more work to do,” the organization wrote in the post, which included a screenshot of a spreadsheet showing the canceled agency cards.

The spreadsheet showing what cards were canceled included ones used by the Office of Personnel Management, General Services Administration, Labor Department, Small Business Association, Treasury Department, Commerce Department, Interior Department, Education Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development Department, Defense Department, Health and Human Services Department, State Department, and others.

The May 7 statement means that DOGE has canceled another 30,000 credit cards used by agencies since mid-April, when it provided the last update on the effort.

At the time, Musk reposted DOGE’s comment and claimed that “twice as many credit cards are issued and active than the total number of government employees.”

DOGE’s website says that it has saved about $165 billion, or $1,000 per taxpayer, since it was established through an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January.

Days before that, top congressional Democrats alleged that DOGE, the Trump administration, and Musk were holding up some $430 billion in funds that they said were appropriated by Congress.

Trump’s drive to downsize and reshape the federal government has already led to the dismantling of entire agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

DOGE has been a major part of that effort, and the White House has said it is responsible for tackling what it calls fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government, while streamlining operations.

The government overhaul has led to numerous lawsuits seeking to block the Trump administration and DOGE from proceeding with some of the planned dismissals and other activities.

Musk’s government tenure is nearing its end. As a special government employee, the Tesla CEO is allowed only 130 days to work before he must depart.

Musk told Tesla investors last week that he would be stepping away from DOGE and the Trump administration in May. However, he said he would still be involved in some capacity to ensure that DOGE’s cuts remain intact. In its quarterly report released on April 23, Tesla posted lower-than-anticipated profits due to a variety of factors.

Musk told Trump at a Cabinet meeting on April 30 that it had been “an honor“ to work with his ”incredible Cabinet” and with Trump himself.

“A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days,” Musk said. “As everyone has said, it’s more than has been accomplished in any administration before. Ever. So this portends very well for what happens, for the rest of the administration.”

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/doge-announces-deactivation-500000-federal-credit-cards

Benefits of High-Protein Diets for Weight Loss

 Hi. I’m Dr Eugene J. Lucas. I’m board certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. In this video, I’ll review the benefits of high-protein diets. 

For anyone trying to lose weight, a caloric deficit is required, which means that the amount of calories consumed is less than what is burned through rest and with activity.

Unfortunately, exercise does not burn as many calories as we would like, and hyperconsumable sources of calories are ever-present at low cost in our modern food environment. 

A 30-minute brisk walk may burn 200 calories, but that can be entirely offset by consuming one candy bar or a single slice of pizza.There is no intervention that rivals the total body benefits provided by regular exercise, but it’s not an efficient weight loss strategy on its own for most people. 

Apart from medications, how can you consume less? One strategy is referred to as a protein leverage diet. With consumption of calories that are high in protein, say 30-40 grams or more,greater fullness occurs as a result of increases in pro -satiety hormones such as GLP-1. These effects are modest when compared with semaglutide or tirzepatide, but they can still be beneficial over time as a means to achieve or maintain a caloric deficit. 

Separately, vegetables and fiber-rich foods have also been found to generate more fullness relative to meals r ich in carbohydrates or fats. 

Putting this all together, during meals, eat protein first, then vegetables or fiber-rich foods second, and the third position is for everything else. With high-protein diets plus this type of food order, you’ll be better able to maintain or enhance a caloric deficit, and this weight loss approachwill also include benefits for muscle mass, strength, and bone density.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/benefits-high-protein-diets-weight-loss-2025a1000asc