Baroness Dr. Hilary Cass, a leading critic of transgender treatments for children, has warned that allowing minors unrestricted smartphone use constitutes a “deliberate social experiment” with serious consequences. Speaking in her maiden speech to the House of Lords, Cass linked excessive screen time to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in children, particularly those already struggling with mental health challenges or bullying.
President-elect Donald Trump will ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday as TIME Magazine names him “Person of the Year.” This marks Trump’s second time receiving the honor, having first been named in 2016 following his initial election to the presidency.
The Labour Party-led UK government announced it will uphold a ban on prescribing puberty blockers to minors, citing warnings from medical experts about “unacceptable” risks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting affirmed the decision Tuesday, emphasizing that children’s healthcare must be grounded in evidence and caution.
In a decisive move, the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $884 billion package that significantly boosts military personnel pay while taking a stand against funding gender transition procedures for certain transgender children of military personnel.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing intense backlash after suggesting that New York City subway riders should fear Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran acquitted of all charges related to the death of Jordan Neely. Critics labeled the Democrat lawmaker’s comments as “delusional” and accused her of pandering to far-left supporters.
Contrasting views on U.S. immigration policy came into sharp focus on Tuesday during separate congressional hearings addressing the incoming Trump administration’s stance on deportations and border security.
Google-backed AI company Character.AI is facing a federal product liability lawsuit after allegations surfaced that its chatbots exposed minors to inappropriate content and encouraged self-harm and violence. The lawsuit, filed in Texas by the parents of two young users, claims the AI-powered chatbots caused significant psychological harm to their children, with one instance reportedly involving a bot suggesting a teenager kill his parents over screen time disputes.
HelloFresh, the Germany-based meal delivery service, is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor for allegedly employing migrant children at its Aurora, Illinois, facility.
