Mastodawn

CounterPunch.org | Drug Ads Are Deceptive and Deadly by Brandon Novick

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

The piece argues that direct‑to‑consumer prescription‑drug advertising in the United States is both misleading and hazardous, as companies spend billions on emotional marketing that omits crucial risk information while exaggerating benefits; this practice drives Americans to pay far more for less effective, pricier drugs, contributes to serious health harms—including deaths linked to misleading ads for products like Vioxx—and undermines public health. Because only the U.S. and New Zealand permit such ads, the author urges Congress to curb deceptive marketing by requiring clear, prominent disclosure of all risks, imposing hefty fines, and eliminating liability shields, thereby making false advertising unprofitable and encouraging the development and promotion of genuinely safe, effective treatments.

#Merck #Humira #Ozempic #Vioxx #FirstAmendment

The Democracy Advocate 1d ago

Fox News Propaganda Raises Dangerous Questions About Fraud, Free Speech, and Political Manipulation

Fox News propaganda may extend beyond partisan speech into legally dangerous territory as profit-driven misinformation reshapes politics and public trust.

https://thedemocracyadvocate.com/news-to-know/us-news/fox-news-propaganda/

Algernon D'Ammassa 2d ago

“We work for the federal government, not a church. I just want to go to work and make my country better — I shouldn’t have to suffer through sermons and other religious messages forced upon me by the head of a federal agency.”

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/litigation/2026/05/agriculture-employees-sue-rollins-over-escalating-religious-messaging/

#usda #1A #FirstAmendment #religion #proselytizing

Agriculture employees sue Rollins over ‘escalating’ religious messaging

Plaintiffs said Rollins' religious messages are “unconstitutionally coercive,” leaving USDA employees feeling “unwelcome, excluded and like outsiders.”…

Federal News Network

Editor | The Democracy Advocate 2d ago

📰 When a president calls journalism “treason,” democracy should pay attention.

Trump’s attacks on the press are testing the freedoms the Constitution was written to protect, and why independent journalism still matters.

https://thedemocracyadvocate.com/news-to-know/trump-watch/trump-press-freedom-attack/

#Trump #FreePress #FirstAmendment

Trump Press Freedom Attack Raises a Dangerous War on Constitutional Truth | The Democracy Advocate

Trump Press Freedom Attack raises urgent constitutional concerns as attacks on journalism test America’s First Amendment protections.

The Democracy Advocate

The Democracy Advocate 2d ago

Trump Press Freedom Attack Raises a Dangerous War on Constitutional Truth

Trump Press Freedom Attack raises urgent constitutional concerns as attacks on journalism test America’s First Amendment protections.

https://thedemocracyadvocate.com/news-to-know/trump-watch/trump-press-freedom-attack/

Voteinorout 🇺🇸2d ago

The New York City Council plans to override Mayor Mondani’s veto on intro 175B, risking the curtailment of protests near educational institutions. Upholding the veto is crucial to protect #FirstAmendment rights. Urge your council member to support free speech.

Intro 175B aims to create “buffer zones” around schools, universities, hospitals, and libraries, potentially limiting protest activities. ... https://instagr.am/p/DYXwGCQEbZ7/

voteinorout on Instagram: "The New York City Council plans to override Mayor Mondani’s veto on intro 175B, risking the curtailment of protests near educational institutions. Upholding the veto is crucial to protect #FirstAmendment rights. Urge your council member to support free speech. Intro 175B aims to create “buffer zones” around schools, universities, hospitals, and libraries, potentially limiting protest activities. Mayor Mondani vetoed the bill, emphasizing the importance of maintaining New York’s vibrant protest culture. “We can’t let so-called ‘buffer zones’ silence protest across our city,” he stated. Comment LINK (on instagram) and we will DM you the link to sign the petition at https://action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-nyc-council-say-no-no-speech-zones — From Stonewall to today, the spirit of protest is a core part of New York. But after Mayor Mamdani rightly vetoed a bill that would have created no-speech zones outside of every educational facility in the five boroughs - a designation which is broad enough to include schools, universities, hospitals, libraries and more - the City Council is threatening to reconvene and override his veto.⁠ ⁠ We can’t let so-called “buffer zones” silence protest across our city. Say NO to no-speech zones, and tell your city council rep to hold the line against a veto override at our link in bio. Follow @nyclu for more. Help this information get to more voters. 🇺🇸 A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to Democracy. - Thomas Jefferson"

17 likes, 0 comments - voteinorout on May 15, 2026: "The New York City Council plans to override Mayor Mondani’s veto on intro 175B, risking the curtailment of protests near educational institutions. Upholding the veto is crucial to protect #FirstAmendment rights. Urge your council member to support free speech. Intro 175B aims to create “buffer zones” around schools, universities, hospitals, and libraries, potentially limiting protest activities. Mayor Mondani vetoed the bill, emphasizing the importance of maintaining New York’s vibrant protest culture. “We can’t let so-called ‘buffer zones’ silence protest across our city,” he stated. Comment LINK (on instagram) and we will DM you the link to sign the petition at https://action.aclu.org/send-message/tell-nyc-council-say-no-no-speech-zones — From Stonewall to today, the spirit of protest is a core part of New York. But after Mayor Mamdani rightly vetoed a bill that would have created no-speech zones outside of every educational facility in the five boroughs - a designation which is broad enough to include schools, universities, hospitals, libraries and more - the City Council is threatening to reconvene and override his veto.⁠ ⁠ We can’t let so-called “buffer zones” silence protest across our city. Say NO to no-speech zones, and tell your city council rep to hold the line against a veto override at our link in bio. Follow @nyclu for more. Help this information get to more voters. 🇺🇸 A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to Democracy. - Thomas Jefferson".

Instagram

Scary Austin 2d ago

OF COURSE the mutiny of preverts is terrified and threatening us with persecution. Nobody out there protesting is changing a damn thing we're doing in response to Trump's threats to "Antifa." People proudly, sarcastically wear "Antifa" hats and write "8647" on their signs.

Performance artist "Suki" took it to another level, though. They carved this into the grass near Trump's Bed(bug)minster course so he sees it every time he flies in.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYVM_I9NDHW/
#50501movement #FirstAmendment

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Nonilex 3d ago

Looking at median grade-point averages, & standardized test scores broken down by race, the #Trump #DOJ concluded that “Yale’s use of race resulted in a Black applicant being as much as 29 times higher odds of getting an interview for admission than an equally strong Asian applicant with similar academic credentials.”
 #Yale medical school does not only consider grades & test scores when evaluating applications.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #CivilRights #education

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Nonilex 3d ago

The #DOJ requested documents from #Yale to determine whether its admissions practices were in compliance with federal #CivilRights #law, & determined that the medical school “continues to intentionally discriminate against applicants based on their race,” despite a 2023 #SCOTUS ruling rejecting race-conscious #AffirmativeAction in college admissions.

#FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #education #Trump #WhiteSupremacy

Nonilex 3d ago

After a year-long “investigation”, the #Trump #DOJ concluded that #Yale School of Medicine “discriminated” based on race in its admissions, favoring Black & Hispanic applicants over White & Asian ones, the agency said Thursday.

#law #FirstAmendment #AcademicFreedom #education #CivilRights #SCOTUS #WhiteSupremacy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/05/14/doj-says-yale-medical-school-discriminated-against-asian-white-applicants/

DOJ says Yale medical school discriminated against Asian, White applicants

An investigation concluded that Yale School of Medicine favored Black and Hispanic applicants. The Justice Department sent similar findings to UCLA last week.

The Washington Post