Monthly Archives: May 2021

Milton Keynes mum’s natural skincare range that cured her son’s eczema is being sold at H Beauty in Milton Keynes – MKFM

Posted: May 1, 2021 at 5:44 am

A local mum who was determined to heal her newborn babys eczema has debuted her vegan skincare range in H Beauty today (29/4).

Shalom Lloyd, a pharmacist from Milton Keynes, developed her own skincare range calledNaturally Tribal Skincare in 2014, after giving birth to twins.

Almost instantly her son, Joshua, suffered from extreme eczema and itchy irritation. Shalom couldnt bear the idea of smothering his sensitive newborn skin with chemicals and steroids. Instead, she looked to her African heritage for inspiration.

Recalling recipes containing all-natural ingredients, which have been used in Africa for generations, the busy mum started to experiment in her kitchen and soon Joshuas skin cleared and Shamon now boasts products that help with Psoriasis, Dermatitis and Rosacea too.

Shalom has put these ingredients intoNaturally Tribal SkincaresImperfectly Perfect range, which made its debut at H Beauty in the centre:mk upon the store's grand opening.

Although made here in the UK, Naturally Tribal Skincare, sources high-grade Shea Butter from Nigeria. The brand has also been a Vegan Trademark holder since 2017.

The Shea industry in Nigeria has over 16 million African women collecting and processing shea kernels as a main source of income and in 2020, Naturally Tribal built and opened the Essan factory which currently employs 20 local women.

Reacting to the announcement, founder Shalom Lloyd said: This wonderful milestone brings my proud dual British and African heritage to life. We know we have great products that work and we are built on incredibly strong values. We know that we are a company that is diverse. So, being part of the H beauty Milton Keynes Born & Bred line up is something to be extremely proud of.

Having the Vegan Trademark also makes a huge difference and lets our customers know that what theyre buying is completely natural and free from animal ingredients and testing.

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What Are The Best, Safest Systemic Therapies for Atopic Dermatitis? – MD Magazine

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A systematic review and network meta-analysis of systemic atopic dermatitis therapies suggest upadacitinib, abrocitinib, and dupilumab are associated with the best efficacy outcomes among the robust drug class options.

The research, presented at theAmerican Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Virtual Meeting Experience this weekend, provides a unique comparison of systemic agents for key outcomes in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis treatment, including Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) and Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) scores.

Led by Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, investigators conducted a systematic literature review and a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials observing systemic therapy in adults and adolescents with atopic dermatitis.

As they noted, head-to-head systemic therapy trials are lacking in atopic dermatitis. They hypothesized a meta-analysis could provide comparative context into the efficacy and safety of such agents and could even inform clinical decisions.

The Pfizer-sponsored assessment observed both monotherapy and combination systemic therapy in published research for atopic dermatitis. Silverberg and colleagues conducted analysis of randomized controlled trials including adult and adolescent patients through October 24, 2019.

Short-term efficacy, defined as 12-16 weeks of systemic therapy for EASI and IGA responses, as well as safety data were analyzed in fixed-effects and random-effects Bayesian network meta-analysis models.

The team found 19 published phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials involving abrocitinib, baricitinib, dupilumab, lebrikizumab, nemolizumab, tralokinumab, and upadacitinib.

In monotherapy use, once-daily 30 mg upadacitinib was associated with the numerically highest rate of treatment efficacy (51.6% achieving EASI 90), followed by once-daily 200 mg abrocitinib (39.2%), once-daily 15 mg upadacitinib (34.5%), biweekly 200 mg dupilumab (27.6%), and once-daily 100 mg abrocitinib (22.2%).

In combination therapy use, the abrocitinib regimen was associated with a 48.7% rate of EASI 90. Other efficacious combination systemic therapy regimens included dupilumab (41.7%) and once-daily 100 mg abrocitinib (37.9%).

Investigators observed consistent benefits in IGA and patient-reported outcomes with the systemic therapy regimens.

Treatment-emergent adverse events were more common in every active treatment regimen than in placebo, aside for biweekly 300 mg dupilumab (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.45 2.18) and once-daily 100 mg abroctinib (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.35 2.66), both used in combination therapy for atopic dermatitis.

The investigators concluded the assessment showed favor on efficacy and safety marks to both monotherapy and combination abrocitinib and dupilumab among other atopic dermatitis systemic therapies.

To conclude, abrocitinib, dupilumab, and upadacitinib were consistently the most effective systemic therapies in adults and adolescents with atopic dermatitis, Silverberg said. Abrocitinib and dupilumab combination therapy demonstrated the greatest efficacy, and there was no significant difference in treatment-emergent adverse events in these short-term randomized controlled trials, although there were some numerical increases observed.

The study, Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Systemic Therapies Used in Adult and Adolescent Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis (AD): A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and Network Meta-Analysis (NMA), was presented at AAD VMX.

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Skin Disorders Linked to Depression in Children and Adolescents – Dermatology Advisor

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Atopic dermatitis and eczema, nail diseases, and hair loss are significantly associated with depression in children and adolescents, researchers reported in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

The retrospective case-control study enrolled children and adolescents diagnosed with depression for the first time in 185 pediatric practices in Germany from January 2017 to December 2019, and matched control participants without depression. Data were obtained from the Disease Analyzer database. The analysis included 9 skin conditionsatopic dermatitis and eczema, urticaria, nail disorders, hair loss, acne, rosacea, pigmentation disorders, epidermal thickening, and atrophic disorders of the skin.

A total of 7061 children and adolescents with depression and 7061 matched control participants without depression were included (mean [SD] age, 11.3 [3.8] years; 53.4% girls, for both groups). Among the participants with depression, approximately 4.7% had mild depression, 16.5% had moderate depression, 2.6% had severe depression, and the others (76.3%) had undefined depression.

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Regression analysis showed that atopic dermatitis and eczema (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.37-1.64), nail disorders (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.20-2.82), and hair loss (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.30- 2.60) were significantly associated with depression.

Sex-stratified regression analysis demonstrated that atopic dermatitis and eczema (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.26-1.61) and hair loss (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.37-3.03) were significantly associated with depression among women patients, and atopic dermatitis and eczema were associated with depression (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.39-1.80) in men patients. In addition, a strong nonsignificant association was observed for nail disorders (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.07-4.01) and pigmentation disorders (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.05-3.54) in women participants.

The study has several limitations, according to the investigators. Diagnoses of depression and other disorders were based on ICD-10 codes, and no information was available regarding the duration or intensity of the respective illness or location of the skin lesions. Data were also lacking for potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, social support, and psychosocial stressors.

One important factor that is common to all associated conditions is a possible impact on the external appearance of the patient, especially due to skin lesions affecting the face, head, or hands, the researchers commented. This physical change and environmental reactions to it can cause low self-esteem, feelings of embarrassment, and depression in young people, as they are in a critical phase of development during which they are likely to compare themselves to others.

Teichgrber F, Jacob L, Koyanagi A, Shin JI, Seiringer P, Kostev K. Association between skin disorders and depression in children and adolescents: a retrospective case-control study. J Affect Disord. 2021;282:939-944. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.002

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Atopic Eczema Treatment Market projected to Reach USD 34089.3 Million by 2026 The Courier – The Courier

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Findings from Facts and Factors reportAtopic Eczema Treatment Market By Type (Topical, Oral, and Injectable), By Application (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2020 2026states that the globalAtopic Eczema Treatment marketin 2019 was approximately USD 18,057.4 Million. The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 10.36% and is anticipated to reach around USD 34,089.3 Million by 2026.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by red, itchy, swollen, and broken skin. White fluid can leak from the affected region, necessitating treatment. The atopic dermis is more common in children and can become more serious as they get older. Atopic dermatitis is caused by a genetic mutation, environmental contamination, immune system dysfunction, and skin permeability issues. Dry skin, irritants, fatigue, allergies, infection, and heat/sweating are the primary causes of atopic dermatitis. Its important to remember that these just cause atopic dermatitis symptoms; they dont cause atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread chronic skin disorder that has been linked to other atopic diseases. Although there is growing evidence of a connection with non-atopic conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, data on many autoimmune diagnoses is restricted.

Dermatological disorders are exceedingly common in different forms all over the world. According to the World Health Organization, skin diseases affected over 900 million people in 2017. Atopic dermatitis is the most common of these diseases, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. Children make up about a quarter of the victims. The increased prevalence of this disease is projected to have a positive impact on the economy. In recent years, increased understanding of the diseases therapeutic options has aided the markets survival. Government initiatives to ensure quality and more affordable care, as well as the availability of favorable reimbursement plans, are expected to boost the sector. During the study era, developing country health growth and evolution would present new opportunities.

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The infected area produces white fluid, which necessitates treatment. Atopic dermis normally starts in childhood and gets worse as you get older. Atopic dermatitis is caused by a combination of genetics, environmental toxicity, immune system dysfunction, and skin permeability issues.

Based on type market is bifurcated into categories such as topical, oral, and injectable. A Topicalcategory is estimated to hold the largest market share of the atopic eczema treatment market. The cream-based solution for treatment is making the product easy for an application, which is expected to surge a market demand in forecast years. In addition to this, based on application, the market is bifurcated into categories such as hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and others. Retail pharmacies are estimated to hold the largest market share of the atopic eczema market. However, online pharmacies are estimated to grow at a significant CAGR owing to the penetration of mobile phones and the emergence of numerous medicine delivery startups.

Because of new product releases, early treatment acceptance, and lifestyle improvements, North America was the largest market for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in 2019. North America emerged as the leading market for atopic dermatitis, owing to higher treatment knowledge among the target population, early acceptance of novel drugs, and better reimbursement policies, according to the regional study. Europe has the second-largest share of the market. The key driver of the demand in this area is large-scale R&D spending. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to rise the fastest between 2020 and 2026, owing to increasing demand. Due to increasing health expenditure and the availability of adequate care, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to rise the fastest between 2020 and 2026.

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Top Market Players

Some of the key players in the atopic eczema treatment market are Encore Dermatology Inc., AbbieVie Inc., LEO Pharma A/S, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Pfizer Inc., Novartis AG, Bausch Health Companies Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc.,Sanofi S.A., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., LEO Pharma A/S, and Medimmune LLC. (AstraZeneca), among others. The aforementioned companies primary strategy for market growth is to invest in the research and production of new prescription products. Sanofi Genzyme, for example, makes the Biologics medication DUPIXNET , which treats skin lesions and relieves scratching.

According to the 2017 Global Burden of Disease research database, atopic eczema is the leading cause of skin-related impairment, affecting up to 24 percent of the global population, according to JAAD International. Up to 23% of nurses suffer from occupational dermatitis, with daily hand washing and the use of protective gloves being major risk factors. The COVID-19 pandemic has risen in cases of skin irritation and disease in health-care workers as a result of excessive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and chronic stress, which exacerbates atopic eczema. Hand washing is a popular recommendation for preventing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is expected to affect more people than just health-care staff as dermatitis cases rise. As a result, the global COVID-19 pandemic is predicted to benefit the atopic eczema treatment industry.

This report segments the Atopic Eczema Treatment market as follows:

Global Atopic Eczema Treatment Market:By Type Based Segmentation Analysis:

Global Atopic Eczema Treatment Market: By Application Segmentation Analysis

Global Atopic Eczema Treatment Market: Regional Segmentation Analysis

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Black Women With Skin Conditions Share Their Paths to Diagnosis – Allure

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Accepting that having acne was my new normal, it opened up a portal in my life, says influencer Nazhaya Barce Barcelona. In the fall of her sophomore year of college, she returned to school with her face in an acne breakout that only worsened over time. I couldn't put my finger on the root of the issue for years," she recalls. "I blamed it on so many things: skin-care products, hair products, food, the water in my college town."

Unlike many of the other skin ailments featured in this piece, acne is something most people encounter (up to 85 percent of us, in fact). But, as Aguh explains, it can present differently on darker skin, and treatment may look different as well. While acne pimples look similar in all skin tones, Aguh explains, acne is more likely to leave behind spots of discoloration in more deeply pigmented skin tones, which feels like a problem caused by another problem. For this reason, when treating acne in brown skin, it is very important to use medications that will not only treat the active, inflamed acne pimples, but also are designed to treat the discoloration as well, says Diggs.

For Barcelona, a visit to the dermatologist meant she had medical intervention: "My first time going to the dermatologist, I was very excited to get a topical prescription that was medically engineered to clear my skin."

But a doctor's prescription can only do so much; treatment required work on her mental health too. Barcelona felt that acne had tainted her membership in the community of "beautiful people." With acne, Barcelona shares, "self-love and self-discovery presented itself to me in a way I would've never experienced if I had clear skin all my life." She explains, I had to navigate social interactions, romantic relationships, and self-reflection with a new face. Acne created a mental and spiritual wound that was very painful and uncomfortable to wear every day. It blinded me to who I really was.

Then, one day, Barcelona continues, "I decided to be brave. I was exhausted from trying to hide and feeling shame about how I looked. I told myself that I wasn't going to torture myself like this anymore. I wasn't sure if people really thought I looked as disgusting and scary as I thought I did, but I decided that day that even if they did, I didn't care anymore. I was beautiful before the acne, and I'll continue to be beautiful with it."

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Jupiter Wellness Advances Clinical Pipeline of CBD-Based Topical Treatments – StreetInsider.com

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Four Indications in Clinical Development

JUPITER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2021 / Jupiter Wellness, Inc. (NASDAQ: JUPW), a leading developer of cannabidiol (CBD) based medical therapeutics and wellness products, today announced an update on its clinical pipeline of CBD-based therapeutic topical formulations including JW-100 for the treatment of eczema, JW-200 for skin cancer, JW-300 for burns, and JW-400 for herpes cold sores.

Commenced Patient Enrollment for Skin Cancer: Study Completion Expected Q4 2021

Jupiter's JW-200 is designed to provide action and relief in the treatment of Actinic Keratosis (AK), the most common precancer that forms on skin as a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. The objective of this double blinded, placebo-controlled study is to evaluate the efficacy of JW-200 in both the treatment and prevention of disease, with a primary efficacy endpoint of the percentage of patients with complete clearance of AK lesions. An estimated 120 adults diagnosed with AK will be recruited, with an expected study completion date of Q4 2021.

The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates 58 million Americans have one or more AK lesions which appear as raised, scaly discolored patches on sun-exposed skin. Left untreated, approximately 20% of AK lesions progress to squamous cell carcinoma. The skin cancer treatment market was $8.19 billion 2019 and is estimated to reach $14.55 billion by 2027.

Patient Recruitment Started for First Degree Burns: Topline Data Expected Q4 2021

JW-300 is being evaluated in a clinical study for the treatment of first-degree burns resulting from sun exposure. The double blinded, placebo-controlled trial is recruiting an estimated 44 patients who have first degree burns induced by UVB irradiation. The primary endpoint is the reduction in erythema within 24 hours of treatment. The trial is expected to be completed in Q3 2021, with topline data expected Q4 2021.

Preparing for Upcoming IND Meeting with U.S. FDA for Eczema Phase I/II Study

Jupiter is preparing for a meeting in Q3 2021 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application that it expects to file. The Company will propose its clinical protocol for a Phase I/II study based on the efficacy and safety shown in the recently completed exploratory study of JW-100 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema). The study showed that JW-100 cleared or reduced eczema following two weeks of use in more than half of the subjects, achieving ISGA clear or almost clear (1 or 2) with at least a 2-grade improvement from baseline after treatment, versus 20% and 15% in the CBD-only and placebo arms.

The global eczema market is valued at $10 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% through 2025. Ten percent of the U.S. population, or 31.6 million people, have eczema, and according to NationalEczema.org, 86% of people are not satisfied with their current treatment.

JW-400 for Treatment of Herpes Cold Sores Expected to Commence Recruitment Q4 2021

The double blind, placebo controlled study is now preparing for recruitment of 40 patients with recurrent herpes labialis infection (HSV) who had their initial infection more than one year prior. The primary endpoint is the duration of the herpes labialis episode. The herpes simplex virus treatment market was $4.8 billion in 2017. Nearly half of Americans age14-29 have HSV-1, known as the cold sore virus.

"With multiple study completion and topline data milestones upcoming in 2021 and early 2022, we are very pleased with the pace and scope of our clinical programs which address substantial market opportunity and clinical needs for more effective therapies," stated Brian John, CEO of Jupiter Wellness.

About Jupiter Wellness

Jupiter Wellness, Inc. (NASDAQ: JUPW) is a leading developer of cannabidiol (CBD) based medical therapeutics and wellness products. The Company's clinical pipeline of prescription CBD-enhanced skin care therapeutics address indications including eczema, burns, herpes cold sores, and skin cancer. Jupiter generates revenues from a growing line of proprietary over-the-counter skincare products including its flagship CaniSun" sunscreen and other wellness brands sold through its robust distribution platform.

For additional information, please visit http://www.jupiterwellnessinc.com. The Company's public filings can be found at http://www.Sec.gov.

Safe Harbor Statement

To the extent any statements contained in this presentation of Jupiter Wellness, Inc. (the "Company") contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the information that are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, the company's management as well as estimates and assumptions made by the company's management. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. When used in this presentation the words "estimate," "expect," intend," believe," plan," "anticipate," "projected" and other words or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to the company or the company's management identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the company with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors relating to the company's industry, its operations and results of operations and any businesses that may be acquired by the company. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, or planned. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the company cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the security laws of the United States, the company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

Investor & Public Relations Contact InfoPhone: 561-244-7100Email: info@jupiterwellness.com

SOURCE: Jupiter Wellness, Inc.

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Bill Reducing Costs of Copying Government Documents Clears Committee | CTNewsJunkie – CT News Junkie

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(Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie)

A bill to reduce the cost of making copies of government documents under the Freedom of Information Act survived a close vote in the Planning and Development Committee Friday despite concerns about its fiscal impact on towns.

The bill caps the fees government entities can charge for copying most public documents at 15 cents a page and prohibits them from charging someone to copy records using a cell phone or camera. The proposal notably excludes land records from the new caps, which government agencies will still be allowed to charge for access up to $20 per day.

Under current law, per-page copying fees vary by agency, but generally fall between 25 cents and 50 cents per page.

The Government Administration and Elections Committee approved the bill on a unanimous vote in March, but it was referred this week to the Planning and Development Committee which passed it, but not before several lawmakers objected to the reduction in municipal revenues it was likely to cause.

I cant express enough how much this costs, Sen. Dan Champagne, a Republican who is also mayor of Vernon, said. The loss to the municipalities this is paying for the employees, some of this is offsetting some of the costs of the employees.

Champagne and others on the committee complained that the bills fiscal analysis did not do enough to capture the municipal impact of the bill. Sen. Steve Cassano, the committees Democratic co-chairman who is a former mayor of Manchester, guessed the legislation could result in up to $30,000 in revenue loss for larger municipalities.

If its a substantial fiscal impact, then we need to have an alternative to make up for that revenue. Its part of the change in technology, understood, but the fiscal impact has to be understood, Cassano said.

During a public hearing last month, Mike Savino, president of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, submitted written testimony supporting the change. Savino said access to public records should be considered one of the functions of government deemed to be an expense shared by society.

There is no cash box at the entrance of a public high school, no bill is prepared after firefighters extinguish a house fire, no charge to call 911 or use a library card, Savino wrote. Government transparency and accountability are likewise at the heart of our democracy. And there cannot be government accountability without barrier-free access to the records of government.

Savino said the bills reduced rate of 15-cents per-page still exceeded the price of making copies at most for-profit printing shops.

During Fridays meeting, Rep. David Michel, D-Stamford, said reducing or eliminating fees for copying records coincided with the spirit of the states Freedom of Information law.

There shouldnt be, I think, any form of really profit, actually being generated on these sorts of requests for the sake of transparency, he said.

Rep. Michael Winkler, D-Vernon, said the bill represented a compromise between proponents and town officials who worried about the fiscal impact.

Town clerks, who hold most of the records that are requested under FOI, can still charge people $20 for looking at the land records, which is where they make much of their money and people could take pictures of a set of minutes for free, Winkler said.

Champagne said the concern for most towns stemmed from companies and individuals who requested an excessive number of documents, which require staff members to take time and collect.

If we want to lay this burden on municipalities, then the state should cough up some money to help with that, he said. This is a stretch and it goes too far because there are way too many people who abuse the FOI laws.

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GOP worries fiscal conservatism losing its rallying cry | TheHill – The Hill

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Republicans say fiscal conservatism simply isnt the GOP rallying cry it used to be, and thats making it much harder to counter President BidenJoe BidenAmericans for Prosperity launches campaign targeting six Democrats to keep filibuster Washington's split with Turkey widens but it is up to Turkey to heal the rift Incomes, consumer spending soared in March as stimulus bill boosted recovering economy MOREs push for trillions of dollars in new government spending.

Instead, culture war issues like immigration, religious freedom, LGBTQ rights, Big Tech and the Black Lives Matter movement are taking center stage in conservative politics.

The initial shift in Republican political priorities away from belt-tightening coincided with the demise of the Tea Party, the dominant force in the 2010 midterm elections, and the rise of now-former President TrumpDonald TrumpWashington's split with Turkey widens but it is up to Turkey to heal the rift Tomorrow's special election in Texas is the Democrats' best House hope in 2021 Giuliani to Tucker Carlson: 'No justification' for FBI raid MORE, who presided over an $8 trillion increase in the national debt.

Now, Republicans are having a tough time generating the same outrage over Bidens multitrillion-dollar spending agenda as they did over former President Obamas signature initiatives: the American Relief and Reinvestment Act and the Affordable Care Act, which cost far less than what Biden is proposing on infrastructure.

Senate Republican Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneTrump drama divides GOP, muddling message Schumer warns Democrats willing to go it alone on infrastructure Pandemic casts shadow over Biden's first address to Congress MORE (S.D.) said unfortunately fiscal concerns are probably not as important to the GOP base as 10 years ago and that Trump helped transform the partys priorities.

It wasnt something that was an important issue for President Trump, and so many of our base voters align themselves with President Trump. Its almost like now debt, deficits, spending become abstract issues that a lot of folks arent paying attention to and should be, he said.

There was a political evolution, Thune said, and the fiscal conservatism that was a core tenet of the Tea Party got displaced ... by the more populist elements of the Republican Party.

He went on to say that while Trump was able to energize voters by hitting on hot-button cultural topics, such as immigration and border security, its now time for the GOP to get back to its traditional stance on fiscal issues.

Im frankly very concerned about the level of spending and debt, and I think Republicans have got to be the adults in the room and exercise the fiscal responsibility that seems to have been absent, lacking the last several years, Thune said.

Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiTrump drama divides GOP, muddling message Moderate Republicans leery of Biden's renewed call for unity Biden makes case for sweeping change MORE (R-Alaska), a central player in the Senate immigration negotiations, said the party is kind of different compared to the early years of the Obama administration.

Tea Party fiscal conservatism is now hard to find, she said, adding that the party base is more strongly conservative on some of the social issues.

Who is the party of fiscal restraint anymore? she asked.

Former Speaker John BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerPress: John Boehner: good author, bad leader Juan Williams: A breakthrough on immigration? GOP worries fiscal conservatism losing its rallying cry MORE (R-Ohio) criticized House conservatives in his new book, On the House: A Washington Memoir, for abandoning their Tea Party principles during Trumps four years in office.

None of these guys said anything when the Trump administration added $1 trillion to the federal budget deficit by the end of 2019 before a single dime was spent on COVID-19 relief, he wrote.

They were rubber stamps for it in Congress. Many of them who raised huge stinks about [the Troubled Asset Relief Program] were only too happy to let Trump bail out farmers hurt by his trade war with China, he added, referring to the $700 billion measure that Congress passed in October of 2008 to prop up the nations financial system.

The shift in political priorities was even more apparent last month when the House Republican conference voted by secret ballot to lift the ban on earmarks it had enacted in March of 2010, when the Tea Party was on the rise.

The Senate last week voted to keep a symbolic earmark ban in place with the understanding the GOP conference rule would not be binding and members would be free to request earmarks for their home states.

Heres the sad reality: Almost nobody in Washington, Republican or Democrat, cares much about the debt, but lots of grandstanders care a lot about who racks up that debt, said Sen. Ben SasseBen SasseGOP worries fiscal conservatism losing its rallying cry Hillicon Valley: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube execs to testify at Senate hearing on algorithms | Five big players to watch in Big Tech's antitrust fight Senators introduce legislation to protect critical infrastructure against attack MORE (R-Neb.).

Most folks are OK with deficits just as long as its their party that gets the short-term political advantage of claiming to be saviors shoveling cash. I dont care if youre a Republican or a Democrat, the math is the math, he added.

Sasse brought a chart to a Republican conference meeting Wednesday, during which he and his colleagues discussed allowing earmarks to return, showing the ratio of public debt to gross domestic product (GDP) now stands at nearly 100 percent and is due to rise to 114 percent by 2030.

That is projected to exceed the record debt-to-GDP ratio set in 1946 after World War II.

The national debt stood at $19.9 trillion when Trump took office in 2017 and hit $28 trillion last month.

Republicans are trying to revive fiscal concerns as they push back against Bidens $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal but are having trouble gaining traction.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHarris, senators work behind scenes on jobs package Trump drama divides GOP, muddling message Cheney on fist bump with Biden: 'We're not sworn enemies. We're Americans' MORE (R-Ky.) this past week touted a $568 billion Republican-proposed infrastructure plan as a more modest alternative to Bidens and warned of the mounting debt.

Its one thing to run up the national debt when you have a hundred-year pandemic but just to keep routinely adding trillions of dollars to the national debt I think is ill-advised for the future of the country, he said last week.

Republicans want to pay for their plan by repurposing money sent out to state and local governments in Bidens $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, setting user fees and tapping the Highway Trust Fund.

Yet polls have shown strong support for Bidens plans to spend trillions of dollars to turbocharge the economy, a course he settled on after Democrats concluded that the $787 billion stimulus package passed in the early months of Obamas first term did not do enough to get the economy back on track after the Great Recession.

Senior White House adviser Anita Dunn last month circulated a Navigator Research poll showing that 59 percent of Americans support Bidens infrastructure agenda and that 83 percent support his desire to expand access to child care and investments in clean energy infrastructure, which are not highlighted in the alternative GOP proposal.

A Politico-Morning Consult poll from this month showed strong support among Republicans, Democrats and independents for Bidens infrastructure spending priorities, and 65 percent of voters were on board with raising the corporate tax rate to help pay for them. The survey even found that 42 percent of Republicans favored raising taxes on corporations.

Steven S. Smith, a professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, said that Republican warnings of 10 and 12 years ago that Obamas agenda would fuel inflation never panned out, undercutting the potency of fiscal conservatism as a political message.

The Republican argument of 2009 that this massive increase in federal spending is going to cause a disastrous inflation, it simply isnt an argument that holds water with most economists or the general public, he said. Thats important context.

We never experienced much inflation, still arent experiencing much inflation and yet have another economic downturn with massive unemployment and underemployment. And I think the public buys the argument the government has an essential role in recovery, he added.

The lack of staunch opposition among Republican voters to Bidens economic agenda makes it trickier for Senate Republicans to oppose, especially when winning back the majority means securing victories in purple states like Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Republicans as a whole from lawmakers in Washington to mainstream GOP voters and conservative activists were much more unified against Obamas health care agenda in 2009 than they are against Bidens spending plans.

Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocrats face big headaches on Biden's T spending plan Senate Democrats push Biden over raising refugee cap GOP worries fiscal conservatism losing its rallying cry MORE (D-Conn.) said the fact that GOP senators are now spending serious time putting serious proposals is a good sign, praising their $568 billion infrastructure offer as meaningful.

Republicans are not spending their time eviscerating the infrastructure bill like they did the Affordable Care Act. Theyre spending their time explaining how they would do it differently, and thats constructive, he said, noting the differences between now and 12 years ago.

Scott Wong contributed.

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Can worsening economies and increasing repression herald a new Arab Spring? – Open Democracy

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The World Bank report says that the pandemic has disproportionately affected poorer householders who are more likely to be self-employed or work in the informal sector, as these two areas have been most affected by the pandemic.

Just over one year since most of the world entered lockdown due to the pandemic, the overall situation is no better for many countries than it was at the end of 2020. In fact, it appears that more difficult times are yet to come.

All of this comes into play in the absence of any far-reaching economic, social, fiscal and institutional reforms. This absence, including the need to fight corruption or respect human rights, can only exacerbate political and social conflicts. In the case of North Africa, one result we have observed in our research has been a strong increase in migratory flows.

In Tunisia, this also shows up in the numerous and increasingly violent protests that the country has been witnessing since the end of last year and the start of this year, which is reminiscent of the beginning of the revolution in December 2010.

According to Amnesty International, Moroccan authorities used the pandemic to pass restrictive legislation and continue to crack down on freedom of expression by targeting journalists, activists and individuals who are critical of the state.

As for Egypt, the military regime continues to grow its hold over the country, preventing any possibility of dissent, let alone one that would resemble the mass protests that erupted in January 2011.

We may be unlikely to witness another Arab Spring in the very near future, but worsening economic conditions, entrenched corruption and an increasing crackdown on freedom of expression could prove to be the recipe for a future one.

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Can worsening economies and increasing repression herald a new Arab Spring? - Open Democracy

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Breaking News – discovery+ Documents Backyard Engineers Pursuing Their Dreams of Space Flight in All-New Limited Series "Homemade…

Posted: at 5:38 am

DISCOVERY+ DOCUMENTS BACKYARD ENGINEERS PURSUING THEIR DREAMS OF SPACE FLIGHT IN ALL-NEW LIMITED SERIES "HOMEMADE ASTRONAUTS"

'Homemade Astronauts' to Stream Thursday, May 13, on discovery+

(LOS ANGELES) - Although we've been living in the space age for over half a century, very few people have experienced space for themselves. For some, space travel is the ultimate mission - exploring our universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere to discover the unknown. HOMEMADE ASTRONAUTS streaming Thursday, May 13, on discovery+, will document three self-financed teams who dream of becoming some of the first private citizens to launch themselves into space.

Each year, civilians from across the country and around the world set out on their own backyard space race - using nothing but grit, determination and self-taught skills to create their own home-built rockets and spacesuits. HOMEMADE ASTRONAUTS follows the journey of three groups of dreamers who pave their own paths, each with a different approach to space travel.

The four-episode series, filmed over the course of two and a half years, documents the rarely seen world of home-made space travelers and the extreme lengths these teams take to reach their goals.

These pursuits of big dreams come with big risks. And no one took bigger risks or had bigger dreams than lifelong daredevil Mike "Mad Mike" Hughes. He and his build partner Waldo Stakes set out with the ultimate goal of propelling Mike 62 miles above the earth, all the way to the Karman line, the border between Earth's atmosphere and outer space. Their plan is to raise enough money to build a "Rockoon" - part rocket, part balloon - as a cost-effective way to make the journey.

Cameras document their progress as Mike first makes three bold attempts to reach up to one mile above the earth in a steam-powered rocket. His goal: to garner publicity and fundraising for his rockoon. In March 2018, Mike launched himself nearly 1,875 feet into the air in the Mojave Desert. On the heels of this successful launch and landing, Mike tweaked his design and aimed for a full mile above ground in February of 2020.

In taking this big step towards his ultimate dream of reaching 62 miles above the earth, Mike met a tragic end when his launch did not go as planned. Sending shockwaves throughout the rocket-building community and all who knew and loved him, Mike's friends and supporters gathered in July of 2020 in tribute to the man who pursued his dream, and paid the ultimate price.

Separately, in Minnesota, the real-life "Rocketman," Ky Michaelson, is the first civilian to build and launch an unmanned rocket into space. He's working together with his son, Buddy, and entrepreneur Kurt Anderson - "The Rocketboys" - to take his skills to new heights. Ky hopes to become the first amateur to build and launch a fuel-powered, manned space rocket. Along the way, Ky and the Rocketboys build a rocket sled, in which Kurt attempts to break the land/ice speed world record.

Finally, in Oregon, anthropology professor Cameron Smith takes matters into his own hands to pursue his dream of space flight, after finding out years ago that his vision did not meet NASA standards. Now, he is creating a spacesuit that can withstand all the elements of space travel, with the ultimate goal of taking himself to the Armstrong line, 60,000 feet above ground. Using supplies as unexpected as a crockpot, he crafts a space-worthy suit that he tests on himself for safety on an airplane flight. With that success, Cameron designs a specialized hot air balloon, and comes up with an ingenious plan to float himself to the highest height.

In addition to streaming HOMEMADE ASTRONAUTS on discovery+, viewers can join the conversation on social media by using #HomemadeAstronauts and following @Discovery on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok and @discoveryplus on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.

HOMEMADE ASTRONAUTS is produced by World of Wonder. Executive Producers for World of Wonder are Jeremy Simmons, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and Tom Campbell. Executive Producer for Science Channel is Caroline Perez. Lindsey Foster Blumberg is Supervising Producer for Science.

About discovery+

discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ features a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans up to 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. discovery+ has the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service at launch, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com or find it on a variety of platforms and devices, including ones from Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku and Samsung.

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Breaking News - discovery+ Documents Backyard Engineers Pursuing Their Dreams of Space Flight in All-New Limited Series "Homemade...

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