Podcasts about Sackler

"You never know what insight or information you're going to glean from someone, and so I want to be open to surprises. And not have any preconceived notions of what, who this person is, what they're going to tell me, imposing my own values, beliefs, whatever on them, because it's all a discovery," says Pulitzer Prize-winner Barry Meier, whose piece "You Can Run" appears in The Atavist Magazine.Barry Meier is here for another Atavistian chat! Yeah, these have not come out in as timely a manner as I had hoped. The late delay of the “revived” one with Mac Montandon, and having pods that were getting moldy in the can too precedence. Anyway …Barry Meier has won this little award you might have heard of called the, what is it, oh, yes, the Pulitzer Prize as part of a team of reporters in International Reporting for the New York Times. He's also been a finalist for the Pulitzer and a two-time winner of the George Polk Award. He's got a new piece out for The Atavist magazine titled: You Can Run: When their parents ripped two young sisters from their privileged lives, gave them fake names, and took them on the lam, they thought it was because their father was in trouble with the IRS. It would be years before they learned the truth about his life of crime.”He's the author of three books, Pain Killer, which was the first to chronicle the Sackler family and the origin of the opioid epidemic. “The book that started it all,” wrote Patrick Radden Keefe, whose book Empire of Pain was heavily informed by Barry's work. Barry also wrote Spooked and Missing Man. You can learn more about Barry at barryemierbooks.com . In this conversation we talk about: Using the boundaries of an envelope to map out a story Interviewing and the tools he uses or doesn't use Being open to surprises Beginnings, endings, and pacingThis episode pairs well with Ep. 385 with Robert Kolker

Patrick Radden Keefe is an award winning writer known for his ability to tell complex stories in ways that are compelling and revealing. Author of the bestsellers Empire of Pain—a shocking exposé of the Sackler family and their involvement in the opioid crisis—and Say Nothing, his award-winning account of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the murder of Jean McConville by the IRA, Keefe has built a global reputation for meticulous reporting, moral clarity, and gripping storytelling.In May 2026 he joined Emily Maitlis live on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the investigation that has led to his new book London Falling. At its centre is a teenager who mysteriously fell to his death from a Thames-side luxury apartment in London, and his grieving family's determination to get to the truth of what really happened. Keefe also discussed the broader themes of how money laundering, crime and corruption function today in London's underbelly. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patrick Radden Keefe is an award winning writer known for his ability to tell complex stories in ways that are compelling and revealing. Author of the bestsellers Empire of Pain—a shocking exposé of the Sackler family and their involvement in the opioid crisis—and Say Nothing, his award-winning account of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the murder of Jean McConville by the IRA, Keefe has built a global reputation for meticulous reporting, moral clarity, and gripping storytelling.In May 2026 he joined Emily Maitlis live on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the investigation that has led to his new book London Falling. At its centre is a teenager who mysteriously fell to his death from a Thames-side luxury apartment in London, and his grieving family's determination to get to the truth of what really happened. Keefe also discussed the broader themes of how money laundering, crime and corruption function today in London's underbelly. --- This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Madre mía, qué ganas más tontas nos están entrando de unas semanitas de cuarentena. Un puñado de días para estar tranquilitos en casa mientras el mundo ahí fuera está paralizado. En este episodio de La Paella Rusa lanzamos nuestra plegaria al hantavirus para que nos proporcione una temporada de ritmos lentos. No hace falta que nadie muera, solo ansiamos un poco de espíritu de pandemia, un rato de confinamiento. Mientras esperamos que ocurra, repasamos lo que sabemos de momento sobre el crucero portador del virus y sus moradores. También hablamos de ghosting. De traición. De amar demasiado. De haber amado y haber perdido. Es decir, hablamos del exministro de Transportes José Luis Ábalos, sus recientes declaraciones como acusado en el juicio del Tribunal Supremo y sus peripecias previas a caer en desgracia. Además, nos preguntamos si estará haciendo amigos en prisión. Confiamos en que así sea. ¡Ah! Y abordamos el panorama de las próximas elecciones andaluzas. Vox, Moreno Bonilla, la izquierda a la izquierda del PSOE, el carnaval de Cádiz…Porque, ya sabéis, no hay mayores expertos en Andalucía que los integrantes de este programa. En esta ocasión os dedicamos la sección Psoeizados a vosotros, personas paellísticas, con un minuto y resultado de las propuestas que nos han llegado sobre potenciales candidatos a caer hechizados por los influjos de PEDRO. ¡¡La Perroporra sigue en marcha y esperamos vuestras apuestas!! Y como es costumbre, La Paella Rusa cierra el programa con su recomendación cultural semanal. Esta vez hablamos de… opiáceos. Lo hacemos con El imperio del dolor, de Patrick Radden Keefe (Reservoir Books, 2021). ¡Dentro sinopsis! “El apellido Sackler adorna los muros de las instituciones más distinguidas: Harvard, el Metropolitan, Oxford, el Louvre... Es una de las familias más ricas del mundo, benefactora de las artes y las ciencias. El origen de su patrimonio siempre fue dudoso, hasta que salió a la luz que lo habían multiplicado gracias a OxyContin, un potente analgésico que catalizó la crisis de los opioides en Estados Unidos. El imperio del dolor empieza en la Gran Depresión, con la historia de tres hermanos dedicados a la medicina: Raymond, Mortimer y el infatigable Arthur Sackler, dotado de una visión especial para la publicidad y el marketing. Años después, contribuyó a la primera fortuna familiar ideando la estrategia comercial de Valium, un revolucionario tranquilizante, para una gran farmacéutica. Tras unas décadas fue Richard Sackler, el hijo de Raymond, quien pasó a dirigir los negocios del clan, incluida Purdue Pharma, su propia empresa fabricante de medicamentos. Basándose en las tácticas agresivas de su tío Arthur para vender el Valium, lanzó un fármaco que había de ser definitivo: OxyContin. Con él ganaron miles de millones de dólares, pero terminaría por arruinar su reputación. Desde 2017, Patrick Radden Keefe ha investigado los secretos de la dinastía Sackler: las complicadas relaciones familiares, los flujos de dinero, sus dudosas prácticas corporativas... El resultado es una bomba periodística que relata el auge y declive de una de las grandes familias americanas y su oscuro emporio de la salud”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spoiler: it's not China. Matt Ehret traces North America's drug crisis from the British Empire's original opium wars through the CIA's Air America heroin pipeline, Afghan poppy fields guarded by Western troops, and the Sackler family's OxyContin empire. He shows how Afghan opium production exploded the moment US forces arrived in 2001 and collapsed again the moment the Taliban returned in 2023, a fact the Pentagon's trillion-dollar budget apparently could not replicate. He also names the actual players fueling today's fentanyl crisis: Khalistani organized crime networks in British Columbia, money-laundering banks including TD Bank and a bank belonging to the British Royal Family, and a pharmaceutical company that paid a fine smaller than its profits. If China were really running a reverse opium war, they're doing a terrible job. Everyone else in this story seems far more competent.

In the words of the Los Angeles Times, “A new book by (Patrick Radden) Keefe means drop everything and close the blinds; you'll be turning pages for hours.” Keefe is an award-winning investigative journalist, a staff writer at the New Yorker, the creator of a popular podcast, and the author of six books, including the bestsellers Rogues, Empire of Pain, and Say Nothing. “When I go out looking for a good story,” says Keefe, “I almost never find one. Instead, the really good ones tend to fall in my lap.” Say Nothing was prompted by reading an obituary. A wild-seeming rumor about the 90's heavy metal band The Scorpions led to the podcast Wind of Change, a sweeping tale of government secrets, Soviet spies, propaganda, and 90's power ballads. To call his research “meticulous” is an understatement. Keefe's book, Snakehead, required over 300 interviews to complete. Say Nothing found him speaking to thousands of sources. While writing about the opioid epidemic in EMPIRE OF PAIN, Keefe was blocked from speaking to the Sackler family, so instead, he amassed thousands of correspondences from personal emails to Bar Mitzvah announcements. Though Keefe's doggedness recalls the detective stories that inspired him early on, he is perhaps more hopeful than hardboiled. By approaching those forces that appear too vast to unravel, he proves that even institutions and systems that seem unassailable can, in fact, be broken down and examined—one interview, one receipt, one wedding invitation at a time. Like all the great whodunnits, his books contain breathtaking plot twists. Though he has, on at least one occasion, solved a murder mystery, Keefe is less interested in pointing to a perpetrator and more interested in holding up a mirror. The question at the heart of his work is one that pertains to everyone: What does it mean to be human? His newest book, London Falling, is an investigation into the mysterious death of 19-year-old Zach Brettler and its connection to both London's criminal underworld and its elite circles. The author Katherine Rundell says, “Nobody writes like Patrick Radden Keefe; nobody makes achieving something so powerfully complex and difficult look so easy. It's a form of intellectual generosity and, I think, a form of genius.” Patrick Radden Keefe is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of the New York Times bestsellers Rogues, Empire of Pain, and Say Nothing, which received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, was selected as one of the ten best books of 2019 by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and The Wall Street Journal, and was named one of the top ten nonfiction books of the decade by Entertainment Weekly. His previous books are The Snakehead and Chatter. His work has been recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Magazine Award for Feature Writing and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. He is also the creator and host of the eight-part podcast Wind of Change.

This Day in Legal History: May Day vs. Law DayOn May 1, 1958, the United States marked the first Law Day, a civic observance created after President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated the date as a national occasion to honor the rule of law. Eisenhower's proclamation called on lawyers, journalists, broadcasters, schools, and civic groups to help the public better understand the American legal system. Congress later gave the observance formal status in 1961, making May 1 the country's official annual Law Day. The American Bar Association traces the idea to its former president Charles S. Rhyne, who wanted a national celebration of the legal system and the constitutional principles that support it.But May 1 already carried a different legal meaning long before it became Law Day. In the 1880s, organized labor made May 1 central to the campaign for the eight-hour workday. Labor leaders had called for May 1, 1886, to be the date when eight hours would be treated as the standard legal day's work. Workers around the country responded with strikes and rallies, turning May Day into an enduring symbol of labor rights. In Chicago, the demonstrations led into the Haymarket events, where violence, prosecutions, death sentences, and later pardons made the episode a lasting part of the legal history of labor organizing, criminal justice, and political speech.That makes May 1 one of the more complicated dates on the American legal calendar. Officially, it is Law Day, a celebration of courts, constitutional government, and respect for legal institutions. Historically, it is also May Day, a reminder that many legal protections were not simply handed down by courts or legislatures. They were demanded by workers, protesters, organizers, and communities willing to challenge existing law in the hope of changing it.A California federal trial over Elon Musk's challenge to OpenAI's shift toward a for-profit structure was paused Thursday after Musk's lawyers appeared to accidentally make Musk's $97.4 billion offer for OpenAI assets fair game at trial. The issue began when Jared Birchall, who runs Musk's family office, testified that he helped organize investors who made the offer because they believed Sam Altman's role on both sides of OpenAI's restructuring created a conflict. OpenAI's lawyers then challenged Birchall's testimony, arguing that his views about Altman were partly based on what attorneys told him rather than his own firsthand knowledge.Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sent the jury home early and questioned Birchall herself, pressing him on how the investor group arrived at the massive offer amount. She seemed unconvinced by his answers and told Musk's counsel that they had “opened the door” to evidence that previously had been limited by a magistrate judge. The judge then demanded to know who on Musk's team suggested asking Birchall about the offer, and attorney Marc Toberoff ultimately said he had. Birchall also acknowledged that Toberoff created the financial analysis behind the offer and sent a letter to California regulators opposing OpenAI's restructuring.Musk's lawyers argued that OpenAI first brought up the offer letter during Musk's cross-examination and that there had been confusion about whether the document was admitted by agreement. Judge Gonzalez Rogers did not immediately decide how to handle the dispute and set a Friday hearing on the issue and jury instructions. The broader trial centers on Musk's claim that OpenAI, Altman, Brockman, and Microsoft breached OpenAI's charitable-trust obligations by moving away from its nonprofit mission for private gain. Earlier in the day, the judge also barred Musk's AI expert from testifying about broad catastrophic risks of artificial intelligence, saying the case is about breach of trust, not the future danger of AI.OpenAI Judge Pauses Trial To Probe Musk Attys On $97B Bid - Law360 UKPurdue Pharma received approval from a New York bankruptcy judge for a $125 million settlement with McKinsey & Co. over claims connected to McKinsey's consulting work on Purdue's opioid sales and marketing. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean H. Lane found the deal fair and reasonable, allowing Purdue to stay on schedule to exit Chapter 11 and activate its $7.4 billion bankruptcy plan. McKinsey will pay the settlement in two parts, starting with $65 million shortly after Purdue leaves bankruptcy. About $50 million from that first payment will go to personal injury claimants, while the remaining money will benefit state and local governments and Native American tribes through a trust.The deal followed mediation involving Purdue, the unsecured creditors committee, and other parties, with the creditors committee prepared to sue McKinsey if settlement talks failed. Purdue's bankruptcy has been heavily shaped by disputes over opioid-related liability, the Sackler family's contributions, and the legality of releasing third-party claims. The Supreme Court's 2024 ruling against nonconsensual third-party releases forced Purdue and its creditors to renegotiate the plan. The revised plan now includes a $6.5 billion Sackler family contribution and $900 million from Purdue. Purdue will be dissolved and replaced by Knoa Pharma, a public benefit company focused on addiction treatment and overdose reversal medications. The settlement also comes after McKinsey separately agreed to pay $650 million to resolve federal charges tied to its Purdue work.Purdue's $125M McKinsey Deal Gets OK Ahead Of Ch. 11 Exit - Law360A Reuters analysis found that Big Law hiring remains heavily concentrated among a small group of elite law schools, even though remote recruiting was expected to broaden access. In 2025, only 16 law schools sent at least half of their graduating class into associate jobs at firms with 251 or more lawyers. By contrast, 89 ABA-accredited schools placed 10% or fewer of their graduates in those jobs, and 11 schools placed none. Half of all law schools together produced only 10% of the 7,869 new large-firm associates, while just 21 top schools produced half of them.Nikia Gray of the National Association for Law Placement said the profession's emphasis on pedigree continues to block opportunities for capable students outside elite schools. During the pandemic, large-firm recruiting moved online, which made it easier for firms to interview students from more schools. But that change has not significantly widened the hiring pipeline. One reason is that firms are recruiting earlier, sometimes during students' first year before law school grades are available. With less law-school performance data to review, firms may lean more on undergraduate records, work experience, and the prestige of the law school itself.The article also notes that Columbia Law School had the highest percentage of 2025 graduates going to large firms, at 78%, and that most of the schools sending at least half their graduates into Big Law are also among the U.S. News “T-14.” The broader message is that recruiting technology changed, but the underlying hierarchy did not. Remote interviews may have made access to interviews easier, but they have not erased the structural advantage held by students at the most prestigious law schools.Pipeline to Big Law jobs stays narrow despite recruiting shifts | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

What happens when justice feels too slow, too soft, or too broken? In this episode of Girls Gone Gritty, Farley and Jennifer take on a heavy but very real conversation about revenge, punishment, fear, forgiveness, and the line between justice and vengeance. They start with their weekly top three stories, including wild insurance fraud, a Picasso raffle for Alzheimer's research, and the Sackler family's legal fallout from the opioid crisis.From there, the conversation turns deeper. The hosts explore why violent crimes can make people crave “an eye for an eye,” especially when children, loved ones, or innocent victims are involved. They also talk about social media fear, subway safety, the justice system, mental health, personal accountability, and why forgiveness can feel almost impossible after tragedy.This episode is useful for listeners who wrestle with anger, fear, justice, or how to respond when the world feels unsafe. It is raw, honest, and gritty, but it also points back to compassion, responsibility, and choosing not to let pain define who you become.Episode Highlights:(0:00) Intro(0:55) Missing Earth Day and 4/20(2:09) Wild insurance fraud in a bear suit(3:03) Picasso raffle supports Alzheimer's research(4:07) Sackler family and opioid accountability(5:49) Revenge, justice, and human reaction(7:14) Social media, anger, and violent crime stories(10:03) The Marianne Bachmeier case(12:37) Where “eye for an eye” began(15:44) Mental health, punishment, and the death penalty(19:16) Safety, fear, and public spaces(24:17) Forgiveness after unimaginable loss(25:36) Accountability and changing how we communicate(27:12) Got Grit Award winner of the week(28:26) Song of the week: “Jealous” by Labrinth(29:55) OutroSend us Fan MailSupport the showFollow us:Web: https://girlsgonegritty.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsgonegritty/More ways to find us: https://linktr.ee/girlsgonegritty

This Day in Legal History: Rodney KingOn April 29, 1992, a California jury acquitted four Los Angeles police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King, a Black motorist whose assault had been captured on videotape the year before. The beating took place on March 3, 1991, after a police chase, when officers repeatedly struck King while a bystander recorded the incident from nearby. The footage became one of the most important pieces of video evidence in modern American legal history, not because it settled the matter, but because it showed how even seemingly clear evidence can be interpreted differently in a courtroom.To much of the public, the video appeared to show obvious police brutality. To the defense, it became something to be slowed down, segmented, and reframed as a series of split-second decisions by officers claiming fear and loss of control. When the jury acquitted the officers, the verdict landed in Los Angeles as a statement about far more than one criminal prosecution. For many residents, especially Black Angelenos, it confirmed the belief that the legal system was unwilling or unable to hold police accountable for violence against Black citizens.The verdict triggered several days of unrest across Los Angeles, leaving more than 60 people dead, thousands injured, and large portions of the city damaged. The case also forced the country to confront the relationship between race, policing, prosecutorial burden, and jury perception. The state-court acquittals did not end the legal story, because federal prosecutors later brought civil rights charges against the officers.In 1993, two officers, Laurence Powell and Stacey Koon, were convicted in federal court, while two others were acquitted. King also later received a civil damages award from the City of Los Angeles. April 29 remains a major date in legal history because it revealed the limits of video evidence, the difficulty of prosecuting police officers, and the deep public consequences that can follow when a courtroom verdict collides with what millions of people feel they have already seen.Purdue Pharma was sentenced in federal court in New Jersey to $5.5 billion in fines and penalties tied to its 2020 guilty plea over misconduct connected to OxyContin sales. The sentencing helps clear the path for Purdue to wind down through bankruptcy and fund a broader $7.4 billion opioid settlement. Before approving the plea deal, Judge Madeline Cox Arleo heard hours of testimony from people who described addiction, death, and family devastation connected to the opioid crisis. More than 200 victims submitted letters, and more than 40 people spoke in court.Purdue's chairman, Steve Miller, apologized directly to victims after the judge instructed him to do so. Arleo also apologized from the bench, telling victims that the government had failed them by missing opportunities to stop Purdue's conduct earlier. Many speakers said financial punishment was not enough and argued that Purdue's owners, the Sackler family, or company executives should face prison time. The judge said she could not impose jail time because the Justice Department had charged the company, not the individual owners or executives. Although the formal sentence is $5.5 billion, most of that amount will not actually be paid, with the government expected to collect $225 million if Purdue uses its remaining assets to pay creditors.The settlement includes money for governments and an $865 million fund for individuals, but many victims worry they will be excluded because they cannot produce old prescription records. Purdue says it is on track to exit bankruptcy as a new nonprofit company focused on opioid addiction treatment and overdose-reversal medicines.Purdue Pharma receives $5.5 billion sentence, paving way for opioid settlement | ReutersThe Justice Department has indicted former FBI Director James Comey over a 2025 Instagram post showing seashells arranged as “86 47,” which prosecutors say amounted to a threat against President Donald Trump. The case was filed in federal court in North Carolina and charges Comey with threatening the president's life and transmitting a threat across state lines. Comey has said he did not intend violence, explaining that he deleted the post after learning some people interpreted the numbers that way.Trump and his allies had argued the message was a threat, with “47” referring to Trump as the 47th president and “86” being read by them as a call to remove him violently. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the indictment as a standard threat case, while critics and Comey's lawyers say it looks like a politically motivated prosecution. The Secret Service had previously looked into the post and interviewed Comey, but he was not charged at that time. One should also place the indictment in the broader context of Trump's Justice Department pursuing cases against people and groups seen as political opponents.Comey already faced a separate criminal case over alleged false testimony to Congress, but that case was dismissed after a judge found a problem with the prosecutor's appointment, and the government is appealing. Comey's lawyers are expected to argue that the new case is both retaliatory and protected by the First Amendment. The central legal fight will likely be whether the post was a “true threat” or protected political speech.Trump's DOJ indicts former FBI director James Comey over ‘86 47' post | ReutersThe Trump administration has fired all current members of the National Science Board, according to two former board members who spoke to Reuters. The board, created in 1950, helps oversee the National Science Foundation and advises both the president and Congress on science and engineering policy. It had more than 20 members, who were appointed to six-year terms, and most of them came from academia, with others from national labs, nonprofits, and private industry. Former board members Yolanda Gil and Keivan Stassun said they were told by email that their removals were effective immediately.According to Gil, all 22 current members were terminated and no explanation was given. Stassun said the move was disappointing but not surprising in light of other Trump administration actions affecting scientific research and independent federal bodies. The National Science Foundation referred questions to the White House. A White House official said the NSF's work would continue without interruption and suggested that the board's congressionally created powers may need to be updated. The firings fit into a broader pattern described by political experts as an effort by the administration to reshape independent institutions by replacing existing officials with more loyal leadership.Trump administration fires entire National Science Board | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

La plus haute instance judiciaire du pays entend, ce mercredi 29 avril 2026, les arguments du gouvernement états-unien et des plaignants haïtiens, avant de décider courant juin si elle valide ou non la fin du TPS (Statut de protection temporaire). Si la plus haute juridiction américaine entérine la fin du TPS, souhaitée par l'administration Trump, l'impact sera considérable pour 350 000 Haïtiens présents aux États-Unis, qui se retrouveraient sans-papiers du jour au lendemain. Mais si la décision de l'administration Trump est cassée par la Cour, le répit serait sans doute de courte durée pour les plaignants : il suffira au gouvernement américain de trouver d'autres motifs juridiques pour relancer une mesure de suspension du TPS et un nouveau marathon judiciaire, explique le correspondant de RFI à Washington, Vincent Souriau.   Crise des opioïdes aux États-Unis : le laboratoire Purdue condamné au pénal C'est l'une des plus graves crises de santé publique aux États-Unis depuis des décennies : la crise des opioïdes a fait près de 900 000 victimes dans le pays depuis 1999, très loin devant les armes à feu par exemple. Cette semaine marque l'aboutissement d'un des principaux volets de l'affaire judiciaire. Le laboratoire qui commercialisait un de ces médicaments anti-douleur très addictif a été condamné mardi par un tribunal fédéral. L'entreprise mais aussi la famille Sackler, propriétaire du laboratoire Purdue, devront payer plus de 7 milliards de dollars dans cette affaire, principalement pour compenser auprès d'institutions publiques les frais engendrés par l'épidémie d'overdoses provoquées par l'OxyContin, un anti-douleur particulièrement addictif commercialisé par ce laboratoire. Purdue est condamné pour fraude et pour avoir versé des pots de vins à des médecins, pour qu'ils prescrivent le médicament. L'entreprise a conclu un accord avec la justice, a plaidé coupable et reconnu qu'elle n'avait pas pris assez de mesures pour éviter que ce médicament très addictif soit détourné vers le marché noir. Les proches de victimes, réunis devant le tribunal mardi, regrettent que les membres de la famille Sackler ne soient pas poursuivis individuellement au pénal et ne puissent donc pas aller en prison. À écouter aussiÉpidémie de fentanyl : les États-Unis commencent à reprendre pied Du tango contre la maladie de Parkinson En Argentine, un atelier innovant utilise la danse caractéristique du Rio de la Plata comme thérapie de rééducation. Face aux raideurs et aux tremblements provoqués par cette maladie dégénérative, le tango aide à travailler l'équilibre, la motricité et la coordination. Reportage de Théo Conscience à Buenos Aires.  À écouter aussiLa maladie de Parkinson : des symptômes qui s'aggravent au fil du temps Dans les Antilles françaises... Après une aventure de plus de 20 ans, c'en est cette fois terminé pour la compagnie régionale Air Antilles, explique Benoît Ferrand, d'Outre-mer La 1ère. À lire aussiLa maison mère d'Air Antilles et d'Air Guyane en liquidation avec poursuite d'activité de deux mois

Two waves of addiction were prescribed by doctors and egged on by pharmaceutical marketing — orchestrated by the Sackler family — that insisted it was safe and a great idea.Narrated by Jared Moore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.racket.news/subscribe

This Day in Legal History: McDonald's Franchise OpeningOn this day in 1955, Ray Kroc opened his first franchise location for McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois, marking a turning point in American business and legal history. Although franchising existed before this moment, Kroc's model introduced a new level of uniformity and control that reshaped how franchise systems operate. He required strict adherence to standardized procedures, branding, and product quality, which became central features of modern franchise agreements. These agreements are legally binding contracts that define the relationship between franchisors and franchisees, including fees, territorial rights, and operational obligations. As McDonald's expanded rapidly, it exposed gaps in existing business laws governing franchising practices. This growth led to increased scrutiny over issues such as disclosure requirements and fairness in contract terms.By the 1970s, concerns about deceptive practices and unequal bargaining power prompted regulatory responses, including the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule. This rule requires franchisors to provide detailed disclosures to prospective franchisees, improving transparency and reducing fraud. Kroc's model also raised legal questions about liability, particularly whether franchisors could be held responsible for the actions of independently owned franchise locations. Courts have since developed tests to determine the level of control necessary to establish such liability. Additionally, franchise law has evolved to address disputes over termination rights and non-compete clauses. The McDonald's system became a case study in how private contracts can shape an entire industry's legal framework. Today, franchising remains a major part of the global economy, with legal standards that can be traced back to the system Kroc helped popularize.The NAACP filed a lawsuit against xAI in federal court in Mississippi, alleging that the company violated environmental laws while operating a gas-powered plant tied to its data center near Memphis. The complaint claims xAI built and ran the plant without obtaining required permits under the Clean Air Act. According to the NAACP, the plant emits harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, which are linked to serious health risks including asthma, heart conditions, and cancer. The organization argues that these emissions disproportionately affect nearby communities with large Black populations.The lawsuit also alleges that xAI deliberately avoided regulatory oversight by skipping the permitting process, which would have required pollution controls and environmental review. The plant is described as a major regional source of smog-forming emissions, potentially releasing large quantities of pollutants into the air. The NAACP is seeking court orders to halt operations until proper permits are obtained, require emission controls, and impose financial penalties for violations. The case reflects broader concerns about environmental justice, corporate compliance, and the rapid expansion of infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence technologies.NAACP Sues Musk's XAI Over Data Center Pollution In Miss. - Law360Albertsons has agreed in principle to pay $773 million to resolve claims brought by several states, local governments, and Native American tribes over its alleged role in the opioid crisis. The agreement involves attorneys general from states including California, Colorado, Illinois, and Oregon, though some terms—such as requirements for future conduct—are still being negotiated. The states claim the company contributed to the public health crisis through its pharmacy operations, while Albertsons maintains the settlement does not admit wrongdoing.This deal is part of a broader wave of opioid-related litigation targeting companies across the pharmaceutical supply chain. Governments have accused pharmacies, distributors, and manufacturers of contributing to widespread addiction through improper practices. Other major settlements, including those involving Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, have pushed total payouts in opioid cases beyond $50 billion nationwide.Funds from the Albertsons settlement are expected to support addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs, with allocation plans already in place in some states. Officials emphasized that these settlements aim to both address past harm and fund ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.State AGs, Albertsons Chain Reach $773M Opioid Deal - Law360Amazon has agreed to acquire Globalstar for about $11.6 billion as part of its push into satellite-based internet services. The deal will give Amazon access to Globalstar's satellite network, spectrum rights, and infrastructure, helping expand its low Earth orbit (LEO) system aimed at providing global connectivity without relying on traditional cell towers.Under the agreement, Globalstar shareholders can receive either cash or Amazon stock, with the total deal value capped at $90 per share. A majority of Globalstar shareholders have already approved the transaction, but it still requires regulatory clearance and fulfillment of certain operational conditions before closing, which is slotted for 2027.The acquisition positions Amazon to compete more directly in the growing satellite internet market, where companies like SpaceX's Starlink currently dominate. Globalstar's existing technology and planned satellite upgrades are expected to strengthen Amazon's ability to deliver direct-to-device connectivity worldwide. The deal also ties into Amazon's partnership with Apple, supporting satellite features on devices like iPhones and Apple Watches.Paul Weiss, Skadden Lead Amazon's $11.6B Globalstar Deal - Law360A law student at Texas Tech University has filed a federal lawsuit claiming the school violated her First Amendment rights by disciplining her over comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk. The student, Ellen Fisher, alleges she was unfairly singled out for punishment while other students who discussed the same topic were not disciplined. She received a written reprimand, which she argues could negatively affect her ability to become a licensed attorney.Fisher maintains that her statements were part of normal academic discussion and did not celebrate Kirk's death, despite claims from at least one witness. She also argues the university's investigation was flawed because it ignored testimony supporting her version of events. The university concluded her remarks could have been perceived as celebratory and violated professional conduct standards.The lawsuit seeks to block the disciplinary action, obtain damages, and secure a ruling that the university infringed on her constitutional free speech rights. The case comes amid broader national debates over campus speech and how universities respond to controversial or sensitive political discussions.Texas law student sues to stop sanctions over Charlie Kirk comments | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has made a career out of chasing the kinds of stories that most people would be wise to leave alone. The New Yorker writer is drawn to powerful institutions and the people at their heart – from the Sackler dynasty, whose pharmaceutical company created the opioid painkiller OxyContin in Empire of Pain, to the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in Say Nothing. His latest book, London Falling, delves into the story of 19-year-old Briton Zac Brettler, who had been living a double life, pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch, before he mysteriously fell to his death from a luxury apartment building in London. Radden Keefe, the so-called “journalist’s journalist”, joins us to discuss London Falling, the ethics of true-crime reporting, and a reporter’s need for scepticism. Plus, we get our own scoop on what he might tackle next – and why it could bring him to Australia. Today’s episode is hosted by Spectrum editor Melanie Kembrey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can't imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Patrick Radden Keefe is going to teach us how to write narrative nonfiction. It's something he's been doing for 20 years as a staff writer at the New Yorker. He's also written six full-length nonfiction books. Patrick is known for this style called Write Around Reporting. So you want to focus on somebody who's wealthy or powerful, and they're just like, "No, I'm not going to talk to you. I flat out refuse." How do you still get that story done? That is Patrick's area of expertise. He did this with his book about the Sackler family, where they basically said, "We're going to threaten to sue you if you write this book." So then I said, "Well, what is it that you do to tell that story once you find it?" And he said, "You got to find your Donkey. A donkey to pull you through the piece." I was like, "What do you mean by that?" Well, you're about to find out. About the host Hey! I'm David Perell and I'm a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv X: https://x.com/david_perell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Louis in the studio today is award-winning writer and investigative journalist, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick tells Louis about his investigation into the Sackler family's involvement in the opioid crisis, how professional criminals keep career longevity, and why he thinks access is overrated. Plus he discusses his latest book, London Falling.   Warnings: Strong language and adult themes.     Links/Attachments:     Book: London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth, Patrick Radden Keefe (2026)  https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/patrick-radden-keefe/london-falling/9781035056279     Book: Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe (2019)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/say-nothing/patrick-radden-keefe//9780008159269?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=259955&awc=3787_1770820651_da19805aca482f3e2f7cdd8da31aca44&utm_source=259955&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Genie+Shopping+CSS     Book: Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe (2022)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/empire-of-pain/patrick-radden-keefe//9781529063103?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=863943&awc=3787_1770820691_38f3f451369dd9c047c37137a0cb0d42&utm_source=863943&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.octer.co.uk%2F     TV Show: ‘Say Nothing' (2024) - Hulu  https://www.channel4.com/programmes/say-nothing     Wolf of Wall Street (2013)  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/     War Dogs (2016)  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005151/     Nightcrawler (2014)  https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/nightcrawler/umc.cmc.1h8fjzqshxpg22pa0bm7iho27?action=play     American Psycho (2000)  https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/american-psycho/umc.cmc.4k3idfzm0x9j5okdedo2s4l50?action=play     Book: Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks, Patrick Radden Keefe (2022)  https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/patrick-radden-keefe/rogues/9781035001767     Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104348/     Article: Larry Gagosian Piece, Patrick Radden Keefe (2023)  https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/31/larry-gagosian-profile     Book: Hillbilly Elegy, JD Vance, (2017)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/hillbilly-elegy/j-d-vance/9780008220563     Book: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua (2012)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/battle-hymn-of-the-tiger-mother/amy-chua//9781408822074?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=259955&awc=3787_1770824539_3e1fda19a55aa22e32d76f01e79f390b&utm_source=259955&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Genie+Shopping+CSS      Article: The Sinaloa Drug Cartel, Patrick Radden Keefe (2012)  https://archive.nytimes.com/6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/behind-the-cover-story-patrick-radden-keefe-on-the-sinaloa-drug-cartel/    Book: Nazi Billionaires, David De Jong (2023)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/nazi-billionaires/david-de-jong/9780008299798     Book: Some People Need Killing, Patricia Evangelista (2023)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/some-people-need-killing/patricia-evangelista/9781804710081      Book: Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann (2017)  https://www.waterstones.com/book/killers-of-the-flower-moon-adapted-for-young-adults/david-grann/9781398528482     TV Show: Industry (2020 – present) - BBC  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000pb89/industry     Podcast: Wind of Change (2020 – 2022) - Crooked Media  https://crooked.com/podcast-series/wind-of-change/     Song: ‘Wind Of Change', The Scorpions (1990)  https://open.spotify.com/track/3ovjw5HZZv43SxTwApooCM     Song: ‘Piano Man', Bill Joel (1973)  https://open.spotify.com/track/70C4NyhjD5OZUMzvWZ3njJ     Book: The Journalist and the Murderer, Janet Malcolm (1989)  https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/the-journalist-and-the-murderer-janet-malcolm     Article: Carl Icahn, Patrick Radden Keefe (2017)  https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/28/carl-icahns-failed-raid-on-washington     Credits:  Producer: Millie Chu   Production Manager: Francesca Bassett   Music: Miguel D'Oliveira   Audio Mixer: Tom Guest  Video Mixer: Scott Edwards   Shownotes compiled by Elly Young  Executive Producer: Arron Fellows       A Mindhouse Studios Production for Spotify   www.mindhouse.co.uk    __        Open a Moneybox Cash ISA at https://moneybox.onelink.me/Cqlx/y3xncge  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Will Not End Well, em cartaz no Grand Palais e na Capela Saint-Louis da Salpêtrière, oferece uma visão inédita em Paris da obra de Nan Goldin, norte-americana que acaba de completar 70 anos como estrela inconteste da fotografia mundial. Goldin descreve seu trabalho no material da mostra e dá o tom da curadoria que recupera cinco décadas de um trabalho intenso, cru e cheio de empatia : “Sempre quis ser cineasta. Meus slideshows são filmes compostos de fotos”.   Márcia Bechara, da RFI em Paris A mostra, aberta a partir de quarta-feira (18) para o público na capital francesa, ocupa o Salão de Honra do Grand Palais e a Capela Saint-Louis da Salpêtrière, onde está sendo apresentada a instalação Sisters, Saints and Sibyls, concebida em 2004 para o Festival de Outono de Paris. Apesar de não ter podido estar presente na coletiva de imprensa em 17 de março por problemas de saúde, a presença da artista é sentida em cada detalhe da mostra. A seu pedido, Goldin foi substituída, durante a coletiva em Paris, por uma longa e pungente mensagem gravada por ela e um vídeo de apoio aos palestinos e à Faixa de Gaza, projetado nas paredes do Grand Palais. O curador sueco Fredrik Liew, responsável pela retrospectiva e diretor de exposições e coleções do Moderna Museet, em Estocolmo, acredita se tratar de “um grande erro quando se pensa nessa mensagem política como algo separado do resto da exposição". "Pelo que entendo da prática de Nan, o que me engaja é a dedicação dela às outras pessoas, à empatia e a como vivemos juntos. O que está acontecendo no mundo — populismo, terror, guerra — são consequências da falta de empatia. Nan propõe, com seu trabalho, mostrar o ser humano, estar junto e se esforçar para construir um mundo melhor”, observou à RFI. Gaza, AIDS e a convergência de lutas Ao longo das últimas décadas, a fotógrafa Nan Goldin tem criado imagens marcantes que exploram a poética do pessoal. Mais do que qualquer outro artista de sua estatura, Goldin tem usado seu sucesso para denunciar a ganância dos poderosos, desde a resposta lenta do governo norte-americano à crise da AIDS, que matou tantos de seus amigos na década de 1980, até o lucro da indústria farmacêutica e a epidemia de overdoses que ela desencadeou. Neta de judeus asquenazes da Polônia, ela passou os últimos anos, em suas próprias palavras, "consumida" pela destruição de Gaza e de seu povo. No início de 2026, ela e seu editor, David Sherman, começaram a costurar vídeos da Palestina – cenas de normalidade e de atrocidade, ambas – para produzir Gaza, um mosaico de dor e beleza, com imagens de antes e depois da guerra, vídeo apresentado também durante a coletiva de imprensa de lançamento de sua retrospectiva em Paris: Nan Goldin é reconhecida como uma artista maior que transita entre os séculos 20 e 21 revolucionando a fotografia contemporânea e a cultura visual. Com um título que encampa a ironia e a agudeza de seu olhar sobre o mundo, a retrospectiva This Will Not End Well (Isso Não Vai Acabar Bem, em tradução livre), no Grand Palais, é a primeira exposição na França a oferecer uma visão completa do trabalho da artista como cineasta, por meio de slideshows e vídeos.  Viagem sensorial Cada pavilhão da exposição parisiense parece pensado para contar uma história própria, transformando o percurso em um passeio sensorial pela obra de Nan Goldin. Sobre a montagem no Grand Palais, Hala Wardé, arquiteta e cenógrafa que colabora com a artista há anos, observou que “esse grande espaço parisiense acabou de ser reformado e recuperou uma luz que tinha perdido. Era importante voltar a este espaço e brincar com essa luz, mesmo que tenhamos decidido filtrá-la para manter um jogo de sombras e claridade. Aqui, no Salão de Honra — um lugar muito alto e imponente — optamos por torná-la menos densa. São cinco salas, em vez de seis como nos outros museus. A singularidade desta apresentação parisiense está na instalação de Sisters, Saints and Sibyls: ela é diferente, mas fiel à original.” Para Wardé, a luz é mais que um detalhe, “ela é o elemento que mais muda de cidade para cidade". "A luz de Paris não é a mesma de Estocolmo nem a de Milão. Decidimos torná-la menos intensa, ajustando a experiência ao espaço e à narrativa da exposição”, especificou. Sobre a disposição da obra na Capela Saint-Louis da Salpêtrière, a arquiteta detalhou que preferiu "respeitar a instalação exatamente como foi concebida para este lugar". "Inclusive, me inspirei nela para criar uma sala específica, com planta octogonal. Mantivemos toda a estrutura. Há um mezanino suspenso que provoca vertigem. A obra evoca o suicídio de sua irmã Barbara, em relação à história de Santa Bárbara. É muito intensa, e a forma como foi montada está perfeitamente adaptada a esta apresentação.” Uma narrativa viva e política Mais do que uma retrospectiva de fotografias, a mostra propõe redescobrir a obra como experiência audiovisual. O curador sueco Fredrik Liew explica: “Talvez as pessoas esperem fotografias em molduras, mas não há obras impressas. Meu convite à artista foi mostrar toda a sua prática, suas milhares de imagens, no formato de slideshows que ela produziu ao longo da carreira. Selecionamos seis para esta exposição. Essa é a curadoria dela de suas imagens, narrativas da sua obra de vida. Ela organiza todas as imagens que produz em diferentes histórias, contadas por meio desses slides e seus trabalhos em vídeo.” Ele também comentou à RFI a maneira como a artista revisita constantemente suas obras. “Ela nunca parou de trabalhar, sempre refaz. Não existe apenas uma maneira de mostrar suas obras, mas muitas, e isso se desenvolve. The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, por exemplo, quando começou a ser exibida no final dos anos 1970 e início dos anos 1980, sempre era diferente, e continua diferente a cada apresentação. Ela sempre acrescentava imagens e apresentava tudo de maneira diferente, inspirada pelos contextos dos lugares. Ela sempre vê o trabalho a partir do presente: ‘Este é meu trabalho e é assim que o vejo hoje'. Estamos apresentando Nan como cineasta e contadora de histórias. Não estamos retirando nada de sua fotografia, mas acrescentando essa dimensão”, diz. A particularidade da montagem parisiense está na reinstalação de Sisters, Saints and Sibyls, originalmente criada para a Salpêtrière. Liew observa: “O que é realmente único em Paris é poder revisitar a Salpêtrière para a instalação de Sisters, Saints and Sibyls. A obra foi criada para o Festival de Outono em 2004 e estreou nesse local. Somos muito gratos por poder reinstalá-la agora, 20 anos depois, e mostrar a um público maior, além de apresentar todo o contexto de seu trabalho na forma desta exposição no Grand Palais.” Som, emoção e diaporamas O som é parte central da narrativa de Goldin. Barbara Kroher, curadora associada em Paris, explica que "a construção narrativa de Nan é muito sutil, quase epidérmica, incluindo a trilha sonora, que tem papel central.As escolhas musicais são ecléticas: Chopin, Schubert, Velvet Underground, Maria Callas, Edmundo Rivero. O som não pode ser separado da imagem; ele guia a narrativa. Em The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, há um subtexto sonoro. Em Sisters, Saints and Sibyls, na Capela da Salpêtrière, ouvimos coros medievais e a voz de Nan, ampliando a dor que permeia a obra. Em Memory Lost, há gravações de secretárias eletrônicas dos anos 1980, acrescentando significado às imagens. O diaporama é uma forma híbrida, entre fotografia e cinema.” A exposição inclui trabalhos que exploram traumas familiares, suicídio, dependência química e relações de gênero. Wardé ressalta: “Cada sala, cada luz, cada detalhe foi pensado para que o visitante se sinta atravessando uma experiência íntima e sensorial. A obra fala de dor, mas também de empatia, de estar junto com o outro.” Contexto histórico e social Goldin é conhecida por abordar questões sociais como gênero, saúde mental e crises de dependência. Em Memory Lost, ela explora os aspectos mais sombrios da dependência química. Em 2017, fundou o grupo P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now), atuando contra a família Sackler, considerada responsável pela epidemia de overdoses de opioides, pressionando instituições a removerem o nome dos doadores de seus espaços. O trabalho da artista também documenta a vida boêmia e alternativa de Nova York entre os anos 1970 e 1990, retratando amizades, festas e relacionamentos. Em material oficial, a exposição apresenta obras icônicas como The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1981-2022), The Other Side (1992-2021), Sisters, Saints and Sibyls (2004-2022), Memory Lost (2019-2021), Sirens (2019-2020) e Stendhal Syndrome (2024). Paris como memória e cena artística A capital francesa mantém um vínculo duradouro com a artista. Kroher contextualiza: “Nan viajou pela Europa desde jovem, morou em Paris, fotografou amigos e apresentou trabalhos aqui. Alguns amigos aparecem em suas obras, como Valérie em Standard Syndrome e Kim Harlow, ícone transgênero dos cabarés parisienses nos anos 1980. Ela tem um vínculo duradouro com a cidade e a exposição reflete isso.” A curadora francesa observa ainda o impacto do olhar de Goldin: “São histórias sobre emoções e relações humanas em toda a sua diversidade e complexidade. A empatia é constante em seu trabalho. A exposição nos mostra que a arte pode criar um senso de comunidade.” Um vilarejo de slideshows Os pavilhões formam um conjunto que funciona como um “vilarejo”, em que cada espaço é adaptado à obra que apresenta. “Cada sala, luz e arquitetura dialogam com os slideshows, reforçando a intimidade e a narrativa política da obra, conduzindo o visitante por trajetórias de memória, emoção e cinema”, explica Wardé. This Will Not End Well fica em cartaz até 21 de junho de 2026 no o Salão de Honra do Grand Palais e na Capela Saint-Louis da Salpêtrière, em Paris.

In this episode of Living Undeterred, host Jeff Johnston sits down with Ryan Hampton, a nationally recognized recovery advocate, author, and founder of Mobilize Recovery, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation on addiction, mental health, and systemic change.Ryan shares his personal journey of long-term recovery and how lived experience has fueled his work confronting the opioid crisis head-on—from organizing families affected by addiction to taking on Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family from inside the historic bankruptcy case. He opens up about what he learned while helping negotiate one of the most consequential settlements in public health history, why true justice often gets lost in the process, and how victims' voices are too often sidelined.The conversation also explores Ryan's current run for the Nevada State Assembly, the urgent mental health crisis facing states across the country, and why building a “care economy” is essential for both public health and long-term economic stability. Along the way, Ryan and Jeff reflect on personal accountability, prevention, recovery pathways, and what it really takes to live undeterred in the face of criticism, burnout, and political pressure.This episode is a powerful reminder that advocacy isn't abstract—it's personal. And lasting change only happens when people with lived experience step into the arena.

¿Es la fotografía un simple acto de observación o puede ser una herramienta de supervivencia? En este episodio de FotógrafoPro, John Vargas explora la vida y obra de Nan Goldin, una de las fotógrafas más influyentes y controvertidas de nuestra era.Nan Goldin no buscaba la iluminación perfecta; buscaba la verdad incómoda. Desde su icónica serie "La balada de la dependencia sexual" hasta su lucha frontal contra la familia Sackler y la crisis de los opioides, Goldin ha demostrado que el arte es una forma de no desaparecer ante el dolor, la adicción y la pérdida.

"I will say that QAnon was right and I was wrong." — Pepper CulpepperFrom Bannon and Trump to Summers, Gates, Blavatnik and Chomsky, the Epstein scandal has revealed elites of all ideological stripes behaving shamefully together. The Oxford political scientist Pepper Culpepper argues this is exactly the kind of corporate scandal that can save democracy—not despite its ugliness, but because of it. His new co-authored book, Billionaire Backlash, shows how scandals activate "latent opinion," bringing long-simmering public concerns to the surface and triggering society-wide demand for regulation. We discuss why Cambridge Analytica led to California privacy law, how Samsung's bribery scandal sparked Korea's Candlelight Protests, and why China's authoritarian approach to corporate malfeasance actually undermines trust.Culpepper, himself the Blavatnik Professor of Government at Oxford's Blavatnik School, acknowledges an uncomfortable truth. "I would say that QAnon was right," he admits, "and I was wrong." The specifics might have been fantasy, but the underlying suspicion about elite corruption was justified. And policy entrepreneurs—obsessive individuals who channel public outrage into actual legislation—matter more than we think. For Culpepper, billionaire backlash isn't a threat to democracy—it might actually be what saves it.About the GuestPepper Culpepper is Vice Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. He is the co-author, with Taeku Lee of Harvard, of Billionaire Backlash: The Age of Corporate Scandal and How It Could Save Democracy (2026).ReferencesScandals discussed:●      The Epstein scandal revealed that elites across politics, finance, and academia were connected to Jeffrey Epstein's network of abuse—vindicating populist suspicions that "the system is broken."●      Cambridge Analytica (2018) exposed how Facebook leaked data on 90 million users, leading to the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act in the EU, and California's privacy regulations.●      The Samsung bribery scandal in South Korea led to the Candlelight Protests and President Park Geun-hye's resignation, demonstrating how corporate scandals can strengthen civil society.●      The 2008 Chinese milk scandal killed six infants due to melamine contamination; the government's cover-up during the Beijing Olympics destroyed public trust in domestic food safety.●      Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal showed how companies cheat on regulations, bringing latent concerns about corporate behavior to the surface.Policy entrepreneurs mentioned:●      Carl Levin was a US Senator from Michigan who shepherded the Goldman Sachs hearings and contributed to the Dodd-Frank Act.●      Margrethe Vestager served as EU Competition Commissioner and pushed for the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act.●      Max Schrems is an Austrian privacy activist who, as a student, discovered Facebook retained his deleted messages and eventually brought down the US-EU data transfer agreement.●      Alastair Mactaggart is a California property developer who pushed through the state's privacy regulations when federal action proved impossible.●      Zhao Lianhai was a Chinese activist who tried to organize parents after the 2008 milk scandal; the government arrested and imprisoned him.Concepts discussed:●      Latent opinion refers to concerns people hold in the back of their minds that aren't front-of-mind until a scandal brings them to the surface.●      The Thermidor reference is to the French Revolutionary period when the radical Jacobins were overthrown—Culpepper suggests a controlled version might benefit democracy.●      The muckrakers were Progressive Era journalists whose exposés led to reforms like the Food and Drug Administration.Also mentioned:●      Michael Sandel is a Harvard political philosopher known for arguing that "there shouldn't be a price on everything."●      Patrick Radden Keefe wrote Empire of Pain, the definitive account of the Sackler family and the opioid epidemic.●      Lee Jae-yong is the heir apparent to Samsung, implicated in the bribery scandal.●      Parasite, Squid Game, and No Other Choice are Korean cultural works that critique the country's relationship with its conglomerates.About Keen On AmericaNobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States—hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,800 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting.WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyChapters:(00:00) - (00:22) - The Epstein opportunity (01:21) - Elite overreach exposed (03:12) - Scandals without partisan charge (05:04) - The Vice Dean's credibility problem (06:21) - Latent opinion explained (09:39) - Is there anything wrong with being a billionaire? (11:47) - American vs. European scandals (14:48) - Saving democracy vs. saving capitalism (17:05) - Corporate scandals and economic vitality (18:33) - Policy entrepreneurs: Carl Levin and Margrethe Vestager (19:54...

To justify bombing Venezuela and abducting President Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump falsely accused him of leading the so-called "Cartel de los Soles". But the US Department of Justice was forced to admit that this "Suns Cartel" doesn't exist. The USA lied -- while the CIA actually has trafficked drugs in Latin America. Ben Norton reports. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44c0jf5ygyE Topics 0:00 US attacks Venezuela 0:21 (CLIP) Trump wants Venezuela's oil 1:12 Trump's colonial war on Venezuela 2:08 US DOJ admits it lied about Maduro 3:25 92-year-old judge oversees show trial 3:53 "Cartel de los Soles" doesn't exist 5:05 WMD lie 5:46 Venezuela does NOT produce fentanyl 6:28 Cocaine-producing countries 7:12 (CLIP) Biden official admits truth 8:21 CIA trafficked drugs in Venezuela 11:01 (CLIP) 60 Minutes on CIA drug trafficking 11:42 DEA agent accuses CIA of trafficking 12:58 CIA, cocaine, Nicaraguan Contras 14:47 Trump pardoned Hondura drug trafficker 16:13 (CLIP) Juan Orlando Hernández 16:39 Ecuador's drug-linked President Noboa 17:42 Colombia's drug lord Álvaro Uribe 18:50 USA armed Mexican cartels 19:34 US allies in Mexico are narcos 20:23 Drug links to Argentina's Javier Milei 20:43 Marco Rubio's links to cocaine trafficking 22:52 US Special Forces links to drugs 23:55 Trump attacks Colombia President Petro 24:37 Afghanistan opium production 25:59 Opioid epidemic in USA 26:34 Purdue Pharma and Sackler family 28:55 US imperialism based on lies 29:42 Outro

Elf on a Shelf: Part 1 Her stalker wasn't who she thought he was; Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Honey smiled at the long line of children waiting to see Santa, flipping her phone from Google Translate back to see the information of the next little girl in line, who was looking up at her somberly with large liquid brown eyes. In her small face was a familiar mixture of fear and hope. Wonder; it was wonder in her eyes, Honey thought. Unlike the tired and jaded adults, dutifully shifting their weight from foot to foot, holding overstuffed shopping bags and all the coats of their kids as they distracted themselves on their phones, the children got more and more excited as they drew near the man in the furry red suit with white trim. Honey loved working with the children; because like them, she sometimes could still see the magic. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Norman shift uncomfortably in the painted plywood throne made for him to sit with the children and discuss their good behavior and of the wishes that they hoped would come true. Even at age 62, Norman still saw the magic with his merry bright blue eyes, but it faded when his prostate pained him. When the photographer got the shot the parent wanted, Honey walked to where most of the long line could see her as Norman flashed her a look of worshipful gratitude. The adults' faces immediately fell, knowing what was coming. "I'm afraid Santa needs to take a quick break because apparently the reindeer have begun arguing again!" Norman put his gloved hands up to his real beard, pulled a comically dismayed face, jumped up from his throne, and ran off toward the restrooms. Honey shook her head mournfully and continued, "The reindeer were all practicing their Christmas carols when Comet and Cupid couldn't decide how many times Santa checks his list in Santa Claus is Coming to Town! Does anyone here remember how it goes?" she asked, scanning the line for people game enough to help. Honey scampered back and forth along the line trying to choose among the eager volunteers, her white-trimmed, pink fur skirt flaring out around her thighs, her long legs clad in sparkly curly-toed ruby slippers and candy cane swirl stockings catching the eyes of several fathers. Suddenly, she gasped listening carefully to her headset, "Nina?" she called out. "Comet and Cupid say they will only stop arguing if 'Nina' gives the answer. Is there a 'Nina' here today? Nina?" Honey looked around at the crowd carefully until the little girl with the big brown eyes, who had been quietly waiting 57 minutes in line, gathered the courage to raise her hand. "Oh! Are you Nina?" she asked, running over and crouching down near the girl. "We just adopted her; she only speaks Portuguese," the weary woman holding her hand said quietly. Honey gasped and smiled widely, "Voc fala portugu s Nina? Maravilhosa!" she said, watching the little girl's eyes brighten excitedly. "Voc pode me dizer quantas vezes o Papai Noel verifica sua lista?" she asked, holding her microphone out to the little girl. "Duas vezes!" Nina said confidently into the mic. Honey listened carefully to her headset, concentrating, "'Duas vezes' it is! They've stopped arguing!" she announced. "But now, they want us all to sing the song in Portuguese! Nina, voc vai me ajudar a ensin -los a m sica?" she asked. Nina nodded and slowly she and Honey taught the familiar song to the crowd in a new language. As always, a hush came on the crowd when Honey began to sing. Heads raised up from forgotten phones. Vague smiles drifted onto the turning heads of passers-by in the mall as they paused in their frenetic search for gifts. It wasn't so much that Honey's voice was beautiful, though it certainly was. It was more that when Honey sang, it seemed to make the things that didn't really matter melt away. To those that believed in such things, Honey's voice was magic. When she sang, people held their breath and didn't even miss the air. Honey closed her eyes as she sang next to Nina. It was a newly acquired habit. Though she had been taught to let her eyes slowly drift over the audience, letting them make a connection with each person as she sang, she didn't do that anymore. She knew he was out there. She felt his presence frequently as she worked, but it was only when she sang that he came out into the open. She couldn't hold her voice steady when she saw him watching her, so she closed her eyes and let the magic continue for the crowd. When the song ended, Honey opened her eyes as the crowd cheered, finding his powerful form immediately as if she had been commanded to look at him. Zach. He had changed a lot in the year since he brought his sister's children through the long Santa line, drawing her almost too-large dark blue eyes to him then, as easily as he did now. After bringing his nieces and nephews through the line, he'd gone home and brought all his neighbors' kids to see Santa in five more trips, watching her the entire time. He looked at her as if he'd never seen anything like her in the world, like he couldn't believe she was real. She had loved feeling his eyes on her then, hearing his voice. She had wanted to climb up in his lap, feel his large arms curled around her, whisper to him about how good she had been that year, and of how much she hoped he would make her wishes come true. Of course, all that was before he'd told her he wanted to kill her. Zach's face looked leaner now, though his body seemed even larger, if such a thing was possible. His brooding, deep-set eyes were not merry, as they had been when children climbed his tree-like body in her line last year. They weren't nervously soft and adoring of every part of her, as they had been at their candle-lit dinner. His eyes weren't rageful or insane as you might expect from someone visiting their object of murderous hate, but rather; they were tortured, trapped. Pain and quiet desperation had taken up restless residence in the windows to his soul. Honey knew she shouldn't look at him so much, but she just wished she could understand what she had done wrong. Once the line of children and parents had cleared, it was long past the official closing time. Honey cleaned up the display and prepared it for the next day while Norman took one last lingering trip to the restroom. Her phone showed numerous messages from work friends from her other job asking where she was. The firm had planned a Christmas party at Gatsby's, a gorgeous club worthy of F. Scott Fitzgerald's glamorous hero. It was also the place where Zach had taken her on their first and last date. The Gatsby's waiter had looked stunned and confused when she shakily ordered herself an "angel shot," the code-phrase used to quietly ask bartenders or wait staff for help when you felt threatened, but after his initial shock, the waiter immediately escorted her secretly to a taxi waiting outside before Zach returned to the table. Gatsby's had saved her life; but she didn't want to go back there. After avoiding call after call from Zach, she finally answered and politely asked him never to call her again. To her surprise, he didn't. He never spoke to her again. Unless she sang, she never even saw him, but she felt his presence almost everywhere. It felt like she was haunted by him; haunted by something wonderful and magical that, inexplicably, went horribly wrong. Her phone buzzed again, the display showing that the firm's senior partner wanted to FaceTime her. Steeling herself, she answered. "Honey Lane where in the hell; oh my god lookit you!" Aaron Timberman held the phone high above his head with his long ex-basketball-player arms and Honey saw a crowd of her co-workers crowd into the picture behind him. "Um, hi sir. Sorry I'm late to;" "You're an elf!" "Um, yeah. It's a volunteer thing;" "Wait, wait, wait; you have the shoes? You know, with the; toes?" he slurred, motioning his finger in a spiral motion. Honey bit her lips and tilted the camera down her body, showing her entire costume, tilting her foot to show off the curled toe. "I'm sorry it got late tonight, but I'll be there as soon as I can get home and get changed;" Timberman looked around at the crowd surrounding him, "Guys, do we wanna see Honey Lane here at the party in some boring old Anne Klein shit, or do we want the elf?" he yelled, pointing at the screen. Behind him, almost a dozen of her co-workers began chanting "Elf, Elf, Elf, Elf!" "Get yer ass over here, Elf," Timberman ordered, poking at his screen several times before effectively ending the call. A few minutes later, Norman finally came back from the restroom and gave Honey a ride over to Gatsby's in his red SUV bedecked with a bumper sticker that read, "My other car's a SLEIGH!" Honey hopped out after getting bits of advice from Norman that would have been appropriate several decades ago. With flaming cheeks, she brushed the furry white pompom from her hat out of her face and told the smirking ma tre d which party she wanted, sighing when he grinned widely and escorted her through the middle of the main dining area, much to her horror. When the doors to the party room opened and she was greeted by another round of "Elf, Elf, Elf, Elf," she didn't feel much better. She was starving, so she headed over to the buffet and began loading up a plate with delicious-looking things on ice in shot glasses, impaled on sticks, or immersed in flames. She just spied a quiet table in a dark corner and was winding her way toward it to it to scarf down her only food since breakfast before she could be drawn into a drunken debate. That was the plan, anyway. "Hunnybaby! Lookit you! C'mon we gotta dance!" Lee James slurred to her fur-trimmed tits. With a sigh, she smiled and laid her plate down on a nearby table, promising to herself that she would eat right after enduring a dance with the favored junior partner. Unfortunately, after Lee angled her awkwardly around the dance floor, they'd drawn so much attention that everyone wanted to get pics of themselves toasting and dancing with the Christmas elf. At some point, she found herself in Timberman's arms with a glass of champagne in her hand. "Um; what?" she said, almost asking herself how she had gotten there. "I said you look lovely, tonight, Honey. Much better than in a shawl and sheath dress," he said, quickly twirling her around as they reached the edge of the dance floor. "Twirling makes my skirt go up; I'm dizzy," she murmured. A familiar dark figure flashed in the background and disappeared as Timberman turned her again. She looked around, trying to find the figure again, but she couldn't see him anywhere. Why was he there? Had she been singing again? "Well, I'll make sure nobody twirls you, my dear," he said, twirling her and smiling as her skirt flew up her long candy-cane striped legs. "The wives wouldn't like it." "I like your wife's dress Mr. Timberman; looks warm. It covers her ass when she sits, too," she slurred, frowning in confusion at the dark red drink in her hand now. Zach was frowning, and then he just looked blurry again as she swirled around. Maybe swirling made it harder for him to kill her. Why did he want to kill her? It just wasn't fair. Timberman leaned down and dipped her, "I'll make sure to give her your compliments. You know, if you like what wives wear, you should consider getting married. Lee is quite taken with you, you know," he said, stroking his hand against the soft pink velvet of her dress. Honey found herself drifting away and wandering inside her head again, thinking about Lee; he was handsome in an overly-polished way, said funny things, but they always sounded a little mean, like he wanted to be the only one laughing; and he also took her away from the food plate that just floated by on a table. It was still full. She should have eaten that food. What time was it? "He likes my boobs; and he doesn't want to kill me," she agreed eventually, surprised to find that Timberman was gone and she was dancing with Lee James again. "Well, I can't blame him for that; they're fucking perfect; just like everything else. I'm gonna come on them after you suck me off; he murmured, pulling her closer against him. "Let me take you home, Honey; penthouse view of the city; "Umm; no, that's not home; I live in the; railroad place; with the trains?" Honey explained, pointing in what she thought was the direction of the Lowertown Commons. Why did every guy think she lived with them tonight? "Sounds charming, Eliza Doolittle; you should trade up. You don't know how much I'd love twist your arms back and fuck this ass wide open over my balcony tonight," he said, reaching his hand under her skirt and greedily squeezing her bottom. "You'd like that, wouldn't you Honey? I can tell; Lee whispered, his cologne invading her head and making her queasy. "I feel sick; Honey whimpered and staggered away, trying to find the quiet table where the food was that would make her less drunk. The dance floor was confusing, though, always turning around and thumping and flashing. She leaned against a pillar until she got a better sense of where she was. She liked the pillar. It was big and strong; and it stroked her hair. "Honey; wake up, Honey. Open your mouth. You need to take these," the vaguely familiar voice said, cutting through the sleep that had been blocking out some of the pain she felt everywhere. She obediently opened her mouth and the hand put two caplets on her tongue. A water bottle squirted a little cool liquid into her mouth until she moaned and sucked harder, desperate for more. "Not too much. Wait until you can hold that down. I'll give you more in a bit. You don't want that IV back, do you?" "Nuh" Honey groaned. She hated needles. Sure, just about every part of her body hurt more than a needle did, right now, but somehow needle pain felt personal. Like with Zach. He didn't seem like someone who went around wanting to choke everybody; just her. She was nobody special; just a simple girl who kept lawyers organized and tried to be nice. Then, someone wonderful like Zach thought she needed to die. That hurt. Something about her made him go from being tender and intensely loving to someone who; it just didn't make sense. What did she do? Mercifully, sleep faded the pain and clouded her thoughts. Voices below her intruded into a wonderful dream where she was bouncing on clouds. Though not in the same room, the voices seemed strangely clear. "I can't; Terry, she cries when I do that," the pills voice said, making her eyes fly open. She knew that voice. She hadn't heard it for a year, but she would never forget it. Her body reacted with a confused mix of emotions, her cheeks flushing and adrenaline searing a path all through her at the same time. "That's because it hurts her. You know what hurts more? Bedsores. Man up. Use the pillows to prop her weight against the parts that aren't hurt on whichever side. It's either this, or she goes back to the hospital, and I have it on good authority you won't be allowed to visit after what happened." "She was screaming; Zach gritted. "Yeah, well they were putting her shoulder back in. People scream. That still doesn't excuse what you did. Since when did you become such a pussy about pain?" Terry asked. "since her." "oh my god." "Shut up," Zach grunted. "Oh my god; "Yeah, that's not shutting up." "The great Z-dog has been taken down;" "Shut up, maggot, it's not like that. I'm just taking care of h;" "By a little bitty pink Christmas elf; Terry laughed. There was a scuffling sound and then a loud whoomp and a forceful exhalation of air. "So, I turn her every few hours until she can do it for herself?" Zach asked, casually. "Yes, sir," Terry choked. "Anything else?" "Clear liquids until she can hold stuff down. Talk to her. Ask her questions. If she seems disoriented or part of her face goes slack, she goes back to the hospital. Don't fuck around." "Got it. Are you squared away, or do we need to discuss this further?" "Squared away, sir," Terry choked, then gasped in relief, panting faintly. "Jesus Christ, you haven't lost your touch. We on for the hump tomorrow at 0 500?" "No. I'm gonna stick close here until she's;" "Got it. Hey, maybe they have those Baby Bjorn things in elf-size. Then, you could just strap her onto your ba; ow! ow! ow, ow, ow!" "You weren't particularly attached to the rest of that sentence, were you, maggot?" Zach growled. "Sir, no sir; Terry squeaked. "I didn't think so. You'll be back here Wednesday," Zach stated, more as an order than a question. "Yeah, if you want me to. Honestly, right now she just needs rest and TLC more than a medic. That stands for 'tender loving care' by the way, not;" "You were just going," Zach said, as the voices moved to another end of the room below her. "Hey, you wanna know what makes an elf's toes curl up like tha;" Terry asked, his question cut off by the slamming of the door. Honey listened, trembling and terrified as Zach paced the floor below her. Though his voice hadn't changed, he sounded nothing like the man that had wooed her so tenderly a year ago. He sounded dangerous, brutal even. He definitely sounded like the kind of person that went around wanting to choke everyone, she thought, strangely relieved that her heartbreak felt a little less personal. How could she have been so wrong in her impression of him? She looked around the room, understanding now how the voices had reached her so easily. She was in an open industrial loft bedroom that opened onto the main floor below. Looking around, she realized she must be in Zach's huge bed, though if the crisply made side next to her was any indication, he hadn't been sleeping in it with her. Looking down her body, she gasped quietly. Her left arm was in a sling strapped to her chest, her legs were covered in bruises, and the right leg that was being stabbed with an invisible knife right now, was wrapped up in an air cast boot. What had happened to her? The last thing she remembered was feeling sick as she tried to get away from Lee's groping hands on the dance floor. After that; nothing. How did she get here? A beeping noise sounded below and Zach walked across the room to what sounded like a kitchen. The sound of water being poured into a cup, the ringing of a spoon stirring it, a pill bottle being opened. Honey shivered, realizing he was probably coming up to her, soon. She closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing, feigning sleep. Steps ascending to the loft bedroom. Ankle stabbing, stab, stab, stab, stab with every panicked heartbeat. A tray went down on the nightstand next to her. A chair across the room was lifted and set down by the bed. Honey told herself to breathe slowly, willing the tears welling behind her lids not to leak out of her eyes. He would leave her alone if she was sleeping, wouldn't he? "You're not sleeping," Zach's voice stated, quietly, and her stomach clenched in fear. "You've been waking up for these pills every four hours like a junkie. I know you don't want to talk to me, Honey, but until you're squared away, you're gonna have to. So, cut the crap, open your eyes, and let's get this done." Honey opened her eyes to see his grim face looking down at her. With one blink, large tears rolled down her pale cheeks, and Zach's jaw set angrily. Sitting down in the chair, he put his elbows on his knees and leaned his massive shoulders forward, looking at her. His hands looked like they could crush rocks as he gripped them together. "Let's get some things straight. I don't know what you think you know about me, but acting like I'm some kind of psycho is pretty shitty. You want nothing of me, that's fine, but you're hurt because you screamed and flung yourself down some stairs rather than let me help you to an Uber. You're staying here until you're well, because some shithead at that party gave you enough roofies to be in a coma for almost 3 days and I'm not dragging my ass to that rat trap of yours in the Commons every day to make sure they don't come back while you're weak. Are we clear?" he asked. Honey swallowed and nodded, wincing at the pain in her neck and head. That just seemed to make Zach angrier. "While you are here, you will do as you're told. You will eat what you get, and you will not complain. You see these, here?" he said, holding up the magic caplets that made everything better. "These are the last ones you're getting. I'm switching you to ibuprofen and Tylenol because, unchecked, this Sackler shit will fuck you up for good and that's not happening on my watch. Do you understand?" he asked. "Yes," Honey whispered. At the sound of her voice, Zach's mouth twitched, but at least he didn't look as angry as when she'd nodded and winced. "You will follow your doctor's orders to the last goddamn word. You will rest. You will do your therapy. You will let me help you and you will ask me for what you need because I am not a fucking mind reader. And so help me, if you do anything stupid like get out of that bed without me here to help you, or push yourself away from me like you did at Gatsby's, or any other drama shit that hurts even one hair on that head again, I will personally make you regret you were ever born." "Yes, Zach," Honey breathed, confused. Two more tears rolled down her cheeks. Without thinking, she leaned over to wipe them off on her shoulder and cried out in pain. Zach squeezed his clenched hands together and several of his knuckles cracked. "You don't use my name. You don't get to use my name. You're not getting under my skin again, you hear me?" Zach growled, using his rough knuckle to wipe her tears. "Orders a fucking angel shot in my own fucking club; fuck you. I don't have a name, you don't have a name. You're nothing to me. Understand?" "Yes, sir," she whispered. Honey leaned forward and took the last spoonful of broth into her mouth and swallowed, looking longingly at the noodles at the bottom of the cup. Zach caught a drop of broth at the bottom of her lower lip with the spoon and returned it to her mouth. "No," he said, seeing where her eyes lingered. "I can do it," she pleaded. "Please; I haven't had anything solid since; how long has it been?" "I said, no. You throw up on another pair of my skivvies and I'll be doing laundry twice a week," Zach said, dabbing her mouth with a paper towel. "Why do I have to wear your boxer briefs anyway? They feel weird. They have this hole-flap thing; and there are some places that aren't supposed to feel a breeze," Honey said, lifting the blanket to look down at his underwear loosely covering her hips. "Are you complaining?" he asked quietly. Honey's eyes darted quickly to his face, "No sir," she murmured, looking down at her lap. "I just thought if I had some of my things here, you wouldn't have to do the laundry so much." "I'll worry about what I have to do, Honey," he said, unthinkingly using her name. Startled, she looked up to see his eyes wandering over her, his massive t-shirt sleeves going down past her elbows. She felt ridiculous and disheveled, but something about the way he looked at her made her hold her breath. Then, without another word, he slurped the noodles out of the cup and took the tray downstairs. After that, the two settled into a quiet routine of him feeding her, giving her medicine, and watching her sleep most of the day. She would sometimes awaken to the soft repetitive sounds of him running on a treadmill, or the clinking of him lifting weights downstairs where she couldn't see him. Then, he would go to the bathroom and shower. After his shower, he came upstairs again in his towel and took some clothes from his dresser before going back downstairs to change. Honey found herself looking forward to those few seconds each day, watching his droplet-covered torso twist as he leaned over his dresser. He frowned as he flipped through his carefully folded underwear. "You wearing the grey ones?" he asked, not looking at her. Honey peeked under the covers, "Um, yes sir," she replied. "I'm supposed to wear the grey ones today," he grumbled to himself. Honey didn't say anything. Zach was the one who picked out which underwear she wore today. He was the one who looked away while he painstakingly slipped the old ones off her hips and pulled the new ones over her boot and up her legs until her bottom was covered again. There was nothing about her life that wasn't chosen and executed by him. If he wasn't happy about the color of his underwear, that was his fault. Still, Zach kept rummaging around in his underwear drawer as if another crisply folded grey pair would somehow magically appear. Finally, rather than offend him by laughing, Honey spoke, "Um; you know, if they're clean, I could wear the pair I had on when I went to the hospital and you could have these. It would get you back on schedule; Zach lifted his head from the drawer and glared at her, as if he thought she was making fun of him. Honey held carefully still and shrugged her uninjured limb. She wasn't making fun, she just wanted to help. The movement caused the huge neckline to gape over to the side, revealing her bare shoulder. She waited as Zach stared impassively at her, the vein at his neck throbbing. After a long moment, he walked over and stood next to her, the tuck of his towel right next to her face. With every breath, she inhaled the scent of his wet body and the bar soap he used. A rivulet of water painstakingly slid from his chest and down his abdomen, until finally disappearing into the tightly twisted white cotton. Honey glanced up to see that he had been reading her face as she watched the droplet's progress. With a shaking breath, she blushed and pulled the covers higher with her good arm. With a twist of his mouth, Zach pulled the neckline back over her shoulder again and quickly left the room. That night, after leaving her with a video baby monitor watching her on the nightstand, Zach returned with a bag of her underwear and some of her nightgowns. After watching her excitedly sort through them, Zach pushed them aside and sat on the edge of the bed. "There were a bunch of boxes with tags on them in your living room. What's that about?" he asked. Honey's eyes dropped, "Oh; that's the charity gift thing for kids. You sign up and get them something they wished for and wrap it up so they can have something under the tree, when they wouldn't have something otherwise. It's nice, you know? I signed up for a bunch and I was supposed to wrap them and get them back to the law firm, but I guess; sorry kids," she trailed off. Looking furious, yet carefully impassive at the same time, Zach cursed under his breath and left again, returning with the packages and a huge stack of unused Styrofoam clamshells from Gatsby's, and dumped them on the bed next to her. For the next few hours, they "wrapped" the presents, Zach carefully fitting items into an appropriate-sized takeout box, and Honey trying to make them pretty with ribbons. As she watched him work, occasionally cursing under his breath, she found herself smiling at his frowning face when he was strategizing how to fit a basketball into three disassembled clamshells. "What are you laughing at?" he said, glaring when he caught her at it. "I wasn't laughing. I was smiling." "Why were you smiling, then?" he asked. "I guess; I just like you; sir," she said, glancing over at him. Honey saw a hopeful softness steal into Zach's eyes until he forcibly wrestled it down and a look of hooded sarcasm shaded them. "Yeah, well; fool me once," he sneered. Angry, Honey closed her eyes, blocking him out the only way she could. "You know, that's; that's not fair. Not after what you said; you scared me!" she said, frustrated that, once again, tears were rolling down her cheeks. Zach choked out a mirthless laugh, "I scared you? What did I say, Honey? What did I fucking say? God! I was on eggshells all night trying not to fuck it up with you and then you just; why? Those creeps you were dancing with at that party, those fucking 'nice guys' that drugged you, they were saying shit that made my skin crawl! I didn't even kiss you! I couldn't! I could barely breathe just for looking at you on our date; you looked just like a fucking angel. What did I say, Honey? What did I say?" Honey reached over and grabbed her phone, flipping through her photo album to a screenshot taken shortly before she blocked his number. "You didn't say it; you texted it. I remember watching you leave for the restroom thinking I'd met the love of my life and then you sent me this; she said, handing her phone to him. Zach took the phone, his face going from an angry red to pale horror in a matter of seconds. "This; this; he gasped, "I didn't; send this; to you; he said, shaking his head. "Whoever had your phone did, sir!" she said, emphasizing the last word, making him wince. "I spent the last year thinking you wanted to do that to me; to kill me. Every time I felt you watching me, every crowd I saw you show up in, every dark room I had to go into, that's what I thought about. I thought that a man I was head over heels about; that I could be so wrong about him. So, excuse me for thinking I liked you, sir. I promise it won't ever happen again!" Honey cried herself to sleep that night, refusing to speak to, or even look at Zach again. When she awoke, the bedroom was empty, and a glass of water and a pain pill were waiting on the nightstand. After swallowing the pill, she stared at the ceiling, furious. She didn't want to be there anymore, to be helpless and dependent on him, to obey all his stupid rules. He didn't deserve to take care of her. So, she tightened the straps on her boot and increased the air pressure to hold her broken ankle tightly enough to walk without her crutches. Then, she took off Zach's t-shirt, pulled on her elf dress, and called herself an Uber. It was when she saw the anticipated arrival time of 8 minutes that she realized her mistake. There was no way for her to get down from the loft and out of the apartment quietly in that amount of time. If she used the crutches, she would be able to descend the stairs quickly enough, but they made such a distinctive clicking racket that they would surely wake up her gorilla-like guard. If she hopped down the stairs on her good foot, it might have worked, but her good arm was on the opposite side and she kept losing her balance. Eventually she decided on the most painful course, of going down on her good and bad legs, using her good arm for support. Her boot thunked horribly the first few times, until she got the hang of it and could place it more quietly on the next step and then hop her good foot down to support it before the scream inside her could escape her lips. By the time she reached the bottom, though, she was shaking with pain and exhausted. Curiosity forced her to look around the rest of the apartment as she caught her breath, sitting on the bottom step. It was clean and unmistakably masculine. Exercise equipment took up a lot of the space not already claimed by a leather couch and TV arrangement. Zach lay on the couch, made up with sheets to act as a bed, his feet sticking out over the arm, his hand tucked under the back of his head, his chest rising and falling under the rumpled sheet. If she wasn't so angry, she'd find him handsome; or maybe he still was handsome, she thought grudgingly, closing her eyes miserably and looking away. Why couldn't he be ugly? Life wasn't fair. Uber. Right. Screwing up her courage for what was ahead, she stood and slowly hobbled across the hardwood floor, agonizing over every painful thump and noisy squeak until she finally reached the door. She unlocked the five locks on his large door, each of them being well-oiled and working perfectly. She expected no less of her anal-retentive, grey-skivvies-on-Tuesdays captor. Finally, she tugged open the heavy door to find endless flights of icy steel-mesh stairs leading all the way down to the street where her Uber was waiting. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me; she cried, breaking down into tears. A strong arm slid down around her waist and mercifully shifted her weight off her throbbing foot, "I know. It sucks. You should try it with a rucksack full of bricks," Zach said, leaning his head down and breathing into her hair. "I want to go home," she whispered. "Let me take care of you; please," Zach murmured into the top of her head, "I; it was my fault this happened to you. I scared you, I know that now; but, please believe me that I would never want to hurt or frighten you like that." "It wasn't just that text," she said, pulling her head away and looking up at him angrily. "All year, I never had a moment's peace. Even when I couldn't see you, I could feel you waiting in the quiet or dark places. Even if you weren't there;" "I was there," he confessed. "I was always there. I didn't understand what had gone wrong. You didn't want to talk to me, and the world just didn't make sense to me unless I knew where you were, what you were doing; unless I knew you were safe." "Maybe you knew I was safe, but I didn't! I thought I'd done something; that somehow I deserved to have this beautiful, scary monster hunting me. I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd done to destroy something that was so; wonderful." "You didn't do anything, Honey. Nothing at all. You were perfect. You were so perfect that I couldn't keep; you didn't do anything wrong. I never meant to send you that message; please, please believe me." "Why did you send it?" she asked, finally looking up into his eyes. The dark blue liquid pools of her eyes turned violet in the moonlight, and Zach felt a tightening in his chest. "I; I can't tell you that; but it was never meant for you." "You mean, you meant to send that message to someone else? To hurt them like that?" "Honey, I; Zach said, looking around, unable to meet her eyes, "Please, I can't; you wouldn't understand; my life isn't like that anymore." "I want to go home, Zach; please," she whispered. Zach closed his eyes for a long moment before he swallowed and nodded, looking like he was in more pain than she was. "I'll take you home tomorrow, okay? Or Terry will, if you don't want me to. He'll check the place out, make sure you're set up and safe there. You're tired, you're hurting, and your Uber's gone, now. Let me take you back upstairs and you can go in the morning. Please." At that moment, a throb of pain shot through her entire leg, and as angry as Honey was, she knew she couldn't face her empty apartment without a few more hours of rest. "Okay," she whispered. To be continued in part 2, Based on a post by Lingering Afterthought, in 3 parts, for Literotica.

If you've spent any time in European venture lately, you've probably noticed two things:Everyone says they “do AI now.”Almost nobody wants to touch consumer.That's exactly where Michael Sackler and Supernode Global are leaning in.Michael started his career not in venture, but in film. He founded and ran Rook's Nest Entertainment in London, producing and executive producing 12 feature films, including cult horror hit “The Witch”, which still makes the rounds every Halloween.As the streamers rose in the early 2010s, he watched technology companies steamroll the media value chain. At the same time, he began angel investing around the edges of content and tech. It didn't take long before it was obvious where the real leverage was.Today, Michael runs Supernode Global, an early-stage fund focused on application-layer software that people use every day at home and at work. Fund I proved out the model. Fund II is where it scales.This episode is essentially Michael's Fund II pitch and it's a good one.Here's what's covered:02:40 | Fund I → Fund II — expanding from “content + tech” to technologies that enhance daily personal and professional life03:55 | The thesis shift — six themes across wellbeing, productivity, vitality, life-ops, community, and creative/pro-work augmentation05:27 | The unifying thread — application-layer software + UI/UX obsession (consumer-grade experiences applied to enterprise)07:50 | Fund II in motion — 13 companies already deployed and why the portfolio itself tells the story10:36 | Sourcing edge — 50/50 inbound/outbound, a gender-balanced team, and why that drives deal flow from overlooked founders12:57 | Speed as a superpower — winning competitive deals through fast conviction, aggressive execution, and deep consumer focus14:42 | Value add in practice — growth support, fundraising pathways, and SuperNode's “connector” identity (with a shoutout to Naomi)15:33 | 34% GP commit — why Michael and Gina put unusually large personal capital into the fund (and what it signals to LPs)18:51 | The AI elephant — where AI enhances work vs. where it risks erasing human craft (with the Graswold example)21:56 | Human creativity vs. automation — why AI will reshape the menial, not the art, and why stories still anchor value23:32 | AI art, authenticity & meaning — when fully AI-generated output loses emotional value, and where hybrid human–AI creation wins

It's so American how the Sackler family caused a national opioid crisis which ultimately led to the fentanyl crisis, and instead of imprisoning them the US eventually went "Hang on, we can use this as an excuse to start a war with a country that doesn't even produce fentanyl." Reading by Tim Foley.

"Dopesick" — the Emmy Award-winning series that dives deep into one of the most devastating crises of our time: the opioid epidemic. The show pulls back the curtain on Purdue Pharma, the company that aggressively marketed OxyContin and helped fuel addiction across America. It's gripping television based on real events—and real people.Today on Grieving Out Loud, you'll hear from two of those real-life heroes. Rick Mountcastle, the inspiration behind one of the main characters in season one—portrayed by actor Peter Sarsgaard—was one of the first to take on the powerful Purdue Pharma. His real-life story is every bit as compelling as what you saw on screen.Also joining me is Ed Bisch, whose story helped inspire characters in "Dopesick" and "Raising Lazarus." After losing his teenage son to an OxyContin overdose at the very beginning of the opioid epidemic, Ed refused to stay silent. Long before most people had even heard the name OxyContin, he was sounding the alarm—calling out Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family when few others would.See how your state is utilizing opioid settlement money here: opioidsettlementtracker.comSend us a textBehind every number is a story of a life cut short, a family shattered, and a community devastated.They were...daughterssonsmothersfathersfriendswiveshusbandscousinsboyfriendsgirlfriends.They were More Than Just A Number. Support the showConnect with Angela Follow Grieving Out Loud Follow Emily's Hope Read Angela's Blog Subscribe to Grieving Out Loud/Emily's Hope Updates Suggest a Guest For more episodes and information, just go to our website, emilyshope.charityWishing you faith, hope and courage!Podcast producers:Casey Wonnenberg King & Kayli Fitz

Send us a textGood morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we delve into the intricate tapestry of scientific advancements, regulatory decisions, and strategic maneuvers shaping our industry.One of the notable stories involves Agios Pharmaceuticals, which is pushing forward with its sickle cell disease treatment, Pyrukynd, for FDA approval. This comes despite mixed results from their Phase 3 clinical trials, which led to a significant drop in their stock value. This scenario underscores the complexities of navigating clinical trial outcomes while pursuing breakthroughs in treating challenging diseases like sickle cell.Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has marked a significant milestone with the FDA's approval of Plozasiran. This achievement not only marks Arrowhead's entry into the commercial sector but also highlights the competitive dynamics within biotech, as companies like Ionis Pharmaceuticals vie for market dominance with innovative therapies. Further strengthening its position, Arrowhead also received FDA approval for Redemplo, a siRNA-based therapeutic for rare genetic metabolic disorders. Despite facing volatility due to safety concerns in its partnership with Sarepta Therapeutics, this approval underscores RNA interference therapies' potential in precision medicine.In corporate strategy news, Alkermes is making moves to acquire Avadel Pharmaceuticals, offering up to $2.37 billion and overshadowing a competing bid from Lundbeck. Such acquisitions are part of a broader trend of consolidation in the industry aimed at expanding portfolios and market reach. Avadel's decision to accept Alkermes' revised offer over Lundbeck's bid highlights ongoing consolidation trends as companies expand their portfolios in competitive markets like narcolepsy drugs.On the investment front, Celltrion has committed $478 million to upgrade a U.S. manufacturing facility acquired from Eli Lilly. This expansion is crucial for increasing manufacturing capabilities within the biosimilars sector, where demand for cost-effective therapeutics is on the rise. Additionally, Celltrion's exploration beyond biosimilars with a potential $350 million deal involving Trioar's antibody platform demonstrates ambition to diversify its portfolio towards innovative biologics.Teva Pharmaceuticals is fostering innovation by inviting startups to tackle key challenges within biopharma through a global platform. This initiative reflects a growing trend toward open innovation and collaboration, seeking novel solutions to complex issues across research and development and manufacturing efficiencies.In regulatory news, the controversial $7.4 billion settlement plan involving the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma has received approval from a bankruptcy judge. This paves the way for Purdue's transformation into Knoa Pharma and highlights ongoing legal and ethical reckonings related to opioid liabilities within the industry.Cytokinetics remains committed to its independent path as it awaits FDA approval for its cardiovascular drug Aficamtem. The company's determination to commercialize without big pharma support reflects a trend where smaller biotech firms strive for autonomy while bringing first-in-class drugs to market.On an infectious disease front, Merck has demonstrated significant progress with its HIV treatment Islatravir in Phase 3 trials. This places Islatravir as a potential competitor against Gilead's Biktarvy, showcasing ongoing innovation within antiviral drug development.Additionally, Dexcom has gained clearance for its type 2 diabetes software integrating continuous glucose monitoring technology. This advancement exemplifies how digital health technologies are transforming chronic disease management bySupport the show

This week we talk about OxyContin, opium, and the British East India Company.We also discuss isotonitazene, fentanyl, and Perdue.Recommended Book: The Thinking Machine by Stephen WittTranscriptOpioids have been used as painkillers by humans since at least the Neolithic period; there's evidence that people living in the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas kept opium poppy seeds with them, and there's even more evidence that the Ancient Greeks were big fans of opium, using it to treat pain and as a sleep aid.Opium was the only available opioid for most of human history, and it was almost always considered to be a net-positive, despite its downsides. It was incorporated into a mixture called laudanum, which was a blend of opium and alcohol, in the 17th century, and that helped it spread globally as Europeans spread globally, though it was also in use locally, elsewhere, especially in regions where the opium poppy grew naturally.In India, for instance, opium was grown and often used for its painkilling properties, but when the British East India Company took over, they decided to double-down on the substance as a product they could monopolize and grow into a globe-spanning enterprise.They went to great lengths to expand production and prevent the rise of potential competitors, in India and elsewhere, and they created new markets for opium in China by forcing the product onto Chinese markets, initially via smuggling, and then eventually, after fighting a series of wars focused on whether or not the British should be allowed to sell opium on the Chinese market, the British defeated the Chinese. And among other severely unbalanced new treaties, including the ceding of the Kowloon peninsula to the British as part of Hong Kong, which they controlled as a trading port, and the legalization of Christians coming into the country, proselytizing, and owning property, the Chinese were forced to accept the opium trade. This led to generations of addicts, even more so than before, when opium was available only illicitly, and it became a major bone of contention between the two countries, and informed China's relationship with the world in general, especially other Europeans and the US, moving forward.A little bit later, in the early 1800s, a German pharmacist was able to isolate a substance called morphine from opium. He published a paper on this process in 1817, and in addition to this being the first alkaloid, the first organic compound of this kind to be isolated from a medicinal plant, which was a milestone in the development of modern drug discovery, it also marked the arrival of a new seeming wonder drug, that could ease pain, but also help control cold-related symptoms like coughing and gut issues, like diarrhea. Like many such substances back in the day, it was also often used to treat women who were demonstrating ‘nervous character,' which was code for ‘behaving in ways men didn't like or understand.'Initially, it was thought that, unlike with opium, morphine wasn't addictive. And this thinking was premised on the novel application method often used for morphine, the hypermedia needle, which arrived a half-century after that early 1800s isolation of morphine from opium, but which became a major driver of the new drug's success and utility. Such drugs, derived scientifically rather than just processing a plant, could be administered at specific, controllable doses. So surely, it was thought, this would alleviate those pesky addictive symptoms that many people experienced when using opioids in a more natural, less science-y way.That, of course, turned out not to be the case. But it didn't stop the progression of this drug type, and the further development of more derivations of it, including powerful synthetic opioids, which first hit the scene in the mid-20th century.What I'd like to talk about today is the recent wave of opioid addictions, especially but not exclusively in the US, and the newest concern in this space, which is massively more powerful than anything that's come before.—As I mentioned, there have been surges in opioid use, latent and externally forced, throughout modern human history.The Chinese saw an intense wave of opioid addiction after the British forced opium onto their markets, to the point that there was a commonly held belief that the British were trying to overthrow and enslave the Chinese by weighing them down with so many addicts who were incapable of doing much of anything; which, while not backed by the documentation we have from the era—it seems like they were just chasing profits—is not impossible, given what the Brits were up to around the world at that point in history.That said, there was a huge influx in opioid use in the late-1980s, when a US-based company called Purdue Pharma began producing and pushing a time-released opioid medication, which really hit the big-time in 1995, when they released a version of the drug called OxyContin.OxyContin flooded the market, in part because it promised to help prevent addiction and accidental overdose, and in part because Purdue was just really, really good at marketing it; among other questionable and outright illegal things it did as part of that marketing push, it gave kickbacks to doctors who prescribed it, and some doctors did so, a lot, even when patients didn't need it, or were clearly becoming addicted.By the early 2000s, Purdue, and the Sackler family that owned the company, was spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year to push this drug, and they were making billions a year in sales.Eventually the nature of Purdue's efforts came to light, there were a bunch of trials and other legal hearings, some investigative journalists exposed Purdue's foreknowledge of their drug's flaws, and there was a big government investigation and some major lawsuits that caused the collapse of the company in 2019—though they rebranded in 2021, becoming Knoa Pharma.All of which is interesting because much like the forced legalization of opium on Chinese markets led to their opioid crisis a long time ago, the arrival of this incredibly, artificially popular drug on the US market led to the US's opioid crisis.The current bogeyman in the world of opioids—and I say current because this is a fast-moving space, with new, increasingly powerful or in some cases just a lot cheaper drugs arriving on the scene all the time—is fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid that's about 30-50 times more potent than heroin, and about 100 times as potent as morphine. It has been traditionally used in the treatment of cancer patients and as a sedative, and because of how powerful it is, a very small amount serves to achieve the desired, painkilling effect.But just like other opioids, its administration can lead to addiction, people who use it can become dependent and need more and more of it to get the same effects, and people who have too much of it can experience adverse effects, including, eventually, death.This drug has been in use since the 1960s, but illicit use of fentanyl began back in the mid-1970s, initially as its own thing, but eventually to be mixed in with other drugs, like heroin, especially low-quality versions of those drugs, because a very small amount of fentanyl can have an incredibly large and potent effect, making those other drugs seem higher quality than they are.That utility is also this drug's major issue, though: it's so potent that a small amount of it can kill, and even people with high opioid tolerances can see those tolerances pushed up and up and up until they eventually take a too-large, killing dose.There have been numerous efforts to control the flow of fentanyl into the US, and beginning in the mid-20-teens, there were high-profile seizures of the illicitly produced stuff around the country. As of mid-2025, China seems to be the primary source of most illicit fentanyl around the world, the drug precursor produced in China, shipped to Mexico where it's finalized and made ready for market, and then smuggled into the US.There have been efforts to shut down this supply chain, including recent tariffs put on Chinese goods, ostensibly, in part at least, to get China to handle those precursor suppliers.Even if that effort eventually bears fruit, though, India seems to have recently become an alternative source of those precursors for Mexican drug cartels, and for several years they've been creating new markets for their output in other countries, like Nigeria, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, as well.Amidst all that, a new synthetic drug, which is 40-times as potent as fentanyl, is starting to arrive in the US, Europe, and Australia, and has already been blamed for thousands of deaths—and it's thought that that number might be a significant undercount, because of how difficult it can be to attribute cause with these sorts of drugs.Nitazenes were originally synthesized back in the 1950s in Austria, and they were never sold as painkillers because they were known, from the get-go, to be too addictive, and to have a bad tradeoff ratio: a little bit of benefit, but a high likelihood of respiratory depression, which is a common cause of death for opioid addicts, or those who accidentally overdose on an opioid.One nitazene, called isotonitazene, first showed up on US drug enforcement agency radars back in 2019, when a shipment was intercepted in the Midwest. Other agencies noted the same across the US and Europe in subsequent years, and this class of drugs has now become widespread in these areas, and in Australia.It's thought that nitazenes might be seeing a surge in popularity with illicit drugmakers because their potency can be amped up so far, way, way higher than even fentanyl, and because their effects are similar in many ways to heroin.They can also use them they way they use fentanyl, a tiny bit blended into lower-quality versions of other drugs, like cocaine, which can save money while also getting their customers, who may not know what they're buying, hooked, faster. For context, a fifth of a grain of nitazene salt can be enough to kill a person, so it doesn't take much, less than that, if they want to keep their customers alive, to achieve the high they're looking for. A little bit goes a long, long way.This class of drugs is also difficult to detect, which might be part of the appeal for drug makers, right now. Tests that detect morphine, heroin, and fentanyl do not detect natazines, and the precursors for this type of drug, and the drugs themselves, are less likely to be closely watched, or even legally controlled at the levels of more popular opioids, which is also likely appealing to groups looking to get around existing clampdown efforts.Right now, drug agencies are in the process of updating their enforcement and detection infrastructure, and word is slowly getting out about nitazenes and the risk they potentially pose. But it took years for sluggish government agencies to start working on the issue of fentanyl, which still hasn't been handled, so it's anyone's guess as to when and if the influx of nitazenes will be addressed on scale.Show Noteshttps://www.wired.com/story/a-new-type-of-opioid-is-killing-people-in-the-us-europe-and-australia/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02161116https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00024-0/fulltexthttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/03/nitazenes-synthetic-opioid-drug-500-times-stronger-than-heroin-fatalhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03280-5https://theconversation.com/10-times-stronger-than-fentanyl-nitazenes-are-the-latest-deadly-development-in-the-synthetic-opioid-crisis-265882https://www.cato.org/blog/fentanyl-nitazenes-why-drug-war-keeps-making-danger-worsehttps://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/fentanyl-and-us-opioid-epidemichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdue_Pharmahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentanylhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitazeneshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_opioid_epidemichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_epidemic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

For the British writer and cultural critic Olivia Laing, restoring and tending to their backyard garden has prompted complex questions of power, community, and mystery, concepts that they beautifully excavate in their latest book, the fascinating and mind-expanding The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise. Whether in their nonfiction works, including the critically acclaimed The Lonely City (2016), their art and culture writing and criticism (2020's Funny Weather: ​​Art in an Emergency), or their novels (2018's Crudo and the forthcoming The Silver Book, out this November), Laing turns an incisive eye to examining what it will take for people—our “temporal selves,” as they put it—to forgo loneliness and isolation, reconnect with nature and one another, and flourish on a planet in crisis.On this episode, recorded in their apartment at the Barbican in London, Laing explores gardening and writing's symbiotic relationship; the act of rebelling against a reactive culture by embracing slowness; and the importance of imagining, in vivid detail, the kinds of utopias we could one day very well live in.Special thanks to our Season 12 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes:Olivia Laing[4:35] The Barbican[7:39] “The Garden Against Time” (2024)[7:53] Mark Rumary[9:08] Notcutts[14:08] “The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone” (2016)[16:07] Jhumpa Lahiri[18:41] Piet Oudolf[19:21] Middleton Place[19:21] The Sackler family[22:54] “Modern Nature” (1991)[24:07] “Paradise Lost” (1667)[25:40] “The Secret Garden” (1911)[25:40] “Tom's Midnight Garden” (1958)[29:29] “The Garden” (1681)[30:29] “Everybody: A Book About Freedom” (2021) [35:07] “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” (2014)[39:57] David Wojnarowicz's "Magic Box"[39:57] Ana Mendieta[40:51] Agnes Martin[43:08] “Funny Weather: ​​Art in an Emergency” (2020) [45:29] “Crudo” (2018) [48:20] “A Dance to the Music of Time” (1951–1975) [50:29] “The Silver Book” (2025)[52:48] Federico Fellini[52:48] Pier Paolo Pasolini[55:17] “News from Nowhere” (1890) 

This week, I talk with Alma Katsu about her new horror novel Fiend. We dive into her inspiration for the story, what draws her to horror, and how she crafted this insidious family.**Every tech issue that could happen did happen, so there's a somewhat rough cut when we had to switch platforms.Fiend by Alma Katsu SynopsisImagine if the Sackler family had a demon at their beck and call.The Berisha family runs one of the largest import-export companies in the world, and they've always been lucky. Their rivals suffer strokes. Inconvenient buildings catch on fire. Earthquakes swallow up manufacturing plants, destroying harmful evidence. Things always seem to work out for the Berishas. They're blessed.At least that is what Zef, the patriarch, has always told his three children. And each of them knows their place in the family—Dardan, as the only male heir, must prepare to take over as keeper of the Berisha secrets, Maris's most powerful contribution, much to her dismay, will be to marry strategically, and Nora's job, as the youngest, is to just stay out of the way. But when things stop going as planned, and the family blessing starts looking more like a curse, the Berishas begin to splinter, each hatching their own secret scheme. They didn't get to be one of the richest families in the world without spilling a little blood, but this time, it might be their own. Get Bookwild MerchCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackCheck Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck out the Imposter Hour Podcast with Liz and GregFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrian

===== MDJ Script/ Top Stories for September 12th Publish Date:  September 12th    Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Friday, September 12th and Happy Birthday to Jesse Owens I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Golfers tee off for a cause at 27th Alexis Grubbs Memorial Tournament Cobb OKs additional funding for South Cobb Library Expansion Cobb opts to settle with Purdue Pharma, Sacklers and other opioid manufacturers Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on fast food All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: Ingles Markets 10 STORY 1: Golfers tee off for a cause at 27th Alexis Grubbs Memorial Tournament This week, the 27th annual Alexis Grubbs Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament teed off at Brookstone Country Club, bringing together over 100 golfers, sponsors, and volunteers for a day of camaraderie and purpose. Players grabbed gift bags (thanks to A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds), fueled up on Chick-fil-A biscuits, and hit the course after opening remarks from Carlos Rodriguez, the tournament chair. By 10:30 a.m., the Shotgun Start was underway. The event honors Alexis Grubbs, a Marietta High senior tragically lost in 1998, and has since awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to students pursuing legal careers. Winners? Matthew Enslein, Aaron Tomlinson, David Lyles, and Scott Lawrence. STORY 2: Cobb OKs additional funding for South Cobb Library Expansion  This week, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners greenlit $500,000 in extra funding to expand the South Cobb Regional Library by 5,000 square feet. Commissioner Monique Sheffield, who’s been pushing for this since 2021, said the project will be a game-changer for the community. The library, which opened in 2006, is one of the busiest in the county—especially for computer use. The expansion will add a new community space, a bigger teen area, and a computer lab, addressing a critical need for internet access in the area. Other board approvals? Speed signs, road projects, and grants for workforce programs. STORY 3: Cobb opts to settle with Purdue Pharma, Sacklers and other opioid manufacturers   The Cobb County Board of Commissioners has signed off on three new opioid settlements, but not without some debate. The vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Keli Gambrill opposing and Erick Allen absent. The settlements include payouts from Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, and eight other manufacturers, all tied to their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Cobb could see nearly $1 million from Sandoz alone, with funds earmarked for addiction treatment, prevention, and education. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: COBB MAKE A WISH STORY 4: 'Our city is strong': Mableton holds inaugural State of the City address With dancers, a marching band, and a crowd of hundreds, Mayor Michael Owens delivered Mableton’s first-ever State of the City address, blending optimism with a dose of realism. “The state of our city is strong,” Owens declared, but he didn’t shy away from the challenges. Roads, bridges, infrastructure—there’s work to do. Still, he painted a vision of a diverse, united, and thriving Mableton, calling it “not just another Atlanta suburb” but a cultural destination. Owens highlighted the city’s $13 million budget—no property taxes yet—and plans for affordable housing, smart growth, and a pedestrian-friendly future. STORY 5: OUT AND ABOUT: 5 things to do this weekend in Cobb County — Sept. 12 - 14 Fright Fest at Six Flags Ready to scream? Six Flags Over Georgia’s Fright Fest is back, running select nights through Nov. 2. Starting at 6 p.m., you can wander haunted mazes, dodge scare zones, catch creepy live shows, and ride coasters in the dark. Tickets? $69 for all-day access or $35 if you’re just here for the haunted mazes. Marietta Artisan Market Saturday morning plans? Head to downtown Marietta for the weekly artisan market on Mill Street, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over 35 artists will be there, including this week’s spotlight: Jess Hain, who crafts stunning sterling silver jewelry and stained glass sun catchers. Coffee, Campfire, and Cryptids Friday night, grab some cocoa and dive into Marietta’s spookiest legends at Coffee, Campfire, and Cryptids in Atherton Square. Wendigos, mysterious creatures, and folklore-inspired goodies await. Starts at 6 p.m. Comedy on the Square Need a laugh? The Alley Stage’s “Comedy on the Square” show hits Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $27—grab them online or at the door. Dog Days at Smith-Gilbert Gardens Bring your pup to Smith-Gilbert Gardens this Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a stroll through 18 acres of greenspace. Admission’s just $3. And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on fast food We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: Ingles Markets 10 Signoff-   Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com Cobb Make a Wish #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True Crime Tuesday presents:  Fiend: Supernatural Secrets in Business, Family, and Tragedy with Ex-CIA Agent/Author, Alma Katsu! Imagine if the Sackler family had a demon at their beck and call. The Berisha family runs one of the largest import-export companies in the world, and they've always been lucky. Their rivals suffer strokes. Inconvenient buildings catch on fire. Earthquakes swallow up manufacturing plants, destroying harmful evidence. Things always seem to work out for the Berishas. They're blessed. At least that is what Zef, the patriarch, has always told his three children. And each of them knows their place in the family—Dardan, as the only male heir, must prepare to take over as keeper of the Berisha secrets, Maris's most powerful contribution, much to her dismay, will be to marry strategically, and Nora's job, as the youngest, is to just stay out of the way. But when things stop going as planned, and the family blessing starts looking more like a curse, the Berishas begin to splinter, each hatching their own secret scheme. They didn't get to be one of the richest families in the world without spilling a little blood, but this time, it might be their own. On Today's TCT, We sit down with Alma Katsu to talk about her background in the CIA, how the agency has changed in today's times and threats, and then we launch into the Berisha family!  What makes them tick, What makes their moral code "questionable", and what sets them all up to be perfect to carry the "family Secret"! Get your copy of "Fiend" here:  https://www.amazon.com/Fiend-Alma-Katsu/dp/0593714342 Learn more about Alma here:  https://almakatsubooks.com/ PLUS DUMB CRIMES AND STUPID CRIMINALS W/JESSICA FREEBURG! Check out Jessica Freeburg's website and order her new books:  https://jessicafreeburg.com/books/ and check out Jess on Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicafreeburgwrites Sign up to go with Dacre Stoker and Mysterious Universe Tours to Romania here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Want to attend JUST Dracula's Vampire Ball at Bran Castle? Click this link to find out how: https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Travel with Brian J. Cano to Ireland for Halloween for 11 days and get 100 dollars off and break it into 10 easy payments here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps! and subscribe to the Darkness Radio You Tube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis #crime #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts #truecrimetuesday #almakatsu #fiend #putnam #mbcommunications #crimefiction #thriller #albania #manhattan #zefberisha #olgaberisha #dardanberisha #surpriseendings #marisberisha #noraberisha #andygarrison #familyconclave #familysecrets #assault #murder #stalking  #dumbcrimesstupidcriminals #TimDennis #jessicafreeburg #paranormalauthor  #floridaman #drugcrimes #foodcrimes #stupidcrimes #funnycrimes #sexcrimes 

True Crime Tuesday presents:  Fiend: Supernatural Secrets in Business, Family, and Tragedy with Ex-CIA Agent/Author, Alma Katsu! Imagine if the Sackler family had a demon at their beck and call. The Berisha family runs one of the largest import-export companies in the world, and they've always been lucky. Their rivals suffer strokes. Inconvenient buildings catch on fire. Earthquakes swallow up manufacturing plants, destroying harmful evidence. Things always seem to work out for the Berishas. They're blessed. At least that is what Zef, the patriarch, has always told his three children. And each of them knows their place in the family—Dardan, as the only male heir, must prepare to take over as keeper of the Berisha secrets, Maris's most powerful contribution, much to her dismay, will be to marry strategically, and Nora's job, as the youngest, is to just stay out of the way. But when things stop going as planned, and the family blessing starts looking more like a curse, the Berishas begin to splinter, each hatching their own secret scheme. They didn't get to be one of the richest families in the world without spilling a little blood, but this time, it might be their own. On Today's TCT, We sit down with Alma Katsu to talk about her background in the CIA, how the agency has changed in today's times and threats, and then we launch into the Berisha family!  What makes them tick, What makes their moral code "questionable", and what sets them all up to be perfect to carry the "family Secret"! Get your copy of "Fiend" here:  https://www.amazon.com/Fiend-Alma-Katsu/dp/0593714342 Learn more about Alma here:  https://almakatsubooks.com/ PLUS DUMB CRIMES AND STUPID CRIMINALS W/JESSICA FREEBURG! Check out Jessica Freeburg's website and order her new books:  https://jessicafreeburg.com/books/ and check out Jess on Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicafreeburgwrites Sign up to go with Dacre Stoker and Mysterious Universe Tours to Romania here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Want to attend JUST Dracula's Vampire Ball at Bran Castle? Click this link to find out how: https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Travel with Brian J. Cano to Ireland for Halloween for 11 days and get 100 dollars off and break it into 10 easy payments here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps! and subscribe to the Darkness Radio You Tube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis #crime #truecrime #truecrimepodcasts #truecrimetuesday #almakatsu #fiend #putnam #mbcommunications #crimefiction #thriller #albania #manhattan #zefberisha #olgaberisha #dardanberisha #surpriseendings #marisberisha #noraberisha #andygarrison #familyconclave #familysecrets #assault #murder #stalking  #dumbcrimesstupidcriminals #TimDennis #jessicafreeburg #paranormalauthor  #floridaman #drugcrimes #foodcrimes #stupidcrimes #funnycrimes #sexcrimes 

In this powerful conclusion to our "War on Drug" series, we confront the opioid epidemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and reshaped the landscape of addiction in America. We trace the origins of the crisis back to Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, whose aggressive marketing of OxyContin in the 1990s and early 2000s helped normalize the widespread prescribing of highly addictive painkillers.   Listeners will learn how deceptive pharmaceutical campaigns, coupled with systemic failures in regulation and oversight, created the conditions for one of the deadliest addiction waves in U.S. history. We break down:   - The rise of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma's marketing strategies   - The Sackler family's influence and pursuit of profit over public health   - How the opioid epidemic escalated into a nationwide crisis   - The human cost of addiction, from individuals to entire communities   - Where do we go from here in addressing accountability and recovery   This episode is not just about exposing the failures that fueled the epidemic,  it's about understanding the lessons we must carry forward to prevent history from repeating itself.      

Ed Bisch is an activist who founded Relatives Against Purdue Pharma (RAPP) after his son, Eddie, died from an OxyContin overdose in 2001. After Eddie's death, Ed started a website to warn others about the dangers of OxyContin and began connecting with other parents who had lost children to the drug. This led to the formation of RAPP, a group that has been actively protesting and seeking to hold Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in the opioid crisis. Key details about Ed Bisch and RAPP: Formation: Ed Bisch founded RAPP around 2003 with three other mothers who also lost children to opioids. Anyone who has stood up to Purdue Pharma or spoken out against them is considered a member. Activism: RAPP is known for holding protests and attending hearings, often with photos of their deceased children, to keep pressure on the company and its owners. Ed has also been a claimant in a class-action lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. Goal: The primary goal of RAPP is for Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family executives to receive jail time for their involvement in the opioid crisis, arguing that financial penalties are not enough of a deterrent. Media Attention: Ed Bisch's activism has been featured in various media, including the MTV series "True Life," the MSNBC special "The Forgotten Epidemic," and articles by authors like Beth Macy ("Dopesick" and "Raising Lazarus"). He has been a consistent voice calling for the Department of Justice to prosecute the Sacklers. Settlement Views: Ed Bisch has been vocal in his criticism of the various settlements reached with the Sackler family, calling them "a bankruptcy scam" and a "sad joke" because the payouts to victims are very small and the Sacklers' fortune remains largely untouched. He also points out that the settlements often include immunity from future civil lawsuits. HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE: https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast   PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK. AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return theaddictionpodcast@yahoo.com Intro and Outro music by: Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

The Sackler family didn't just create the opioid crisis—they engineered the most sophisticated population control experiment in human history. Behind their billion-dollar pharmaceutical empire lies a dark truth that connects to government black projects, consciousness suppression programs, and the systematic drugging of entire populations for reasons far more sinister than profit. This explosive investigation reveals how the Sackler dynasty's OxyContin empire was never just about addiction—it was about creating a chemically dependent population that could be easily controlled and manipulated. We're talking about deliberate mind-altering compounds, government collaboration in mass drugging programs, and connections to classified research into human consciousness modification. Our deep-dive exposé uncovers never-before-revealed documents showing how the Sackler family worked with shadowy government agencies to test experimental compounds on unwitting populations, how their pharmaceutical networks connect to missing persons cases and unexplained behavioral changes in entire communities, and how the opioid crisis was designed to suppress humanity's natural psychic abilities and spiritual awareness. From their secretive family meetings to their underground research facilities, we expose how the Sacklers became the enforcement arm of a much larger conspiracy involving population control, consciousness suppression, and the systematic destruction of human potential. Their victims weren't just addiction statistics—they were test subjects in a massive experiment designed to keep humanity docile and unaware. Mystery enthusiasts and truth-seekers know that some epidemics aren't natural—they're engineered. The Sackler investigation reveals how one family weaponized medicine to create a chemically lobotomized population incapable of questioning authority or perceiving the hidden realities around them. We'll expose their connections to mind control research, their role in suppressing alternative healing methods, and their systematic targeting of communities that showed signs of heightened awareness or spiritual awakening. This isn't just about corporate greed—it's about the deliberate chemical warfare against human consciousness itself. From prescription pads to morgue slabs, from rehab centers to research labs, this episode reveals how the Sackler empire operated as humanity's drug dealers, systematically poisoning millions while claiming to heal them. The opioid crisis wasn't a side effect—it was the intended outcome. Stream exclusively on Spreaker for uncensored bonus content about the family's secret research programs, or find us on Amazon Music (ask your Alexa about Sackler conspiracies), Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and everywhere truth-seekers get their pharmaceutical reality checks. Some medicine is designed to make you sicker—this episode tells you why.

Next year's Pennsylvania gubernatorial race is already on the political horizon. So far, the Republican field is shaping up with three prominent figures expressing interest. EMTs could soon be authorized to give caregivers medication that would reverse opioid overdoses, as a bill is quickly moving through the state Capitol. Pennsylvania could receive as much as 200 million dollars as part of a massive settlement with drug maker Purdue Pharma. That's according to PA Attorney General Dave Sunday. The payout is part of a $7.4 billion deal, stemming from the opioid crisis, in which prosecutors and addiction experts say Purdue and its owners the Sackler family played a major role. A portion of land in Somerset County is now protected through a recent acquisition by The Nature Conservancy. The land is part of a critical ecosystem, and it's being added to State Game Lands 82. Police say an 18-year old stabbed his father to death with a machete-style knife during an early-morning argument Tuesday in their West York home. Raw milk sold in Lancaster County and throughout Central Pennsylvania is contaminated and should be thrown out, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The milk is contaminated with an infectious intestinal disease. The affected milk is Meadow View Jerseys brand raw milk purchased since April 1 with sell-by dates between April 15 and July 8. A Pennsylvania college is addressing its growing financial issues by auctioning its art collection. Albright College, located in Reading, Berks County - according to a report by our partners at Spotlight PA - is preparing to auction more than 2,000 pieces of art. Gov. Josh Shapiro was joined by Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer LeSean McCoy, at the official ribbon-cutting for a new 41-unit housing complex in Harrisburg, to benefit low and moderate income home buyers. And comedian and actor Shane Gillis, a Mechanicsburg native, will be hosting this year's ESPYS awards show. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran diplomat Stuart Eizenstat joins The Gist to discuss The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World, drawing on his work from Camp David to Holocaust reparations. He shares what it means to practice “unsympathetic empathy,” how German officials came to see moral obligation in restitution, and why negotiations fail when mutual interest is absent. Eizenstat contrasts the courage of leaders like Sadat and the UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed with Arafat's refusal to compromise—even amid opportunity. Plus, the Sackler immunity case is a prime example of a major real-world development that resulted from a Supreme Court acting far outside its supposed 6–3 rigidity. Produced by Corey WaraProduction Coordinator Ashley KhanEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Indiana Pacers will return to Indianapolis fighting to stay alive in the NBA Finals. The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability recently released its annual report highlighting local advancements toward a more environmentally-friendly future. Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Monday that 55 attorneys general have agreed to a settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. Nearly 1,000 Indiana union workers at Duke Energy are preparing for a potential strike. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. WFYI News Now is produced by Drew Daudelin, Zach Bundy and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

The Indiana Pacers will return to Indianapolis fighting to stay alive in the NBA Finals. The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability recently released its annual report highlighting local advancements toward a more environmentally-friendly future. Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Monday that 55 attorneys general have agreed to a settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. Nearly 1,000 Indiana union workers at Duke Energy are preparing for a potential strike.

Israel has expanded its attacks on targets inside Iran to include the country's state television studios. The suspect accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband faces federal and state murder charges, and Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family have reached a multibillion dollar settlement with states. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Cheryl Corley, Andrea DeLeon, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima, and Christopher Thomas. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Patrick Radden Keefe is a writer and investigative journalist known for books such as Chatter, Say Nothing, and The Snakehead. His work has been recognized with the National Magazine Award, the National Book Critics' Circle Award, and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The New York Times named Say Nothing one of the 20 best books of the 21st Century. His reporting on the Sackler family was the inspiration for the 2023 Netflix limited series PAINKILLER and his book Say Nothing was adapted into a limited series for FX/Hulu of the same name. SAY NOTHING was named as one of the 10 Best Shows of 2024 by Variety, Vulture, and the New York Times. Keefe has also written extensively for many publications, including The New Yorker, Slate, and The New York Times magazine. He is currently a staff writer at The New Yorker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Hart isn’t necessarily one of the  people you’d expect to be critical of the $7.4 billion multi-state opioid settlement reached with drug company Purdue. For 25 years, he was the assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice until his retirement last month, and he headed the department’s opioid litigation and recovery/pharmaceutical fraud unit. One way or another, he’s represented the state in opioid litigation and negotiations since 2004. But since he’s now retired, he feels an obligation to speak out about a settlement that he says is far too lenient and favorable to the Sackler family and their company, Purdue. Hart describes their behavior in igniting and fueling the opioid crisis “the worst of the worst.” He spoke with our news partner The Lund Report about his concerns and wrote an op-ed in the Oregonian/Oregonlive. He joins us to detail his concerns and how he’s making his case to the attorneys general in Oregon and the other states involved.

How did a marketing campaign lead to one of the worst public health disasters in American history?  In this episode, I investigate the rise and fall of the Sackler family, the pharmaceutical empire they built, and the marketing tactics that got millions addicted to opioids. You'll learn: How reframing turned OxyContin from a last resort into a “safe” everyday drug. Why a vague letter (not a study) became the foundation for Purdue's 1% addiction claim. How the Sacklers used doctors, pain groups, and celebrities to exploit authority bias. Why repeating a false claim makes it more believable (feat. the mere exposure effect). How behavioural science helped sell a deadly drug—and what we can learn from it. --- Shatterproof non-profit: https://shatterproof.org/ Empire of Pain:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612861/empire-of-pain-by-patrick-radden-keefe/ Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Sources: ABC News. (2025). Purdue Pharma, Sackler family to pay $7.4 billion opioid settlement [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n2uuX1NaQo LastWeekTonight. (2016). Opioids: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pdPrQFjo2o CBS News. (2019). OxyContin maker facing over 2,000 opioid death-related lawsuits [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGGlEFKrSs ABC News. (2019). Local governments file lawsuit against the family behind OxyContin [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlSDhuhLedg CBS News. (2022). Trump Organization's accounting firm cuts ties over financial statements [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csAS4WLvMao BBC News. (2013). Serpentine Sackler Gallery Opening [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YThcpSZIN0c CBS New York. (2021). Metropolitan Museum Of Art Will Remove Sackler Name From Galleries [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_u29BL2CQE CBC News. (2019). Dozens Storm The Guggenheim Museum In Protest Of Donor [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci_yOI3Wyto CBS News. (2019). Protestors stage a “Die In” at the Guggenheim Museum in New York [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYVvIwbxX2I CNBC Television. (2020). Would have done ‘nothing' differently in opioid crisis: Kathe Sackler says [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl-Zjyf2UE STAT. (2017). 1998 Purdue Pharma marketing video [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaxlJXpwkzs GoLocal LIVE. (2019). Purdue Pharmaceutical Commercial 1998-Oxycontin [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCOl1exq3IM CBS News. (2017). Behind Purdue Pharma's marketing of OxyContin [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-jxKPpMvmA LastWeekTonight. (2019). Opioids III: The Sacklers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaCaIhfETsM LastWeekTonight. (2021). McKinsey: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiOUojVd6xQ CBS News. (2018). Whistleblower: Purdue Pharma continued deceptive sales practices after guilty plea [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5qQf3Po31M Washington Post. (2019). Inside the opioid industry's marketing machine [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIlpd40CpT0 CBC News. (2018). How One Man Made The Opioid Crisis Possible [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2AUIBB34nI CBC News. (2019). Nan Goldin ‘Blizzard of Prescriptions' Sackler Pain Guggenheim Protest & Die-In 2/9/19 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2A4Tb8cOxE Keefe, P. R. (2021). Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty. Doubleday.  Cialdini, R. B. (2006). Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Revised ed.). Harper Business.

The chief of the watchdog agency that protects federal workers and whistleblowers, Hampton Dellinger, was one of the first to be fired by President Trump. So were eighteen inspectors general and the chief of the board that protects federal workers. What is happening to independent watchdogs and why are they being dismantled? Correspondent Scott Pelley sits down with Dellinger and others to find out. Five years after it declared bankruptcy, Purdue Pharma and its wealthy owners, members of the Sackler family, have agreed to pay up to $7.4 billion in a proposed settlement that would deliver funds to victims of the opioid crisis. Correspondent Cecilia Vega investigates how this deal—potentially one of the largest opioid settlements ever—will affect the individuals and families who say Purdue's opioids harmed them. With the NCAA basketball tournament, famously known as “March Madness,” tipping off this month, the University of Connecticut men's team is aiming for a historic three-peat. Correspondent Jon Wertheim provides an inside look at coach Dan Hurley's preparations, his strategies for managing a changing roster, and his pre-season rituals. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Purdue Pharma's owners in the Sackler family have agreed to a new $6.5 billion settlement to lawsuits over their role in the U.S. opioid crisis. This comes after a previous deal was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. We’ll break down the details of the settlement and what could come next. And, the U.S. housing market is the slowest it’s been in 30 years, but prices aren’t coming down. What gives? Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Existing-Home Sales in 2024 Were Slowest in Decades Amid High Mortgage Rates” from The New York Times “United States Housing Market & Prices” from Redfin “Purdue Pharma's Sacklers Agree to New $6.5 Billion Deal for Opioid Lawsuits” from The Wall Street “Supreme Court Jeopardizes Opioid Deal, Rejecting Protections for Sacklers” from The New York Times “Is there a market for luxury EVs? GM thinks so.” from Marketplace “This 24-hour diner helps New Yorkers make it through the night” from Marketplace “The American workweek is shrinking” from Marketplace “‘Lost’ Tina Turner track to be released 2 years after queen of rock ‘n’ roll’s death” from USA Today “UK's 20mph speed limits ‘are cutting car insurance costs'” from The Guardian We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Purdue Pharma's owners in the Sackler family have agreed to a new $6.5 billion settlement to lawsuits over their role in the U.S. opioid crisis. This comes after a previous deal was rejected by the Supreme Court last year. We’ll break down the details of the settlement and what could come next. And, the U.S. housing market is the slowest it’s been in 30 years, but prices aren’t coming down. What gives? Plus, we’ll play a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Existing-Home Sales in 2024 Were Slowest in Decades Amid High Mortgage Rates” from The New York Times “United States Housing Market & Prices” from Redfin “Purdue Pharma's Sacklers Agree to New $6.5 Billion Deal for Opioid Lawsuits” from The Wall Street “Supreme Court Jeopardizes Opioid Deal, Rejecting Protections for Sacklers” from The New York Times “Is there a market for luxury EVs? GM thinks so.” from Marketplace “This 24-hour diner helps New Yorkers make it through the night” from Marketplace “The American workweek is shrinking” from Marketplace “‘Lost’ Tina Turner track to be released 2 years after queen of rock ‘n’ roll’s death” from USA Today “UK's 20mph speed limits ‘are cutting car insurance costs'” from The Guardian We love to hear from you. Email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Today's Headlines: Trump's first week back has been eventful. Pete Hegseth's Defense Secretary nomination heads to a final vote, while John Ratcliffe is confirmed as CIA director. A new GOP-led January 6th committee was launched and Speaker Johnson has discouraged subpoenaing Cassidy Hutchinson amid fears of exposing lawmakers' explicit texts. Trump's order to limit birthright citizenship faced its first legal challenge, with a federal judge issuing a restraining order, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional." Meanwhile, Trump considers cutting FEMA as wildfires rage in Los Angeles, burning over 10,000 acres and prompting mass evacuations. In Nashville, a school shooting left two dead and two injured, despite AI weapon detection software failing. His manifesto cited Candace Owens and Adolf Hitler as inspirations. Lastly, the Sacklers agreed to a $7.4B settlement over Purdue Pharma's opioid crisis role. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Senate advances Pete Hegseth as Trump's defense secretary, despite allegations NBC News: Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to be Trump's CIA director Axios: House GOP launches new panel to investigate Jan. 6  WA Post: Johnson aide discouraged Hutchinson subpoena over concerns about lawmakers' ‘sexual texts'  NBC News: Federal district court judge temporarily blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order CBS News: Hughes Fire in LA County burns 10,000 acres, containment rises as some evacuations remain The Guardian: ‘Setting us up for catastrophe': alarm at Trump attack on federal disaster agency  Tennessean: Antioch school shooting updates: Nashville mayor emphasizes community 'togetherness,' fundraiser NBC News: Purdue Pharma, Sackler family to pay $7.4 billion in settlement to OxyContin lawsuits Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new $7.4 billion settlement with states has been reached with Purdue Pharma and its Sackler family owners to settle lawsuits alleging that their drug OxyContin helped fuel the opioid crisis — but it still has to be approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court. We’ll learn more about all the deal entails. Then, we’ll discuss mortgage rates, job creation and immigration. And after, as Congress struggles with tech legislation, states aim to regulate online privacy

A new $7.4 billion settlement with states has been reached with Purdue Pharma and its Sackler family owners to settle lawsuits alleging that their drug OxyContin helped fuel the opioid crisis — but it still has to be approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court. We’ll learn more about all the deal entails. Then, we’ll discuss mortgage rates, job creation and immigration. And after, as Congress struggles with tech legislation, states aim to regulate online privacy

Peter Berg is an American director, producer, and writer. He began his career as an actor, before transitioning to directing with his feature debut "Very Bad Things" (1998) and has since helmed notable films including "Friday Night Lights" (2004), "Hancock" (2008), "Lone Survivor" (2013), "Deepwater Horizon" (2016), and "Patriots Day" (2016). His episodic television work spans many critically acclaimed series like "Friday Night Lights" and “Ballers”. Berg has also tackled complex and dark subjects like the Sackler family's big pharma influence through “Painkiller” and the complex realities of settling the American West in his upcoming series “American Primeval”. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://helixsleep.com/srs https://amac.us/srs https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs https://shopify.com/srs https://meetfabric.com/shawn Peter Berg Links: Website - https://www.film44.com/ IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000916/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pberg44/ American Primeval - https://www.netflix.com/title/81457507 Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks about why Kamala Harris would never subject herself to the questions and topics that “This Past Weekend's” Theo Von discussed with JD Vance; JD Vance telling Theo Von the dangers of Big Pharma reaping huge profits from causing misery, like the Sackler family profiting off the opioid crisis and the dangers of the profits from the sudden shift toward gender-affirming care for confused teens; CNBC's Joe Kernen getting into a tense exchange with Mark Cuban over his support of Kamala Harris and Cuban's willingness to work for the Trump administration; a public school teacher getting caught by a parent rewarding kids with pizza for voting for Kamala Harris in a classroom mock election; Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson telling CNN why voters shouldn't expect election results until the day after the election due to the vote-counting process; and much more. Dave also does a special “ask me anything” question-and-answer session on a wide-ranging host of topics, answering questions from the Rubin Report Locals community. WATCH the MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE segment of the show here: https://rubinreport.locals.com/ Check out the NEW RUBIN REPORT MERCH here: https://daverubin.store/ ---------- Today's Sponsors: Preserve Gold - Preserve Gold can get physical gold and silver delivered right to your door or inside your IRA, 401k or other qualified retirement account. Rubin Report viewers will get up to $15,000 in free Gold and Silver with a qualifying purchase. Text the word “DAVE” to 50505 or go to https://www.preservegold.com/dave Ramp - Ramp's accounting software automatically collects receipts and categorizes your expenses in real-time, so you don't have to. You'll never have to chase down a receipt again and your employees will no longer spend hours submitting expense reports. Get $250 when you join Ramp now. Go to: https://ramp.com/RUBIN 1775 Coffee - Their new Protein Creamer is a game-changer. With 10 grams of whey protein per serving. Rubin Report viewers get 15% off their order. Go to: https://1775coffee.com/RUBIN and use code RUBIN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices