Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 97

SF Giants capitalize on Red Sox’s costly errors to secure series win

SAN FRANCISCO — It will go down as one of the odder offensive outbursts of the season.

The Giants earned a 9-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday at Oracle Park to secure a series win, with the offensive outburst representing the most runs they’ve scored in one game since a 10-7 triumph over Colorado on June 11. The Giants played big ball, manufacturing three runs on solo homers by Casey Schmitt, Mike Yastrzemski, and Willy Adames. They also played small ball, executing the squeeze play late in the ballgame.

But in a game that featured four lead changes, most of their runs were the product of bad ball. Of the nine runs that San Francisco scored, five of those runs were directly the product of two costly errors committed by Boston’s defense. With those opportunities, the Giants (44-34) didn’t fail to capitalize.

“When given extra outs, especially here at home late in games, we’ve been able to take advantage of that,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Heliot Ramos, in particular, cashed in following both of Boston’s errors and drove in four runs.

In the third, Ramos scored two with a single after Boston’s Nate Eaton and Jarren Duran collided while trying to field a shallow fly ball. In the seventh, he drove in two more runs with an opposite-field double after the Red Sox’s Romy Gonzalez missed a line drive off the bat of Yastrzemski that allowed the Giants to take the lead for good.

San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos (17) gestures after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Before Ramos’ run-scoring hits, he, too, committed an error that led directly to a run.

In the top of the first, Duran hit a two-out line drive to left field with a runner on third base. Ramos easily tracked down the ball but muffed the catch, allowing a run to score and gifting the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Following the error, starter Robbie Ray had to throw six more pitches to complete the inning.

“He came up to me and said, ‘It’s my bad,’” said Ray, who allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings. “In that situation, I don’t want him thinking about it the whole game. … He was able to put it behind him and have some really good at-bats.”

Added Yastrzemski: “I had a little talk with him afterwards. I could see he was frustrated. I’ve been there. I’ve missed balls. I’ve done just about everything poorly in this game that you could do. I knew what he was feeling. I just told him, ‘It’s a physical thing. It’s going to happen. Don’t let it affect the rest of your game. You’re going to have a lot more opportunities to impact this game. He snapped out of it really quick and turned it around.’”

Ramos, indeed, had his opportunities to impact the game.

So did Yastrzemski, whose solo home run in the fifth inning was his first home run since April 30.

So did Adames, who is now batting .295 with four home runs and seven RBIs over his last 12 games.

So did Schmitt, who went 4-for-4 with his own solo homer in the fifth, a 111.6-mph line drive that matched the hardest-hit ball of his career.

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

While Adames and Yastrzemski have been starters since Opening Day, Schmitt only recently joined the starting lineup after Matt Chapman hit the injured list due to a right-hand injury. Schmitt has made the most out of the opportunity, going 17-for-41 with four home runs and 12 RBIs since stepping in for Chapman. He’s doing all this while playing on a slightly compromised left ankle after fouling a ball off himself last Sunday in Los Angeles.

With Tyler Fitzgerald continuing to struggle — Fitzgerald laid down a bunt to score a run on Sunday — Schmitt could potentially become San Francisco’s starting second baseman once Chapman returns.

“He’s playing great. I think he’s really coming into his own,” Yastrzemski said of Schmitt. “I think he needed a little bit of maybe pressure applied to him in terms of a little extra motivation. Sometimes, when you get your back pushed against the wall, you come out swinging. That’s what he’s done.

“I don’t think he’s tried to fill Chappy’s role, and I don’t think anyone has expected him to. … He’s played through some stuff. He fouled those balls off his shin. He wasn’t feeling great. He’s been really gritty and he’s taken some really good at-bats. So, it’s been huge to have that production from him, and to see him with that confidence is awesome.”

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) douses teammate Heliot Ramos (17) with water as they celebrate defeating the Boston Red Sox after their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) celebrates with teammate Willy Adames (2) after defeating the Boston Red Sox during their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) connects for a solo home run in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) celebrates after tagging out Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran (16) at second base in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) watches the flight of his solo home run in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran (16) is held back by third base coach Kyle Hudson (84) as he gets into a verbal argument over a call in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Duran would be ejected from the game. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos (17) connects for a two-run double in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) greets teammate Rafael Devers (16) at home plate after scoring on an RBI double hit by San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos (17) in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) gestures to the dugout after hitting a double in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) connects for a solo home run in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray (38) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle (64) removes his cap for the national anthem before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray (38) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Former Korean baseball player Kim Tae-kyun, left, talks with San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 14San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) douses teammate Heliot Ramos (17) with water as they celebrate defeating the Boston Red Sox after their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-5. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Expand

Chapman out of splint

Chapman, who was placed on the injured list on June 10 (retroactive to June 9), is no longer wearing a splint on his right hand and said he could potentially begin light swinging on Tuesday.

“Whatever he tells you, back it up a few days because he’s typically a little ahead of schedule in his mind,” Melvin said pregame.

Melvin said Chapman, who has 12 home runs with a .812 OPS, is currently doing one-handed swinging in the batting cage.

Devers nursing slight groin ailment

Melvin said prior to Sunday’s game that Devers is currently managing a minor groin ailment. It’s not affecting his hitting but it has slightly delayed his timetable as he tries to learn first base, a position he has never played in the majors or minors.

Looking back: A sea of hands greets Robert Kennedy

Jess Walter’s comic new novel ‘So Far Gone’ chronicles a fractured America

Take one sanctimonious, reclusive former newspaper reporter and add one conspiracy theory-addled son-in-law. Flavor with two cute grandkids, a Christian separatist militia and a handful of other colorful characters. Stir with a fistfight at Thanksgiving dinner, a kidnapping and a frantic road trip. Bake in a politically fractured environment overheated by misinformation.

Voila, the recipe for Jess Walter’s compulsively readable, thought-provoking and endlessly entertaining novel “So Far Gone,” which hit bookstores June 10.

The National Book Award finalist and internationally bestselling author might be most associated with his stirring historical fiction, such as “Beautiful Ruins” and “The Cold Millions,” but Walter has also been called “a genius of the modern American moment.” And it’s the latter where “So Far Gone” is squarely placed, laced with incisive observations that speak to the present day even as the story weaves a timeless tale of redemption.

Take, for example, where his protagonist, Rhys Kinnick, wonders: “But how far would they go? How far would the country go? A familiar feeling of grim hopelessness washed over Kinnick, the sense that, just when he thought it couldn’t get worse, it not only got worse, but exponentially more insane. Some days, reading the news felt like being on a plane piloted by a lunatic, hurdling toward the ground.”

The seeds of “So Far Gone” took root in “the urge to just throw my cell phone out a window and turn my back on all of the news and the world,” Walter said in a recorded interview for Bookish, the Southern California New Group virtual program about authors.

Throwing his cell phone out the window is exactly the action taken by Kinnick – who, like the author himself, is a former newspaperman, and who, again like the author, was reared and still lives in Spokane, Washington. But of course, there are differences between Walter and his character: He has yet to punch anyone at Thanksgiving dinner.

“Even though that wasn’t my Thanksgiving, like every family, like every person, I’ve experienced a fissure with people that I once was closer to because of the political reality we find ourselves in now,” he said.

In fact, if there is any true villain in “So Far Gone,” it’s the fractured and predatory information systems affecting the entire world.

“I have a friend from elementary school who’s a Flat Earther now – we were science kids together, and I don’t know how to relate to that person,” Walter said. “I don’t think the culture has ever been divided like this since the 1960s, when it was the establishment versus the anti-establishment kids. … That is not a generation gap, it’s a reality gap. It’s what information you take in and what world you see because of that.”

Walter said that, like his previous novels, “The Zero,” his 2007 satire about life in the wake of a terrorist attack, and “The Financial Lives of the Poets,” about the 2008 financial crisis, “I feel very much like I’m just going to put my head out the window and describe what it feels like as the car goes off the road.”

“That’s what I tried to do with this novel in the last couple of years: really imagine what this fissure is costing us,” he said.

But don’t get the idea that the book is some political argument; it’s not. “It isn’t only looking at the sort of right-wing lunacy,” he said. “It’s also looking at kind of left-wing lunacy and a world that just seems a little bit off its axis right now, in all ways. It really is just writing about people and humans and making them fallible and real, hopefully.

“So many people are turned off by politics right now. But what do we really mean by that?” he asked. “It’s affecting our lives in ways that, you know, aren’t about donkeys and elephants. It’s about who we are as a people. And so I wanted to write directly into that. I didn’t want to write an allegory …To me, the balance in a novel like this is not making it about parties or policies, but about people.”

Those who have read another book of Walter’s, “Every Knee Shall Bow: The Truth & Tragedy of Ruby Ridge & The Randy Weaver Family,” will feel its resonance in “So Far Gone” and its rendering of “AOL,” or Army of the Lord, the Christian separatist militia. Published in 1995, “Every Knee Shall Bow” was Walter’s first book, which The Washington Post called “ the most comprehensive, even-handed and best written account of Ruby Ridge,” the deadly standoff in northern Idaho between federal agents and White separatist Randy Weaver and his family.

“Ruby Ridge has been in my mind for 30-some years. I think about the effect it had on people, on real human beings trying to live their lives and understand the world,” said Walter, who covered the standoff as a reporter for the Spokane Spokesman-Review. “So to watch what was fringe move into the mainstream over the last few years has been really jarring.”

With “So Far Gone,” Walter said that, as with any good book, he’s reaching for something more than a commentary on current events. “This novel hopefully captures a moment that we’re in. But you write a novel that you hope someone will read 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now, and find truth in it … And it really is a sort of love story about a father and his daughter reconciling after years of also not seeing the same world. You know it isn’t only politics that divides us. It’s our own experience of the same situations that sometimes makes us siloed in our understanding of the world, and that is what I had to cling to in the end.”

210 fall athletes to watch over 70 days

Roman Garcia, Alvarez football: A member of the all-county football team after setting a school record for rushing yards, Garcia could be primed for a 2,000-yard season in the Mission Division.

Having chalked up nearly 1,800 yards in total offense, along with 12 touchdowns last fall, Garcia is a combination of speed and power, having also led the team in catches with 21.

Reese Amaral, Palma volleyball: Fearless as a freshman last season, Amaral got a taste of being the focal point of the offense earlier in the season.

Amaral is expected to be the team’s primary hitter after compiling nearly 200 kills last fall. She also had over 200 digs and was second on the team in service aces.

Jenna Deese, Monterey, flag football: Evolving into one of the county’s top receivers last year, Deese had multiple touchdown games, including three touchdown catches in one game.

A lockdown corner, Deese was among the team leaders in pass breakups and interceptions for the Toreadores, as well as flag pulls.

Can you drink your way to good health with soda?

By Sono Motoyama, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PITTSBURGH — Depending on where you shop and in which aisle, you may have noticed the colorful packaging of “gut sodas” taking up shelf space.

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These sodas may contain probiotics or prebiotics and they may or may not contain sugar or sugar substitutes. But as the newest category of “functional beverages,” they do seem to suggest that they will help your digestive system.

Recently, big players like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have gotten into the game, as well as celebrity investors Gwyneth Paltrow, Mindy Kaling and the Jonas Brothers.

“Fizzy, fruity, tangy, spicy, gutsy,” proclaims the wording on a can of Culture Pop.

“Trust your gut!” says Cove Soda.

“Soda’s back,” the Poppi can says, implicitly acknowledging that we all know the empty calories of the previous generation of sugared sodas are not good for you.

During a quick drive around the Pittsburgh area, I found the widest selection and most prominent display of gut sodas at Whole Foods. The Target and Walmart I went to both had the sodas, but they were not as conspicuous. At the big-box stores, pride of place still seems to be reserved for another type of functional beverage that’s been around awhile: “energy drinks,” i.e., drinks loaded with caffeine.

Gut sodas were absent at the gas stations I visited. Maybe that’s understandable.

When you’re trapped in your car, you may not want to be thinking about what the “1 billion CFU [colony-forming units] probiotics” in Cove Soda are doing to your intestines.

Deciphering the label

Your digestive system contains trillions of microorganisms — the gut microbiome. Maintaining a healthy gut is important for overall health via factors like facilitating proper digestion and maintaining metabolism and immunity, according to the American Medical Association.

If you’re interested enough in your health to be curious about gut sodas, presumably you’d want to know what’s in them and how they work.

But as the three brands I tried demonstrated, figuring that out is not so easy. They all have different stuff in them, so you must be able to read and comprehend the small type.

An advanced degree in biology would not be amiss — and a pair of reading glasses.

For help, I turned to Paige Langhals-Totino, a nutrition specialist who works in Allegheny Health Network’s gastroenterology division. She also sees patients who are interested in weight management.

First of all, what’s the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?

“Probiotics are usually live microorganisms that are meant to rebuild the healthy gut bacteria,” she said.

They may come in capsules, powders, liquids and in drinks such as kombucha.

What about those 1 billion CFUs in Cove Soda? That sounds like a lot.

“It sounds like a lot,” Langhals-Totino agreed.

The theory goes that the more CFUs there are, the more likely it is that some of those beneficial organisms will survive your stomach acid and do some good in your gut, she said. The problem is that we do not know how many organisms will guarantee that benefit.

“You could take 1 billion versus 5 billion and still have the same outcome,” she said.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are fiber alternatives or fiber-based products, Langhals-Totino said.

“It’s a food source that is meant to fuel the good bacteria that is already in the GI tract.”

Do they help?

That all sounds very scientific, but is there evidence that drinking a soda or taking a supplement actually has a health benefit?

Langhals-Totino said that for both prebiotic and probiotic supplements, “we have very much mixed data.”

The prebiotic soda Poppi ran into trouble with its exhortation to “Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy.” The company, which was acquired by PepsiCo this month, faced a class-action lawsuit for false health claims. It settled for $8.9 million.

There are studies that say prebiotics and probiotics are helpful, but others that show no benefit. In the case of prebiotics, there is also evidence that promoting only one strain of beneficial bacteria — as these sodas may do — can in fact create an imbalance in the multitude of species in your gut if consumed over a long period of time, according to the academic medical center Henry Ford Health.

If there is an existing imbalance, it is difficult to know which strain may be of most benefit to you.

Langhals-Totino takes a case-by-case approach.

“Usually what I counsel my patients is, how do they feel when they’re taking it?” she said. “There’s no harm in doing a probiotic or doing a prebiotic that is not causing them new symptoms or worsening of any GI symptoms they already have.”

She said prebiotics, like fiber in general, can lead to bloating and discomfort. Carbonation in the soda may have the same effect. Particularly for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, she recommends caution.

“They’re the ones who are going to be at highest risk to see the side effects of bloating, increased gas production, nausea and discomfort,” she said of IBS patients.

Then there’s the question of sugar substitutes, which some studies paradoxically suggest may actually lead to weight gain, rather than the opposite. Some have also been linked to a reduction in the diversity of the microbiome.

How do they taste?

In my weeklong trial, I can’t say I noticed any particular effects — either positive or negative — on my, uh, gut health. The factors more likely to influence my drinking them in the future are their price and taste.

They are all more expensive than a regular can of soda, but hovering at around $2 each, they’re affordable as an occasional indulgence.

Though I don’t mind the taste of Coke Zero (which contains the sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame-k), generally speaking, I dislike the aftertaste of most sugar substitutes. That put a strike against two out of the three sodas I tried immediately.

–Cove Soda, Dr. Cove flavor. At $2.21 at Whole Foods, this was the most expensive of the sodas I tried. It contains 0 calories, using erythritol as a sugar substitute, and the aforementioned billion CFUs of the probiotic Bacillus subtilis DE111, according to the can. It had an odd orange-brown color and produced a high orange-colored head. It is a reasonable facsimile of Dr. Pepper, though it does not contain caffeine.

–Culture Pop, orange, mango and lime flavor. $1.88. I immediately loved this soda, from the pleasing peach-pink color that made me feel like I was drinking a cosmopolitan to the light fizziness and subtle flavor. Sweetened with fruit juice, it has 45 calories (compared to 140 in a can of regular Coke) and live Bacillus subtilis cultures, according to the can. Its Amazon listing further explains that each can contains “billions of CFUs of live probiotics at the time of canning.” A soda for adults, this was easily my favorite of those I tried (and also the cheapest).

–Poppi, strawberry-lemon flavor. $1.99. On the opposite end of the flavor spectrum from Culture Pop was the aggressive, candy-like taste of the Poppi strawberry-lemon soda. With 6% juice, it contains 30 calories and is also sweetened with agave inulin (both a prebiotic and sweetener) and stevia leaf extract. Besides agave inulin, it also includes cassava root fiber, presumably for its prebiotic and other potential health benefits. It was like drinking a Starburst fruit chew, but with that stevia aftertaste.

The takeaway

Rather than for any gut-health benefit, Langhals-Totino would more likely recommend these sodas to patients who are trying to lose weight, as a substitute for sugary sodas.

“If the patient likes it, if they’re seeing a benefit, I encourage them to continue it as a step to stay away from regular soda,” she said. But she wouldn’t “prescribe” them.

For digestive health, she suggests fermented foods like kombucha, sauerkraut or kimchi. For a hit of both probiotics and prebiotics, she recommends a low-sugar yogurt with live cultures mixed with berries or other fruit.

©2025 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Uber, Lyft oppose some bills that aim to prevent assaults during rides

By Madyson Fitzgerald, Stateline.org

While on her way home from a co-working space in Denver last year, Colorado state Rep. Jenny Willford says she was sexually assaulted by her Lyft driver.

In her lawsuit filed against Lyft in January, Willford alleges she was “subjected to unwelcome, nonconsensual sexual contact, touching” and lewd comments during the ride.

Willford was picked up by a different driver than the person identified in the Lyft app, according to the suit.

Her experience — and those that other survivors shared with her after hearing her story — prompted Willford, a Democrat, to introduce legislation this year that aimed to require safety measures for both riders and drivers using ridesharing apps.

“In my mind, all of these things are very basic when it comes to safety,” Willford said. “They’re just so common sense that it’s been really disheartening and frustrating to me that Uber … threatened to leave the state if the bill becomes law.”

Her bill would have required rideshare companies to conduct more regular background checks for drivers, to create a program for passengers or drivers who want to audio or video record their rides and to develop other safety policies.

But following Uber’s threats to leave the state if the measure passed, Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis vetoed it in late May. The bill would jeopardize rideshare services in Colorado “to an untenable degree, and could very well lead to companies that Coloradans rely on exiting the market, raising prices, or reducing the number of drivers,” his veto letter said.

Colorado isn’t alone. State and city leaders across the country are looking for ways to make rideshares safer. But lobbying campaigns from Uber and Lyft in many cases are blocking legislation meant to strengthen protections for both drivers and passengers.

Uber and Lyft, the two companies that dominate the U.S. rideshare industry, argue they have sufficient safety features within their apps.

“At Uber, we put safety at the heart of our operations, using technology, transparency, and accountability to help protect riders, drivers, and the broader community, with robust background checks and safety features like Audio and Video Recording, the Emergency Button, PIN verification, and RideCheck,” Uber wrote in a statement to Stateline.

“We remain committed to this work, and to dialogue with bill sponsors on sensible policies that keep people safe while protecting privacy and access.”

But there’s still a gap in regulations for rideshare companies because of their evolving technologies, said Lorena Roque, the interim director of education, labor and worker justice at The Center for Law and Social Policy, a left-leaning anti-poverty advocacy organization.

“Working on an app-based platform — like with delivery workers and rideshare workers — that sort of work is relatively new, so there’s not a clear standard,” Roque said.

Uber and Lyft are employing lobbyists at the state and local levels. In Rhode Island, another state where legislators are pushing rideshare safety bills that the companies have objected to, Uber is on pace to spend $50,000 this year on lobbyists, according to the state’s lobbying database. Lyft has been spending $5,000 monthly on lobbyists in Rhode Island.

Across the country, Uber and Lyft have testified against measures in state legislative hearings and city council meetings. In Colorado’s case, a number of officials representing Uber spoke out against Willford’s legislation at committee hearings, while Lyft sent a letter to Polis urging him to veto it. Jerry Golden, Lyft’s chief policy officer, wrote in the letter that the legislation’s requirements “ignore and ultimately will not improve conditions for riders and drivers.”

Uber told the state Senate it would be “impossible” for rideshare companies to comply with the bill’s requirements immediately upon approval and that the audio and video requirement is “not possible to enforce.”

“The intention of my legislation was never to drive out Uber or Lyft,” Willford said. “The intention was always to require a higher level of accountability and safety from them. But we can’t do that if they’re going to throw tantrums and pick up their toys and go home every time somebody asks them to do better.”

Safety for passengers

As a part of Lyft’s safety measures, drivers must complete annual background checks and mandatory driver safety education. The app is also programmed to check in with riders when drivers take long stops or deviate from the route they were assigned.

Uber conducts periodic criminal screenings for all active drivers and requires drivers to regularly verify their identity by sharing a selfie with Uber using the app. Both companies offer live emergency assistance to riders.

Between 2020 and 2022, Lyft reported 23 fatal physical assaults of people using the Lyft platform and 2,651 instances of the five most serious categories of sexual assault, according to its 2024 Safety Transparency Report. While incidents of sexual assault had decreased 21% since the last report, which covered 2017-19, fatal physical assaults jumped by 185%.

Uber saw 36 physical assault fatalities in 2021 and 2022 and 2,717 incidents of the most serious categories of sexual assault, according to the company’s most recent safety report. Despite a 22% decline in sexual assault and misconduct, there was an increase in fatal physical assaults since its 2019-20 report.

State lawmakers in several states have tried to address rideshare safety concerns with varying degrees of success.

Pending legislation in New Jersey and Massachusetts aims to prevent sexual assault and misconduct against passengers.

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The New Jersey measure would require rideshare companies to share information concerning sexual misconduct investigations into a driver and would allow companies to ban drivers during an investigation. It remains in committee.

The bill in Massachusetts, introduced by Democratic state Sen. Rebecca Rausch, would create a specific criminal penalty for the sexual assault of a passenger by a rideshare driver. The bill also would deem any rideshare passenger incapable of consenting to any sexual contact during a ride. A hearing on the bill took place this month.

“We need to be able to make sure that people are safe and that people can trust those kinds of spaces to be safe,” Rausch said.

In May, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that creates criminal penalties for impersonating a rideshare driver. Starting July 1, the crime counts as a second-degree misdemeanor. Uber supported the legislation.

But in Rhode Island, Lyft is pushing against legislation that would require fingerprinting as part of criminal background check. Brendan Joyce, the Lyft public policy manager, testified against the measure in April, saying the fingerprinting requirement relies on the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information System, which Joyce said has incomplete data. He also asserted that fingerprint checks “disproportionately impact and have potential discriminatory effects on communities of color.” Uber also testified against the proposal.

Rhode Island legislators introduced another measure that would prevent people under the age of 16 from using a rideshare service alone. Both bills are being held for further study.

Driver protections

JC Muhammad, 57, has been a rideshare driver in and around Chicago since about 2016.

Now, he works full time as an organizer for faith-based organizations and groups that support rideshare drivers, including The People’s Union, a membership-driven organization aimed at supporting workers in the city.

Muhammad was attacked by a passenger during a Lyft ride in 2022, he said. The passenger asked to borrow Muhammad’s phone and opened its Cash App. The passenger also hit him over the head twice, he said, and threw a brick at his car, denting the side.

“I was angry as hell,” Muhammad said. “I really wanted to engage the kid, but I said, ‘No, let me get back in my car.’”

After sharing the incident with Lyft, the company responded by saying it would not match him with that passenger again. But the person who rode with Muhammad did not match the profile of the person who originally requested the ride, he said.

Muhammad also said he couldn’t go to the police because he did not know the identity of the person who was in his car — and Lyft would not share the identity of the account holder who ordered the Lyft.

Uber and Lyft customers have the option to verify their account, but not everyone does, Muhammad said.

“That gives us some measure of comfort, but it really doesn’t do enough, especially when it comes to calling rides for other people,” Muhammad said. “The account holder may not be the actual passenger.”

Rideshare drivers across the country — especially those of color — are frequently harassed, according to a 2023 report from the Strategic Organizing Center. The center is a coalition of labor unions representing more than 2.5 million workers across the country.

The survey of over 900 app-based rideshare drivers found the majority had been verbally abused and more than a quarter of respondents were threatened with physical harm. Nearly 15% of the drivers were grabbed, groped or hit, according to the report.

There have been several incidents in Chicago where drivers are lured by a false account to a location where they are then robbed or attacked, said Deana Rutherford, the communications manager at the Chicago Gig Alliance, a subset of The People’s Lobby.

“These drivers just show up and they have no idea who’s about to get into their car,” Rutherford said. “And Uber doesn’t know who they are either.”

To address some of the safety and labor issues drivers were facing, the Chicago City Council began considering an ordinance backed by The People’s Lobby that would require passenger verification.

If passed, the ordinance would have also set a minimum wage for drivers, require companies to be more transparent about fares, have them disclose the details of driver account deactivations and more. Both Uber and Lyft initially opposed the ordinance. Uber warned the measure’s sponsor that the changes in pay rates would drive up costs for customers and force the company to cut 10,000 drivers, according to a letter Uber sent to a city alderman that was obtained by Stateline.

But Uber this month agreed to a deal that scraps Chicago’s ordinance in exchange for the company’s support for state legislation that would allow rideshare drivers to unionize, the Chicago Sun Times reported.

©2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

In stressful times, our anxiety can rub off on pets. Causes and cures for pet anxiety

By CEDAR BURNETT, Associated Press

In this age of heightened anxiety, many of us turn to our pets for emotional support. But is our behavior increasing our furry friends’ fears?

The answer isn’t simple, says Frankie Jackson, a veterinary nurse and animal behavior consultant, and the owner of Canine Counseling in Smyrna, Georgia. She said she’s seen an increase in anxiety among her animal and human clients, but that it’s hard to unwind the cause and effect.

“Dogs are incredibly responsive to our expressions, our body language and our scent,” she says. “There is a feedback loop — the owners are nervous; the dog gets nervous. Our cortisol levels rise and fall in tandem.”

Dr. Becky Peters, a veterinarian and owner of Bath Veterinary Hospital in Bath, New York, has also noticed a link between the anxiety of pets and their owners, particularly in the exam room.

“If owners try to over comfort them — lots of ‘you’re OK!’” in anxious voices, the animals do get more anxious. If we stay calm and quiet, they do too,” Peters says.

This undated photo released by Dr. Becky Peters, a veterinarian and owner of Bath Veterinary Hospital in Bath, N.Y., shows Peters with her dog. (AP Photo/Becky Peters)

Peters attributes much of the rise in pet anxiety to the social upheaval of the COVID years. Many animals who were acquired during the pandemic had limited opportunities to socialize with other people and pets during their peak developmental stages. After COVID, pets who were used to having their family at home experienced separation anxiety as their owners returned to work and school.

“A lot of pet anxiety comes from changes to their households,” Peters says. “It can also occur from a lack of routine and structure and not enough physical activity.”

Other components that could contribute to our pets’ anxiety include unmet needs, past trauma and insufficient open spaces.

“We are asking our dogs to live in a world that isn’t made for them,” she says.

Try to get at the cause of your pet’s anxiety

Low-level stress responses in dogs, such as eating less and excessive self-grooming, are forms of communication that precede lunging and barking, Jackson says. Trying to solve reactive behaviors through obedience training without addressing the root cause can make dogs’ anxiety worse.

“It’s important to understand what the dogs are saying and why they’re behaving the way they are. Manners and life skills are important, but it won’t create happy dogs,” Jackson says.

Anxiety in cats can be harder to spot, according to Jackson, because they’re hard-wired to hide it. While dogs seek out their support people, cats don’t feel safe expressing their vulnerability. Urinating in the house, scratching, hiding under the bed and overgrooming can be signs that your kitty is anxious.

First, see a vet

If your animal companion is suddenly acting out or on a licking binge, Jackson advises seeing a veterinarian to rule out a medical cause, such as pain or allergies.

Veterinarians can also prescribe anti-anxiety medication and complementary treatments to promote sleep and relaxation. Peters recommends supplements for her canine clients including probiotics and the amino acids l-theanine and tryptophan (yes, the turkey coma one).

For cats, she suggests using a product like Feliway that diffuses calming pheromones into the air.

Learn about the breed

A dog’s breed might also play a part in developing anxiety. Peters says that while every dog is different, the more active herding and working breeds like shepherds and border collies can become anxious and destructive without an outlet for their energy.

“Herding breeds need space to run and jobs to do,” she says.

When Tacoma, Washington, resident Shelani Vanniasinkam got her Australian shepherd puppy, Roo, she didn’t know about the breed’s reputation for anxiety. Her previous dog had been an easygoing husky who enjoyed pats from strangers and visits to the dog park. She quickly realized Roo was not that type of dog.

“He had a lot more needs than we anticipated,” Vanniasinkam says. “We couldn’t leave him alone for more than 30 minutes.”

This undated photo released by Shelani Vanniasinkam shows her dog Roo appears by an obstacle course at one of his favorite Sniffspots in Puyallup, Wash. Sniffspots are locations that pet owners can rent by the hour for solo off-leash dog play. (AP Photo/Shelani Vanniasinkam)

Vanniasinkam and her husband, Jesus Celaya, reached out to a local pet behavioralist, but it became clear that Roo’s anxiety was so acute he needed medication before he could start behavior training.

Should you consider meds for an anxious pet?

Medication can be important in behavioral treatment, but it shouldn’t be the only approach, says Peters. She usually suggests that her clients try training and routine modification first, unless their pet is causing harm to themselves or others.

“If I’m going to use meds, it’s part of a greater process,” Peters says.

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Roo’s veterinarian put him on Fluoxetine, or “doggie Prozac,” an antidepressant commonly given to anxious pets. He also prescribed Trazodone, another antidepressant, for particularly stressful events, such as trips to the vet or a night of fireworks.

After starting his medication, Roo received eight months of behavior training, during which Vanniasinkam and her husband not only changed their own approach to dog parenting but also set boundaries with friends and family. They limited Roo’s interaction with other dogs, asked people to stop using their doorbell and requested that others ignore Roo when he barks.

Now, when they want to take Roo for off-leash play, they book time at a local Sniffspot, which Vanniasinkam describes as “an Airbnb for anxious and reactive dogs.” The company, which launched in 2016, allows homeowners to rent out their yards or property by the hour for solo, off-leash play or doggie playdates.

“It’s sad when you can’t take your dog to a dog park,” Vanniasinkam says. “So, this option is really nice.”

She says that while it was initially difficult to navigate Roo’s anxiety, he is loving, family-oriented and worth the effort.

“It’s hard having an anxious dog, but you can figure it out,” she says. “It’s just important to understand your dog, so you’re set up for success.”

A revolutionary drug for extreme hunger offers clues to obesity’s complexity

By Claire Sibonney, KFF Health News

Ali Foley Shenk still remembers the panic when her 10-year-old son, Dean, finished a 20-ounce box of raisins in the seconds the cupboard was left unlocked. They rushed to the emergency room, fearing a dangerous bowel impaction.

The irony stung: When Dean was born, he was so weak and floppy he survived only with feeding tubes because he couldn’t suck or swallow. He was diagnosed as a baby with Prader-Willi syndrome — a rare disorder sparked by a genetic abnormality. He continued to be disinterested in food for years. But doctors warned that as Dean grew, his hunger would eventually become so uncontrollable he could gain dangerous amounts of weight and even eat until his stomach ruptured.

“It’s crazy,” said Foley Shenk, who lives in Richmond, Virginia. “All of a sudden, they flip.”

Prader-Willi syndrome affects up to 20,000 people in the U.S. The most striking symptom is its most life-threatening: an insatiable hunger known as hyperphagia that prompts caregivers to padlock cupboards and fridges, chain garbage cans and install cameras. Until recently, the only treatment was growth hormone therapy to help patients stay leaner and grow taller, but it didn’t address appetite.

In March, the Food and Drug Administration approved Vykat XR, an extended-release version of the existing drug diazoxide choline, which eases the relentless hunger and may offer insights into the biology of extreme appetite and binge eating. This breakthrough for these patients comes as other drugs are revolutionizing how doctors treat obesity, which affects more than 40% of American adults. GLP-1 agonist medications Ozempic, Wegovy and others also are delivering dramatic results for millions.

But what’s becoming clear is that obesity isn’t one disease — it’s many, said Jack Yanovski, a senior obesity researcher at the National Institutes of Health, who co-authored some of the Vykat XR studies. Researchers are learning that obesity’s drivers can be environmental, familial or genetic. “It only makes sense that it’s complex to treat,” Yanovski said.

Obesity medicine is likely heading the way of treatments for high blood pressure or diabetes, with three to five effective options for different types of patients. For example, up to 15% of patients in the GLP-1 trials didn’t respond to those drugs, and at least one study found the medications didn’t significantly help Prader-Willi patients.

Yet, researchers say, efforts to understand how to treat obesity’s many causes and pathways are now in question as the Trump administration is dismantling the nation’s infrastructure for medical discovery.

While Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promotes a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda centered on diet and lifestyle, federal funding for health research is being slashed, including some grants that support the study of obesity. University labs face cuts, FDA staffers are being laid off en masse, and rare disease researchers fear the ripple effects across all medical advances. Even with biotech partnerships — such as the work that led to Vykat XR — progress depends on NIH-funded labs and university researchers.

“That whole thing is likely to get disrupted now,” said Theresa Strong, research director for the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement that no NIH awards for Prader-Willi syndrome research have been cut. “We remain committed to supporting critical research into rare diseases and genetic conditions,” he said.

But Strong said that already some of the contacts at the FDA she’d spent nearly 15 years educating about the disorder have left the agency. She’s heard that some research groups are considering moving their labs to Europe.

Ali Foley Shenk, left, and her son Dean, at their home in Richmond, Virginia. (Parker Michels-Boyce/KFF Health News/TNS)

Early progress in hunger and obesity research is transforming the life of Dean Shenk. During the trial for Vykat XR, his anxiety about food eased so much that his parents began leaving cupboards unlocked.

Jennifer Miller, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Florida who co-led the Vykat XR trials, treats around 600 Prader-Willi patients, including Dean. She said the impact she’s seen is life-changing. Since the drug trial started in 2018, some of her adult patients have begun living independently, getting into college, and starting jobs — milestones that once felt impossible. “It opens up their world in so many ways.”

Over 26 years in practice, she’s also seen just how severely the disease hurts patients. One patient ate a four-pound bag of dehydrated potato flakes; another ingested all 10 frozen pizzas from a Costco pack; some ate pet food. Others have climbed out of windows, dived into dumpsters, even died after being hit by a car while running away from home in search of food.

Low muscle tone, developmental delays, cognitive disabilities and behavioral challenges are also common features of the disorder.

Dean attends a special education program, his mother said. He also has narcolepsy and cataplexy — a sudden loss of muscle control triggered by strong emotions. His once-regular meltdowns and skin-picking, which led to deep, infected lesions, were tied to anxiety over his obsessive, almost painful urge to eat.

In the trial, though, his hyperphagia was under control, according to Miller and Dean’s mother. His lean muscle mass quadrupled, his body fat went down, and his bone mineral density increased. Even the skin-picking stopped, Foley Shenk said.

Vykat XR is not a cure for the disease. Instead, it calms overactive neurons in the hypothalamus that release neuropeptide Y — one of the body’s strongest hunger signals. “In most people, if you stop secreting NPY, hunger goes away,” said Anish Bhatnagar, CEO of Soleno Therapeutics, which makes the medication, the company’s first drug. “In Prader-Willi, that off switch doesn’t exist. It’s literally your brain telling you, ‘You’re starving,’ as you eat.”

GLP-1 drugs, by contrast, mimic a gut hormone that helps people feel full by slowing digestion and signaling satiety to the brain.

Vykat XR’s possible side effects include high blood sugar, increased hair growth and fluid retention or swelling, but those are trade-offs that many patients are willing to make to get some relief from the most devastating symptom of the condition.

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Still, the drug’s average price of $466,200 a year is staggering even for rare-disease treatments. Soleno said in a statement it expects broad coverage from both private and public insurers and that the co-payments will be “minimal.” Until more insurers start reimbursing the cost, the company is providing the drug free of charge to trial participants.

Soleno’s stock soared 40% after the FDA nod and has held fairly steady since, with the company valued at nearly $4 billion as of early June.

While Vykat XR may be limited in whom it can help with appetite control, obesity researchers are hoping the research behind it may help them decode the complexity of hunger and identify other treatment options.

“Understanding how more targeted therapies work in rare genetic obesity helps us better understand the brain pathways behind appetite,” said Jesse Richards, an internal medicine physician and the director of obesity medicine at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa’s School of Community Medicine.

That future may already be taking shape. For Prader-Willi, two other notable phase 3 clinical trials are underway, led by Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Aardvark Therapeutics, each targeting different pathways. Meanwhile, hundreds of trials for general obesity are currently recruiting despite the uncertainties in U.S. medical research funding.

That brings more hope to patients like Dean. Nearly six years after starting treatment, the now-16-year-old is a calmer, happier kid, his mom said. He’s more social, has friends, and can focus better in school. With the impulse to overeat no longer dominating his every thought, he has space for other interests — “Star Wars,” “American Ninja Warrior” and a healthy appreciation for avocados among them.

“Before the drug, it just felt like a dead end. My child was miserable,” Foley Shenk said. “Now, we have our son back.”

©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Horoscopes June 22, 2025: Meryl Streep, give yourself free range

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Carson Daly, 52; Cyndi Lauper, 72; Meryl Streep, 76; Todd Rundgren, 77.

Happy Birthday: Take the pressure off and give yourself free range this year. You’ve got what it takes to move mountains, so face troubles with strength and courage. Don’t ponder what to do next; engage and be the one to make things happen. Let your stubbornness be your power and your memory and experience carry you forward confidently. Make a statement and a difference; choose peace and love over chaos and discord. Your numbers are 9, 16, 21, 27, 34, 41, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stick to your game plan regardless of temptation. Venturing out will lead to expenses you don’t need or want. Ignoring chores and responsibilities will lead to wasted time and money. Focus on what you can do and adapt your skills to meet demands. Avoid indulgence and excess, and you’ll discover alternatives. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention to what’s happening. Your insight and suggestions will win the favor of someone close to you. A self-improvement project will lift your spirits and draw attention. Make love, romance and following your heart your preference. Avoid situations that make you uneasy or require money or time you don’t want to sacrifice. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Check all your options and go through a process of elimination before you decide what to do next. Do your research before you make a change at home that requires attention. Expect someone to try your patience, and know enough to walk away before you say something you will regret. Choose to be positive. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Stop, look, listen and end what isn’t in your best interest. Protect yourself and what matters to you. A minimalist attitude will help you relinquish what you no longer need. Clear your mind, house and life of what’s standing in your way. Personal gain is within reach, along with love and happiness. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Concentrate on research and discovery. The more aware you are of your desires, the easier it will be to find the success you crave. Be mindful of how those around you operate; it will reveal intentions and offer insight into how to proceed. Put your energy into what matters most to you. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Review your options and wait until you have a clear passage forward. Acting in haste will lead to complications. Choose your words carefully, offer sound solutions and show confidence. You will gain the support and the help you require to implement your plan. Personal gain, growth and romance are in the stars. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Confusion will result if you take others literally. Listen, ask questions and verify information before you adjust your thinking or schedule to meet someone else’s demands. It’s OK to be different and to follow your heart instead of joining the crowd. You’ll get the highest return from home improvements if you work alone. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Get in the zone, do your thing and live in the moment. You have plenty to gain if you trust in yourself. Leave nothing to chance; follow your path and make things happen. Love and romance are rising, and a lifestyle change will lift your spirits. Communication will resolve uncertainty. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Let your creativity run wild and make changes at home that suit your needs. Convenience will encourage you to get things done and make your responsibilities more manageable. Putting your energy into positive changes instead of negative conversations will eliminate interference and lead to self-satisfaction and personal growth. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Test your skills, engage in competitive activities and set high standards for yourself and others. Opportunity is prevalent, and a chance to show off and gain support and ground will pay off and lead to your next venture. Socializing at events, spending time with someone who excites you and clarifying your intentions are favored. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Embrace change instead of backing away. Uncertainty will remain intact until you deal with the issues you face. Consider the cost of moving forward with your plans and proceed with passion and the intent to finish what you start. What you achieve will make you feel good and impress others. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Put your energy into something positive. Concentrate on domestic issues and helping loved ones. The rewards will surpass your expectations and position you for change. Add additional skills and qualifications to your resume, or consider updates that will bring in extra cash. An entrepreneurial approach to work and money will pay off. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are idealistic, devoted and supportive. You are attentive and autonomous.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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White House photos show rare look inside the Situation Room as Trump authorizes strikes in Iran

By SEUNG MIN KIM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — One image shows President Donald Trump staring straight ahead stone-faced, monitoring the mission that took out three Iranian nuclear enrichment sites on Saturday.

In another image, Trump stands as his chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, appears to speak. And whenever Trump is pictured, he is donning a bright red hat blaring his signature campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

The series of photos that the White House published on its X account Saturday gives the public a rare glimpse inside the Situation Room — again stirring the intrigue that occurs any time pictures from the highly secret complex are released.

In this image provided by the White House, President Donald Trump, right, and Vice President JD Vance sit in the Situation Room, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP)

(Recall the photo of then-president Barack Obama watching the raid that killed Osama bin Laden?)

The photos from Saturday portrayed Trump with senior members of his team, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio — doubling as Trump’s national security adviser — White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They are gathered around a large wooden table in the main conference room of the Situation Room, known as the “JFK Room” — named for the president who was in office when the Situation Room was established.

Trump is always in sharp focus whenever he is pictured, even as other officials in the foreground — like Hegseth or Vance — are softly blurred.

In this image provided by the White House, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in foreground, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sit in the Situation Room, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP)

The two officials closest to Trump when he’s seated are Vance and Rubio, perhaps underscoring the depth of their influence as Trump deliberated for days whether to strike Iran.

But the president isn’t always sitting still. At points, Trump was roaming around the room, standing behind his top aide Wiles as Caine appeared to speak. Some photos show Cabinet members sitting still, intently watching something, while others show a relative flurry of activities — the joint chiefs chairman pointing animatedly, Hegseth conferring with another official.

There are half-empty water bottles on the wooden conference table, along with disposable cups featuring the White House seal. Colorful highlighters. A thick binder in front of Caine.

This image provided by the White House shows CIA Director John Ratcliffe, in foreground seated, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, speaks with national security adviser Andy Baker with White House counsel David Warrington seated in background in the Situation Room, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP)

CIA Director John Ratcliffe had a binder and papers in front of him as well, although his documents appeared to be blurred — certainly for security reasons.

Senior administration officials not considered principals were also there. In the back in one photo is Dan Scavino, the president’s omnipresent deputy chief of staff. In another, White House counsel David Warrington is pictured.

The Situation Room that Trump and his national security team sat in is a vastly different one than from his previous term. The sprawling complex located on the ground floor of the West Wing underwent a $50 million renovation that was completed in 2023.