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Today’s Big Story

Magic Weight Loss Injections

Eli Lilly’s new drug, tirzepatide, helps people with type II diabetes lose weight as well as control their blood sugar. In a recent study, 900 participants injected with the highest dose of the drug lost an average of 34 pounds, or 16% of their body weight over a 17 month period.

How does it work?
Tirzepatide helps people feel full longer by reducing their appetite and slowing the digestion process. It also blocks chemical pathways between the gut and brain that cause cravings and thoughts about food.

Is it safe?
An Eli Lilly press release lists serious side effect warnings including thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, and kidney failure. However, a study done by the American Diabetes Association found that the side effects are mostly mild to medium gastrointestinal issues and are transient in nature - meaning they go away with time.

What’s next?
Eli Lilly says it will finalize an application to the FDA for fast-track approval to sell terzepatide for chronic weight management. If approved, it is expected to bring in over $50 billion in yearly sales for the company. Which brings up another issue, similar weight loss drugs cost at least $1,000 dollars monthly and only 20% to 30% of patients with private insurance have coverage. If terzepatide has a similar price point, access will still be an issue for many Americans.

Little Stories

Business & Economy

*All the jobs cuts at Meta have paid off. The company’s stock jumped 14% on Thursday after its first quarter earnings were made public. The $239 share price is the highest since January of 2022.

*Netflix lost 1 million users in Spain after it began to crack down on password sharing. 1/3 of the loss came from cancellations, which is 300% more than the company had in Q1 of last year, signalling that users are upset about the new policy.

World

*Record heat in scorching parts of Asia with temperatures reaching 109°F in certain coastal areas. 100 school children in the Philippines were hospitalized with dehydration after a fire drill.

*Iran seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the Marshall Island-flagged ship collided with an Iranian boat. The incident occured in international waters where Iran has no jurisdiction, making the detainment unlawful.

US New, Politics, & Government

*Mike Pence testified on Thursday before a Grand Jury on the efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 Presidential election.

*Videos of US Fed Chair Jerome Powell having a conversation with Russian prank callers pretending to be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are circulating on the internet.

Sports & Entertainment

*The Carolina Panthers nabbed Alabama quarterback Bryce Young with the 1st overall pick in the NFL draft.

*Jerry Springer, former politician and talk show host, died at the age of 79 on Thursday. His TV show, “The Jerry Springer Show”, aired for 27 years and at one time topped Oprah Winfrey’s show in popularity.

Science, Health, & Tech

*Dyson has jumped into the music game. Their new $949 headphones come with a visor that can stretch across your face and purify air. However, the filter doesn’t protect against COVID-19.

*Allergy season may be worse this year due to the increased amount of rain the US received, according to allergists. Rising temperatures are also a problem; when the weather is warm pollen thrives.

Extras

*Check out the dummies guide to ChatGPT, the AI tool that can make your life easier.

*Today in underrated travel destinations: Nova Scotia.

*Watch: would you live in this retro mansion on the side of a cliff?