Obesity Rates, CIA Operations, & ChatGPT Sexting

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
October 17, 2025

Good Morning! Today’s edition is 923 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap:

First-time reader? Sign up here!

The number of states where at least 35% of adults have obesity fell from 23 to 19 in 2024 — the first decline in more than ten years, according to a Trust for America’s Health report using CDC data. West Virginia remained the highest at 41.4%, while Colorado had the lowest rate at 25%.
Experts point to the growing use of new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound and expanded nutrition support programs during the pandemic. However, the elimination of some SNAP nutrition initiatives may slow future progress.
Despite the improvement, 4 in 10 US adults still have obesity, and rates among children and teens have risen above 21%, up from 19.7% in 2017-2020 data.

President Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he authorized CIA covert operations in Venezuela and is considering land operations. Since September, US forces have killed 27 people by destroying five boats allegedly smuggling drugs. Four were from Venezuela.
The administration declared drug cartels 'unlawful combatants' and claimed the US is in armed conflict with them. However, two US officials said the administration has provided no evidence that the boats were carrying drugs, and bipartisan lawmakers opposed taking military action without congressional authorization.
Venezuelan President Maduro condemned the operations as regime change efforts by the US, while Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the moves push the US closer to outright conflict with no transparency or oversight. Trump declined to say whether the CIA has the authority to target Maduro.

About 3,000 people are suing Johnson & Johnson in a UK court over baby powder allegedly containing asbestos-contaminated talc. The group claims they or family members developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, a lung cancer almost always caused by asbestos exposure. Claims exceed £1 billion. J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023.
Lawyers say J&J concealed the risk for decades, suppressed evidence of contamination, and lobbied regulators to continue sales. One woman said she used the powder on herself and four children since the 1960s and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer seven years ago. Another widow said her husband died at 64 from mesothelioma after daily use.
Kenvue, J&J's consumer health division handling claims outside North America, denies the allegations. The company said the talc complied with regulations, did not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer, citing years of testing by independent laboratories and health authorities.

A Chicago judge ordered federal immigration agents to wear body cameras after seeing tear gas used during operations that arrested over 1,000 people since September. (More)

Trump and Putin agreed Thursday to meet in Budapest on ending Ukraine's war, one day before Trump hosts Zelenskyy to discuss Tomahawk missiles that Putin opposes. (More)

The Senate again rejected a Republican spending bill Thursday, keeping the government shutdown going into its third week as Democrats demand health care talks Republicans refuse. (More)

Kyoto hiked its tourist tax 900%, charging up to $66 nightly at luxury hotels starting March to fight overtourism from a record 10.88 million visitors last year. (More)

Uruguay became the first Latin American country to legalize euthanasia through parliament on Wednesday after 10 hours of Senate debate. (More)

Doctors Without Borders permanently closed its Port-au-Prince emergency center after repeated gunfire in Haiti's capital, where gangs control 90% of the city and have shut down most health facilities. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.63%, Nasdaq -0.47%, Dow -0.65%). Stocks fell Thursday despite earlier gains as bank stocks dropped on bad loan worries. (More)

New US tariffs will cost global businesses over $1.2 trillion in 2025, with most expenses passed to consumers, according to S&P Global analysis released Thursday. (More)

Nestle will cut 16,000 jobs as new CEO Philipp Navratil speeds up cost cuts to save $3.14 billion. Shares rose 9.3% after strong quarterly results. (More)

The Dodgers took a 3-1 win over Milwaukee, putting them one victory away from the World Series. (More) | Toronto beat Seattle 8-2 to tie their playoff series 2-2 after trailing 2-0. (More)

Indiana gave coach Curt Cignetti an eight-year, $11.6 million annual deal after he led the Hoosiers to their first College Football Playoff and 17-2 record in two seasons. (More)

FIFA announced that over 1 million tickets have been sold for next year’s World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico. (More)

Men's brains decline more than women's with age across most regions, a new study found, deepening the mystery of why women develop Alzheimer's disease at higher rates despite healthier brain aging. (More)

Fossils of 1.5-million-year-old Paranthropus boisei hands suggest this ancient hominid made stone tools, challenging the idea that only our Homo genus could craft them. (More)

New research shows Australian tropical rainforest trees switched from absorbing carbon to emitting it 25 years ago due to heat and drought. (More)

ChatGPT will soon allow sexting with verified adults.

Why some people get a “second wind” at bedtime.

Mapping fast food density by state.

Your feedback helps us provide the best newsletter possible.