Florida will repeal all of its vaccine mandates, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday. The rules currently require schoolchildren to receive vaccines for chickenpox, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and Hepatitis B. Ladapo compared the mandates to “slavery,” and Governor Ron DeSantis supports the plan. Public health experts warn the change could revive serious diseases, particularly in children. (Story URL)
Disney has agreed to pay $10 million to resolve a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit over alleged violations of children’s privacy rules on YouTube. Under the settlement, Disney must pay the civil penalty, obtain parental consent before collecting data from viewers under 13, and create a review process for content labeling. The FTC said the order will change how Disney designates videos. (Story URL)
Chicago leaders are preparing for a possible surge of National Guard troops and immigration agents ordered by President Trump. Trump has promised a crackdown in the city despite objections from Mayor Brandon Johnson, Gov. JB Pritzker, and a federal court ruling against a similar Los Angeles deployment. Community groups, churches, and unions are coordinating protests and legal aid. (Story URL)
A new survey shows Americans plan to spend less this holiday season, marking the steepest cut since 2020. The report projects average holiday spending at $1,552 per person, down 5% from 2024. That figure includes gifts, food, travel, and entertainment. Gen Z respondents, ages 17 to 28, expect the largest drop, with budgets shrinking 23%. Eighty-four percent of consumers expect to reduce overall spending. (Story URL)
Newsmax has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Fox News of abusing monopoly power in the conservative cable news market. The case claims Fox uses anticompetitive tactics to block rival right-leaning channels. Attorneys for Newsmax wrote that Fox’s actions prevented the network from gaining wider distribution, faster audience growth, and stronger advertiser support. (Story URL)
