'We have witnessed firsthand how health and civics intersect'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'Registering voters at medical facilities would be a good Rx for democracy'
Trey Grayson, Miles Rapoport and Dr. Ali Raja at USA Today
If "policies impacting health are shaped without the voices of health care professionals and patients, we risk undermining the very foundation of public health and community well-being," say Trey Grayson, Miles Rapoport and Dr. Ali Raja. Medical facilities are "uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between health care and voter engagement." By "integrating nonpartisan voter registration into health care," America "can implement an elegant solution to strengthen democracy, empower patient voices and improve public health outcomes."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'The Satanic Temple is taking on the Christian right. It's fun to watch.'
Arwa Mahdawi at The Guardian
The Satanic Temple is "about raising hell to fight for freedom," says Arwa Mahdawi. The temple "uses the religious right's tactics, and their victories, against them," and has "taken on issues like prayer in the classroom, after-class Bible study groups, and the distribution of Bibles in schools. This has had the "desired effect of driving the satanists' adversaries bonkers." The "devil works hard, but the Republican party works harder," so the Satanic Temple is "doing the Lord's work."
'The risks of sharing your DNA with online companies aren't a future concern. They're here now.'
Nila Bala at the Los Angeles Times
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The "implications of genetic data breaches are staggering: This information can reveal sensitive information about a person's health and other characteristics," says Nila Bala. In the "wrong hands, it carries profound risks." This "DNA commodification is no longer a future concern; it's a present reality." These "risks demand a response." Americans "need a paradigm shift for genetic privacy," and we "should be able to depend on the government to regulate unsafe data practices."
'Banning books isn't just morally wrong. It's also unhealthy.'
Dr. Sayantani DasGupta at Time
Reading aloud "bonds families together — it promotes attachment," and "books help build young people's imagination," says Dr. Sayantani DasGupta. It is "partially for this reason that children's and YA fiction is under such intense assault from book banners." Banning books is an "assault on our individual and collective health — our imaginative health, our intellectual health, our physical health, and the health of our society." Americans "must ensure young readers have access to the books that will open their minds."
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
England’s ‘dysfunctional’ children’s care system
In the Spotlight A new report reveals that protection of youngsters in care in England is failing in a profit-chasing sector
-
Cider farms to visit this autumn
The Week Recommends With harvest season fast approaching, spend an afternoon at one of these idyllic orchards
-
Endangered shark meat is being mislabeled and sold in the US
Under the radar It could cause both health and ecological problems
-
‘Peak consumption has become the Holy Grail of the energy debate’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for coup attempt
Speed Read Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to stay in power following his 2022 election loss
-
Why does Donald Trump keep showing up at major sporting events?
Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘It’s time for Congress to step up for us’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge lets Cook stay at Fed while appealing ouster
Speed Read Trump had attempted to fire Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud
-
'Who can save France now?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Voting: Trump's ominous war on mail ballots
Feature Donald Trump wants to sign an executive order banning mail-in ballots for the 2026 midterms