Good morning everyone.
I’m sorry for the lack of posts last week. I was preoccupied with an ideal UV index, crushing my nieces and nephews in pickleball (sorry Dodge. maybe next summer.), and eating a lot of nectarines.
We’ve got much to catch up on. Buckle up, Buttercups.
Is RFK Jr. Buckling to Big Ag?: Central to Bobby Kennedy’s DNA—other than a genetic predisposition for scandals—is a disdain for glyphosate, the herbicide widely used on American crops. One of his key campaign promises was to have the chemical, which is linked to a variety of lovely conditions like cancer, outlawed.
But this was more than a campaign promise. It was low key his life’s work. He spearheaded the legal challenge to Monsanto, the chemical’s maker. They’ve paid $11 billion in glyphosate-related injury/illness cases—so far. “If my life’s work were a Superman comic, Monsanto would be my Lex Luther,” he posted in 2020.
When he was nominated to lead the HHS, the Agricultural Industrial Complex was understandably nervous. Superman had his eyes set on LexCorp.
But according to a leaked draft of the latest MAHA report, the administration is softening its stance on glyphosate. The new language calls the research “robust” and suggests we shouldn’t be too worried about a chemical that shows up in our morning oats and our kids’ fishy crackers.
Some insiders speculate the administration is “at war with itself” trying to keep hundreds of ag lobbyists in D.C. happy while not crossing off the MAHA moms who’ve been shelling out for organic since the Clinton years.
How RFK Jr. navigates this tug-of-war will be telling. Running On Butter will be here to cover it.
Sleep devices: I’ve never struggled with sleep. And I am so grateful. I love sleep. It’s sacred. Closing your eyes and drifting off to dreams of sliding down a 100-foot stick of Irish butter or beating Novak in straight sets is about as good as it gets.
So when I read that Eight Sleep—a Wi-Fi mattress that promises “better sleep”—just raised $100 million, I thought: good for those willing to drop $3,200 on a trendy mattress (btw: if you’ve got that kind of cash and aren’t a paid ROB subscriber, you’re dead to me).
But after about 13 seconds of reflection, I’m changed my mind. Sleep is the great equalizer. Jeff Bezos has wild, mildly unsettling dreams just like you do. And you don’t need an overpriced mattress to rest well.
Modernity is what wrecked our sleep cycles. I doubt it’s going to be what fixes them. Remember, our ancestors slept 12 hours a night on beds of hay or a dirt floor.
You don’t need to go full caveman, but if you’re a fitful sleeper, here are a few tips:
Eat well: A nourished body rests; a deprived one wrestles.
Train well: Walk, lift, run, play. Exercise calibrates your circadian rhythm.
Turn off your phone: We all know this but most of us don’t practice it. Set your phone away from your bed, and read a book until your eyes get heavy. Scrolling is literally designed to keep you wide awake.
Supplements: Magnesium glycinate, chamomile tea, melatonin.
Wind down: If you’re a mind racer, try an audiobook or conversational podcast with a sleep timer to focus and relax.
Tylenol concerns: A really well done, new study suggests that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy may be linked to higher rates of ADHD and autism in children.
Tylenol crosses the placental barrier and may trigger oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, and cause epigenetic changes that interfere with fetal brain development.
About half of pregnant women take Tylenol. “Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications,” noted study author Dr. Diddier Prada.
This study is a reminder: silencing pain with NSAIDs like Tylenol isn’t without consequences. Even drugs considered safe and common may carry risks worth a second thought—especially during pregnancy.
A Michelin-starred NYC restaurant that went vegan a few years ago is bringing meat back to the menu. The chef admitted: “I have some anxiety that people are going to say, ‘Oh, he’s a hypocrite,’ but I know that the best way to continue to champion plant-based cooking is to let everyone participate around the table.” Translation: the social justice menu wasn’t selling.
A group of doctors are trying to redefine death to boost organ donation numbers. Hoping my nine hours of sleep doesn’t qualify under the new definition.
Serena Williams is the newest spokesperson for GLP-1s, after reportedly losing 30 pounds. Interesting move from someone who was long presented as confidently embracing her body image. Maybe she wasn’t as confident as she projected.
Christopher Schwarzenegger incredible weight loss journey started with giving up bread for Lent. We love a committed Catholic.
The UK is cracking down on misleading baby food marketing. Manufacturers can no longer call sugar-loaded purées “healthy.” Glad to see the British government doing at least this much. Now if only they’d acknowledge the immigration situation.
Whole Foods just settled a class action over its hot chocolate mix. The scandal? Shoppers thought the canister had more mix than it did. Legally, that’s false advertising. I call it portion control. Go Whole Foods. Y’all are sly Buttercups.
Canceled: The Paula Deen Story is a documentary I’ll be watching intently when it drops. Everything’s better with butter.
Went vegan, lost customers, who woulda thought... alarming there are people this braindead