Personal News: I am writing as a mother and living organ donor. Twenty years ago this month, our youngest son Peter received a life-saving liver transplant at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh @ChildrensPgh With Peter’s permission, I’m sharing a photo taken with his older brother a few weeks before his 2006 transplant, when he was in liver failure. Four years later, he won gold at the U.S. Transplant Games in Madison, Wisconsin. And here he is today—healthy, strong, and thriving. What I didn’t fully appreciate in 2006 was that Peter and I were part of pioneering research aimed at reducing the risk of organ rejection in pediatric patients. Even though I donated a segment of my liver to Peter—and as mother and son we are genetically similar—the new testing protocol still helped lower his chances of rejection. Peter and I participated in a research project that developed a simple blood test called Pleximmune @plexision It predicts the likelihood of rejection in pediatric patients by analyzing the unique immune chemistry of both the child and the donor. The test also helps doctors determine exactly how much immunosuppression a child needs to keep rejection at bay. Our family knows firsthand how valuable this early warning system truly is. When Peter hit his growth spurt in his early teens, like so many pediatric transplant recipients, he needed increased immunosuppression. The Pleximmune test predicted this need months in advance, giving his doctors time to adjust his care before problems arose. The threat of rejection is a cloud that hangs over every transplant patient and family. This test is making a real difference. It helps prevent rejection and can save tens of thousands of dollars for families and insurance companies. This is where common sense matters. In early July, the research team is preparing an appeal to Medicare @MedicareGov to price the Pleximmune test "fairly and consistently" with similar diagnostic tests. Right now, only a small percentage of the cost of the test for pediatric patients is being reimbursed. As the team told me, “Fair pricing is the lifeblood of a company’s ability to provide patients with more informed care and continued innovation.” Today, Pleximmune has been used to test roughly 10% of children under age 21 who have received liver or intestine transplants in the U.S. If you want to support this important work and help more pediatric patients and their families benefit... Send a note to your senator, let them know to escalate the matter with Medicare so the appeal gets a fair hearing. Catherine

They just held this event, and neither El-Sayed nor Sheffield disclosed that El-Sayed's campaign has paid $97,500 to Sheffield's unregistered nonprofit. Sheffield told me through text when I asked about this: "Please don't contact me anymore."

Detroit pastor Horace Sheffield is holding a "fireside chat" with Abdul El-Sayed Sen. Warnock tomorrow. El-Sayed's campaign has paid $97,500 so far to Sheffield's nonprofit. the Ecumenical Ministers Alliance, for "consulting." El-Sayed and Sheffield have not disclosed these payments in their many radio interviews and campaign events together.

The internet told them Europe was a social paradise. Turns out the trains are awful, the health care isn’t free, and people can be really mean. buff.ly/5cLtnha

Put down the mic and get thee a speaking trumpet to practice your freedom of speech

“The final three weeks are about one thing: putting Saritha in front of the voters who have not seen her yet, because the  ones who saw her debate are breaking to her by four to one.”

Abdul El-Sayed on the Second Amendment: "When they promised the right to bear arms, they had muskets. So, yeah, everyone should have equal rights to a musket."

"THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO TERRIFY YOUNG PEOPLE" @ClayTravis argues that threatening young White House aides with prosecution for serving in the administration crosses a line

Zohran Mamdani’s administration has unveiled new sidewalk shed designs for NYC in an effort to bring better-designed sidewalks to all five boroughs. The administration has also reduced the number of sidewalk sheds by 1,200 across the city — a decrease of over 15% in 10 months.

There is a lawsuit that has been filed in Los Angeles federal court by DOJ that seeks to force Calif to set aside any ballots cast by persons among the 20,000 registered voters who have files with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services -- meaning they are visa holders or Permanent Resident Aliens, but NOT eligible voters. The legal theories advanced by DOJ are very interesting. They have filed for a TRO, and the opposition papers just came in. The case is held up temporarily over the lack of a Judge assignment. The DOJ filed a "Related Case Notice" stating that the case meets the qualifications under the Local Rule. Normally, the Judge to whom the earlier case is assigned would also get the "Related" case. But California has objected and claims the two cases aren't sufficiently related under the Local Rule. "Why?" You ask? The Judge is a Trump appointee. The same Judge who was assigned to the Hunter Biden criminal tax case in California. I'll have a Substack article tomorrow.

This is ridiculous! The school locked down because someone told the school ICE was engaged in enforcement actions in a different location "near" the school. And maybe if cities let cops cooperate, instead of warning folks, they'd get notice.

LA County Elections Officials tell a judge they tested a small sample (200) of the list of 20k registered CA voters the Trump administration says are non-citizens. 112/200 were not sent ballots 71.2% of the 200 have no voting history.

LA County Elections Officials tell a judge they tested a small sample (200) of the list of 20k registered CA voters the Trump administration says are non-citizens. 112/200 were not sent ballots 71.2% of the 200 have no voting history.

She has gone completely nuts. It’s really weird.