CNN’s ratings continue to struggle, falling behind cable channels like the Food Network and Hallmark Channel following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election. Despite a busy news cycle with Trump cabinet announcements, the murder of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson, and chaos in Syria, the ratings were dismal for the network’s primetime shows like “Anderson Cooper 360” and “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” during the week of Dec. 2, Fox News reported. The evening lineup averaged a total of 367,000 total viewers between 8-11 p.m. In comparison, Fox News averaged 2.5 million total primetime viewers last week. The audience for CNN wasn’t just less than Food Network, Fox News, and Hallmark Channel, but also MSNBC, ESPN, Freeform, TNT, Discovery, INSP, Hallmark Mystery, TLC, TBS, History, HGTV, USA, and Paramount. In fact, it came in 17th in cable in primetime, the outlet noted.  CNN just lost in the ratings to…Food Network!! The news outlet finished in 17th place among all cable stations last week in primetime. It wasn’t like it was a slow news cycle either. There was the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the manhunt for the killer, the… pic.twitter.com/pPXiU2Xi7I — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 11, 2024 In the coveted age demographic of 25-54, the news was even worse for the Ted Turner-founded network, with only 67,000 average viewers, the outlet noted. This put CNN behind channels like TV Land, MTV, Adult Swim, Nick at Nite, and Comedy Central in the key demographic. Fox News Channel, in comparison, averaged 280,000 viewers during primetime last week in the key age demo. Reacting to the news, Charlie Kirk said it was one more sign that legacy media was done. “This is devastating for the legacy cable news media,” Kirk wrote on X. “People are rejecting them and turning to resources like ‘The Charlie Kirk Show,’ Bongino, Megyn Kelly, Joe Rogan, and War Room.” “And they’re coming to X for real-time breaking news,” he added. “We are living through a dramatic tectonic shift that will change the course of history.” The news comes after CNN and MSNBC’s ratings had already plummeted after Trump’s landslide victory against Vice President Kamala Harris in the election last month, as previously reported. According to Nielsen data, coverage of Trump’s election victory throughout the day on CNN on Thursday — just after the election — brought in 419,000 total viewers and in the key age demographic, just 91,000 viewers, Mediaite noted. Over on MSNBC, the network had a total for the entire day of 596,000 viewers — and in the coveted age demographic, a total of 71,000 viewers. Year over year, CNN’s audience was down 40 percent, while MSNBC’s numbers were also down 23 percent. Related: MSNBC And CNN Ratings Plummet Following Trump’s Landslide Victory

The House of Representatives has approved its annual defense bill, which includes language banning taxpayer funding for transgender procedures that may result in the sterilization of children. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives Wednesday by a 281 to 140 vote, authorizing almost $900 billion in spending. Two hundred Republicans and 81 Democrats voted for the NDAA, and 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voted against it. Section 708 of the NDAA states that “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” The Daily Wire first reported this language on Saturday. Democrats and left-wing activists have argued that transgender procedures for children are “life-saving” and prevent kids from committing suicide. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have vehemently pushed back against these claims, pointing out that these procedures can sterilize children, and argue that the military’s goal is to defend the United States, not to transition children. “Today’s NDAA is a step toward restoring our armed forces by rejecting the woke agenda and refocusing on military readiness,” said Rep. Michael Cloud of Texas. “This bill bans TRICARE coverage for sex-change surgeries for minors, authorizes National Guard deployments to secure our southern border, and provides a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel.” “While this bill is a net positive, it’s not perfect,” he added. “Thankfully, we will soon have a new Commander-in-Chief who will take the necessary steps to complete what this bill started, fully restore our military’s focus on strength and readiness, and completely end the woke agenda across the federal government. This bill is just the beginning of the work that needs to be done.” On Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson called the NDAA provision a “critical and necessary step” in the fight against “radical gender ideology.” (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to support procedures and treatments that could permanently harm and sterilize young people,” Johnson told The Daily Wire on Saturday. “In this year’s NDAA, we’re taking a critical and necessary step to protect the children of American service members from radical gender ideology and experimental drugs.” He further promised: “House Republicans will continue to take action to protect America’s kids.” But House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member, Adam Smith (D-WA), called the bill “bigoted against the trans community,” claiming it undermined the bipartisan bill. “The medical profession has no dispute that in some instances, this treatment is crucial to the health and well-being of our children,” he claimed. “And we are now denying that to the children of servicemembers.” Democratic Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, who chairs the House Equality Caucus, told POLITICO that “Big Brother, big government attacks like those just don’t belong in this bill,” arguing that Republicans prioritized “right-wing extremist dogma over national defense.” And Republican Congressman Mike Rogers said Tuesday that he disagrees with the move to ban transgender procedures for military children in the NDAA, arguing that President-elect Donald Trump could resolve the issue upon taking office. “My preference would have been that we just let the president, on Jan. 20, deal with these,” the Alabama Republican told The Hill’s Emily Brooks, “which he’s already indicated he’s going to do.” Trump “is going to stop all these social, cultural issues from being embedded as policies,” he added. “So my point is, I don’t know why this is in the bill when Jan. 20, it’s a moot point.” But the language has garnered praise from advocates opposing irreversible transgender transition procedures for children. American Principles Project president Terry Schilling celebrated the news of the legislation’s passage in a Wednesday statement, saying:  “We are grateful for the principled leadership of Speaker Johnson in ensuring this important protection was included in the bill. And we urge Republican leaders in both chambers to continue to prioritize this issue, both for the remainder of this Congress and especially in the next one. Voters this November gave the GOP a mandate to act — now they must follow through.”

The Voice crowned its champion on December 10, and rookie coach Michael Buble brought home a winner. Sofronio Vasquez took home the top prize, and his couch couldn’t be more excited. Sofronio wowed the judges with his first note.  He received a four-chair turn during the blind auditions after his rendition of Rose Royce’s I’m Goin’ Down. He ultimately chose Michael as his coach, which proved to be the right move. Together, the pair made magic, and Sofriono looked forward to the end. The eventual Voice winner told People on December 9 that he’d be happy no matter the outcome. “We’re just going to celebrate that this was a very, very good run for The Voice and we really felt that we are loved by the production and no one is superior… we are all loved. [It’s] in America’s hands for tomorrow,” he said. “The Voice” Winner And His Coach Performed an Incredible Duet Sofronio and Michael’s rendition of Who’s Lovin’ You? was a soulful duet that made fans happy. The pair clearly love and respect one another. A fan shared on YouTube, “Thank you America for voting fair and square. Congratulation Sofronio! Well-deserved win. Thank you Michael Buble, you’re simply the best.” “They both made history. First-time coach and first-time winner. Nice work for both of you. Congrats team Buble and Sofronio for winning The Voice USA 2024,” a fan pointed out. This person loved the win. “Michael Bublé really kept his promise to Sofronio, trusting him from day 1. He made the right decision to go with coach Bublé.” Moments before Carson Daly named Sofronio The Voice winner, Michael said to him, “My Filipino brother, you are the hope of so many people… it has been such an unbelievable journey to be here with you.” This story’s featured image can be found here. The post Watch The Season 26 “The Voice” Winner & Michael Buble’ Sing The Perfect Duet appeared first on InspireMore.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When Ellen Kaphamtengo, 18, experienced intense stomach pain late in her pregnancy, she trusted her intuition. With her mother’s help, she boarded a motorcycle taxi and traveled to the Area 25 Health Centre in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe. It was a false alarm—or so it seemed. A routine ultrasound showed disturbing news: Ellen’s baby was significantly smaller than expected for its gestational age, putting it at risk of birth asphyxia, a condition that restricts oxygen and blood supply to the infant. Her situation was quickly classed as “high risk.” Using cutting-edge AI-enabled monitoring tools, medics detected her baby’s heart rate was decreasing. A stress test indicated that the baby would not survive natural childbirth. In less than 30 minutes, Ellen was on the operating table. Dr. Chikondi Chiweza, the hospital’s head of maternity care, and the AI system that detected the emergency helped Ellen deliver a healthy baby boy, Justice. “In her case, we would have only discovered the problem either later on, or with the baby as a stillbirth,” notes Dr. Chiweza. Understanding the crisis: stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Malawi Malawi has one of the world’s highest neonatal mortality rates, with approximately 19 out of every 1,000 babies dying during or shortly after birth. Birth asphyxia is a major cause, often resulting in stillbirth or long-term complications such as developmental delays and cerebral palsy. “The time around delivery is the most dangerous for the mother and baby,” says Dr. Jeffrey Wilkinson, an obstetrician at Texas Children’s Hospital. “You can prevent most deaths by making sure the baby is safe during the delivery process.” How artificial intelligence is changing the game in maternal care The Area 25 Health Centre is Malawi’s sole hospital that uses AI fetal monitoring software, which was supplied by PeriGen, a childbirth safety technology business, in collaboration with the Malawian health ministry and Texas Children’s Hospital. Since its installation three years ago, the clinic’s stillbirths and newborn mortality have decreased by an incredible 82 percent. The program continuously monitors the baby’s vital signs during labor, alerting specialists to any irregularities. Unlike traditional monitoring, which requires specialized personnel and periodic checks, the AI system gives real-time updates, lowering the possibility of missing crucial information. “This technology bridges the gap in care quality that underserved populations can access,” Dr. Chiweza explains. Real-time monitoring: the technology behind success Traditional fetal monitoring methods rely on periodic manual inspections, which leaves ample room for error and missed warning signs. Furthermore, analyzing raw data from numerous sensors can be time-consuming and necessitate specialized training. In contrast, AI-enabled systems offer continuous observation and uniform interpretations, allowing for faster and more accurate treatments. At Area 25, where 8,000 babies are delivered each year by a team of 80 physicians, only around 10 percent of the personnel is trained in standard monitoring procedures. The AI tool enables less-specialized individuals to notice irregularities and provide timely care. “Most of our staff can now use the software to flag riskier births, making it easier to prioritize complex cases,” Dr. Chiweza explains. A vision for the future: scaling AI in Africa Ellen’s tale demonstrates how technology can save lives in resource-limited environments. “They were able to discover that my baby was distressed early enough to act,” she says, grateful for the interventions that ensured her baby’s survival. The success at Area 25 has given clinicians hope for widespread implementation of AI monitoring in Malawi and abroad. “AI technology is being used in many fields, and saving babies’ lives should not be an exception,” says Dr. Chiweza. Expanding this technology to additional African hospitals could drastically reduce unnecessary fatalities, particularly in nations with comparable personnel shortages and low medical resources. “This is just the beginning,” says Dr. Wilkinson. “With the right investments, we can create a future where fewer families face the heartbreak of losing a child during delivery.” The story emerging at Area 25 Health Centre is one of ingenuity, hope, and life-saving outcomes. This clinic in Malawi is redefining maternal care by leveraging the potential of AI, demonstrating that technology can make a significant effect even in low-resource situations. As artificial intelligence continues to bridge gaps in healthcare, one thing is clear: saving lives, particularly those of the most vulnerable, is no longer a pipe dream—it is a reality that is within grasp.The post AI to the rescue: how technology slashes stillbirths and saves lives in Malawi first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For the first time in decades, five Hawaiian crows, or ‘alalā, are soaring freely on the lush slopes of Maui’s Haleakala volcano. These birds are the most endangered crows on Earth, with only 110 of them left in existence. Extinct in the wild since 2002, the ‘alalā now carry the weight of their species’ survival on their wings. “They are shouldering all of the hopes of their species,” says Alison Greggor, an ecologist leading the reintroduction effort for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The release, which occurred in November, symbolizes a new era for the species. Attempts to return ‘alalā to their natural Big Island environment have suffered obstacles due to predation by the Hawaiian hawk, or ‘io. This time, scientists chose Maui, where ‘io are absent, giving the birds a higher chance of survival. Why Maui? The science behind the move The Kīpahulu Forest Reserve in Maui was chosen as the release site because of its semi-isolated location and ideal vegetation. The five birds, three males and two females, spent six weeks adjusting in an aviary before gingerly exploring their new surroundings. “The time around release is critical,” adds Hannah Bailey, conservation program manager for the Hawaiian Endangered Birds Program. “We’re still learning, and so are the birds.” The birds on the reserve benefit from a predator-free environment, allowing them to concentrate on feeding and socializing. Scientists carefully examined the birds’ survival abilities, including their capacity to locate food and respond to potential predators. During months of preparation, the group built tight ties, which were critical to their success in the wilderness. Cultural guardians of the forest To Hawaiians, ‘alalā are more than just birds; they are revered as spirit guardians, or ‘aumakua, believed to protect and warn their human counterparts. Their connection to the forest is profound, exemplifying the complex interplay between nature and society. “To me, and in my culture, the ‘alalā are like our ancestors—our kūpuna,” says Keanini Aarona, an avian recovery specialist. “The forest wouldn’t be there without these birds.” This cultural relevance amplifies the urgency of conservation efforts. Restoring the ‘alalā to the wild not only saves a species but also improves the ecological and spiritual balance of Hawaiian forests. Lessons from past reintroductions The current reintroduction effort builds on the lessons of a previous endeavor from 2016 to 2020 when 30 ‘alalā were released on the Big Island. Initially promising, the initiative deteriorated as predation and environmental challenges reduced bird populations. By 2020, the remaining crows had to be returned to human care. Despite the setback, the past initiative was quite useful for improving techniques. Conservationists recognized the value of predator-free settings and the need for thorough behavioral assessments prior to release. “This isn’t a failure,” explains biologist Jacqueline Gaudioso-Levita. “It’s a stepping stone to doing it better the next time.” Balancing conservation and ecology Ecological dangers are usually associated with reintroduction operations like this one. Because Maui is not the ‘alalā’s native range, scientists carefully studied the potential impact on other species in the area, including endangered snails and forest birds. “We didn’t want to risk native species on Maui just in pursuit of finding a better path for ‘alalā,” explains Michelle Bogardus, a deputy field supervisor at the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “We would not be doing this if we thought that this action was going to risk all of the other species that are also within our stewardship.” With these precautions in place, the release proceeded. On the big day, the birds hesitated, climbing above their aviary and hopping between trees before taking off. Slowly but steadily, they entered the forest. Looking ahead: hope for the ‘Alalā The future of the ‘alalā is uncertain, but the Maui reintroduction offers a glimmer of optimism. Conservationists hope that if this group can adapt and prosper, it will open the way for more widespread efforts throughout Hawaii. Gaudioso-Levita describes the experience of being in the presence of an ‘alalā as humbling. “Their intelligence and uniqueness are very apparent.” The birds’ tool-use skills and social relationships demonstrate their extraordinary adaptability. With the continuous partnership of organizations, government agencies, and local communities, the hope of a thriving wild population appears closer than ever before. For now, the five ‘alalā on Maui constitute a delicate yet powerful sign of survival. They remind us that, even in the face of insurmountable odds, a second chance is possible—with the proper combination of science, culture, and compassion.The post Save the spirit guardians: Hawaiian crows get a fresh start on Maui first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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