The Persistent Misleading Claim That Vaccines Aren’t Properly Tested for Safety

It’s a common, misleading refrain in anti-vaccine circles: Childhood vaccines may be unsafe because few if any have been tested in placebo-controlled trials before being approved. But that claim misunderstands the vaccine safety testing process and takes advantage of a narrow definition of a placebo, scientists told us.

“Not a single childhood vaccine on the schedule has ever been through a double-blind placebo-based trial prior to licensure,” Del Bigtree, a prominent activist with ties to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said at a March 9 conference that billed itself as being about a “massive epidemic” of vaccine harm. “It is now a known fact that they were never done. No placebo trial anywhere in sight,” Bigtree went on to say.

Kennedy has been making similar claims for years. He previously led Children’s Health Defense, a group that says its “mission is ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposures” and writes frequently about alleged harms from vaccines, and hired Bigtree as his communications director during his 2024 presidential run. Kennedy has generally refrained from speaking about vaccines in recent months, but in a congressional hearing on April 21, he repeated the claim when stating that he’s “never been anti-vax.”

“I don’t believe all vaccines are bad. I’ve never said that. What I’ve said is they should be safety tested,” Kennedy said, noting that the government is funding the development of a universal flu vaccine and cancer vaccines. (In a 2023 podcast, he said that “no vaccine” is safe and effective, and later denied making those remarks.)

LSU’s Kailin Chio Named Honda Sport Award Finalist as Gymnastics Elite Take Center Stage

Tigers standout joins star-studded field, including Jordan Chiles and Faith Torrez, in race for collegiate gymnastics’ top honor

BATON ROUGE, La. | LSU Tigers gymnastics sophomore sensation Kailin Chio continues to cement her place among the nation’s elite, earning a coveted spot as a finalist for the 2026 Honda Sport Award for gymnastics.

The announcement, made by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards, places Chio among the top four gymnasts in the country, alongside Jordan Chiles (UCLA), Anna Roberts (Stanford), and Faith Torrez (Oklahoma).

A Breakout Season for Chio

Chio’s 2026 campaign has been nothing short of historic. The sophomore emerged as the nation’s No. 1 all-around gymnast during the regular season based on National Qualifying Score (NQS), anchoring LSU’s run to an NCAA national runner-up finish.

Her dominance across events was unmatched. Chio recorded 13 perfect 10.0 scores — the most ever by an LSU gymnast in a single season — and one of the highest totals nationally since 2019. She also made history by becoming the first gymnast in NCAA history to score a perfect 30.000 while competing in just three events on March 13.

The accolades continued to pile up. Chio earned SEC Gymnast of the Year and Region One Gymnast of the Year honors while capturing SEC titles in the all-around and vault. She consistently delivered elite scores, posting 9.900 or higher across all four events throughout the season.

South Carolina Honors Elite Talent at 2026 Gamecock Gala, Verzyl Headlines Historic Night

National champions and academic standouts take center stage as South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate top student-athletes at Colonial Life Arena

COLUMBIA, S.C. | Excellence in competition, the classroom, and the community took the spotlight Monday night as South Carolina Gamecocks Athletics hosted its annual Gamecock Gala, honoring the program’s top student-athletes from the 2025–26 academic year at Colonial Life Arena.

Leading the night’s honors was senior diving standout Sophie Verzyl, who captured the prestigious President’s Award — the department’s highest individual honor recognizing excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and service.

Arkansas Stars Herron, Johnson Earn AUSL Reserve Pool Spots Ahead of 2026 College Draft

Razorbacks standouts secure provisional draft rights as pro softball pipeline expands, with draft set for May 4 on ESPN2

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. | Two of the most decorated players in Arkansas Razorbacks softball history are one step closer to the professional ranks. Senior pitcher Robyn Herron and senior outfielder Reagan Johnson have been selected as provisional picks in the 2026 AUSL College Draft and named to the AUSL Reserve Athlete Pool, the league announced Sunday.

The designation gives AUSL franchises the rights to these players while offering immediate flexibility through the reserve system — a pathway that allows athletes to be called up during the season, particularly when rostered players compete internationally in events such as the Japan Diamond League.

Herron Cementing Legacy in the Circle

Herron leaves Arkansas as one of the most dominant pitchers in program history. Across 111 career appearances and 73 starts, the left-hander has compiled 52 wins, a 2.18 ERA, and 554 strikeouts — while holding opposing hitters to a program-record .180 batting average.

Her ability to dominate lineups has been a constant. Herron has recorded 16 career games with 10 or more strikeouts, tying a program record previously held by Mary Haff.

In 2026, she has elevated her performance even further, posting a 14-4 record with a 1.99 ERA and 144 strikeouts in just over 91 innings. Nationally, she ranks among the top pitchers in strikeouts per seven innings (5th), fewest hits allowed per seven innings (14th), and saves (15th), underscoring her versatility and elite command.

UC San Diego Standouts Shine: Wurl, Womack Headline 2026 University Credit Union Athletes of the Week

Record-breaking performances across softball, volleyball, tennis, baseball, and track power UC San Diego Tritons into postseason spotlight

LA JOLLA, Calif. | Dominance across multiple sports continues to define the spring surge for the UC San Diego Tritons, as a wave of standout performances headline the latest 2025–26 University Credit Union Athletes of the Week honors.

From clutch softball hitting to record-setting pitching and elite track times, UC San Diego’s top athletes are delivering at a championship-caliber level — and doing so across nearly every major program.

Maryland Women’s Tennis Ends 15-Year NCAA Drought, Eyes Breakthrough in Chapel Hill Regional

Record-setting Terps (18-7) face South Carolina in first round, chasing program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win after historic Big Ten run

COLLEGE PARK, Md. | For the first time since 2011, the Maryland Terrapins women's tennis are back on college tennis’ biggest stage — and they’re arriving with momentum, history, and a chance to redefine their program.

Maryland (18-7) will travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for the opening rounds of the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship, where the Terps will square off against South Carolina Gamecocks women's tennis (12-12) on Friday, May 1 at 1 p.m. The winner advances to face either No. 5-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels women's tennis (24-3) or Charleston Southern Buccaneers women's tennis (11-8) in the second round.

This marks Maryland’s seventh NCAA Tournament appearance — and its first in 15 years — as the program looks to secure its first-ever victory in the national championship bracket.

After White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting, GOP Blames Democratic Rhetoric as Partisan Divide Deepens

Republicans link political language to rising threats against President Donald Trump, while Democrats condemn violence and reject accusations amid renewed debate over DHS funding and campaign strategy

In the volatile aftermath of a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Republican leaders and campaign operatives have moved swiftly to assign blame to Democratic political rhetoric, intensifying an already fraught national discourse over political violence and public safety.

Within hours of the disruption—an event that forced the evacuation of President Donald Trump and other high-profile attendees—Republican officials framed the incident as part of a broader pattern they argue is fueled by what they describe as inflammatory language from Democratic leaders and candidates.

Speaking publicly, Trump warned that “hate speech” from Democrats poses a growing danger, echoing a familiar strategy deployed following the 2024 assassination attempts against him. Republican National Committee leadership and affiliated campaign arms amplified that message across social media, targeting Democratic candidates in key battleground states and linking past statements to what they characterize as a climate conducive to political violence.

Among those cited were Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and North Carolina figure Roy Cooper, with Republican groups highlighting past remarks to argue that Democratic messaging has escalated tensions. In Maine, GOP officials also pointed to Democratic criticism of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding as undermining agencies responsible for national security.

‘TELL IT LIKE IT IS’: Trump by the Numbers — April 2026 Economic, Border & Policy Breakdown

Our first quarterly update of various economic and social indicators under Trump's second term as president.

Under President Donald Trump’s second term:

• Job growth slowed, with a total of 369,000 jobs created as of March. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3%.
• Inflation worsened a bit, and gasoline prices increased after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. 
• Average weekly earnings of private-sector workers, adjusted for inflation, rose 1.0%.
• The economy grew 2.1% in 2025.
• Consumer sentiment has now hit a record low.
• The number of apprehensions at the U.S. border with Mexico decreased about 92%, and refugee admissions dropped by the same percentage.
• The percentage of the population lacking health insurance held steady in the first six months of 2025.
• The trade deficit dropped 14% for the most recent 12 months.
• The number of murders nationwide has continued to decline, a trend that began in 2022.
• The stock market fell dramatically after the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, then rebounded and reached new heights.
• Oil production went up 2.7%, and oil imports declined by almost 6.6%. Carbon emissions increased slightly.
• About 3 million fewer people are receiving federal food assistance.
• The federal debt held by the public rose by about 8.6%.