The Bias Brief

Lean

PBS NewsHourSep 17, 2026High impactNewsClimate Science Foreign

Climate change made deadly Nepal glacier and rock collapse more likely, analysis finds

A World Weather Attribution analysis found that human-caused climate change thinned glaciers and thawed permafrost, likely contributing to Nepal’s deadly August glacier and rock collapse. The disaster killed more than 1,300 people, left over 5,000 missing, and caused billions in damage. The report and quoted scientists say rapid fossil fuel reductions are needed to reduce future mountain destabilization risks.

The GuardianSep 18, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Science Politics

‘Clear retribution’: dismay as key Alzheimer’s study cancelled amid Trump attacks on science

A 15-year Alzheimer's and health study in Pittsburgh was cancelled after federal grant terminations, leaving about 600 participants unlikely to receive promised cognitive test results. Researchers and participants describe the cancellation as retribution tied to Trump administration attacks on science and DEI-targeted funding cuts, warning of delayed Alzheimer's diagnoses.

Left 5.5

PBS NewsHourSep 18, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Politics Science

WATCH: RFK Jr. speaks at conference for anti-vaccine group he founded

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gave the keynote address at a conference held by the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, praising the Trump administration's vaccine policy changes. The report stresses his anti-vaccine ties, criticism from medical groups and Pennsylvania's governor, and a severe measles outbreak.

Left 3.8

The HillSep 17, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Politics Science

Kennedy fans vaccine injury concerns at anti-vaccine event

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to the anti-vaccine group he once led and renewed concerns about vaccine injuries while claiming the White House supports the cause. The article notes that Kennedy misrepresented a CDC study and that decades of research have not established a link between vaccines and autism.

Left 2.6

PBS NewsHourSep 17, 2026Sig. 8NewsAI Technology Science

As AI behavior raises concerns, ex-researcher Jacob Coxon warns what may lie ahead

OpenAI disclosed new instances of concerning AI model behavior, prompting an interview with former Anthropic and OpenAI researcher Jacob Coxon. Coxon warns that AI systems are not fully controllable and that recursive self-improvement could lead to rapid, dangerous advances, calling for international coordination and a slowdown.

Left 2.0

The HillSep 17, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Politics Science

RFK Jr. says anti-vaccine group has a ‘friend at the White House’

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, telling attendees the Trump administration is a 'friend at the White House' and vowing to investigate vaccine safety claims. The article reports his continued ties to the group and notes that once-fringe anti-vaccine views have gained influence in the administration.

Left 3.2

AxiosSep 17, 2026Sig. 8NewsHealth Politics Science

RFK Jr. questions vaccine safety at anti-vaccine organization gathering

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used a keynote at Children’s Health Defense to signal the Trump administration will keep questioning routine vaccine safety and expanding exemptions. The article highlights HHS efforts to study vaccine safety while public health experts strongly dispute Kennedy’s claims and question the scientific credibility of his approach.

Left 3.8

The GuardianSep 17, 2026Sig. 8NewsHealth Politics Science

RFK Jr promises anti-vaxxers a ‘friend at the White House’ amid deadly measles outbreak

At a Children’s Health Defense conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told anti-vaccine activists they have a 'friend at the White House' even as measles deaths rise. The article details his remarks, the movement’s growing influence, and its continued promotion of debunked vaccine-autism claims.

Left 5.2

New York PostSep 17, 2026Sig. 6NewsCulture Science Politics

Are ‘problematic’ words like ‘master bedroom’ and ‘pipeline’ really harmful? Study finds woke replacements aren’t better for well-being

A new study tested 175 pairs of terms flagged as harmful by academic and professional language guides and found most were rated acceptable, with some preferred over recommended alternatives. A second experiment found no measurable differences in anxiety, belonging, or well-being between participants exposed to the flagged terms and those given replacements.

Right 4.9

The HillSep 17, 2026Sig. 6OpinionScience Education Politics

End the false choice of expensive research fees

The opinion argues that federal agencies should stop paying article processing charges to commercial publishers because public-access mandates can be met at no cost by depositing manuscripts in federal repositories. It criticizes publishers' high profit margins and a GAO conclusion that fees are unavoidable, urging OMB to clarify no-cost compliance.

Left 3.1

New York PostSep 17, 2026Sig. 4NewsScience Culture Foreign

2,000-year-old intact Jewish ritual bath pulled from the ground in Israel

A 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath was extracted intact from Kiryat Gat, Israel, with the Israel Antiquities Authority saying it is the first known Jewish settlement in the seam between the Judean Lowlands and northern Negev. The mikveh, discovered ahead of neighborhood construction, will be returned for public display; officials call it evidence of Second Temple-era Jewish life in the Land of Israel.

Right 1.6

Daily MailSep 17, 2026Sig. 3OpinionCulture Science AI

The THREE step plan that means you can take control of your own destiny ... by the father of positive psychology

A review of Martin Seligman’s book Agency praises his argument that efficacy, optimism and imagination enable individuals and societies to shape their futures. It traces his historical case that human agency drives progress and ends by warning that artificial intelligence could undermine it.

Right 2.6