The Saga Of RFK Jr., Dr. Oz, And The Possibly Infectious Canadian Ostrich Wobble

Hey, it’s the weekend. Welcome to The Weekender ☕️

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is in the spotlight for various controversies, including inappropriate behavior and providing questionable medical advice. Now, he is involved in a situation concerning flightless birds that may be carrying a dangerous virus.

Around 400 ostriches on a farm in western British Columbia, Canada, have been affected by a bird flu outbreak. Despite efforts to save them, authorities have ordered the remaining ostriches to be euthanized due to concerns about the spread of the H5N1 virus to humans.

The owners of the farm, Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, have argued that studying the birds could be beneficial. However, most experts disagree with this approach, and Canadian courts have supported the decision to cull the ostriches.

The situation has gained attention, with some individuals supporting the ostriches as a cause célèbre. Efforts to save the birds have led to protests and calls for intervention, including a letter from Kennedy urging Canadian officials to spare the ostriches.

Despite these appeals, Canada has not relented in its decision. Espersen has tried to rally support using social media and even adopted a humorous approach by identifying as an ostrich in her posts.

In other news this weekend:

– An overview of the challenges facing Republicans as they navigate the Senate with a major bill.
– A look at the Trump administration’s reliance on AI, which has led to some comical missteps.
– Reflections on the global trend towards ultranationalism and isolationism.

Let’s delve into these topics and more.