What's Happening

Politics

Harris and Trump To Officially Meet for the First Time at Debate

What's going on: Tens of millions of Americans are expected to tune in to tonight’s first (and potentially only) presidential debate between VP Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The 90-minute showdown in Philadelphia, airing on ABC at 9 pm ET, won’t have a live audience. After some negotiation between both camps, the mics will again be muted unless a candidate is speaking. Once the debate starts, neither can ask each other questions or communicate with campaign staff during commercial breaks. Both candidates have been practicing — with Trump focusing on his policy points with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). News outlets are reporting that Harris is running scenarios on a full mock stage, complete with TV lights and an adviser mimicking Trump’s whole vibe, right down to the suit and long tie.

What it means: With less than 60 days until Election Day, tonight’s debate is expected to be a pivotal moment in the tight race between Harris and Trump. It has the potential to shape the remainder of the campaign season, with polls showing both nominees in a virtual tie nationally and in key battleground states. Harris’s ability to think on her feet, although it hasn't always fared so well in the past, will be tested at a time when voters want to know more about her. She’s likely to emphasize abortion rights, while Trump will probably touch on his economic and immigration policies. Meanwhile, eyes will also be on the former president, who has a history of belittling women in debates (and spreading misinformation), to see if he can refrain from personal attacks on Harris, which he has said he feels “entitled to.” 

Related: Pick Your Poison Debate Edition: “Coconut Drink” or “Mar-a-Lago Punch” (The Hill)

Health

Faulty Drug Tests Can Separate Newborns and Parents

What's going on: Hospitals across the country are drug testing new parents, often without their knowledge, using a screening method that can produce false positives up to 50% of the time. That’s according to an investigation from The Marshall Project. It found that state and federal laws require hospitals and doctors to identify newborns who may have been exposed to drugs in the womb, often forcing health officials to report any positive drug tests to child welfare agencies. Hospitals save money by administering a urine test — the cheapest and simplest kind of drug test. But they can often fail to double check those results before making a report to child welfare agencies. The investigation found some new mothers tested positive when they shouldn't have, after eating a poppy seed bagel or taking common medications for ADHD or depression. The consequences can be devastating: Parents can be separated from their children and subjected to investigation. In 2022, healthcare professionals reported 35,000 cases to child welfare organizations for the exposure of infants to substances, with 6,000 infants being separated from their families.

What it means: While the exact number of false positives is unclear, urine screening for new parents is pervasive. Hospitals argue testing is necessary to monitor newborns for potential withdrawal symptoms. Some healthcare sites drug test all birthing parents, while others leave it up to the discretion of the staff, who may carry biases. And it shows — this problem disproportionately impacts lower-income, Black, Hispanic, and Native American women. The issue also extends to cases where tests detect weed in parents' systems in states where it's legal. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends phasing out drug tests in favor of questionnaires and urges hospitals to obtain explicit consent before testing new parents (yes, it’s 2024, and that’s not yet standard practice).

Related: Hong Kong Extended Paid Maternity Leave. The Results Paid Off. (The University of Hong Kong)

Education

Diversity Is Down at Some of the Most Prestigious Colleges

What's going on: A number of universities have reported a significant drop in the enrollment of Black and Hispanic students in this year’s incoming class following the Supreme Court’s ruling nixing affirmative action, according to the Wall Street Journal. This includes the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Brown University. Last year, 15% of MIT’s incoming freshman class was Black, but this year that figure dropped to 5%. However, some schools, like Yale, reported that the enrollment of Black and Hispanic students remained steady while the number of Asian American students decreased. Others, like Bates College, reported an increase in Black and Hispanic students.

What it means: When the Supreme Court dismantled affirmative action last summer, it set off an anti-DEI movement and college campuses became ground zero. Many in higher education warned that without affirmative action, incoming freshmen classes would not be as racially diverse as those before. Admissions officers and researchers are still working to understand what caused the decline this year. However, some warn against making assumptions from just one year of data — especially as many schools report steady numbers. There’s also been another shift: Fewer students are disclosing their racial identity in their applications amid concerns about how welcomed they’d be. 

Related: The Anti-DEI Movement Is Coming for Major Companies. That Might Not Be Good for the Bottom Line (CNN)