Education
A study presenting the first nationwide homeschool achievement data in more than 15 years reported that homeschooled students scored above the national average in reading, language, math, social studies, and science, with mean percentiles of 75 to 79. After Iowa Achievement Test scores from takers among the sample of 1,149 children were weighted to match conventional-school norms on free and reduced lunch eligibility and ethnicity, the homeschooled students still scored higher, with weighted mean percentiles of 74 to 82. The study found no association between scores and parents’ education, income, teacher certification, or years homeschooled, while more state regulation was associated with lower math and social studies results. Leading reasons given for homeschooling included family life and moral instruction. The authors noted that the sample was not random and cautioned against generalizing the results to every homeschool student. Critics such as the Coalition for Responsible Home Education have argued that selection bias accounts for apparent advantages, with homeschooled students showing lower math scores and college attendance after demographic controls.
Health
A federal court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to allow a Boise-area daycare to exclude children based on parents’ private medical decisions, upholding Idaho’s Medical Freedom Act. Judge Amanda Brailsford rejected due process, vagueness, parental-rights, and First Amendment claims. The 2025 law bars businesses, schools, and government from denying a service, job, or public-building access because of a private medical decision. Attorney General Raúl Labrador stated that daycares may share their views on vaccines but cannot turn a child away over a parent’s medical choice. Plaintiffs’ attorney Andrea Carone said clients were disappointed by the interpretation of rights and that the law leaves daycares unable to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases, with an appeal now under consideration.
Separately, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. opened a formal Request for Information on radiofrequency and electromagnetic field emissions and possible health effects, following the MAHA Strategy. The RFI asks what the evidence shows, whether real-world and cumulative exposures are measured adequately, and whether children, pregnant women, workers, and people with implants should be studied separately. Comments are due October 21, 2026, from the public, clinicians, and researchers. Scientific American reported that research in the area has been characterized by low-quality studies, with WHO reviews finding no or very small effects below thresholds and a large study showing no elevated brain cancer risk from cell phones.
Additionally, HHS and EPA signed a memorandum of understanding to share science for EPA’s glyphosate review. A working group from EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs and HHS institutes will identify research gaps covering dietary, preharvest, and occupational exposure plus cancer and developmental evidence. The step followed a June Supreme Court ruling that federal pesticide law preempts state failure-to-warn claims against Roundup’s manufacturer. The Center for Biological Diversity called the announcement “smoke and mirrors,” arguing EPA’s issue is selective use of studies rather than insufficient compilation of evidence.
Lastly, more than a hundred doctors, lawmakers, and advocates wrote President Trump and Secretary Kennedy calling for an immediate halt to all mRNA-based products, including COVID shots and a new mRNA flu vaccine. Signatories included Tucker Carlson, Rep. Thomas Massie, and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Organized by Americans for Health Freedom, the letter stated that inaction on removing the mRNA platform would cost the administration MAHA support. The signatories flagged a flu shot without a true placebo comparison and a Pfizer contract of up to $1.24 billion. HHS said mRNA products warrant heightened scrutiny, cancer research continues, and respiratory mRNA vaccine investments were wound down because, according to the department, the technology does not effectively protect against rapidly mutating viruses such as COVID and flu.
US Politics
On Second Amendment rights, the Fifth Circuit ruled 2-1 that the federal ban on interstate handgun sales is unconstitutional, voiding Gun Control Act of 1968 provisions that bar licensed dealers from selling handguns directly to out-of-state buyers. Judge Jerry Smith wrote that the ban “sullies the plain text of the Second Amendment” and is inconsistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearms regulation. Judge Catharina Haynes dissented. Plaintiffs included a Texas dealer and the Firearms Policy Coalition. Rifles and shotguns could already be purchased across state lines, while handgun buyers faced in-state transfers. Analysts observed that the decision creates a circuit split with the Second Circuit, which had upheld comparable interstate restrictions.
On government waste, the USDA ended ESG initiatives in the farmer-funded Dairy Checkoff, which collects 15 cents per hundredweight of milk. Secretary Brooke Rollins said producer dollars should build demand, not underwrite climate agendas that, in her assessment, raise costs and constrain production. Cited projects included net-zero initiatives and mandatory FARM Environmental Stewardship. USDA directed other commodity checkoffs not to advance ESG mandates with promotion funds. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty had sued over the practice. The CEO of Dairy Farmers of America expressed mixed feelings, while Marion Nestle described the restriction as dismissing environmental stewardship by dairy organizations.
Additionally, Vice President JD Vance said about 750,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees were never entitled to coverage and that ending their subsidies will save taxpayers $2.2 billion, an administration estimate the Congressional Budget Office has not scored. CMS canceled 315,000 marketplace policies on August 31, covering roughly 760,000 people identified as unauthorized enrollments through agents and brokers. Another 419,000 enrollees face residency and income checks. CMS sent notices of intent to terminate 569 brokers and froze new registrations until February 1, 2027. About 275,000 people complained in 2024 of being enrolled or switched without consent, and HHS has said more than a million enrollments listed no Social Security number. Nancy Pelosi stated that no one should lose coverage when they need it most, and Chuck Schumer criticized the move as removing insurance from hundreds of thousands.
Geopolitics
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he will not send troops or military assets to a U.S. Hormuz mission amid the war with Iran, stating there will be no deployment that would involve or enter war. Seoul will take the minimum steps other countries take to protect commercial shipping, crude shipments, and its people. President Trump had pressed allies for help around the strait. Iran warned that military presence in the Persian Gulf would be treated as support for aggression.
Privacy & Surveillance
Signal’s Android 8.28 beta adds Signal Login, allowing new accounts without a phone number. A one-time $2.99 payment uses zero-knowledge proofs with no direct link to the account. Users get an Account ID and Recovery key, and losing both makes the account unrecoverable. It requires Play Store payment. An iOS version is planned for later. Gizmodo noted that the option requires Google Play billing, which is unavailable on de-Googled devices and could enable timing-based correlation of purchases with account activity.
In other news, after a video report alleged that many LG smart televisions can record conversations, scan homes for devices and Wi-Fi, and keep doing so even offline, YouTuber tfm55x removed the Wi-Fi hardware, microphone, and Bluetooth antenna from a new LG G6 OLED. He said he does not accept the company’s terms and will not pay for a set that, in his view, snoops. LG denied the original claims. A follow-up video showed the television still working.
Energy
Porsche and startup Cylib produced battery cells whose cathode materials are 100 percent recycled lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese from Porsche’s own high-voltage batteries. Cells will be tested in trial vehicles after initial tests showed potential technical suitability. German Porsche centers have used a water-based recycling process since May 2026, with materials available from 2028. The effort aims to reduce reliance on Chinese and other non-European supply chains. Some commentators have maintained that EV batteries have not been recycled at commercial scale and pose ongoing environmental challenges throughout their lifecycle.
Sources
Homeschoolers Outperform Public School Peers Even After SES and Race Controls, First Nationwide Data in 15 Years Shows
Homeschool students score significantly higher than the conventional school test norm group (weighted mean percentiles 74 to 82).
Source | Submitted by Jody
MAHA Allies Warn Trump: Ban mRNA Shots or Face Midterm Consequences
The MAHA and health freedom movements will withdraw their support of you, and you will face the political consequences.
Porsche Recycles Own Batteries Into Cells With 100% Recycled Cathodes
For the first time, Porsche has succeeded in producing battery cells whose cathode active materials are made from 100 per cent recycled raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, sourced from its own high-voltage batteries.
Source | Submitted by Barbara
South Korea Tells Trump No: Lee Won’t Send Troops to Hormuz
There won’t be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly. We won’t deploy military assets in any form to that end.
Signal Finally Cuts the Phone Cord for Android Users
Signal is finally cutting the cord between private messaging and the phone company.
USDA Ends Farmer-Funded ESG Mandates in Dairy Checkoff
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ended environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives in a dairy program that is funded by dairy farmers.
You Don’t Own the Glass: Owner Rips Mic and Wi-Fi From Spying LG TV
Well, you don’t own the glass on this one.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Unconstitutional Interstate Handgun Ban
The ban sullies the plain text of the Second Amendment and is inconsistent with the nation’s tradition of firearms regulation, dating back to the founding era, under that Amendment
White House Axes 750,000 Unauthorized ACA Enrollees, Citing $2.2B in Taxpayer Savings
Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that about 750,000 people on Affordable Care Act plans were never entitled to the coverage, and that pulling their subsidies will save taxpayers $2.2 billion.
MAHA Leaders Warn Trump, RFK Jr.: Act on mRNA or Lose Our Support
If you continue to ignore our central issue of removing the mRNA platform, the MAHA and health freedom movements will withdraw their support of you, and you will face the political consequences.
RFK Jr.’s HHS Opens Public Inquiry Into Wireless Radiation and Health
Americans deserve clear answers about what these exposures mean for our health.
Idaho Court Upholds Medical Freedom Act, Blocks Daycare Exclusion Over Parental Choices
“Parents make medical decisions for their children. A daycare does not,”
HHS, EPA Partner on Glyphosate Science Review After SCOTUS Roundup Ruling
Americans have a right to know what the best science tells us about the chemicals they encounter in their food, workplaces, and environment.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Coalition for Responsible Home Education, Idaho Statesman, Scientific American, Center for Biological Diversity, Andrew Stuart, AFP, Gizmodo, Texas Policy Research, Brownfield Ag News, Marion Nestle, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer.
by cellima 
