Video of the Ghastly Treatment of Ukraine's President Zelenskyy by President Trump and Vice President Vance

C-SPAN's full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxbGjvcdyY

A 2023 article, this one by D.J. Oberlin, on trans individuals in sports and athletics

For reference, here's D.J. Oberlin's article asking the question where do trans individuals fit into sports and athletics based on current research. Oberlin's conclusion in the article is here:

7. Conclusion

Individuals should not have to make a choice between being their authentic selves or being athletes (138). While trans athletes competing in various sports and athletic events raises interesting considerations of how certain morphologic and physiologic factors affect performance, these questions are not exclusive to trans individuals. There are wide variations within cisgender populations, even when excluding individuals with differences in sexual development (121, 139). It is expected that about 2.3% of a normally distributed population is likely to fall above two standard deviations from a population mean. These exceptional individuals may be those who are gifted and excel at some sport or athletic performance (121, 135, 140). In contrast only 0.5%–0.6% of the population identify as trans (60). There is no concern for restricting individuals who are exceptionally large or small, those who are genetically gifted, or those with differing hormone concentrations or muscle mass, so long as their gender and biologic sex align (120, 121). The disproportionate focus on the relatively small portion of the population who are trans seems based on the belief that cis men, who cannot succeed in sports among other cis men, would choose to misidentify as trans women to gain an advantage in sports against cis women. However, there are no legitimate cases of this occurring. An individual's sex does not determine their success or failure at any athletic event despite the high level of competition. This can be demonstrated when looking at not average outcomes, but the level of overlap among outcomes. The exclusion of trans individuals also insults the skill and athleticism of both cis and trans athletes. While sex differences do develop following puberty, many of the sex differences are reduced, if not erased, over time by gender affirming hormone therapy. Finally, if it is found that trans individuals have advantages in certain athletic events or sports; in those cases, there will still be a question of whether this should be considered unfair, or accepted as another instance of naturally occurring variability seen in athletes already participating in these events. 

A Study on The Impact of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Physical Performance

 Bookmarking this 2023 study as the issue of transgender women participating in women's sports continues. The Summary and Conclusions section of the study is below:

Summary and Conclusions

As trans people have been stigmatized for many decades, there is little research in the field and the evidence base is not definitive. Our understanding of the impact of GAHT on physical performance is based on retrospective data with no prospective longitudinal controlled studies. Further research is underway (125).

Existing studies in nonathletic trans men have shown that increases in muscle mass and strength occur with testosterone therapy, and physical performance appears to be no different to cisgender men by 1 to 3 years after GAHT.

Studies in nonathletic trans women after GAHT demonstrates no change in height, but have shown decreases in hemoglobin, bone density compromise, and decrease in muscle mass and strength, which continue to decline beyond 2 years. While absolute muscle mass is higher, their relative muscle and fat mass percentages and muscle strength corrected for lean mass are no different to cisgender women. Cross-sectional studies of trans women on GAHT for over 4 years show that relative percentages of muscle mass and fat mass as well as fitness as measured by VO₂ peak corrected for lean mass are no different to cisgender women and lower than that of cisgender men. Steady decrements are seen in physical performance of nonathletic trans women in the military, with no significant difference with cisgender women for running times by 2 years and sit-ups by 4 years after GAHT. An advantage in push-ups or upper body strength over cisgender women may remain at 4 years.

The limited existing research should be interpreted considering sports-specific factors; different combinations of physical capabilities including upper or lower body muscle strength, hand grip strength, endurance, power, flexibility, hand–eye coordination, communication with teammates, mindset, and strategy may or may not be relevant. Consideration of existing research will be part of the process in creating policies for the inclusion of trans people in elite sport. Reasonable accommodations for the inclusion of trans people are sport specific and could be based on the range of competitive advantages and abilities that are already accepted in the cisgender population.

Although prospective longitudinal controlled studies in trans athletes are needed, with so few trans athletes and extremely low participation of trans people in sport, recruitment into such research will be challenging. Future research should include larger sample sizes of trans people (nonathletes and athletes) to be compared with cisgender males and females with relevant outcomes adjusted for known confounders.

A British Study on Strength, Power, and Aerobic Capacity of Transgender Athletes

 Putting a placeholder here for this study of transgender athletes. It might provide information about whether transgender athletes now participating in female events have an advantage.

What Jimmy Carter Asked For

 Excellent article in the New York Times since Jimmy Carter's passing on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. Can we be less materialistic? Can we be more selfless and less selfish?

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Plastics

 Here's a Washington Post article on how to reduce the use of plastic containers. The article contains a link to Consumer Reports's review of alternative containers.

Texas Observer Reveals Operators of Neo-Nazi X Accounts

 Just saving this article here.