The Rise of the Opioid Epidemic
The economic cost of the opioid epidemic was about $504 billion in 2015, which is more than six times higher than other studies from previous years. (This figure accounts for roughly 2.8 percent of gross domestic product.)
CEA (Council of Economic Advisers) said the report was needed because “in assessing the benefits of fiscal and regulatory policies that limit opioid abuse in the United States, it is important to understand the costs associated with the epidemic that policies might mitigate.”
The council said a 2016 private study estimated that prescription opioid overdoses, abuse and dependence in the U.S. in 2013 cost $78.5 billion.
In 2016, More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses last year, most involving a prescription painkiller or an illicit opioid like heroin. In 2015, there were more than 33,000 reported opioid-involved overdose deaths, but because fatalities are underreported, CEA pegged the number closer to about 41,000 deaths.
Last month at the White House, President Donald Trump declared opioid abuse a national public health emergency. Trump announced an advertising campaign to combat what he said is the worst drug crisis in the nation's history, but he did not direct any new federal funding toward the effort.
Murderous Cult Leader Charles Manson Dies
Charles Manson died at 8:13pm on Sunday; he was 83 years old. According to prison officials, Manson died of natural causes.
Manson was in prison because of his affiliation with the Tate-Labianca murders. On August 9, 1969, at the home Roman Polanski had rented near Beverly Hills, the Manson “Family” slaughtered 5 people.
While Manson himself took no part in the actual killings, he directed four of his most obedient followers to the address and directed them to kill everyone.
Then, on August 10, 1969, grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’s “family”
Manson was convicted of conspiracy to commit the Tate-LaBianca slayings. He received the death penalty in 1971, but when that was ruled unconstitutional (he was commuted to life in prison when California abolished the death penalty in 1972) and was changed to 9 consecutive life sentences.
Guest: Geraldo Rivera Talks About Charles Manson & the National Opioid Crisis
Alabama Governor Stands by Moore
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey told reporters on Friday that she plans to cast her ballot on December 12 for Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore.
Ivey made the endorsement after Alabama’s annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon event held at the governor’s mansion on Friday.
“I believe in the Republican Party, what we stand for, and most important, we need to have a Republican in the United States Senate to vote on things like the Supreme Court justices, other appointments the Senate has to confirm and make major decisions,” Ivey said. “So that’s what I plan to do, vote for Republican nominee Roy Moore.”
When asked if she believed the women who have come forward with allegations towards Moore, Ivey responded, “I certainly have no reason to disbelieve any of them. The timing is a little curious. But at the same time, I have no reason to disbelieve them.”
Nine women have come forward against Roy Moore, accusing him of things from harassment to sexual assault. Moore has consistently denied the claims and has said that he does not know some of the women bringing accusations to the table.
Marshawn Lynch Only Stands for Mexican National Anthem
President Trump took to Twitter to criticize Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch early this morning.
After photographs surfaced showing Lynch standing during the Mexican national anthem and sitting during the US national anthem at a game against the New England Patriots in Mexico City on Sunday, Trump called for his suspension.
"Marshawn Lynch of the NFL's Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down to boos for our National Anthem. Great disrespect! Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down," he tweeted.
Donald Trump Responds to Lavar Ball by Tweeting He Should Have Left UCLA Players in Jail
Trump helped negotiate the release of three UCLA basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, accused of shoplifting in China.
On Sunday, the President tweeted that he should have left the basketball players in jail, suggesting that Ball's father was "unaccepting" of Trump's efforts to negotiate the players out of China.
"Shoplifting is a very big deal in China, as it should be (5-10 years in jail), but not to father LaVar," Trump said later on Sunday. "Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead. China told them why they were released. Very ungrateful!"
LiAngelo Ball, along with teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill spoke to the media for the first time since being arrested in Hangzhou for stealing sunglasses from Louis Vuitton.
As TMZ Sports reported, the guys stole from MULTIPLE STORES -- not just Louis Vuitton -- and LiAngelo Ball acknowledged that in his apology.
"I'm sorry for stealing from the stores in China."
All three men said they were extremely sorry for shoplifting -- didn't dispute the allegations one bit -- and promised they will redeem themselves moving forward.
NYC Subway to Use Gender-Neutral Terms During Announcements
Conductors on subway trains in New York City have been told to stop addressing passengers as "ladies and gentlemen" when making announcements about delays, detours or other things, and instead use the gender-neutral terms "passengers," ''riders," and "everyone."
The new train announcement scripts are part of an effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to improve communication with passengers frustrated with having to deal with a system troubled with delays, mechanical failures and even derailments.
One in Three U.S. Adults to Avoid Talking Politics Over Holiday Season
Nearly one-third of all adults will actively avoid political conversations when they see friends and family over the Thanksgiving and December holidays, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Friday.
About half said they do not expect to discuss politics at all.
The poll found that a majority of Americans consider politics to be among their "least favorite" topics to discuss in mixed company over the holidays.
Guest: James Patterson
- Patterson has authored nearly 150 novels and sold over 300 million copies and his latest children’s book “Give Thank You a Try” hit shelves on Oct 30.
Mail Time!
- "I enjoy the podcast, Bill, it helps me find my center each day. Just wanted to say I really enjoyed the Town Hall. I hope you plan to do this at regular intervals."
- We do. A week from tonight we're going to have a Facebook Town Hall. That's November 27th on Facebook about the Trump administration, how it's done so far. All right. So Facebook Town Hall, Trump administration, a week from tonight, November 27th.
- "Bill, there have been lots of questions about Thanksgiving. Seems the best way to handle it is to not talk politics or religion. Do you do that?"
- All right. Here's my deal. Because I'm me, which is not a good thing some days, people have a lot of questions. So I sit down for any meal anywhere and people pepper me with questions and I answer them honestly. And if they don't like the answer, that's OK. I don't care. I'm not trying to convince them or persuade them. That's the deal. If you just answer the question, "well, my opinion is..." and you don't get offended if the other person doesn't agree, then there's no problem. But if you do, then you're going to hit them with cranberry sauce and the mash potatoes are going to come at you. You don't want that. Not worth it. Not worth it.
- "Is Holly's right ear always up like that? I don't think I've ever seen a Corgi with one ear up and one ear down."
- Holly is a unique dog. She does have one ear up and one ear down. All right. Now, Holly has become a major star in America. That's Fiona. Fiona is the maltipoo, Holly is the corgi. But Holly is the cutest dog ever and she has one ear up and one ear down.
Word of the Day: Lugubrious |
