Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans. Like the original Connections , the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. What is Connections Sports Edition? The NYT 's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic , the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends. Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media. Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try: Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories: Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle. Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions. Drumroll, please! The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #68 is... What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands . If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Britt Baker says she’s done being polite. In a new interview with US Magazine , the former AEW Women’s World Champion spoke about her up-and-down year in 2024, which saw her deal with injuries and issues in her personal life but also land a role on Netflix’s Cobra Kai series. “I’m exhausted. I’m not going to be polite anymore. Leave me alone. Politeness is 2024. Everyone needs to be real and authentic, and the world will be a better place,” Baker said during the interview. When asked about her “roller coaster” of 2024, Baker responded: “Roller coaster is a good word but I also don’t think it’s appropriate, because with a roller coaster there’s a start and an end point. I can’t really say where the roller coaster started, and I definitely don’t know where it’s going to end.” Baker says she’s had to “mentally dig deep” this year not to be affected by her online critics. “You can’t ever believe what you read about yourself, whether it’s really good or really bad, or you’re going to end up medicated and sedated potentially,” Baker continued. “It’s tough because we live in a world where social media is so prominent. Social media fuels what we do, essentially.” “We rely on it. But man, is it toxic. It’s brutal. There’s a whole population of people on social media who just want to make you feel bad about yourself. It’s crazy we live in a world where that’s their mission. ‘I’m going to wake up today, tweet 10 mean tweets to Britt. I’m gonna take a lunch break. And then maybe I’ll do 10 more.’ It’s bizarre.” Baker, a longtime fan of Cobra Kai, the Netflix series spawned by The Karate Kid film franchise, plays a sensei in season six of the show. She says she landed the role after meeting one of the show’s writers and continuing to bug him about it. “I met one of the writers, Hayden (Schlossberg), and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m Britt,'” she recalled. “He recognized me from social media. I kind of joked, but not joking, ‘If you ever need anything, I’m a huge fan and would love to be involved.'” “Eventually, he called me and said, ‘You really have the Cobra Kai never say die attitude. If you’re interested, we have a role for you in mind and this is what it is,'” Baker continued. The show’s sixth season has been split into three parts. The final part of season six airs in February. While Baker appears in part two of season six, which is already on the streaming service, she says she’s waiting until the whole season is released before watching it. “I have to be honest, I haven’t even watched it yet,” she admitted. “I want to wait for all of it to come out so I can watch it all!” Source
Britain should follow Australia’s lead and ban young people from social media, according to a leading campaigner for the protection of childhood. The Australian Parliament last week backed the world’s toughest measures to stop under-16s using social media – and tech companies could fines of nearly £26million if they do not enforce new rules. Former Conservative MP Miriam Cates, a senior fellow at the Centre for Social Justice and GB News presenter, hopes Australia will blaze a trail for Britain to follow. She wants children denied access to “dreadful” content which encourages suicide, self-harm and misogyny and exposes them to pornography – and she is concerned they can be “contacted by people they don’t know” and “bullied by people they do know”. Ms Cates is also alarmed that algorithms encourage young people to spend hours staring at screens. “They are not being outside, they are not making face to face contact, they are not reading, they are not studying they are not doing sport – all those things that children really need to grow into competent adults,” she said. A further goal is encouraging smartphone manufacturers to produce phones which allow children to make calls, send texts, use digital train tickets and access maps – but not download apps. “I think that’s the answer really but Government will have to incentivise that to make it happen,” she said. Her call comes as Labour MP Josh MacAlister works to change the law so headteachers will have a legal requirement to make schools “mobile-free zones”. His draft law would raise the age of “internet adulthood” from 13 to 16 – making it harder for companies to use children’s data to “push addictive content”. Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said: “Too many children are still routinely exposed to significant and damaging online harms including violence, pornography and other material that promotes harmful behaviour. We have heard too many stories of children causing harm to themselves, or others, on the back of material they have been exposed to online.” Dame Rachel said she was “really impressed” by the action in Australia, adding that “we need to start here with holding the social media companies properly to account for their laissez faire approach to children’s safety”. Sir Peter Wanless, the chief executive of the NSPCC children’s charity, did not favour a “blanket ban”, saying this would “penalise children for the failures of tech companies to make their sites properly safe for young users”. A Government spokeswoman said there are “no current plans to implement a smartphone or social media ban for children,” adding: “We are focused on finding the best way of ensuring young people are kept safe while also benefiting from the latest technology. By next summer, the Online Safety Act will bring in protections for children to make sure their experiences online are appropriate for their age. “We have recently set out new priorities on online safety, including ensuring safety is baked into platforms from the start, and launched a research project looking at the links between social media and children’s wellbeing. This will help build the evidence base to inform future action.”(WXYZ) — Frostbite is more than just some surface-level skin damage. It can snowball into life-long circulation issues and even the loss of limbs. John O'Connell says frostbite snuck up on him when he was outside for a short time to clean off his car in a snowstorm two years ago. When he came in to warm up, he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. He went to a follow-up doctor's appointment just one day later, and that's when the doctor noticed his big toe was starting to turn black. "They called the surgeon in right away. And he said, 'You're going into surgery tomorrow and taking that toe because it turned turn black,'" recounted John. Doctor Roy Elrod is the Chief of Staff and emergency room physician at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He explained to me that the 'frostbite danger zone' is a lot warmer than most people think. "Generally the milder cases - when the temperatures are still fairly just above freezing, and that's usually about between 32 to 50 degrees because hypothermia can actually start below 50 degrees. As soon as it gets below 32 degrees, the freezing point is when you actually can see a lot of significant damage to patients," said Dr. Elrod While everyone might not experience as severe of a case as John did, there is still trouble with mild forms of frostbite. ADDITIONAL VIDEO: Doctor shares some of the misconceptions of frostbite "What begins to happen is, actually, freezing of water that's within the body. The crystals are actually so small that we can't see, obviously. But when that happens, they slow the progression of blood flow through those areas. And that slowing the blood flow, ultimately, can cause clotting within those small vessels. And then that begins the damage that we see as frostbite," said Dr. Elrod. The good news is frostbite is incredibly preventable if you're vigilant when braving the cold. "Look at their little fingertips, red, blue, whatever. Get them inside, no matter how great their laugh. And in talking blue lips, ears, get them inside, keep those covered, but be aware that those are the indications that they should probably be inside," Elrod says. "Be wise. It can be fun to be and have, you know, some winter games, but you always got to be conscientious enough to it and look out for other people, too."The thrilling competitions of the 52nd four-day National Athletics Championship 2024 continued for the second day in Multan, showcasing the exceptional talents of athletes representing various institutions from across the country. In the women’s 10,000-meter race, WAPDA’s Maria Bibi secured first place, while HEC’s Natasha Hussain claimed the second position. The women’s 400-meter hurdles title was clinched by WAPDA’s Musarrat Shaheen, followed by teammate Noreen Jabar in second place. Meanwhile, Ghazala Ramzan, also from WAPDA, emerged victorious in the 100-meter hurdles. In the women’s 800-meter race, Army’s Rabeela Farooq finished first with WAPDA’s Iram Shehzadi taking second place. In the men’s 10,000-meter race, WAPDA’s Sohail Amir grabbed the top spot, while Pakistan Army’s Muhammad Riaz secured second place. The women’s long jump event saw HEC’s Amtal Rehman clinching the first position, while the men’s pole vault was won by Army’s Jafar Ashraf. In the men’s 400-meter race, WAPDA’s Shajar Abbas emerged victorious. Meanwhile, the women’s 200-meter race title went to Army’s Tameem Khan. In the women’s high jump event, WAPDA’s Rabab took first place, followed by HEC’s Amtal Rehman in second. In the men’s shot put, Army’s Jamshed Ali claimed the top spot, with WAPDA’s Shafqat Ali finishing second. The championship drew a diverse audience, including people from various walks of life, local residents, and students, who enthusiastically cheered for the athletes and appreciated their remarkable performances. The 52nd National Athletics Championship continues to be a testament to Pakistan’s rising talent in the field of athletics.
NoneCowboys and Commanders ride losing streaks into the NFC East rivals' 1st meeting this seasonRobertson throws for 204 yards and 2 TDs, Baylor beats Houston 20-10
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Clarke Reed, a Mississippi businessman who developed the Republican Party in his home state and across the South starting in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Clarke Reed, a Mississippi businessman who developed the Republican Party in his home state and across the South starting in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Clarke Reed, a Mississippi businessman who developed the Republican Party in his home state and across the South starting in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Reed was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976, beginning at a time when Democrats still dominated in the region. During the 1976 Republican National Convention, delegates were closely divided between President Gerald Ford and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Reed united the Mississippi delegation behind Ford — a move that created a decadeslong feud with William D. “Billy” Mounger, another wealthy businessman who was prominent in the Mississippi Republican Party. Reed recalled in a 2016 interview with The Associated Press that delegates faced considerable pressure. Movie stars visited Mississippi’s 30 delegates to push for Reagan, and Betty Ford called on behalf of her husband. Reagan met twice with the Mississippi delegation — once with his proposed running mate, Pennsylvania Sen. Richard Schweiker — and once without, according Haley Barbour, who was executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1976 and served as the state’s governor from 2004 to 2012. “Everybody was coming to see us,” Reed said. “These poor people had never seen this before, the average delegate.” Mississippi delegates were showing the stress at a meeting away from the convention floor in Kansas City, Reed said. “I looked out, and about half of them were crying,” he said. Reed initially supported Reagan, but said he moved into the Ford camp because he thought Reagan made “a hell of a mistake” by choosing a more liberal northeastern running mate in a gambit to win support of the unpledged Pennsylvania delegation. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “In my opinion, Reagan was the best president of my lifetime. I didn’t know that then,” Reed said in 2016. “And had he been elected with Schweiker, he might’ve gotten a bullet one inch over and Schweiker would’ve been president.” Ford won the party nomination during the convention, then lost the general election to Jimmy Carter, the Democratic former governor of Georgia. Reed was born in Alliance, Ohio, in 1928, and his family moved to Caruthersville, Missouri, when he was about six months old. He earned a business degree from the University of Missouri in 1950. He and Barthell Joseph, a friend he had met at a high school boarding school, founded an agriculture equipment business called Reed-Joseph International, which used technology to scare birds away from farms and airports. Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi said Monday that Reed was “a mentor, supporter and advisor to me for over 56 years.” Wicker said he was 21 when Reed put him on the Republican Platform Committee in 1972. “There is no more significant figure in the development of the modern day Mississippi Republican Party than Clarke Reed,” Wicker wrote on social media. “Our state has lost a giant.” Advertisement AdvertisementOne step closer for up to 10,000 people to get some of the money back from tickets they paid. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bank proudly continues its commitment to community with the successful completion of its 2nd annual companywide food drive. This year, employees, customers and friends from across the Carolinas and in over 110 First Bank locations joined forces to collect 21,750 pounds of food given to over 90 agencies and/or organizations for families in need throughout the community. In addition to addressing food insecurity, First Bank has awarded $319,229 in grants to local nonprofits and schools through the Power of Good Grants throughout 2024 with a total of over $640,000 in philanthropic giving, further solidifying its role as a vital partner in uplifting the communities it serves. The Power of Good Food Drive was held from November 1 – November 30 in honor of Sharon Shaw Adams, a First Bank associate, who passed away in January 2023. Sharon was a Service Excellence champion, the highest level of distinction in First Bank culture, for being an example employee that goes above and beyond. Sharon was a dedicated collector of food items and a relentless warrior against food insecurity. Her passion and commitment to alleviating hunger inspired us all. By organizing this food drive we not only remember her legacy but also carry forward her selfless spirit to combat this pressing issue. First Bank President, Adam Currie, said of the drive, "Sharon was a phenomenal associate and human. For our second year we are using this food drive to show our appreciation and admiration for her legacy, helping those in our communities. We are so proud to have increased our collections, year over year, and we hope this shows that First Bank is committed to caring for our communities in more ways than just providing banking." In the 4th Quarter, First Bank awarded its third set of grant funds in 2024 to 40 nonprofits or schools in order to help continue the excellent work they do, totaling $90,000. The recipients for this round include: Central NC Charlotte Area Western NC Elizabeth Cashwell Elementary School Claire's Army Inc. Asheville GreenWorks Scotland Family Counseling Center Community Care Clinic of Rowan County Brush Creek Elementary School TEAMWORKZ Community Foundations CDC, Inc. Harmony Methodist Church ESL Program Uwharrie Charter Academy Food for Days No Wrong Door for Support and Recovery Rowan Helping Ministries Saluda Pop-Up Pantry Thomasville Community Ministry Inc, dba Cooperative Community Ministry The Council on Aging for Henderson County Western NC Community Health Services Triangle Area Triad Area Florence, SC Area Designed for Joy Bold 2 B U Community Created to Serve Helping Education Growing the Distance, Inc Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity Holly Springs Food Cupboard Hopefulls, Inc Lydia's Bowels of Mercy Home, Inc Meals on Wheels Durham Sister Circle International The Farm at Florence The Joel Fund Upstate & Midlands SC Wilmington Area Eastern NC Center for Developmental Services (CDS) paws4people foundation Beaufort County Community College Foundation Coffee and Cupboard St.Jude's MCC Jacksonville Performing Arts Teen Outreach HOPE Missions of the Upstate The Carousel Center The Partnership for Children of Wayne County Upstate Warrior Solution Learn more about the GOOD being done in the community by First Bank at www.LocalFirstBank.com/Power-of-Good . About us: First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered community bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to manage a home or business. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com . Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-bank-brings-communities-together-with-2nd-annual-food-drive-and-local-grant-support-302334091.html SOURCE First Bank
Greenwave technology CEO Danny Meeks buys $248,821 in stock
Amie Just: The good, bad and middle ground as Nebraska football news keeps churningAs winter settles over the serene landscapes of Lake Tahoe, people in our community are not only adjusting to the chill in the air, but also new developments in the audiology world. Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic is bringing insights to some prevalent topics in hearing care: over-the-counter hearing aids, AI-driven advancements, and innovative tinnitus management. Each of these topics represents an important step in the evolution of hearing health, merging accessibility, advanced technology, and personal care to support individuals in maintaining a rich quality of life. 1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids The accessibility of over-the-counter hearing aids marks a significant shift in the audiology landscape. Historically, hearing aids required prescriptions and professional fitting sessions. With the FDA’s approval, OTC hearing aids are now widely available for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. While this has advanced accessibility for hearing aids, Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic urges that OTC hearing aids offer a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and its oftentimes a temporary solution for a larger problem. OTC hearing aids offer flexibility, enabling users to adjust them independently, and they tend to come at a lower cost. However, while OTC aids bring convenience to users, they also come with limitations. “Without an audiologist’s guidance, recommendations, and customizations, users may find it challenging to select and fine-tune the devices for optimal results,” Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic stated. “We always offer guidance to help users make informed decisions that best support their hearing needs.” 2. AI and Machine Learning in Audiology Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are transforming hearing health by making devices more adaptive and responsive to users’ unique needs. These advanced technologies enable hearing aids to “learn” from auditory environments, effortlessly adjusting to varying soundscapes—whether it’s a bustling restaurant or a serene forest trail. AI-equipped hearing aids enhance users’ ability to adapt to changing environments, making conversations and ambient sounds much clearer and accessible. The clinic explains that everyone’s hearing needs differ depending on the setting, and AI’s adaptability means that even in fluctuating auditory environments, users experience consistent, personalized support. “With this technology, people can easily adjust volume, walk from one room to another with shifting audio levels, and experience an environment-specific hearing experience that adapts to them,” the clinic adds. AI’s role in audiology is only set to grow, providing more precise customization for each user. As hearing devices are exposed to more diverse environments, they will continue to refine and optimize sound experiences for individuals, enabling an increasingly tailored and immersive hearing journey. 3. Tinnitus Management For many, tinnitus—the perception of ringing or buzzing in the ears—can become significantly noticeable. For some, tinnitus can be a significant distraction, disrupting sleep, focus, and overall quality of life. Audiologists are now exploring a variety of tinnitus management techniques, from sound therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to advanced hearing aids designed specifically to alleviate the effects of tinnitus. “There’s no definitive cause, and no definitive cure for tinnitus,” Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic stated. “For some, tinnitus can be managing their specific environment.” With tinnitus, many individuals are overall okay to manage it throughout the day, but it often becomes increasingly prevalent at nighttime and when trying to sleep, making it difficult to live with. “There are masking solutions [for tinnitus] in some hearing aids that assist in injecting white noise and sounds to help retrain the brain on those sound elements,” Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic stated. Recent advances in tinnitus management integrate with hearing aids and even smartphone apps, creating an accessible treatment pathway for patients seeking relief. “At Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic, we work with each patient to tailor solutions that suit their specific tinnitus experience,” Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic stated. As these topics evolve, they paint a picture of audiology’s future: accessible, personalized, and tech-driven. The interaction between OTC hearing aids, AI advancements, and tinnitus management is empowering patients to take an active role in their hearing health, while also allowing audiologists to provide an effective, customized care approach to each patient. Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic is dedicated to supporting each patient’s unique hearing journey, offering personalized solutions and the highest quality of care to enhance their hearing health. For more information on Tahoe Family Hearing Clinic, visit: https://www.tahoefamilyhearing.com/ .
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Pumpkin spice lattes have given way to turkey and stuffing, which in turn has given way to ugly sweaters and pop star Christmas albums and specials. For working professionals, it’s a time for prognostications about what might change in their industry in the new year. End of year predictions make timely reads in part because they come at a time when people are winding down for the year and getting ready to take their mind off of their day to day work. Yet while they may give us a broad and varied view into expectations (or hopes and dreams), the vast majority of predictions about how healthcare will change in 2025 are likely to be wrong. Not because prognosticators are foolish, but because our modern healthcare system has evolved over 80+ years, and any major change over the course of any twelve month period is unlikely; add the enormous complexity of healthcare and its myriad special interests, and forecasting a specific change is that much more difficult. Given this, and perhaps sprinkling a bit of Grinch spirit onto the season, below are six things that experts view as unlikely to change in healthcare in 2025, followed by a dash of optimism. 1. GLP-1 Access Issues Will Take Time To Solve GLP-1s have been hailed as miracle drugs in recent years. Clinical studies are producing findings that support the enthusiasm. The class of drugs has been a miracle for the pharmaceutical firms that manufacture them, as spending has increased by more than 400% from 2019 to 2023 in Medicaid populations alone. Add to these developments the recent announcement that the Biden Administration is seeking to expand access to GLP-1 drugs among Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries (essentially by relaxing strict indications of use solely for diabetes), and there is palpable excitement about the continued use and healthcare system implications of these drugs. Yet thorny problems remain. First and foremost, the rapid increase in demand for these drugs has resulted in dramatic shortages, which in turn has led some pharmacies and virtual care companies to produce non-FDA approved (but legal) GLP-1 drugs via compounded generic ingredients. “We must first figure out the basics: how can we help more people access GLP-1s and achieve the best possible outcomes. Solving those problems means lowering the cost of treatment, through things like drug price competition and expanded insurance coverage, and overcoming barriers to access, through solutions like telehealth,” explains Zach Reitano of Ro, a virtual care company that offers access to FDA-approved and compounded GLP-1 drugs. Others point to the fact that while the drugs are promising, their impact may be transitory. “They’re not a silver bullet,” says Sean Duffy of Omada, a digital health company that focuses on helping consumers manage chronic diseases through lifestyle changes. Duffy argues that to have a lasting impact at scale, GLP-1s must be, “appropriately paired with proper nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle improvements that have been proven over decades of research.” 2. Provider Consolidation And Desire For Scale And Efficiency Won’t Stop Horizontal mergers. Vertical acquisitions. Cross-market mergers. Between 2005 and 2022, the share of community hospitals that were part of a multi-hospital system increased from 53% to 68%. Related, the share of physicians practicing in hospital-owned practices increased to 41% in 2021 (up from 29% a decade earlier). The multitude of factors driving provider consolidation are many: administrative and operational challenges , increasing competition from private equity, and revenue uncertainty with shifting patient populations and preferences, among others. Given the industry’s inertia and the number of drivers, it seems unlikely that provider consolidation slows down in 2025. Scott Barclay, Managing Director of Insight Partners, a global venture capital and growth equity firm, sees relationship dynamics with health plans driving hospital self-interest and self-preservation. “We believe large providers will continue trying to buy market share and raise prices, and insurance companies will continue to raise premiums and fight with providers,” Barclay explains. (Disclosure: the author’s consulting firm works with Insight Partners). Where Barclay focuses on hospital relationships with health plans, others see continued strain on relationships with consumers. "The pressure on health systems to acquire new commercially-insured patients will only increase as more and more people age into Medicare. Ensuring that these patients are able to access the system will be a critical challenge for organizations already operating at 100% capacity,” says Graham Gardner, MD and CEO of Kyruus Health, a technology platform helping providers better connect with and improve access to consumers. 3. Hype Around Generative AI In Healthcare Remains Mostly That: Hype A Flare Capital report suggests $30 billion has been invested into healthcare AI in the past five years. The report highlights opportunities for AI to transform areas ranging from financial and back office functions to patient engagement to clinical care, among others. An Andreesen Horowitz analysis suggests that AI can help unlock $314 billion through more efficient healthcare operations. The numbers suggest massive investor enthusiasm in the technology. And certainly, the application of generative AI to certain use cases, most notably ambient scribe technology, seems to be finding the elusive product-market fit in healthcare. Yet for all of the excitement, there is a fair amount of skepticism around the actual application of AI within real world healthcare environments, or the ability to scale successful AI-first businesses in healthcare. "Generative AI has been proven useful in certain instances, but it is not the answer to everything in the healthcare industry,” says David Schweppe, Chief Analytics Officer of MedeAnalytics, an analytics and (ironically) AI company. Gardner of Kyruuus Health is skeptical that companies building AI-first solutions can stand out in a crowded field. “Point solutions — particularly new entrants leveraging AI — will struggle to differentiate themselves and risk having their features subsumed by incumbent vendors building these capabilities into their core offerings,” Gardner explains. Perhaps the most important insight relates to how AI should be used in the future: to build upon, rather than replace, the human connection that is (or should be) at the center of health. “True personalization will come from a people-centered approach... We're losing sight of how powerful it can be to simply ask patients, "How are you doing?",” notes Robin Glass of Included Health, a comprehensive virtual care provider. 4. Neither Retail Nor Tech Is Coming To The Rescue (But Won’t Stay Away Entirely) When Tim Cook announced in January 2019 that he thought that Apple’s lasting impact would be about health, it set the healthcare industry afire with speculation: what direction would Apple’s healthcare strategy take, and how would it impact healthcare stakeholders? More than five years later, it seems Apple has not made much progress toward achieving the impact its CEO hoped for. Judging by its own assessment, neither Apple’s own efforts nor its results are material enough to mention. This hasn’t prevented Cook from recently recommitting to his vision. Color industry insiders are skeptical, if still supportive. But the skepticism is not just reserved for Apple: after dozens of failed high profile initiatives and investment from big tech (e.g., Amazon’s Haven partnership) and big retailers (e.g., Walmart and Walgreen), even Harvard Business Review is doubtful about disruption from corporate outsiders. “It’ll be definitive in 2025 that Amazon will be the only major corporation in “FAANG” (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) that is truly committed to transforming care delivery,” expects Duffy of Omada, who points to Amazon’s long term thinking and focus on pharmacy and care delivery (via its Oneedical acquisition). 5. Progress On Data Interoperability Continues, But Painfully Slowly "The politics of access to healthcare data will continue as if it's a 6th grade student council election,” says Jonathan Bush, industry luminary and CEO of health data platform Zus Health. Bush could be referring to many things here: the ongoing difficulties in consumer access to their own data (or even awareness this is possible), the public feud between Oracle Health and Epic Systems regarding which company is the true enabler (or laggard) of data interoperability, whether federal efforts to support interoperability via standards are too heavy handed or not enough, or the dispute and subsequent antitrust lawsuit between startup Particle Health and Epic Systems regarding data accessibility. Alon Jaffee, Cofounder and CEO of Eleos Health, agrees, noting that while virtually all stakeholders want interoperability between their systems, we’re unlikely to see robust progress in 2025. “Legacy systems are too complex and lack the right incentives,” he explains. Despite the complexity and incentives, there is a sense of movement, if it feels plodding. That may be okay, given the implications. “Privacy concerns, regulatory uncertainty from a new administration, and the rapid emergence of new data producers complicate the landscape,” describes Nick Stepro, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Arcadia, an analytics and data platform enabling healthcare organizations to pivot to value-based models of care. (Disclosure: the author’s consulting firm works with Arcadia.) Bush is optimistic, if for no other reason than emerging financial incentives. “There’s too much economic force profiting from the liberated data, and that economic force is reducing the cost of care. Once the genie gets out of the bottle, he is very hard to squeeze back in," he notes. 6. Antitrust in Healthcare Scrutiny Remains, Especially On the Highest Profile Cases One area of the incoming Trump Administration that seems clear, with respect to its posture toward how the private sector functions and antitrust policy in particular, is that it intends to ensure it is getting a fair shake from traditional and social media companies. Hence what may have contributed to ABC News’ recent settlement offer of $15 million and Meta’s (Facebook’s) $1 million contribution to the Trump inauguration fund, among others. Outside of that, speculation abounds: will the administration return to a more traditionally Republican-held laissez-faire view of private sector competition, or hue towards J.D. Vance’s advocacy of Lina Khan, who has worked to expand Federal Trade Commission’s remit and scope? It is worth noting that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust case against Google, which a judge found guilty of anticompetitive practices in August, was initiated under the previous Trump Administration. As were many other cases. A review of the DOJ's website suggests an average of ~42 antitrust case filings during the first Trump Administration versus ~32 antitrust filings per year during the Biden Administration. Based on the data and previous experience, as well as the current political and public climate facing healthcare, it seems reasonable to expect continued focus at a minimum on single firm conduct among dominant firms. Within healthcare, that suggests the DOJ’s investigation into UnitedHealth Group is likely to continue. So too with the FTC’s ongoing feud with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who also face bipartisan policymaker pressure. Related to health technology, Stepro of Arcadia points to the issues affecting health data interoperability as creating barriers to innovation and improved insights in healthcare. “There’s growing friction between new and innovative entrants and incumbent organizations that threaten to slow momentum without sufficient incentives to embrace true openness.” While they may be on their way out, current top antitrust enforcers seem to be aware of the interoperability issues, and the extent to which they may be exacerbated by large technology incumbents. When recently asked about the Particle Health lawsuit alleging anticompetitive conduct by Epic, FTC Chairperson Lina Khan acknowledged awareness of the issue. “We're not involved in that litigation, which is brought by a private company, but it's actually something I had heard concerns about, especially among entrepreneurs and startups that were trying to enter the healthcare space,” Khan said . Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter recently echoed the awareness of technology platforms. “Using the outdated... approach, antitrust enforcement and policy missed opportunities to assess how broader changes in business, such as the rise of platform business models, health care technology and regulatory incentives, impacted competition.” A Case For Rational Optimism So if relatively little is likely to change writ large in 2025, and we have a healthcare system that produces below-average outcomes for exceptionally high spend, why be optimistic? Adjusting the aperture can be helpful. A Bill Gates quote comes to mind: “'Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” Specific to healthcare, Alon Joffee, Cofounder and CEO of Eleos Healthcare thinks we live in the best time ever to impact the system. “We finally have the technological tools to best the cost curve. It will still take time and be an uphill battle, but at least we have the tools to fight it,” he explains. Likewise, Barclay of Insight Partners advises taking a longer term view of progress. “There are many negatives in our current moment, but in the long run, they are only a moment in time,” he says. Working to improve healthcare can at times feel like a Sisyphean task. It also can be difficult to recognize progress in the moment. With this in mind, perhaps the wisest prediction (or just insight) comes from an unlikely source: a media and public relations executive, not normally known for their desire to keep things low key. “Healthcare takes a minute,” advises and predicts Darren Brandt of Sloane PR. Amidst a prediction season that touts all the ways the world might change in the next 12 months, sometimes the diligence to keep one’s head down and patience to see things through is the reminder we all need.Despite a lull in negotiations for forming a new government, the Shiv Sena is pressing the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) for the home ministry portfolio. "Whenever the chief minister is decided and if it goes to the BJP, we will want the home ministry; we will insist on this because the home ministry was with the then-deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , who was from BJP, the last time Eknath Shinde was chief minister (2022). On Saturday, Sena Spokesperson and MLA Sanjay Shirsat stated that there should be a similar division this time around, as is the natural pattern. Shirsat has now publicly put forward the party's argument on why it needs the home ministry portfolio. State BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule responded to Shirasat's comment by saying, "Whatever discussions will take place will happen after the three leaders sit together, not through statements given to the media." The BJP state chief was referring to Shinde, Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party , and Devendra Fadnavis sitting down for negotiations. 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"In 2022, we granted the Shiv Sena the Chief Minister's post for the entire 2.5-year term, despite having double the number of MLAs. Despite having more MLAs, we took on the home ministry portfolio after becoming deputy CM. Talks on government formation and portfolio allocation have stalled since Shinde, the interim Chief Minister, has returned to his hometown of Daregaon in Satara, shortly after meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. This has led to conjecture that Shinde was disgruntled over the choice to give the Chief Minister's position to the BJP. The Shiv Sena has, however, alleged that Shinde was 'unwell'. On Sunday, physicians were brought in to treat Shinde in Daregaon. According to BJP leaders, the process of picking a legislative party leader, who will then become the CM, will be completed by December 3. Bawankule said the new government's swearing-in ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan on December 5th at 5pm, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 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