Your BRIGHT Week in Review
Plus: Dinner and a Movie
Photo of the Week
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the Trump Administration on Thursday. Vice President JD Vance said what he said.
Trump Holds First Cabinet Meeting
In President Trump’s first Cabinet meeting of his second term, Elon Musk dominated the media’s discussion despite not being an official Cabinet member. The Hill noted, “Trump recognized Musk to speak first. Musk referred to himself as ‘humble tech support,’ but his comments reflected his wide-reaching role.”
At the meeting, Trump confirmed Ukrainian President Zelensky’s upcoming visit, criticized trade policies of the European Union and Canada and vowed to impose tariffs.
Other Cabinet members addressed key issues. From The Hill:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, was asked about a measles outbreak in Texas, a particularly sensitive issue given Kennedy’s rhetoric about vaccines.
“There are two people who have died, but we’re watching it … and we’re going to continue to follow it,” Kennedy told reporters.
Trump said “every single one” of the generals involved in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan should be fired.
“I’m not going to tell this man what to do, but I will say that if I had his place, I’d fire every single one of them,” Trump said, gesturing to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seated beside him.
Hegseth replied that the Pentagon is “doing a complete review of every single aspect of what happened” with the deadly and chaotic August 2021 withdrawal and plans “to have full accountability.”
RELATED:
Trump Orders Federal Agencies to Submit Plans for Mass Layoffs (Hot Air)
State Department Completes Foreign Funding Review, Identifying 15,000 Grants Worth $60 Billion for Elimination (Free Beacon)
Don’t Call Me a Swiftie — I’m a Sheridanette
In an article titled, “Nothing in TV Is a Sure Bet -- Except for Taylor Sheridan,” The Wrap profiles Taylor Sheridan. Nothing warms my middle-aged, Gen Xer heart like Taylor’s story and his second-act success. Call me a Sheridanette instead of a Swiftie. He has emerged as one of television’s most reliable hitmakers with a string of successful series for Paramount+, including Yellowstone (and their prequels), Landman, Tulsa King, and Lioness. His shows, known for their compelling narratives and star-studded casts, consistently dominate streaming charts.
Unlike other top showrunners like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy, The Wrap says Sheridan has yet to experience a commercial failure. His ability to balance nostalgic, Western-themed storytelling with diverse casting and political ambiguity has broadened his appeal. He’s not going broke or woke any time soon.
Read the entire article here.
Heart Disease Still Leading Cause of Death
Newsmax reported the American Heart Association’s 2025 report reveals cardiovascular disease (CVD) caused 941,652 U.S. deaths in 2022, surpassing cancer and respiratory diseases combined. Coronary heart disease led at 39.5%, with stroke at 17.6%. “On average in 2022, someone died of a stroke every three minutes 11 seconds,” the report notes, while heart attacks occurred “approximately every 40 seconds.”
Dr. Keith Churchill said, “We need to stop these risk factors in their tracks,” stressing prevention. Dr. Dhruv Kazi adds, “Simply discovering breakthrough therapies isn’t enough – we have to ensure [they’re] accessible and affordable.”
Mike Rowe on How Redundant Credentialing Hurts Skilled Workers
In a recent interview with Fox Business, Mike Rowe celebrated that over-reliance on credentials is ending, as it often excludes skilled workers from trade jobs. Speaking on Varney & Co., he acknowledged that while some credentials are necessary, they can create hiring barriers.
From Fox Business:
Rowe, who champions the fostering of trade skills, careers and work ethic through the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, further explained the impact of fixating on hiring those who are credentialed versus those who lack them, but may be better qualified with their skill sets.
"When we rely too heavily on the credential, on the checklist, then I think we make a bad trade, and we often overlook people who are, in fact, the most qualified to help us close the skills gap, which is very real," he stressed.He concluded by highlighting how there are a vast number of jobs that can be filled without a college education, and that his foundation's scholarship provides an alternative for those seeking another avenue for a career.
"As you know, 7 million jobs [are] open right now. Most of them don't require a four-year degree. Many pay six figures," he said. "That's what the scholarship is for."
Learn more about mikeroweWORKS Foundation here.
Retirement Community Developers Wooing Gen X
Gen X-ers are now being wooed by retirement communities. Pew Research Center projects Gen X will outnumber Baby Boomers by 2028—63.9 million of us to their 62.9 million. MarketWatch reported that builders are scrambling to ditch the Boomer bingo nights for something more our speed — pickleball courts, firepits, and “pocket offices” for those still working from home.
Among the aesthetic changes are getting rid of formal dining rooms in favor of dog-washing stations with a midcentury modern vibe. Seriously, are they just marketing to me? Builders are also including more physically-demanding workout areas, like hiking trails and fitness bars.
More from Marketwatch:
“Gen X is a fiercely independent generation and we’re seeing them reshape everything from how and when they retire to where they want to live and what they expect from a community-living experience,” said Sean Strickler, president of PulteGroup’s western Florida division.
“They’re seeking communities that offer both tranquil spaces for outdoor recreation and physical and mental well-being, alongside casual indoor venues for socializing on their own terms. This generation that grew up exploring neighborhoods unsupervised isn’t looking for rigid social calendars,” Strickler said. “They want welcoming environments that foster organic connections and preserve their independence, all in the backdrop of the resort-style, vibrant and luxury communities.”
Builders are taking note of Gen X’s preferences, said O’Connor, the 55 Plus CEO. Those include a desire for more intimate spaces for smaller groups, almost like a cafe setting, so they can socialize on their own terms, rather than a need for big conference rooms at the clubhouse to hold formal parties.
Now that we’re on our way to outnumbering Boomers and have money to spend Gen X is no longer being overlooked.
Dinner and a Movie
Following the news of Gene Hackman’s tragic death, it’s time I watch The French Connection. Hackman won an Oscar for the role. For dinner, there’s a blog I often check that gathers vintage celebrity recipes. It features Gene Hackman’s Lasagne.