November 5, 2024: GOOD News That Has NOTHING To Do With The ELECTION. Take A Break And Enjoy This Episode Full Of UPLIFTING News.
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Welcome back to Unbiased, your favorite source of unbiased news and legal analysis. Welcome back to Unbiased. Today is Tuesday, November 5th. It's election day. It's a Tuesday that feels like a Friday, and this is your daily news rundown, except today's episode is going to look a little bit different than actually a lot different than usual. I'm first going to cover a couple of election-related notes, but then I'm going to cover a couple of election-related notes.

Then I figured because most of us are just so exhausted from, you know, election related things, I actually want this episode in particular to be an escape from that. So tomorrow we'll get back to regularly scheduled programming. But I think for today, let's do what no one else is doing and talk about some good news that has nothing to do with the election. What do you think about that? I am...

120% on board. Now, I know some of you won't listen to this episode until tomorrow, and that's fine, but for those that will be listening to this within the first few hours of its release, let's talk through some things in preparation for tonight. This is my little short election note segment, and then we'll get into good news. So number one, a lot of people have been asking me how I'll be tuning in to the results tonight, and here's my answer. I'm

I will be switching between all of the channels to get a grasp on what everyone is saying, but I'll mostly be watching NewsNation. NewsNation is the most nonpartisan of the outlets. Some people say they lean slightly right, but honestly, I haven't really seen that. They have anchors and hosts from all across the political spectrum, so it's really nice to hear them sort of have these conversations and debates amongst themselves during the broadcast. So that is where I will be.

Now let's talk through the pathway to the presidency. I shared a graphic to Instagram last night, which I'll put in the sources section of this episode, but I really just want to say this about it. The pathway to the presidency is just one big math problem, right? You can think of it like this. Each state has a certain value attributed to it, and the winner has to get any combination of states that adds up to at least 270.

Some states are already projected for certain candidates like New York to Harris, New Jersey to Harris, California to Harris, Texas to Trump, Missouri to Trump, Montana to Trump, etc. So it's really the battleground states that are unknown yet important. That's Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Carolina. So those are the states you're going to want to keep an eye on tonight, assuming there's no surprise flips anywhere else in the country. And again, I do have that graphic for you that lays out the different pathways to the presidency in the sources section of this episode. So yeah, whether you are tuning in to the results tonight or you're opting for a more relaxing night, all the power to you. And we will check back in with each other tomorrow.

Now, our first story today is incredibly heartwarming. I am taking this story, by the way, from the Good News Network, which I, you know, I want to give credit where credit is due. So a woman named Amy Schmidt and her son, they love to dress up together for Halloween and hand out candy.

But this year, Amy's son was hospitalized two days before Halloween. So Amy left a note on her doorstep that said, quote, my son is in the hospital. Sorry, no candy, end quote. And as the night went on, a group of trick-or-treaters approached Amy's door for some candy only to be greeted by the note. But instead of turning their backs and walking away, the kids actually started to take in

candy out of their own buckets and put it onto Amy's porch for her and Jacob.

Later in the night, six-year-old Mia did the same. She saw the note and after going back home, after collecting her first round of candy, she asked her dad if she could go out again and get more candy. And after she made her stops the second time around, she told her dad that she wanted to give all of the candy that she had gotten that second trip around to Jacob. So her and her dad walked back to Amy and Jacob's house and dropped off Mia's candy.

Now, I'm going to play a little clip for you. And those that are just listening to the audio version of this episode, you can at least appreciate the audio component. But for those watching on YouTube, you will also get to see that ring camera footage of these trick-or-treaters sharing their candy. So here is that clip. 7 News Detroit reporter Megan Daniels talked to the mother of that neighbor about the small act of kindness that had a huge impact.

It's overwhelming of all the love I got. And I don't even know half of these people. Amy says she's been in the hospital with her son since Tuesday. But because she and her son love to dress up and hand out candy on Halloween, she didn't want the neighborhood kids to be disappointed. I left a note just saying that my son was in the hospital.

We don't have any candy, sorry. She says she started getting notifications from her doorbell camera that there was movement detected. And when she checked it, ton and tons of kids are dumping baskets of candy out.

It was the most heartwarming surprise for Amy Schmidt and her son Jacob. It's just amazing what the parents have raised these kids to be. To do that even without your parents there is just remarkable. And Amy says she and Jacob can't be more thankful for their kind neighbors. It was just so amazing.

like thoughtful, like going beyond that extra mile for somebody. In Woodhaven, Megan Daniels, 7 News Detroit. So that was the clip. It's just so, so sweet. And of course, if you are listening to the audio version of this episode, you can always go watch that video later by clicking the YouTube link in this episode description. The next story is another one from the Good News Network.

In a new study, scientists trying to better understand how physical activity protects against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other forms of dementia have found that it's because exercise makes the brain larger. Now, to be clear, researchers and scientists have known that physical activity protects the brain from these neurodegenerative diseases, but the purpose of

of this study in particular was to really understand the mechanisms behind it, you know, the reason why. So I'm actually just going to quote this story. It says, quote, "'Light physical activity, number of steps taken per day, and number of city blocks traversed per day are all modalities that have been used to measure connections between physical activity and preventing these diseases, showing that even pedestrian non-athletic, non-sportive activity can be neuroprotective in some cases,'

One of the main culprits in a positive sense for this effect is brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF. BDNF is released into the brain during periods of exercise where it lowers neuroinflammation, improves synaptic connection, and performs other functions too numerous to list here.

The study benefited from the use of a deep learning neural network that allowed for multiple MRI scans of the same brain to be analyzed rapidly. 10,000 patients and their brains, of course, with an average age of 54, but ranging from 18 to 97, who were half men and half women, made up the study cohort.

Exercise was self-reported, which is an inevitable flaw when conducting large population studies like this one, but participants were asked how many days of the week they engaged in 10 minutes or more of moderate or vigorous intensity exercise.

Now, previous studies quantified moderate and vigorous intensity through heartbeats per minute. This study simply defined moderate as being engaged in physical activity and still being able to talk, but not being able to sing. Vigorous was defined as being in a state where only a few words could be spoken before pausing to breathe.

10,125 brain MRI scans were examined, and it was determined that a higher number of days of moderate to vigorous physical activity predicted larger normalized brain volumes in multiple regions, including total gray matter, total white matter, hippocampus, frontal cortex,

parietal lobe, and occipital lobe. End quote. Brain matter and size are all predictors of better cognitive and neurological health as we age, while neurodegenerative diseases are often found in less dense brains.

While 75% of participants reported doing some regular physical activity, many didn't meet standard exercise guidelines yet still showed brain benefits. This adds to the growing evidence that even modest physical activity can protect brain health.

End quote. Pretty interesting study. And this next story is another really heartwarming one. A woman named Jennifer Skaggs was born with a rare genetic disorder that made it hard to breathe. And she used an oxygen tank for a very long time, but she eventually needed a double lung transplant.

After waiting four months, she got a call in 2019 that she had a donor. And when she found out about the donor, she posted this tearful message online. It's definitely bittersweet because I know that some beautiful young lady had to pass away in order for me to get my lungs. I don't know that I'll ever know who you are, but thank you.

After Jennifer's successful surgery, she wrote to the donor's family to thank them and eventually ended up meeting them. Jennifer bonded with the whole family, but especially bonded with the donor's brother, Travis. And what started out as a friendship between the two quickly turned into something more. And today, Jennifer and Travis are married. Here's what they had to say in an interview with ABC News.

she lives on. I think it helped a lot with the grieving process and, you know, left a little bit of hope. I get to carry Jill with me every day and I am so very thankful for the gift of life that she gave me. So, so sweet. Now, some other good news. A group of Swedish scientists have developed an innovative suit that enhances mobility for Parkinson's, stroke, and cerebral palsy patients.

Again, if you're watching on YouTube, you can see the suit in action, but essentially the suit uses electrical stimulation to reduce tremors and muscle tension with 58 adjustable electrodes. It works by stimulating opposing muscle groups. So as an example, if the bicep is tense, the suit will stimulate the tricep to relax the bicep.

The difference in movements when these people have the suit on and off is just absolutely incredible. The suit consists of pants, a jacket, and a detachable control unit, which aims to relieve pain, relax spastic muscles, activate muscles, and increase blood circulation. And again, if you're just listening to the audio version of this podcast, yet you want to watch the video at a later date, you can always find that YouTube link in the episode description.

As you all know, I love HelloFresh. I love the convenience. I love the way the meals taste. I love that they change it up so you never get sick of the same thing. It's just a great service. But for me, it especially comes in handy around the holidays. And here's why. Number one, it's such a busy season. I throw an annual family Christmas dinner every year and I love it. But between planning for that, buying gifts, managing work, and

I just find myself putting off buying groceries for me and then I end up eating out for every meal. So number one, it helps keep me on track. And number two, speaking of staying on track, a fun fact about me is that I love baking. I have this annual holiday baking day with my mom and sister. And between that and all the random holiday baked goods that I make on the weekends, it's so reassuring to know that I'll never completely fall off the wagon because I have my HelloFresh meals already there ready to cook. And they're pre-portioned, the recipes are chef crafted, and they just show up

right at my door. It just really, truly makes life so easy, especially, especially around the holiday season. And because I always try to have something in it for you, here it is. Get 10 free meals at hellofresh.com slash free unbiased. Applied across seven boxes, new subscribers only, varies by plan. That's 10 free HelloFresh meals. Just go to hellofresh.com slash free unbiased. There's a reason HelloFresh is America's number one meal kit.

Now, as our final little good news segment, before we get into a few quick hitters, I asked you guys on Instagram this afternoon to share some good things that have happened to you recently. And I want to share them on here in an effort to remind everyone that good is all around us. So keep in mind, all of these submissions that I'm about to read came from you guys. Definitely

Danny said,

Becca said she passed her professional engineering license exam. Congratulations, Becca. That's amazing. Ashley said her and her husband are in the process of closing on their first home. Congratulations, Ashley. Some of my best memories actually are from DIYing the renovations on my first home, which I will say there's still a work in progress, but some of my best memories. So I'm wishing the sweetest memories for you in your new home. K

Katie got a totally unexpected and unprovoked raise at work last week. That is awesome. Congratulations, Katie. I hope you treat yourself to a little something nice.

Melissa had her first ultrasound for baby number two today and the baby is looking great so far. We love that. Congratulations, Melissa. Kitten, I hope I'm saying that right, K-I-T-T-O-N, just moved from contract work to full-time and is feeling incredibly thankful. I am so proud of you. Keep crushing it. Scout finished his first 100K run last month. I can't

even do a 5k. That's amazing. Maggie finally got back surgery and says it's changed her life. I love that. Wishing you a speedy full recovery if you're not fully recovered already. Kim bought land to build a house in the future. How cool. Congratulations, Kim. And I don't have this next person's name, but they paid off their mortgage. That is fantastic. Congratulations.

Nina found out she's pregnant. Congratulations, Nina. Kelsey passed the bar exam. I know how good that feels. Congratulations, Kelsey. All of your hard work has paid off. Please go treat yourself to something nice because I'm sure you've been holed up just studying nonstop. Ben is an ex-restaurant owner and just won a court case against a sleazy landlord. That's great. We love a nice win against a sleazeball.

And Carter had a great date night with his wife this weekend with dinner, drinks, and music. It's the simple things in life. I absolutely love that. Now, I'm actually enjoying this segment so much that I'm going to pull up this story that I posted and do some of the most recent responses I've gotten because I think this is really fun. It's making me feel really good to read all these and I hope, you know, it's making you guys feel good as well. So let's see.

What do we have here? Danielle got a job promotion and brand new apartment. Someone got to visit Japan and see their U.S. Marine Corps son and his fiance. Someone else says the boys team I coach was runner up at cross country state this past weekend. Someone said I saved my marriage. That is phenomenal. Someone else said can't think of something big and good right now, but I really love my life and I'm so blessed. That's you know what?

You don't have to think of anything big and good right now. Just feeling grateful is just great in and of itself.

Someone said, I graduated from physical therapy after breaking my shins in the Navy. Someone said, my dad brought me lunch today since I have COVID and feel horribly ill. Parents are something else. You know, we got to be grateful for them. Started a new job that's better for me and my family. Congratulations. Let's see. At lunch, I invited an elderly lady to join me. I thoroughly enjoyed the chat. It made me feel good. That's great. I'm sure you made her feel just as good. That is awesome. Humanity can be so beautiful sometimes.

Someone said, I had a slice of chocolate cake the other night and it was divine. We have to treat ourselves, guys. Someone said, husband got approved for 90% military disability with a likelihood of getting 100%. That's great. Someone said, let's see, been struggling with PTSD and anxiety limiting my life, but I recently planned a solo trip. Good job. Congratulations. I am very proud of you. I hope that you have an amazing time. Awesome.

on that trip. Someone felt their first baby boy kick for the first time. I could go on and on. I mean, there are so many responses here, but I will leave it at that. Maybe I'll share screenshots of more of them to Instagram later tonight. But I hope that that segment made you feel just as good as I felt reading these. I think, you know, it's important to remember that even when it's hard to see the good or even when we're in the midst of such a

And, you know, we just have to be grateful for these things. So congratulations to everyone. All of these made me so happy. And now we're going to do just a few quick hitters. And they are news-based, but I will keep my promise. These are not election-related.

First, Boeing's 33,000 production workers voted to end their seven-week strike yesterday after approving a 38% pay raise over four years. Originally, workers were seeking a 40% pay raise, but the agreed-upon 38% is up from Boeing's 25% offer in September.

Workers can return to work as soon as tomorrow or as late as November 12th, but analysts have said that the strike has cost Boeing an estimated tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue per day.

And a potential nuclear power supply deal for a Meta AI data center was obstructed by the discovery of a rare species of bee on the land where the project was planned. According to a report from the Financial Times, Meta had planned to partner with an existing nuclear power operator to provide energy for a planned AI-specific data center.

data center. However, last week at a meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Meta that the discovery of a bee species would have complicated the project even further, which had already been complicated by other issues in the environmental and regulatory process. Meta says it will continue looking for deals within the low-carbon sector and has not ruled out nuclear energy supply agreements.

And finally, the third and final, the Supreme Court will hear arguments early next year over a redistricting map in Louisiana that created a second majority black congressional district in the state. Now, Louisiana's legislature draw a new congressional map back in 2022, and that map was struck down by a federal district court, which held that the map.

probably violated, or likely is the word, likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because only one of the state's six congressional districts was a majority black district, despite a third of Louisiana's population being black according to the most recent 2020 census.

The legislature went back to the drawing board and created a new map, which provided for two majority black districts, and now this map is being challenged. On appeal, a three-judge panel agreed with the challengers in finding that the new map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, and now it'll go before the Supreme Court.

That concludes this episode, but I do just want to say three things before we leave each other. Regardless of what happens tonight and in the coming days, we are in this together. We all want the best for this country, and we all have more in common than it seems sometimes. Remember that. Have a great night, and I will talk to you tomorrow.