As I prepare for my life to change (yep, soon-to-be mom here), let’s just say my brain is buzzing with a never-ending to-do list. So I’m turning to the activities that help keep me grounded, like little walking trips — one of the six “movement snacks” you can easily add to your day. I’m also testing out my version of a “dopamine reset” to clear some of the mental clutter and extra noise (check out our third main story) — could this ‘90s-throwback house staple or “quirky art” trend do the trick? With “nesting” mode in full swing, I’m eyeing spring’s “it” color as a way to freshen up my home. After all, if it works in fashion, it should add the right splash of color to my living room, too. I also discovered some royal-inspired candles that are truly coming at the perfect time. You’ll just have to take our quiz at the end to see what I mean. Now, let’s get to the headlines…
— Maria Corpus / Editor / Madison, WI
Health
The President's Psychedelic Pitch
What’s going on: There’s an episode in season one of Nine Perfect Strangers, where the wellness guru played by Nicole Kidman claims psilocybin “has the capacity to change the world.” While the research is still ongoing, the White House is ready to take a trip to find out. On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to cut the red tape for certain controlled substances like psilocybin and ibogaine. The goal is to speed up federal reviews so the FDA can approve some psychedelics as expanded treatment options for depression, addiction, and suicide risk. The Trump administration wants the FDA to help prioritize “breakthrough therapies” and broaden access to experimental drug trials for the seriously ill. It’ll also allocate $50 million to match state research programs that study psychedelics for mental health. At the rollout, Trump joked, “Can I have some?” before adding that he doesn’t “have time to be depressed.”
So… why now?: This builds on growing research — and rising GOP support — for the use of psychedelics to treat PTSD and opioid addiction, especially among veterans who haven’t had luck with traditional medications. (The VA already has at least five trials underway.) This weekend’s push also skipped the usual policy playbook. After interviewing an ibogaine advocate on his podcast, Joe Rogan texted Trump about the drug’s potential. Trump, per Rogan, replied: “Sounds great. Let’s do it.” And just like that… the president took another step to tweak his health agenda and unite his party ahead of the midterms. But, some health officials — including NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya — urge caution, saying more research is needed on safety, especially outside clinical settings.
