America’s Adderall Problem, Facebook vs. TikTok, “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

Ravi digs into the wording of Florida’s new law and distinguishes between what it definitively says versus what it could imply or entail, arguing the language is vague by design. Rikki explains why the opaque wording of the law troubles her, saying she would be inclined to support a more precisely worded version. [00:43]

Rikki leads us through America’s growing Adderall problem and the companies taking advantage of COVID-era policies to over-prescribe drugs. Ravi and Cory argue there are too many parallels to the opioid epidemic [15:27]

Cory explains Facebook’s wide-reaching hit job to try and undercut TikTok’s growing popularity. While admitting he brings a pro-TikTok bias to this conservation, Cory argues Facebook’s strategy won’t amount to much. [25:33]

[[YouTube only]] Ravi, Cory, and Rikki bring us through America’s flatlining population growth and the three major indicators as to why: declining birth rates, immigration, and life expectancy. [32:31]

Ravi, Cory, and Rikki close the show with a few updates on stories we’ve covered in earlier episodes, including MIT requiring standardized testing scores again, the now-resolved teachers strike in Minneapolis, and expansions to the Rooney Rule. [32:31]

Full Text: HB1557 (Miami Herald)
Read for yourself: language of ‘don’t say gay’ bill, what supporters like, what opponents fear (Miami Herald, 3/29)
What Is the “Don’t Say Gay” Law Really About? (Plain English with Derek Thompson, 3/29)
Opponents Call It the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill. Here’s What It Says. (Dana Goldstein, New York Times, 3/18)
Lawsuit claims gender counseling to blame for child’s suicide attempts (The Hill, 1/31)
ADHD Drugs Are Convenient To Get Online. Maybe Too Convenient. (Bloomberg, 3/11)
Startups Make It Easier to Get ADHD Drugs. That Made Some Workers Anxious. (Wall Street Journal, 3/26)
New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren (George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, 2015)
“Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention” by Johann Hari 
ADHD Throughout the Years (CDC, 9/23/2021)
“The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today’s Push for Performance” by Stephen P. Hinshaw and Richard M. Scheffler, 2016
Facebook paid GOP firm to malign TikTok (Washington Post, 3/30)
Targeted Victory website
“The News with Shepard Smith” Clip (CNBC, 3/30)
Why U.S. Population Growth is Collapsing (The Atlantic, 3/28)
U.S. population growth has nearly flatlined, new census data shows (Brookings, 12/23/2021)
Net international migration at lowest levels in decades (Census Bureau, 12/21/2021)
How Low Can America’s Birth Rate Go Before It’s A Problem? (FiveThirtyEight, 6/9/2021)
Why Is the U.S. Birth Rate Declining? (Population Reference Bureau, 5/6/2021)
MIT: We are reinstating our SAT/ACT requirement for future admissions cycles (3/28)
Raises, Bonuses, Layoffs — After 3 Weeks, Minneapolis Teachers Union, District Settle the First Strike in 50 Years (The 74 Million, 3/28)
NFL says all teams must add minority offensive coach, expands Rooney Rule to include women (ESPN, 3/28)