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- 🌊 And for That Reason... Fluoride's Out
🌊 And for That Reason... Fluoride's Out
Plus: US talks to Hamas, Columbia protester detained, & Josh Allen's record contract
Happy Mortician Recognition Day.
We checked the calendar and today is Johnny Appleseed Day, National Funeral Director/Mortician Recognition Day, and Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day. Who knew this seemingly pedestrian Tuesday in March was such a special one? We would like to acknowledge all morticians in the audience (including Rocco from Jersey who told us that we’ll swim with the fishes if we don’t clean up the typos) and wish a happy Oatmeal-Nut Waffle Day to all of you who celebrate.
🦷 Utah bans fluoride
🇺🇸 US holds direct talks with Hamas
🏈 Josh Allen's record contract
–Max and Max
KEY STORY
Utah Bans Fluoride
Utah became the first US state to ban fluoride in drinking water
Around 70% of the US population has access to fluoridated drinking water. Governments began adding fluoride to the water in the 1940s to prevent cavities and strengthen teeth
At high levels, fluoride can cause neurodevelopmental problems. Critics argue for that reason – or because fluoridation is a type of mass-medication – it should be banned
On Monday, Utah’s governor announced he will sign a recently passed bill banning fluoride in public water systems, making his state the first to do so
Dig Deeper
~70% of the US population has access to fluoridated drinking water. While widespread in the US, many countries – including most of Europe – do not have fluoridated drinking water
Utah's governor said, “It’s got to be a really high bar for me if we’re going to require people to be medicated by their government,” though he added, “It’s not a bill I felt strongly about…but it’s a bill I will sign”
In the US, local municipalities typically decide whether to add fluoride to their water, though some states require larger water systems to fluoridate
KEY STORY
Poland’s Military Buildup
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to seek access to nuclear weapons, grow its army to 500,000, and require military training for all adult men
Poland leads NATO in defense spending and has NATO’s third-largest military. A neighbor of both Russia and Ukraine, it became one of the US’ closest military allies after the collapse of communism
On Monday, Tusk PM said he will expand the military to 500,000 people, require all Polish men to undergo military training, and pursue nuclear weapons, either by having France guarantee it protection or by developing its own
Dig Deeper
Poland – whose security has been intentionally built around close ties to the US – has expressed concern about the Trump Administration’s shift away from Europe and NATO, although Trump has praised Poland’s defense spending and touted it as an example for Europe
Tusk said, “Poland is not changing its opinion on the need, the absolutely fundamental need to maintain the closest possible ties with the United States and [NATO],” but added, "Poles will not adopt the philosophy that we are completely powerless and helpless, if President Trump has decided to adjust policy”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure
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KEY STORY
US Talks to Hamas
US officials have held direct talks with Hamas
On Sunday, Trump’s hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, revealed that he held talks with Hamas to secure the release of the last living American hostage
In announcing that, Boehler added that Hamas proposed a 5- to 10-year truce with Israel, during which Hamas would lay down its arms, allow the US to remove its tunnel system, and withdraw from politics
Boehler said it was “not a bad first offer,” while Israeli politicians criticized the talks and said Hamas couldn’t be trusted
Dig Deeper
The talks opened rifts between the Trump Administration and Israel's government. The two parties had, until now, been closely aligned
Meanwhile, the ceasefire that paused fighting in Gaza ended on March 1 and negotiations on next steps are yet to begin
Hamas has pushed to start the ceasefire’s second phase, which would include a permanent end to the conflict and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, but Israel has maintained its intent to completely dismantle and eliminate Hamas
Last week, Israel cut off aid and electricity to Gaza, while Trump has said it is Israel’s decision alone to end the war
KEY STORY
Columbia Protestor Detained
US authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian protest leader at Columbia University
Columbia University, an Ivy League school, saw some of the nation’s largest pro-Palestine/anti-Israel protests and encampments last spring
Last week, the Trump Administration canceled $400M in funding to the school, alleging that it had violated anti-discrimination law by allowing anti-Semitism to spread
On Sunday, ICE arrested Khalil, one of the protest leaders, and said they were revoking his green card and deporting him
Trump said Khalil was a Hamas supporter, while many criticized the government for going after a protester who is a legal permanent resident
Dig Deeper
Per Khalil’s lawyer, ICE agents said the State Department had ordered them to arrest Khalil and revoke his visa. When his lawyer informed ICE that Khalil was a legal permanent resident, the agent reportedly said they were revoking his green card instead
On Monday, Trump wrote, “ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas student on the campus of Columbia University”
Trump said it was “the first arrest of many to come,” while a Homeland Security spokesperson said Khalil’s arrest was carried out “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism”
RUNDOWN
Some Quick Stories for the Office
📝 The US stock market fell sharply on Monday after President Trump declined to rule out a recession and amid continued uncertainty caused by US tariff treats
💻 Apple is reportedly planning a major overhaul of its software, including its operating systems and the interface of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac
🚫 Calin Georgescu, a leading anti-NATO Romanian politician, said he would appeal a ban on his inclusion in the presidential election in May
🇺🇸 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump Administration had terminated 83% of USAID’s aid and development programs and that the remainder would move under the State Department
📱 The Department of Homeland Security announced a new app designed to facilitate the “self-deportation” of illegal immigrants
What does Roca Nation think?
🧐 Yesterday’s Question: Should we abolish Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. We don’t need it anymore and it is really confusing if you live outside the us time zones. We aren’t farmers anymore so just get rid of it.
No. Though it doesn't serve any realistic purpose, it does mark the passage of time and the unofficial end of winter.
Oh yes please!! My poor body clock stays discombobulated for months after each change. I fall back and spring forward and fall out!!
Born and raised, living in a state where we don't have Daylight Savings aka Arizona, it's a difficult concept to grasp. However, due to not ever living with that, life is completely normal. Even despite the bipolar weather that has a great effect throughout the state. Now if only our politics within our state can get back in order we will be in much better shape!
🤔 Today’s Question: Amid the frenzy of NFL free agency ($250M guaranteed for Josh!), what’s a profession that deserves higher salaries?
POPCORN
Some Quick Stories for Happy Hour
🏈 Bills Pay Allen’s Bills: NFL MVP Josh Allen signed a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills worth $330M, including a record-breaking $250M in guaranteed money
🥚 Shell Shocked at the Border: US border authorities reported egg seizures are up 36% since October compared to last year, while the San Diego field office reported a 158% increase in egg trafficking
🥕 Turnip the Volume: The Vegetable Orchestra, which performs exclusively on instruments made from fresh produce, earned a Guinness World Record for the most concerts by a vegetable orchestra
🐶 Paw on the Trigger: A Memphis man told police he was shot in bed when his one-year-old puppy jumped onto the bed and accidentally discharged a gun after getting its paw stuck in the trigger guard
🇨🇳 Perfect Attendance, Perfect Crime: An HR manager in Shanghai, China, defrauded his company of $2.2M by creating 22 fake employees with generic names and collecting their salaries for nearly eight years
ROCA WRAP
Budget Battle
Germany
This company wants to boost its defense spending. The Greens may not let it.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and Germany’s incoming chancellor after winning last month's election, has proposed a dramatic shift in Germany's fiscal policy. His landmark plan would create a €500B infrastructure fund and change the country's strict debt limits to allow unlimited borrowing for defense spending.
The proposal – which represents a major departure from Germany's long-standing fiscal prudence – was largely spurred by President Trump's withdrawal of support for Ukraine and threats to retreat from European security.
The path toward making that plan a reality took a hit on Monday, though, when senior officials in the left-wing Green Party said they would reject Merz's plan, potentially depriving him of the two-thirds super majority needed in parliament when MPs vote on the changes next Tuesday.
Franziska Brantner, Green co-leader, accused Merz and the Social Democrats (SPD) of attempting to "blackmail" her party and "abuse" Europe's security situation to secure the Greens' support.
"That is the calculation they are making. That is something that does not serve the country and our interests in Europe," Brantner said.
Merz has taken the unusual step of seeking to convene the outgoing German Bundestag — elected in 2021 — to pass his reforms.
This strategy aims to avoid the newly elected Bundestag, where the hard-right Alternative for Germany and hard-left Die Linke parties might block the changes.
The Greens have urged Merz to use the next parliament instead, arguing that would better respect the German people and enable a "proper" reform of the debt brake. To Merz and his supporters, though, the US is cutting ties with Europe – which means there’s no time to lose to start spending on their own defense.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Final Thoughts
We can’t remember the last time there was such unanimity in our inbox as yesterday. Nearly every single answer supported abolishing Daylight Saving Time — and nearly every single one used caps lock and 5+ exclamation points to make their case.
Now it’s up to Congress to pass a law to abolish it. insert laugh track
–Max and Max