the friday brief
10/17/20253 Things That Matter
many major outlets — the new york times, washington post, fox news, npr, reuters, ap, cnn, and the atlantic — are refusing to sign the defense department’s new media access agreement, calling it a threat to press freedom. the policy would require preapproval before reporting on Pentagon activities — a move journalists say crosses a constitutional line.
freddie mac’s 30-year fixed rate has slipped to 6.3%, the lowest since early 2024. the drop tracks with falling treasury yields — a rare break for buyers after months of tight credit and high prices.
the federal shutdown will shutter 21 smithsonian museums, research centers, and the national zoo starting sunday — a reminder that political gridlock doesn’t just halt policy, it silences access to art and history.
1 Thing to Know
california has become the first u.s. state to define and phase out ultra-processed foods from public school meals, with a full ban set for 2035. the decision mirrors global shifts — france’s nutri-score labeling, chile’s black warning icons, and mexico’s front-of-pack reforms — all aimed at curbing the health impact of industrialized diets.
studies link ultra-processed foods to higher mortality, obesity, heart disease, and depression. and with nearly a billion meals served each year, california’s shift could push american suppliers to clean up ingredients — improving what ends up on plates nationwide
1 thing to try
ten minutes of stillness while low-wavelength light (630–660 nm) does the work — nudging collagen, calming inflammation, teaching skin to renew itself.
it's skincare, but also ceremony: light as a language for healing.
