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Every other Tuesday, the team behind Civics 101 joins NHPR’s All Things Considered host Julia Furukawa to talk about how our democratic institutions actually work. Republicans have won enough seats to have a narrow majority in the U.S. House. When President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in next January, the Republican Party will be in control of the presidency and Congress. This week, Civics 101 senior producer Christina Phillips joined Julia to talk about what happens when one party has both the executive and legislative branches of government. Transcript Christina, when's the last time one party had control of both the executive and legislative branches? I mean, how common is this? So this is known as unified control. The most recent time this happened was actually pretty recently. It was during Biden's first two years in office. And Republicans also had unified control during Trump's first two years. But I should say this is not super common these days or when it happens, it doesn't last very long. Prior to the 1960s, unified control was the norm. Why doesn't it last that long? I think it's a factor of the increased partisanship that we're seeing over the last couple of decades, [or] more than a couple of decades. But really, what happens now is that if one party is in control of both Congress and the White House, you often see in the midterm elections that that president and that party will lose power going forward. When there was unified control in previous administrations, what kind of laws were they able to pass? So unified control makes it easier to pass major lasting legislation. I think one of the most famous examples is Obamacare, which [is] the Affordable Care Act, [and] it passed in 2010 when Democrats had unified control. Trump and Republicans had the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and then Biden had the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. But it is worth pointing out, like I said, that in today's politics, unified control is pretty hard to keep. In all of those examples, the party with unified control lost that control during the next midterm election. It's easier to point to one party as a whole for your dissatisfaction in the government, when it seems like that party has all of the power. And other than passing legislation, what else does this unified control make it easier to do? It certainly makes it easier for a president to carry out other aspects of their agenda, for example, political appointments. That's not just members of the president's cabinet, [it] also includes judges on lower courts, which could have a lasting impact on how laws are interpreted in a way that could affect you and me. So is unified control necessarily better or worse than having a divided government? In terms of the function of democracy, in that we elect people and then hold them accountable for the job we've chosen them to do, a unified government is ideal because it means that the chosen leaders carry out the policies they were elected on with more efficiency. However, a divided government provides a greater check on power between the two branches, whether it be congressional investigations or the threat of a veto. Voters can provide their own check at the voting booth, of course, but that happens every two years and a lot can happen in the meantime.

Pakistan's security forces have launched a sweeping midnight raid on supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan who had stormed the capital demanding his release,, with hundreds arrested amidst chaotic scenes. Login or signup to continue reading Thousands of protesters had earlier gathered on Tuesday in the centre of Islamabad after a convoy, led by Khan's wife, broke through several lines of security all the way to the edge of the city's highly fortified red zone. The red zone, guarded by army soldiers, houses the country's most important offices and buildings, including the parliament and an enclave of foreign missions. At least six people, including four paramilitary soldiers, were killed before the Tuesday night raid was launched. Local broadcasters Geo News and ARY both reported that a massive raid was launched by security forces amidst a pitch-dark central Islamabad, where lights had been turned off and a barrage of teargas was fired. The protest gathering was almost completely dispersed, they reported. Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said they planned on staging a sit-in in the red zone until the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August last year. One of the protesters was shot dead and the other was run over by a vehicle, Bukhari said. Authorities did not respond to a query seeking to confirm the deaths and Reuters could not independently verify the information. "It is not a peaceful protest. It is extremism," Sharif said in a statement, aimed at achieving "evil political designs". Sharif said the violence was driving the law enforcement agencies to the "limits of restraint". Amnesty International said the government must fully protect the rights of protesters and immediately rescind "shoot-on-sight" orders that it said gave undue and excessive powers to the military. Earlier, in a post on X from jail, Khan, 72, said his message to his supporters was to fight till the end. "We will not back down until our demands are met," he said, accusing security forces of firing on peaceful party workers. The violence erupted at the end of a march led by Khan's wife Bushra Bibi and his key aide Ali Amin Gandapur that arrived in Islamabad early on Tuesday. Reuters reporters saw some of the marchers ransack vehicles and set a police kiosk on fire. They also attacked and wounded journalists at two separate locations, people from two media houses told Reuters. The protest march, which Khan has described as the "final call", is one of many his party has held to seek his release since he was jailed in August last year. PTI supporters last marched on Islamabad in October, sparking days of clashes with police in which one officer was killed, but this week's protest is bigger in size and more violent, authorities said. They said the protesters were now armed with tear gas launchers, steel rods, slingshots and sticks and were setting fire to trees and grass as they marched. Reuters witnesses heard firing around the protests, although it was not clear who was responsible. Voted out of power by parliament in 2022 after he fell out with Pakistan's powerful military, Khan faces charges ranging from corruption to instigation of violence, all of which he and his party deny. Candidates backed by Khan's party won the most seats in a parliamentary election in February, but a coalition cobbled together and led by Sharif took power. Khan and the PTI say the polls were rigged following a military-backed crackdown to keep him out of power. The army has denied charges of election manipulation. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. 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Rivalry Closes Third Tranche Of Non-Brokered Private Placement

KENNEDY: I already know how the hunt for the UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin ends... and it makes my blood run cold

Rights groups cautious about Islamist rebels’ pledges to protect Syrian minoritiesWASHINGTON , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will fly in aircraft manufacturer Electra's EL2 Goldfinch experimental prototype aircraft on Sunday, Dec. 8 . Members of the media are invited to speak with Nelson and Electra leaders just prior to the flight at 11:45 a.m. EST at Manassas Regional Airport in Manassas, Virginia . Electra designed the experimental aircraft with the goals of reducing emissions and noise and connecting new locations for regional air travel, including underserved communities. Media will be able to view and film the flight, which is set to feature ultra-short takeoffs and landings with as few as 150 feet of ground roll. The flight also is set to include a battery-only landing. Media interested in participating must RSVP to Rob Margetta at robert.j.margetta@nasa.gov . NASA's aeronautics research works to develop new generations of sustainable aviation technologies that will create new options for both U.S. passengers and cargo. Agency-supported research aims to provide industry providers like Electra, and others, data that can help inform the designs of innovative, greener aircraft with reduced operating costs. NASA investments have included projects that explore electrified aircraft technologies, and work that helped refine the electric short-takeoff and landing concept. The agency's work with private sector aviation providers helps NASA in its effort to bring sustainable solutions to the American public. In November, NASA selected Electra as one of five recipients of its Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability 2050 awards, through which they will develop design studies and explore key technologies to push the boundaries of possibility for next-generation sustainable commercial aircraft. These new studies will help the agency identify and select promising aircraft concepts and technologies for further investigations. https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-invites-media-to-administrator-flight-in-electra-hybrid-electric-aircraft-302324434.html SOURCE NASA

Egypt Urges Syrian-Led Political Process Following Assad's Overthrow

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Lea en español For many people, this time of year is all about the shopping. And there's a fair chance many feel less than joyful about the prospect. If fulfilling your lengthy list feels overwhelming, learning what brain science and evolutionary psychology say about shopping and gift-giving might help you understand exactly why you're stressed – and even point you toward a healthier, happier holiday season. Our reactions are encoded into our nervous system, said Dr. Beth Frates, a part-time associate professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "By understanding these brain responses, people can develop strategies to manage stress better, such as setting realistic expectations, focusing on mindfulness and simplifying holiday preparations," said Frates, who also is the immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The idea of exchanging gifts at this time of year can be traced back to pagan solstice celebrations. But the drive to share with another is as old as humanity itself, said Dr. Diego Guevara Beltran, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Arizona in Tucson who studies cooperation and generosity. The science of generosity is more about survival than stocking stuffers, Guevara Beltran said. Sharing food gave early humans an evolutionary advantage. "Generosity is just one of the ways by which we can accumulate resources, be it wealth itself or friendships or work partners or more attractive, more intelligent mates," he said. Sharing with other people, Guevara Beltran said, is "a signal that communicates how much you value them, their welfare, your relationship with them." Research has shown that helping people makes us feel good. Part of that, he said, is because when someone is part of a community, they feel protected. One way this manifests is through the act of giving gifts. But to derive happiness from gift-giving, the giver needs to feel both that it was not an obligation and that it was effective, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report . That means it could be stressful to be in a culture where gift-giving feels mandatory, or if we can't see that a gift helped someone, Guevara Beltran speculated. It also might be stressful if gift-giving becomes a competition to show that you care about somebody more than the others around them. Our brains on shopping Stressful shopping can cause several physiological responses to kick in, Frates said. First is the "fight or flight" reaction that comes with stress. The release of chemicals that increase our heart rate, raise our blood pressure and intensify our breathing evolved to give us bursts of energy to escape danger. Frates said that while holiday stressors are not life-threatening, they can still trigger the stress response. The pressure to stay within budget could create a sense of scarcity, she said. "This taps into an evolutionary response, where the fear of losing resources like money can feel urgent and distressing." The holiday season also involves a lot of choices. "The brain has limited capacity for decision-making, and making multiple decisions can lead to decision fatigue," Frates said. "This fatigue reduces the ability to self-regulate and cope, which can lead to heightened stress responses when confronted with even minor setbacks, like a long line or out-of-stock item." The stress of needing to complete tasks within a limited time can intensify the fight-or-flight response, she said, as the brain interprets the ticking clock as a sense of urgency or threat. Meanwhile, Frates said, holiday shopping can also trigger brain chemicals that affect our feelings. "Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, is released when we anticipate something exciting or enjoyable, like finding a great gift or finding a good deal," she said. "This anticipation can feel rewarding even before any actual purchase is made." For some people, this dopamine boost can make shopping a relaxing experience. "It provides a temporary distraction from other stressors and allows them to focus on something positive, creating a 'holiday high,'" Frates said. For some people, that can be problematic. "When shopping becomes a way to chase that next dopamine hit, it can lead to excessive spending or impulsive purchases," she said. "This can become a trap, particularly during the holidays, when deals, sales and gift-giving pressures are everywhere." Understanding how all these processes work can help people recognize why they feel the way they do and adopt strategies to cope, Frates said. Here are some of her suggestions. 1. Start with self-care before shopping Prioritizing self-care means people can be their best selves and make good decisions, Frates said. So, "eat food that is delicious and nutritious. Get seven to nine hours of sleep. Make sure to enjoy physical activity. Take walks when you can and invite friends along. Practice stress reduction like meditation or yoga to help you calm your body and mind." Before going shopping, try taking deep breaths using stress-relieving techniques such as 4-7-8 breathing (inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale through your mouth for eight) or box breathing (inhale through the nose for four counts, hold your breath for four, exhale for four, then hold for four). 2. Be strategic Don't shop when you're hungry, tired, lonely or stressed, Frates said. And don't start shopping 15 minutes before a store closes or a website's online deals end, she said. That's setting yourself up for triggering the fight-or-flight response. 3. Be mindful Before making a purchase, take a moment to consider whether it's truly needed or whether it's an impulsive choice. To avoid overindulging, set a specific budget or limit yourself to a couple of hours or specific shopping days. "This keeps dopamine-driven spending in check while still allowing for the enjoyable aspects of holiday shopping," Frates said. Look for post-shopping activities that provide rewards without the financial cost. That can satisfy your brain's desire for more dopamine in a healthier way. "Plan enjoyable, stress-relieving activities after shopping, like going for a walk, spending time with friends or indulging in a hobby," she said. 4. Bring a friend Not only does this support healthy social connections, Frates said, but if things start feeling stressful, "you have a buddy, and you have a support system right there for you." 5. Rethink the focus of the season "With gift-giving, we need to change mindsets in order to be able to manage the stress," Frates said. The holidays could be used to emphasize social connections, she said. "Thinking about the connection with the person and making gift-giving more about deepening the connection than anything else, I think, will really help to reduce the stress around the process," she said. So instead of scouring shops and websites for the "perfect" gift, think about making a meaningful and personal one, she suggested. It could be a poem, a painting, a song or a framed photograph that captured a special time. 6. Lessons for children It's easy to get caught up in the hunt for a hard-to-get item, Frates said. But ask yourself what the holiday means in your family's traditions. "Is it about getting that perfect gift for the child? Or is it about celebrating the meaning of that holiday?" So instead of having children ask for one specific toy, or a specific brand of clothing, teach them to leave a little leeway on their lists. "It is a good reminder to express to children that this season is about giving and sharing what we can in the best way that we can," she said, "and sometimes the exact gift is not available." Encouraging such an attitude can be a tall order, Frates said, but it's a place to start. "A simple mindset shift could be the difference between a stressful holiday shopping season or a joyful journey to find meaningful gifts for people you care about." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!How Does the Information Ecosystem Influence Politics?

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Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.Before Payton Steele was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, she never imagined she would go through menopause when she was barely out of her teen years. Two months into chemotherapy , Steele’s period disappeared, and she began to develop hot flashes . Then came the hair loss . Although she finished her treatments in September, the early menopause symptoms continue to affect her daily life, Steele tells SELF, but above all, her self-confidence. “It's definitely not something I thought I would have to deal with at 20,” she says. “And knowing that I might not be able to have kids in the future is just really rough and makes me really sad.” This is the reality for a lot of younger people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Most folks with a period transition into menopause sometime between the ages 45 and 55. At that point, their ovaries start to produce less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. But medical menopause—when your ovaries are removed, shut down, or stop working as a result of chemotherapy, radiation to the pelvis, medications, or surgery—can mean this process begins well before age 45. It’s often referred to as early or premature menopause (but we’ll stick with “early” for simplicity’s sake). Symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, and vaginal dryness can hit pretty hard following cancer treatment. That’s because your ovaries lose their function right away, as opposed to gradually as you age. But the likelihood your cancer treatment puts you into early menopause depends on several factors, including the age you were diagnosed and the dose and type of therapy you receive. It’s also not always a permanent situation; some people’s ovaries can start back up again after a little break. Whether your early menopause is temporary or lifelong, the situation is still pretty crappy. But there are a number of ways you can find relief from your symptoms, and some people may even be able to prevent issues like infertility. Here’s everything to know about how cancer treatment can affect your risk of early menopause. 3 cancer treatments that can cause early menopause Sometimes the best thing you can do to get rid of your cancer and lower the chances it comes back is to surgically remove both of your ovaries (known as an oophorectomy). This is especially true for ovarian cancer, or any other that can spread into the ovaries (like colorectal cancer, for example). This type of procedure is “an automatic ticket into menopause,” Shanthi Sivendran, MD , a medical oncologist and senior vice president of cancer treatment support with the American Cancer Society, tells SELF. If your ovaries are removed, your period won’t come back and your hormone levels will drop quickly, which means menopause starts right away and your symptoms may be really intense. In some cases, though, your doctor may try to leave one or part of an ovary, which can help prevent early menopause. You may also need to remove your ovaries if you carry a genetic mutation (specifically the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes) that increases your risk of certain diseases, Dr. Sivendran says. One study found that women who underwent this surgery had a 96% and 53% reduction in their risk of ovarian and breast cancer, respectively. These specific cancers are estrogen-dependent, meaning they rely on this hormone to grow; so removing the organ that produces it essentially starves and prevents them from developing in the first place. If your surgeon removes your uterus (but keeps your ovaries) as part of your cancer treatment, you may not go into early menopause right away, but you might develop it a year or two earlier than normal. All types of chemotherapy have the potential to affect your ovaries, but certain types that use drugs like Cytoxan (which can treat a bunch of cancers, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and breast cancer) are known for causing early menopause. This is because chemo destroys rapidly dividing cells in the body, which includes cancer cells and the normal cells in your ovaries. Some data indicate that a lot of people who initially go into early menopause get their periods again about two years after they finish chemo. But again, this depends on what kind of drug you receive, the cancer you have, and your age. For example, one type of chemo that people with leukemia or lymphomas may get before a stem-cell transplant is known for inducing early menopause in about 80% of people. Generally, though, the older you are, the higher your risk of developing early menopause and the harder it may be for your ovaries to recover. This is one of those cancer treatments that’s very much dose dependent, meaning the more radiation you get, the greater your chances of going into early menopause. If you get radiation near your ovaries, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be kicked into menopause territory. Meanwhile, any radiation done in your pelvis region, say to treat colorectal or cervical cancers, has been shown to cause early menopause in about 94% of women. “Even though we do our best to try to minimize other organs from being impacted, there may still be some radiation exposure to the ovaries,” Dr. Sivendran says. How do I know if I’m in early menopause? There’s no exact science to determine whether you’ve hit menopause, but you generally know you’re in it when you haven’t had your period for 12 consecutive months and you’ve been experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and trouble sleeping. However, it can be especially difficult to tell you’re in early menopause after cancer treatment. First, menopause symptoms like fatigue and sexual dysfunction (including low desire, pain, or anything else that prevents you from enjoying sex) can be confused with those related to cancer or the treatment itself. And second, the telltale 12-month-no-period criteria doesn’t always apply to cancer patients because your ovaries may return to regular programming several months to years after treatment, Dr. Sivendran says. Staying in touch with your medical team as you navigate post-treatment symptoms will give you a better idea of whether your menopause is here to stay, and guide you to any therapies you might want or need to feel better. What does treatment for cancer-related early menopause look like? Your treatment options are similar to those for people undergoing natural menopause, which may be a low-dose antidepressant to treat hot flashes , for example. But there’s one treatment that some people with early menopause should avoid: Systemic hormone therapy , which is essentially hormones delivered via a pill, patch, foam, gel or spray that affects the entire body, Dr. Sivdenran says. These meds are basically estrogen with or without progesterone. So for people with breast, ovarian, or uterine cancers that rely on one or both of these hormones to grow, this specific therapy may not be safe as it can increase the chances your cancer comes back. Dr. Sivdenran says it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor so you can discuss your personal risk-benefit ratio and ensure that your most concerning symptoms are actually being addressed. Is early menopause after cancer permanent? As we mentioned, there are certain scenarios where your ovaries may get back into the swing of things after cancer treatment, but for some people, their early menopause may be permanent. Meghan Karuturi, MD , a breast medical oncologist with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, says that age is one of the strongest predictors of this. The younger you are, the more likely menopause isn’t permanent, but it’s “just a measure of time,” she tells SELF, meaning it can take months to years for your ovarian function to return. In a 2016 study , about 70% of the women aged 20–35 who lost their period—an indicator of early menopause—gained it back after their cancer treatment, which included radiation and/or chemo. Most of them got it back within two years, and those on the older side were more likely to have an irregular cycle. (And again, if you’ve had surgical removal of the ovaries or uterus, it won’t ever come back.) There are circumstances where you can take some steps prior to cancer treatment to reduce your chances of early menopause. For example, if you still can and want to have children after your cancer treatment, you can take luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists that will temporarily stop your ovaries from working. These meds can not only protect your ovaries from damage that might lead to infertility, but they can also make other cancer drugs more effective and even reduce the risk your cancer comes back. You’ll experience typical menopause symptoms when you’re taking these meds, but they should go away when you stop. How quickly that happens is specific to you and your circumstances, though. If you want to take extra fertility precautions, you can also consider harvesting your eggs before you start your treatment. They can be frozen, or combined with sperm to create embryos first and then frozen, so the eggs can be used in the future to try for a pregnancy. These procedures can be pretty pricey (about $10,000 or more each time you go through a cycle to collect eggs) and not all insurance companies cover it. So be sure to discuss this with your medical team as early as possible to see if this is an option for you and to avoid running into issues that might interfere with your family planning goals. Does early menopause increase my risks for other health issues? Yes, it could, but it depends on a bunch of factors. Menopause in general, because of low estrogen levels, can lead to the bone thinning disease osteoporosis, which makes fractures more likely. These hormone changes can also increase your risk of heart disease by affecting things like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. And lots of people can also experience menopause-related brain fog and problems with memory, decision making, and concentration, Dr. Karuturi says. In practice, that means you might have to get your bone density checked earlier than usual (this typically happens around age 65, but can occur beginning at age 50 if you have certain risk factors like this one), Dr. Karuturi says. It’s also a good idea to chat with your doctor about other preventive measures you can take to lower your chances of these issues, she adds, like exercising regularly and taking certain vitamins. Above all, early menopause can really put your mental health through the wringer. “It's difficult to feel like you’re going through [menopause] when you didn't anticipate going through it early..... That can impact your daily functioning if you're not getting enough sleep; your work; how you view yourself,” Dr. Sivendran says. “All of these things are just really important struggles that young women who go through early menopause deal with.” Although early menopause after cancer can feel devastating, there are steps you can take before and after treatment to ease any symptoms or problems. Ask your medical team if your hospital system offers resources to connect patients locally or even nationwide or look for virtual support groups on social media that meet your needs. “It’s just important for you to know that this isn’t something you have to experience in isolation,” Dr. Karuturi says. This made a world of difference for Steele, who was able to find someone like her who she could rely on for emotional support. “I have a friend who lives super close to me. We had the same cancer, same stage, and we’re the same age, too, which is really cool.” Related: 6 Ways to Deal With Night Sweats During Menopause How to Make New Friends as an Adult When You Have a Chronic Illness What to Know About Drinking During Menopause Get more of SELF’s great service journalism delivered right to your inbox—for free .Topline Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped the federal government’s two criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump on Monday due to his impending inauguration—but there’s still a chance the federal government could try to revive the cases in the future after Trump leaves office, though it would have to overcome some legal hurdles. Key Facts Crucial Quote Smith’s motions to dismiss Trump’s cases “could be an effort to keep the cases alive in the long term,” former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade wrote in an op-ed for MSNBC Tuesday, noting that by insisting the cases be dismissed without prejudice, the special counsel “blocks Trump’s attorney general from dismissing the cases for all time.” “It may be that a future attorney general ... will lack the appetite to resuscitate the cases against Trump in 2029,” McQuade added. “But Smith has done all he can to preserve that possibility.” What To Watch For It will be years before it’ll be clear whether a second round of Trump indictments will actually happen. The charges would probably be contingent on a Democratic president replacing Trump when he leaves office, as a GOP successor would be unlikely to try and punish Trump. Even if Democrats took back the White House in 2032 or 2036, it would then be too late under the statute of limitations to bring charges, even excluding the time when Trump was in office. It’s also still too early to say whether indicting Trump again would be a priority for the federal government by the time he leaves office, given Trump’s advanced age and the fact he will not be eligible to run for president for a third term. He will be 82 years old when he leaves office in January 2029. Can Trump Pardon Himself? Another potential step Trump could try to take to shield himself from future legal liability would be to pardon himself while he’s in office, though it’s a legal grey area whether he would be allowed to do so. The Justice Department said in a 1974 memo during Richard Nixon’s presidency presidents are not allowed to pardon themselves, citing the “fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case.” That memo isn’t legally binding, however, and since Nixon resigned and was pardoned by Gerald Ford rather than trying to pardon himself, the issue hasn’t been tested in practice. If Trump tried to pardon himself, the issue would likely become tied up in court and ultimately be left to the Supreme Court to decide. What About Trump’s State Cases? While his federal cases have been dropped, Trump’s two other criminal cases in state court are still pending—at least for now. Trump has already been found guilty on 34 felony counts in New York for falsifying business records, but his sentencing has been delayed while Judge Juan Merchan determines whether to grant Trump’s request to throw the verdict out altogether in light of his election. Even if Merchan denies Trump’s request and keeps the case alive, it’s unlikely Trump will be sentenced before Inauguration Day, and prosecutors said they believe it would be appropriate for Trump’s sentencing to wait until after he leaves office. Trump has also been charged in Georgia state court for trying to overturn the 2020 election. That case has not yet gone to trial and remains pending , though Trump’s lawyers are expected to try and have it thrown out based on him being elected president. If the court keeps the case alive, the proceedings are expected to be paused until Trump leaves office. Key Background Trump was indicted in the two federal cases last year, becoming the first sitting or former president to ever be federally charged. While the cases were supposed to go to trial earlier this year—with the election case slated for trial in March and the documents case in May—Trump managed to successfully delay the cases past Election Day, ultimately killing them. The election case was paused for months while the Supreme Court deliberated whether Trump should be immune from prosecution, ultimately ruling in July to shield him from some criminal charges—a major hurdle that would likely pose issues even if Trump is charged again after leaving office. While Smith argued the charges could go forward even in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, it was already too late for the case to go to trial by Election Day. Cannon dismissed the documents case in July after already indefinitely postponing the trial date, as the Trump-appointed judge slow-walked rulings leading up to the trial. Smith then appealed the case to the 11th Circuit, but there was not enough time for it to issue any ruling on whether the charges should be revived before Trump’s election. Tangent While Smith dropped the government’s charges against Trump in the documents case, he did not end separate cases against Trump aides Walter Nauta and Carlos deOliveira, who were charged with helping Trump conceal classified documents. Those cases are still continuing on at least for now, with Smith arguing in a new filing Tuesday the charges should be revived after Cannon dismissed them. It’s unlikely the cases will continue on for much longer, though, as Trump’s appointees at the Justice Department are likely to drop the charges after he takes office. Trump allies who were charged alongside the ex-president in the Georgia 2020 election case—including Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows—will also still have to face prosecution and likely go to trial while Trump’s in office, however, even if his own trial gets delayed or dropped entirely. He will not be able to have his allies’ charges dropped or pardon them, given the case is in state court and not federal court. Further ReadingWashington : Mexico and Canada have hit back at Donald Trump’s tariff plans, warning about the potential economic impact and urging the president-elect to choose cooperation over the prospect of retaliatory trade wars. In an ominous but unsurprising development on Monday, Trump announced on social media that he intended to slap heavy tariffs on America’s neighbours and top trading partners as soon as he returns to the White House in January. Donald Trump speaks on the southern border with Mexico in August. Only a fraction of his “beautiful wall” was built during his first term – and mainly to replace older dilapidated sections. Credit: AP Under the plan, Trump says a 25 per cent tariff would be imposed on Canada to the north and Mexico at the southern border unless they crack down on drugs and illegal immigrants coming into the US. In addition, he threatened that China would receive “an additional 10 per cent tariff” on top of tariffs already in place on Chinese goods unless the country implements the death penalty for drug dealers connected to the fentanyl trade. But as global markets digested the news, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum warned the tariff hike would fail to curb illegal migration or the consumption of illicit drugs in the US. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said the tariffs would hurt her country and the US. Credit: Getty Images She also described the plan as “unacceptable” and something that “would cause inflation and job losses in Mexico and the United States”. “One tariff will follow another and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk,” Sheinbaum said in a letter to Trump, which she read at her daily press conference and planned to send to the president-elect later in the day. “Dialogue is the best path to achieve understanding, peace and prosperity for our two countries ... I hope our teams can meet soon.” Mexico is currently the United States’ top trade partner, representing 15.8 per cent of total trade, followed by Canada at 13.9 per cent. But Trump made it clear during his election campaign that he would readily use tariffs as leverage to tackle the tide of illegal immigrants coming into America. After Trump’s social media post, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the president-elect as he sought to tamp down concerns about the potential impact on his country’s economy. Trevor Tombe, an economist who authored a report on the consequences of US tariffs on Canada’s economy, warned a recession was likely if Trump followed through on the 25 per cent tariff. The country’s premiers have warned a trade war would cause immense damage to their respective economies, while the Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020. Trudeau, who has called an emergency meeting with worried provincial premiers for Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), told reporters he had a “good call” with Trump. Then-president Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019. Credit: AP “We obviously talked about laying out the facts, talking about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth,” he said. “This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and that’s what we’ll do.” In an echo of Trump’s politics, Trudeau initiated a U-turn on immigration, restricting flows of new migrants. He said last week Canada’s system had been exploited by “bad actors”. Trump’s vision for tariff hikes on Mexico, Canada and China were laid out in a Truth Social post on Monday night. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he said. In a follow-up post, he also announced that the US “will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America”. The reason, he said, was China’s failure to curb the number of drugs entering the US. China is a major producer of precursor chemicals that are acquired by Mexican drug cartels and others to manufacture fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that accounts for about 70 per cent of all drug overdoses in the US. “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” Trump said. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .