Linda Nil Taskin

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on investigating Bidens: "You know why I don’t want to do it? I love Joe Biden!"

That's exactly why cardiovascular disease is so frightening. A person can look perfectly healthy and energetic one moment, then suffer a heart attack, an aortic dissection, a stroke, or a ruptured aneurysm the next. Appearances alone don't tell us much. Just look at Senator Lindsey Graham. He looked perfectly healthy in Kyiv, Ukraine, earlier that same day.

I wish that when the cause of death of a public figure is shared, someone close to them would also tell us about their eating habits, alcohol use, smoking, exercise routine, and overall lifestyle. Individually, those details are only anecdotal, but over time they could add up to a body of information that's genuinely useful.

Statement From Senator Mitch McConnell WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following note to constituents regarding his hospitalization and recovery: “To my fellow Kentuckians – “When you elected me to a seventh term and made me our Commonwealth’s longest serving Senator, you did so trusting that I’d keep showing up to fight for you every day. And over the past several weeks, Elaine and I have appreciated both your well wishes and your honest questions about what was keeping me away from the Senate. “You all know how folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct – I can’t help it. “But at the same time, I’ve had more than my share of experience with physical vulnerabilities. Surviving childhood polio meant spending my entire life with mobility challenges. They haven’t exactly gotten easier to manage with age. And last month, I took a fall which landed me in the hospital. “My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia. “I can assure you that I’ve been a good patient. At my age, I tend to do what my doctors tell me to do. I’ve submitted to every test they can think of to help figure out what caused this incident. And I’m continuing to do everything they ask to speed my recovery. In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength. “As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you. I’ve been working closely with my legislative staff on current issues, and with my Kentucky team who help me provide timely constituent services across our Commonwealth. I’ve also been keeping in touch with my Senate colleagues on the appropriations process, midterm politics, and everything in between. “You’re right to expect your representatives to work hard for you. And part of my decision to retire at the end of my term this coming January was being honest about the demands of Senate work. But I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do. “I’ll keep working hard to get back on the Senate floor as soon as possible. And I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my recovery. Until then, I’m so grateful for your prayers and well wishes.” ### From the Office of the Attending Physician: “Senator McConnell has experienced several falls throughout the year that have been attributed to his post-polio condition. He was admitted to the hospital four weeks ago after falling at home and sustaining minor injuries. “A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage. Early in his hospitalization, he developed pneumonia, which responded rapidly to antibiotic treatment. “The remainder of his hospital stay focused on physical therapy and strategies to reduce his risk of future falls. He has been medically cleared to continue fully participating in his intensive physical therapy program.”

I don't think Bryan cares much about the criticism. If anything, he's turning it into free publicity. It's basically, "Look how many people are talking about me." That's how I see it. Love him or hate him, he's experimenting on himself and sharing everything publicly. Even if only some of it proves useful, he's getting millions of people to think more about health, aging, and longevity. That's not a bad thing.

The world wants me to die. My incurable disease diagnosis became global news. It was omnipresent on social media and 1,900 articles were written in a matter of days. Many were saddened. However, joy dominated the commentary. People pointed to schadenfreude, the pleasure of another's failure. Yes, there’s that. There is a special place in people’s hearts that loves to see others fail, especially when that person’s presence threatens their own psychological stability in some way or helps them feel better about themselves. But, if you look over the social media commentary about me, you’ll see that pattern: “he deserved it.” I deserved it because I challenged death. The crowd was running a deeply rooted psychological script that represents the oldest, most deeply embedded stories of human culture. This was the first story ever written down, 4,000 years ago. Gilgamesh sought eternal life after losing someone he loved, only to have the plant of youth stolen by a serpent as he bathed. Leaving him to accept his mortality. Asclepius became so skilled at rejuvenation that he raised the dead. As punishment, Zeus struck him down with a thunderbolt to enforce life and death authority. This is the story of Jesus. Pontius Pilate offered a choice between a thief and the immortalist, and the crowd demanded the execution. People need this story conclusion to keep themselves sane. The challenger must lose and the loss must appear deserved. It’s a shield of self preservation. For if death is inevitable, their existence and that of their loved ones is justified and unavoidable. If death is not inevitable, nothing about their reality is safe. I occupy the same philosophical and archetypal position as Gilgamesh, Asclepius and Jesus. This statement will draw outrage and accusations of blasphemy, hubris and narcissism. Nevertheless, it’s the pattern that has repeated itself for thousands of years. Death has been the omnipresent concern of the human race. It encapsulates our greatest fears, joy and curiosities. The discourse around it changes over time; however, the fundamentals remain unchanged. What’s different about this moment, that is unlike any other moment, is that physical death may no longer be inevitable. What if I didn’t deserve it? And what if I am your ally, and not a threat?

Jagger, on how fame changes you, is fabulous. @nytimes @MickJagger

25 years together and 3 kids later, he finally decided to marry her. Even a successful supermodel had to wait that long for him to commit. And she's smiling like he just did her the biggest favor. Sad.

The Welsh coal miner’s daughter shot to fame with ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ — and never tired of singing it: ft.trib.al/4ICXFb6?

BREAKING: Bonnie Tyler, who topped the charts with epic "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died at 75. apnews.com/article/bonnie…

“Communism is a disaster. It's been proven to be for thousands of years, under different names, but the same thing," President Trump said when asked what his message is to people living under communist and socialist regimes, as well as to people living under democracies in Europe and America.

President Trump departs Turkey after NATO Summit.

WATCH: New York City's biggest office-to-residential conversion just hit an unexpected obstacle. Buckling columns and falling bricks forced an evacuation at the former Pfizer headquarters.

NOW: "The North Side of that Building is CRUMBLING" - Construction Worker speaks about the former Pfizer HQ building, which is in danger of COLLAPSE in Manhattan. Licensing @FreedomNTV desk@freedomnews.tv

A high-rise Manhattan building at risk of collapse is the former headquarters of Pfizer that is being converted into apartments. Two columns buckled on the building’s 21st and 22nd floors, and several floors near the columns were sagging, officials said. wsj.com/us-news/manhat…

BREAKING: The U.S. men's national team has fallen to Belgium, missing out on its first World Cup quarterfinals appearance since 2002. abcnews.visitlink.me/Ds1fLK

Trump on Balogun: "I saw the play, and I'm a person that loves sports ... that wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction ... this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe ... he's our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn't know what that meant ... yes, I asked for a review by FIFA."