Tim Ryan

Brain scans are revealing early dementia-like changes in kids and teens from heavy screen use. 60 Minutes Australia reported toddlers spending just 2–3 hours daily on devices already show abnormal white matter development. Teens averaging 6–8 hours display widened brain ridges and thinning in key areas — patterns that mirror early Alzheimer’s. Excessive screens appear to weaken neural pathways that normally strengthen through real-world movement, play, and face-to-face interaction. We’re also seeing the first IQ drops in recorded history, plus a nearly 400% rise in early-onset dementia signs among 35–44 year olds. Correlation, not proven causation — but devices are the major new variable. This is one of those reports that makes you rethink default habits. The convenience of screens is undeniable, but the potential long-term brain impacts on developing kids are hard to ignore. We may be unintentionally running a massive experiment on the next generation’s cognitive health. Are we underestimating the risks of heavy screen time, or is this concern overblown?

A movie that couldn’t be made today that’s better than everything being made today.

So proud of the work my friend ⁦@ChrisRGibbs⁩ has done to rebuild trust for Dems in rural Ohio. He’s a star. This will take a lot more work, but he has given us the roadmap. Thank you sir! statenews.org/government-pol…

Evidently starting an elective war in the middle of the worlds energy supply may end up being really bad for working class people in America. Who would have thought?

🇺🇸 Here's what $39 trillion in debt really means: If we confiscated every dollar of U.S. corporate profit ($3.8T/year), it would take over 10 years to pay off. Sell every ounce of gold ever mined: $32 trillion. Still $7 trillion short. Liquidate every Bitcoin in existence on top of that: $33.5 trillion. Still $5.5 trillion short. If we confiscated every dollar of federal tax revenue ($5.3T/year), it would take over 7 years to pay off, assuming zero spending. The debt is 71% of every home in America, or 30% of every publicly traded company on Earth. The debt grows by $7.2 billion a day, or $84,000 a second. This is a problem.

2 rounds of Bush tax cuts. 2 rounds of Trump tax cuts. All reducing rates for the super wealthy. Add in 2 really stupid wars. Zero government reform of outdated, ineffective and wasteful spending. It’s just all so broken.

This is really strong, insightful parenting advice.

NEW: Donald Trump's Catholic support is cratering six months from the midterms — the result of a sustained one-sided attack from the White House on the first U.S.-born pope. Three new polls measure the cost: a 46-point favorability gap with Pope Leo XIV, a 20-point gap on the Iran war, and a 16-point collapse in Trump's Latino Catholic support since November 2024. If these numbers hold, Republicans are headed for a historic defeat in November. thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leo-xiv…

This MRI study on young kids just exposed something terrifying: They scanned the brains of 60 children aged 3–5 — including 5-year-old Rose — and found interactive screen time is causing measurable loss of white matter in their developing brains. Even just 2 hours a day is linked to impaired neural connectivity, language, and literacy development. Professor Mike Nagel (neuroscientist and father) said his first reaction was simply: “Wow… I was not anticipating seeing anything like that.” We’re physically changing children’s brains before they even start school — and the damage is visible on scans. This one actually unsettled me. I’ve always suspected too much screen time was bad, but seeing real white matter loss in toddlers hits different. Parents of little ones — has this kind of research changed how much screen time you allow?

Families are getting crushed by grocery prices, and farmers are getting squeezed. We need a Farm Bill that backs local producers, lowers costs, and makes healthy food affordable. This should be common ground. Let’s pass a Farm Bill that works for farmers and working families. @thefoodbabe @zenhoneycutt @GlyphosateGirl @TheVinoMom foxnews.com/opinion/republ…

It was awesome to be at the People v. Poison rally yesterday at the Supreme Court. The energy coming from our modern day muckrakers was palpable. Democrats need to join MAHA on food and pesticide issues so we can transform our people’s health. Great job ⁦@thefoodbabe⁩

It’s hard to put into words how important it is for every citizen to not just watch this, but try to internalize @BenSasse world view and perspective. If we do we can change the trajectory of America. Thank you for your courage and insights Senator.

Great to be with my old friend Mamaw. Check out the full interview of me and her riffing on all kinds of things from politics to the @Pontifex Mamaw "off the porch" with Tim Ryan youtu.be/CsReEbVaTVY?si… via @YouTube

Religious kids used to be noticeably happier than secular ones. After 2012, that gap exploded. Jonathan Haidt dropped this on The Daily Show: Religious children have built-in community, rituals, and traditions that anchor them. Secular kids, especially those handed phones and iPads early, are left floating without real roots. Haidt (who’s an atheist) says non-religious parents now have to work much harder to intentionally create stable social connections, because a network of strangers, bots, and algorithms is not a community — it’s crazy-making. In the smartphone era, the protective effect of community and ritual has weakened dramatically for everyone, but especially for kids growing up without traditional anchors. We traded thick, real-world belonging for thin digital freedom — and we’re watching a generation pay the price in anxiety and meaninglessness. Do you think religious community still gives kids a real advantage in 2025, or can intentional secular parents create equally strong roots without it? What’s worked (or failed) in your experience?

Man does this bring back some memories. I remember how excited we all were. What a ride! @BernieKosarQB

I am proud to endorse John Kulewicz for Ohio Attorney General. I know John will stand up for the little guy. He’s already even won in the Supreme Court. Get out and vote for him on May 5th @johnkulewicz

We hunger for a future imbued with hope that is capable of engendering a new sense of justice and producing fruits of peace and fraternity. This is not an unknown future that we must passively await, but rather one that we ourselves are called to build with God’s grace. #ApostolicJourney #EquatorialGuinea

We are making the planet more sustainable by removing coal. And we need a lot more of that with natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, hydro and anything else we can get our hands on. @Natural_Allies

Community is medicine. Research consistently shows that strong social connections are one of the most powerful predictors of health, resilience, and longevity. Not the size of your network, but the depth of your relationships. A few people who make you feel safe, seen, and supported can profoundly shape your biology. Loneliness activates the same stress pathways as chronic disease. It drives inflammation, dysregulates hormones, weakens immune function, and accelerates aging. Connection does the opposite. It calms the nervous system, lowers cortisol, improves metabolic health, and even influences gene expression linked to longevity. This is why community is a core pillar of functional medicine. Food, movement, sleep, and supplements matter, but without meaningful human connection, healing is incomplete. Invest in your people. Nurture a small, trusted circle. Shared meals, honest conversations, laughter, and belonging are not soft interventions, they are some of the most powerful tools we have to extend healthspan and quality of life. Love this post by @risingwoman