Axios

Two high-profile doctors are urging policymakers to support autonomous vehicle deployment, arguing the technology is already saving lives and should be a public health imperative.

Why it matters: It adds a public health voice to a broader policy push by the AV industry as state legislation stalls and debate over long-delayed federal regulations heats up in Congress.

The federal government's lagging response to the hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship is fueling concerns about the government's preparedness for a more widespread infectious disease emergency.

Why it matters: Public health experts say the response underscored vulnerabilities tied to the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization, as well as layoffs and leadership turnover at federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Anyone who's been on a dating app knows the weary disclaimer: "Not looking for a pen pal." Since the pandemic, and as Gen Z has come of age, people looking for love have soured entirely on swiping.

Why it matters: The push for in-person connection shows up in research data, product launches, extensive coverage of the loneliness epidemic, and Gen Z's app aversion.

But approaching and connecting with strangers in real life is a different skill — and for many daters, a rusty one.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary is stepping down after a turbulent 13-month term marked by organizational upheaval, controversies over drug approvals and tensions with the White House.

• Kyle Diamantas, the agency's deputy commissioner for food, will serve as acting commissioner, President Trump posted on Truth Social.

Weight-loss drugs are reshaping bridal retail — and David's Bridal is responding to brides' growing "fit anxiety" with a new guarantee.

Why it matters: GLP-1 medications are changing how consumers shop for wedding attire, forcing retailers to adapt to rapidly shifting body sizes, compressed shopping timelines and a surge in last-minute alterations.

The leading chatbots mostly avoid giving dangerous answers to prompts about suicide, but still struggle when mental health risks show up subtly or unfold over long conversations, according to new research from Seattle-based Mpathic.

Why it matters: People are increasingly turning to AI systems for emotional support in conversations where models can sound supportive while missing serious risk — and where mounting lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny are pushing labs to prove their bots are safe enough.

Nurses are using AI less frequently than physicians, and many feel like they're being excluded from decision-making, according to survey data from scientific publisher Elsevier shown first to Axios.

Why it matters: Nurses are often where the rubber meets the road in health care. Without their buy-in and input, hospitals could spend on medical tools that don't actually help staff or patients.

Sweeping changes that congressional Republicans made to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid are starting to take effect, fueling an election-year blame game over coverage losses.

Why it matters: A rise in the uninsured rate will put more stress on the health system and ratchet up concerns about health costs in an election year where affordability is voters' biggest concern.

Tick bites are sending a record rate of people to the ER for this time of year, according to new CDC data.

Why it matters: "Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick," says Alison Hinckley, epidemiologist with the CDC, in a statement.

The Supreme Court on Monday extended a freeze on new restrictions on mifepristone, allowing the widely used abortion pill to continue being prescribed by mail.

Why it matters: The extension, which runs through 5pm ET Thursday, provides a reprieve for pharmacies, telehealth companies and clinicians caught up in the latest legal tussle over accessing the pill.