Radnor Reports: Information for decision-makers

This popular fruit can give your immune system a serious leg up, experts say

Sarah Crow in Eat This, Not That! –

Fact checked by Kiersten Hickman –

Bananas are the most popular fruit in America, and it’s not hard to see why: they’re tasty, inexpensive, and can be purchased practically anywhere food is sold, from gas stations to grocery stores. However, the benefits of making bananas part of your regular routine extend well beyond your taste buds—these delicious fruits can provide a surprising amount of support to your immune system, keeping you healthier in the long run.

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Lexi Lonas of The Hill –

Americans said in a recent poll by YouGov that Washington, D.C., is the worst place in America.

The poll paired two states in head-to-head matches and states were then ranked on their “win percentage.” The poll included all 50 states plus D.C.

D.C. came in last place, only winning 35 percent of its match-ups. Surveyors said that D.C. lagging at the bottom could be due to the political nature of the city or the fact it is not a state.

D.C. has been fighting for statehood for years while voters are split on the issue. 

Other low-ranking states include Alabama and Mississippi, which only won 38 percent of their match-ups.

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 Ben Carlson of A Wealth of Common Sense –

There’s an old saying that bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism and die on euphoria.

This description might need to be updated for the current moment: bull markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism, annoy people on speculation and die on euphoria.

For years this was described as the most hated bull market in history. And it probably was for a time.

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If you’ve ever been in a conversation about politics, you’ve probably heard someone say, “I don’t like either party” or “Politics is just so ugly these days.” That person also may have claimed not to identify as a Democrat or a Republican but as an independent instead.

Today, that person is pretty representative of how Americans identify politically. The share of Americans who say they’re independent has climbed considerably, according to Gallup’s quarterly party affiliation data. In the late 1980s, roughly one-third of Americans identified as Democratic, Republican or independent. Now, 40 percent or more identify as independent, while the share who identify as Democrats or Republicans has fallen to around 30 percent or lower.

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Police brutality in the U.S. goes far beyond one high-profile case

 Alex Samuels of FiveThirtyEight –

The murder trial for Derek Chauvin was notable in many ways. Not only was it significant to George Floyd’s family, which was able to receive some semblance of the justice they’ve pushed for since Floyd’s death, but it’s also notable simply because of how rare it is for police officers to be charged for using excessive or fatal force — let alone convicted.

 Chauvin was guilty on all three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree-manslaughter. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced. But because he doesn’t have a criminal history, his sentence could be as short as 12.5 years, according to Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines. That said, the conviction itself is monumental.

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