Turning Point for Animal Testing? Beagle Raid Sparks National Debate (Copy) (Copy)
Plus: Transportation Sec. Warns That Small Airports Could Close If Shutdown Continues
Good evening,
Finland ranked as the world’s happiest country for the ninth year in a row, according to the World Happiness Report 2026 from the Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford, published Thursday.
THE FINNISH LINE 🇫🇮 — The report attributed Finland’s steady hold of the #1 spot to the country’s equal distribution of wealth, its high life expectancy (81.5 years), and its robust welfare system.
Other Nordic countries — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland — also made the top 10.
SAD NEWS FOR THE ANGLOSPHERE 🇺🇸 — Further down on the list were the United States (#23), Canada (#25), and the United Kingdom (#29), the second year in a row that none of the English-speaking countries appear in the top 10.
DANGERS OF DOOMSCROLLING 📱 — The report also found that excessive social media use correlates with the decade-long decline in well-being found in young people in the U.S., Canada, and other English-speaking countries, particularly teenage girls.
The findings are complex. For example, limited social media use (1 hour or less a day) is correlated with higher well-being than no use at all, and platforms that emphasize social connection tend to have a positive correlation with happiness.
The findings come after Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for people under the age of 16 in December 2025. Several other countries in Europe, Asia, and North America are in the process of implementing or are considering implementing similar bans.
Booking my one-way flight to Finland soon. 🇫🇮✈️✌️
Sam,
Associate Producer
🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Inside The Fight Over Animal Testing: Activists Break Into Wisconsin Beagle Farm
Twenty-seven animal rights activists were arrested after breaking into the Ridglan Farms breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, over the weekend and removing more than 20 dogs.
The incident comes amid a broader debate over animal testing in the U.S.. Regulators are looking for alternatives, but scientists say current technology still cannot fully replace animal research in many cases.
THE PROTEST
Authorities say about 60 protesters entered the property in Wisconsin. Law enforcement later recovered some of the animals the activists took, but several remain unaccounted for. The activists say police recovered eight dogs from their group.
THE FARM: Ridglan Farms is a licensed research facility that breeds beagles to sell them to labs for medical testing. It has operated for nearly 60 years and has been targeted by animal rights activists for decades. Ridglan Farms called for swift legal action against the activists and said that their “serious and extreme actions” were set to be “the first of many actions targeting farms and research facilities.”
The farm — the second-largest research dogs breeder in the U.S. — had already agreed to shut down its breeding operations by July 1, 2026, as part of a deal to avoid animal cruelty charges. A judge last year found enough evidence to establish probable cause of animal cruelty violations at the facility and appointed a special prosecutor to investigate.
But, the beagles there on Sunday were reportedly allowed to stay at the facility for research purposes — an arm of the operation with hundreds of dogs that is not required to shut down. It’s unclear how many dogs are currently there, but as of May, the farm had about 2,500 dogs.
THE ACTIVISTS: Attorney and activist Wayne Hsiung, who helped organize the effort, alleged the dogs at the facility are subjected to abuse and that “under Wisconsin law, you have] a right to rescue animals who are suffering from criminal abuse.”
The group was booked on “tentative criminal trespass charges,” police said.
Dogs are commonly used in testing new drugs, medical devices, and chemicals, as well as in research on diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Beagles are the most frequently used breed due to their small size and docile temperament. Other animals widely used in laboratory research include cats, sheep, rabbits, and fish.
BY THE NUMBERS: In 2024, more than 40,000 dogs were used for testing in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The vast majority of animals used for research are rats and mice, and less than two percent are cats, dogs, and nonhuman primates.
Mice, rats, fish, and birds bred for research are excluded from USDA reporting requirements, so it’s not clear how many have been used.
STATE OF ANIMAL TESTING
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new efforts Wednesday to reduce reliance on animal testing in drug development, though researchers say current technology still can’t fully replace animal testing yet.
In January, the U.S. EPA moved to end its testing of chemicals on mammals by 2035 — which the Trump admin introduced in his first term. The Biden Administration canceled the phase-out deadline over scientists’ concerns that the timeline was premature as computer models, AI and other methods do not produce the same level of information as animal testing.
PART OF THE ISSUE: While animal testing typically happens before human trials, recent studies suggest that many drugs that succeed in animals ultimately fail in humans.
UP NEXT: Scientists are increasingly turning to alternatives like artificial intelligence and lab-grown human cell models. The NIH also committed more than $150 million to institutions working to develop methods that better simulate human biology.
Drug developers have been increasingly adopting AI tools for testing, Reuters notes, which biotech companies believe could cut development timelines and costs by at least half within three to five years.
🚨 ONE THING WE’RE FOLLOWING
Warnings Airports May Soon Close As Government Shutdown Leaves TSA Workers Unpaid
As the partial government shutdown entered day 34 on Thursday, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines at some airports around the U.S. are stretching outside of terminals, with some travelers told to arrive up to three hours before their flight.
AIRPORT WARNING: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Thursday that if a partial government shutdown continues, small airports could be forced to shut down.
The FAA defines "small hubs" as airports that receive 0.05 to 0.25 percent of the annual U.S. passenger boardings. There are about 75 small hubs in the U.S., about 40 medium hubs, and 20 large hubs. Duffy didn’t mention specific airports.
More than 350 workers have quit since the start of the shutdown, and absenteeism is rising to about 10%. At airports in Atlanta and New Orleans, nearly 40% of officers called out Tuesday. At Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport, wait times at certain points have climbed to over 2 hours. Some airports’ checkpoints are even temporarily shutting down.
BEHIND THE NUMBERS
Roughly 50,000 TSA officers have been working without pay since mid-February, leading to rising absences, resignations, and staffing shortages at some airports.
The shutdown is tied to a funding fight over the Department of Homeland Security, which also oversees ICE and immigration enforcement.
TSA workers, many making around $50,000 a year, haven’t been paid since mid-February.
While they are expected to receive back pay, union officials warn the system is nearing a breaking point if the standoff continues.
ON CAPITOL HILL
At this point it doesn’t look like Republicans and Democrats are close to a deal to restore funding. Democrats are still refusing to fund DHS— which oversees the TSA— unless immigration enforcement policies are changed. (DHS also oversees ICE.)
Democrats want concrete changes to immigration enforcement—like the end of masking by agents—before they fund the department.
SENATE: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) suggested Thursday that the Senate’s planned recess next week could be canceled if DHS funding isn’t secured. His comments came as bipartisan lawmakers met with border czar Tom Homan, though they reportedly remain far apart.
HOUSE: House Democrats introduced a discharge petition Wednesday to fund other DHS agencies (like TSA) outside of immigration enforcement, but they are unlikely to gain the Republicans votes needed to advance it. Republicans want all of DHS funded and are currently unwilling to just fund individual agencies like TSA.
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
Sen Kennedy urges ‘smart lawyers’ to rework SAVE America Act for simple-majority path (FOX)
Patel: FBI is buying data that can be used to track Americans (MO NEWS)
Florida hospital sues to evict a patient who won’t leave room 5 months after discharge (AP)
Senate recess at risk if DHS shutdown continues, Thune says (POLITICO)
Historic March heatwave pushes south-west US toward triple digits (GUARDIAN)
🇮🇷 IRAN WAR
Trump compares Pearl Harbor to Iran attack during meeting in awkward moment with Japan’s leader (MO NEWS)
Joe Kent’s resignation over Iran war reignites antisemitism fears and debate over Israeli influence (AP)
Iran hangs three convicted of killing police during January protests, judiciary says (TIMES OF ISRAEL)
Seven U.S. allies back potential Strait of Hormuz coalition (AXIOS)
Trump confirms he will ask Congress for $200 billion to fund war on Iran, calling it ‘a small price to pay’ (GUARDIAN)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Spanish police say missing American student James Gracey found dead (MO NEWS)
Pakistan, Taliban agree on strike pause for end of Ramadan (AP/REUTERS)
Divers find marble treasure possibly taken from Greek Parthenon at shipwreck site in Aegean Sea (CBS)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Trump signals DOJ should continue Powell probe, complicating Warsh Fed nom (CNBC)
FDA approves higher dose of Wegovy (THE HILL)
FDA pulls proposed rule barring teens from using tanning beds (NBC)
Molecule in python blood could pave way for new obesity drugs, scientists say (GUARDIAN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ABC cancels The Bachelorette after Taylor Frankie Paul fight video (TMZ)
Chuck Norris, 86, rushed to the hospital in Hawaii after medical emergency (PAGE SIX)
Joseph Duggar of ‘19 Kids and Counting’ Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Claims (VARIETY)
Afroman prevails in cops’ music video defamation suit after a brief but viral trial (NPR)
Pistons star Cade Cunningham sidelined with collapsed lung (ESPN)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it…March Madness kicked off on Thursday for the men’s competition, with High Point University (12) beating Wisconsin (5) in the first big upset of the men’s NCAA Tournament’s first round. The women’s competition starts Friday. 🏀
Betting markets and analysts predict that there will likely not be many upsets this year, but don’t get cocky. You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than getting a perfect bracket…in fact, nobody has ever achieved it.
The NCAA Tournament has 63 games, each with two possible outcomes.
The odds of a perfect bracket: 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 or 1 in 9.2 quintillion.
See how your picks stack up to the legendary Rizzler… 👀