Hey Dippers,
Here’s what’s making headlines today: Trump and Xi Jinping sit down in Beijing, a new study links a Joe Rogan episode to a 97% spike in ivermectin prescriptions, and more.
Today’s estimated reading time is approximately 4 minutes 3 seconds.
- The Daily Dip Editor
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Nostalgia Nerd
On this day in 1796, what medical milestone happened after a doctor in rural England tested an unexpected link between a farmworker's skin sore and a deadly epidemic? (answer revealed below!)
(hint: dairy discovery)
Before We Dip In (TL;DR)
In today’s issue:
Trump and Xi hold high-stakes Beijing summit. 🌐
Rogan episode drives ivermectin surge. ⚠️
SC Republican blocks Trump’s redistricting push. 📜
Plus, take today’s poll and check out the Nostalgia Nerd quiz answer down below!
POLITICS
🌐 Trump and Xi Meet in Beijing as Trade, Taiwan, and Semiconductors Dominate
President Trump traveled to Beijing for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, leading a delegation that included Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Nvidia’s CEO alongside defense and banking executives.
The visit comes after a fragile U.S.-China trade truce from last fall. China controls 85% of global rare-earth refining, and with the Iran war costing an estimated $29 billion and U.S. munitions stockpiles at roughly half capacity, Chinese analysts see the timing as favorable.
The discussion: The U.S. wants expanded Chinese purchases of farm goods and Boeing aircraft, a formal bilateral trade board, and structured AI policy talks. China wants relaxed semiconductor export controls, eventual Taiwan reunification, and a halt to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. In the same trip, Trump made comments downplaying Americans’ economic concerns regarding Iran, which drew bipartisan criticism in Congress.
HEALTH
🏥 UCLA Study Links Rogan Episode to 97% Spike in Cancer Drug Prescriptions
A UCLA-led study in JAMA Network Open found ivermectin prescriptions surged 97% in the six months after actor Mel Gibson appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience in January 2025, describing acquaintances who recovered from stage-4 cancer using ivermectin and fenbendazole. Among cancer patients, prescriptions more than doubled.
Researchers tracked 68 million patients across 67 healthcare organizations, with the sharpest increases in the South (3x) and among men (2.8x).
The concern: Ivermectin is FDA-approved only for parasitic infections, with no clinical trial evidence supporting its use for cancer. Oncologists warn high doses can be toxic and may interfere with chemotherapy, with the bigger risk being patients who delay or abandon proven treatments entirely.
Dipper Poll
:📈 Today’s Poll: Podcast Precautions
A new study found that a single podcast episode measurably shifted how cancer patients sought treatment. Supporters say patients deserve to hear all perspectives; medical professionals warn unverified claims can steer patients away from care that works.
When, if at all, should platforms like Spotify and YouTube add health warnings to episodes promoting medical treatments?
LAW & POLICY
📜 South Carolina Republican Blocks Trump-Backed Redistricting Plan Targeting Clyburn
South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey blocked a Trump-backed redistricting plan that would have targeted the state’s only Democratic House seat, held by congressman James Clyburn. Trump personally called Massey and posted on social media urging Republicans to act boldly.
The move marks the first major Republican defection in 2026’s redistricting cycle, after Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, and Virginia all shifted maps toward GOP advantage.
The arguments: Massey cited state authority over redistricting and warned the plan could spread GOP voters too thin, endangering existing safe seats. He also publicly acknowledged the map would boost Black voter turnout and hurt Republicans down-ballot, a candid admission rare in any redistricting debate.
Fun Facts
🕌 Monuments: The Taj Mahal changes color throughout the day. It appears pinkish at sunrise, bright white during the day, and golden under moonlight because of how the marble reflects light. It’s essentially a giant mood ring built in the 1600s.
🌋 Geology: There’s a volcano in Indonesia that shoots blue lava due to burning sulfur gases. The Earth occasionally looks like it’s running experimental special effects.
🐦 Animals: Some birds sleep with half their brain awake so they can literally fly while resting. Imagine pulling an all-nighter and still functioning better than humans.
🤯 WTF: A study published in Neuroradiology found that wearing a Windsor-knotted tie reduces blood flow to the brain by 7.5%. The real cost of professionalism might be oxygen.
TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWER:
The world’s first vaccination
On May 14, 1796, English physician Edward Jenner inoculated 8-year-old James Phipps using fluid from a cowpox blister on a milkmaid’s hand. Jenner had long observed that dairy workers who contracted cowpox rarely caught smallpox, and his experiment confirmed the link. That rural test launched the science of immunology and eventually led to the global eradication of smallpox in 1980.
Poll Results From May 13, 2026
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Show Notes
Looking for more specific details on each story? Click here for the full show notes for yesterday’s PDS episode.
Over and Out...
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When I worked in corporate healthcare (seemingly in a different life), I always used to joke about how the corporate bigwigs were losing blood flow to their brains. They made the most bassackwards decisions, and I would blame their neckties. Imagine my absolute shocked laughter reading this morning's fun facts at the end!