📈 A surge in syphilis cases

It’s Wednesday, January 31 — people are talking about the surge in syphilis cases, the layoff videos hitting TikTok, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

📈 A surge in syphilis cases

Syphilis is surging in the US, with cases at a record high.

📈 U.S. Syphilis cases are hitting record highs, with an alarming 80% increase since 2018. The NYT blames the spike on less condom use and fewer sexual health clinics.

📈 Politico linked the syphilis surge to public health budget cuts: It's hard to fight the rise without adequate funding.

📈 And Bloomberg says a shortage of a Pfizer drug could exacerbate the problem. Penicillin G benzathine is in short supply.

📈 Still, AP News had some good news: Syphilis cases may be surging, but the prevalence of other STDs has stayed the same or declined.

🎥 Layoff videos on TikTok

Layoff videos are going viral. Some find the transparency empowering, while others think it’s risky oversharing.

🎥 In the age of remote work and social media, workers are filming their layoff process and posting it on TikTok. Axios says the trend is reshaping work culture norms.

🎥 The NYT approves of the trend: The videos showcase the harsh reality of job loss, and help reshape personal-professional boundaries.

🎥 Business Insider also supports TikTokers sharing their layoff experiences: It's empowering and informative for workers.

🎥 But HuffPo cautions against making the videos. Filming your layoff could lead to legal trouble, especially in all-party consent states — lawyers advise consulting an attorney before posting.

🎥 The WSJ had a different take: It's cathartic, but risky — future employers may not want to hire an online “oversharer”.

Quick hits

🇮🇱 Israeli forces disguised as women and children carried out a raid in the West Bank that killed 3 militants. (AP News)

🏛️ Republicans in the House of Representatives advanced their effort to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (CNN)

🏥 Leaders in Oregon declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for downtown Portland, for to a public safety crisis fueled by fentanyl. (AP News)

⛈️ An atmospheric river storm will hit Northern California with heavy rain and wind today, putting more than 20 million people under flood alerts. (CNN)

Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback or want to share your thoughts or ideas, please email me at [email protected].