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Elon Musk speaks during the first Cabinet meeting hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 26, 2025.
HARD NUMBERS: Anti-Musk petition grows, Measles on the move, Trump hawks gold cards, Polls gauge president’s approval
95 and 124: Measles is on the move in Canada and the US. So far this year in Canada, there have been 97 cases of the disease, which is particularly dangerous to young children, compared to 147 cases all of last year. The latest outbreak has been traced to cases in New Brunswick last fall. Meanwhile, in West Texas, a measles outbreak has sickened at least 124 people and killed a child. California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City, Rhode Island, and New Mexico have also seen measles cases in recent weeks. Experts say that slower uptake of measles vaccines may be contributing to the outbreaks.
5 million: Want to be a US citizen? Well, if you’ve got $5 million burning a hole in your pocket, you’re in luck! Donald Trump is now planning to sell “gold cards” for that amount, which grant foreigners the right to live and work in the US and provide them with a swift path to citizenship.
44: After about a month in office, Donald Trump’s approval rating is 44%, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. His disapproval rating is at 50%. For comparison, Trump’s approval rating is about the same as it was at this point in Trump’s first term, but about 10 points lower than the analogous rating for Joe Biden.Graphic Truth: Shots across the border
Cases of measles, a highly contagious disease that can linger in the air for up to two hours, are rising in Canada. There have been small outbreaks across Southwestern Ontario since the beginning of the year, prompting public health officials to urge Canadians to ensure they have had both their first and second vaccinations.
Projections from a team at Simon Fraser University show that vaccine coverage below 85% can lead to dozens of cases within small communities — or even hundreds if immunization rates are lower than that. Rates of getting the second vaccine have dropped from 87% in 2017 to 79% in 2023 across Canada. Getting the second dose increases a person’s immunity from 85% to nearly 100%, according to health officials.
Meanwhile, south of the border, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prolific vaccine skeptic, is set to be confirmed this week. He walked back some of his past statements on vaccines during his confirmation process, calling himself cautious rather than skeptical, but has continued to surround himself with influential figures in the anti-vaccine movement.
But neither his rise in influence nor the increase in anti-vaxxer misinformation has affected measles vaccination rates – at least not yet. Vaccination rates are much higher in the US than in Canada, with 95% of the population having received their second vaccine from 2019 onward.Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump reacts during a campaign rally in Rome, Georgia, on March 9, 2024.
Hard Numbers: Trump seeks funds, Happiness drops, Inflation vs. interest rates, Bad air quality news, Measle cases rise
1 million: The campaign of former President Donald Trump called on one million supporters Wednesday to donate money as he struggles under the weight of his legal woes. Earlier this week, Trump – who remains a billionaire in terms of assets – failed to secure a bond for a $454 million judgment in a civil fraud case. If Trump can’t come up with the cash, his properties could be seized by New York’s attorney general.
15: Bummed out? The Great White North slid to 15th place in the annual World Happiness Report, down from No. 13 last year. But it was still well above the US, which dropped from No. 15 down to No. 23 in 2024. The dips in both countries were largely driven by unhappiness among people under 30.
2.8: Canadian inflation unexpectedly cooled in February, raising expectations that the Bank of Canada will cut interest rates in June. The consumer price index rose 2.8% last month compared to a year prior, surprising analysts who expected a 3.1% increase. Still, economists still expect the BoC to keep interest rates steady at its next meeting on April 10.
93: The US and Canada are dropping the ball on air quality. According to a report published Tuesday by Swiss air-quality monitor IQAir, only seven countries met the WHO’s guidelines for air quality in 2023 — Finland, Estonia, Australia, New Zealand, Grenada, Iceland, and Mauritius. Owing to last year’s record-setting wildfires, Canada was deemed the “most polluted country in Northern America” – ranking No. 93 worldwide, while the US stood at No. 102.
31: Measles is making a comeback in Canada and the US, thanks largely to unvaccinated travelers. Canada has seen at least 31 cases of the preventable disease so far this year and is also dealing with a shortage of vaccines. Meanwhile, the US has already tallied more cases in 2024 than the 58 instances recorded last year.