Originally published at: Good News Friday: ACIP to Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries, Sen. Lee Introduces Constitutional Carry Act – Peak Prosperity
Health
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) scheduled its March 18-19 meeting to discuss COVID-19 vaccine injuries, long COVID, and recommendation methodologies, with possible votes on changes like narrowed endorsements. VAERS has received reports of over 1 million adverse events, including 15,499 deaths and 3,256 myocarditis cases, prompting FDA review of child harms. Recent vaccine labels warn of myocarditis risks, particularly in young males. HHS faces lawsuits over CDC schedule changes but maintains its authority amid state challenges.
Relatedly, a Zogby Strategies poll of 1,000 likely voters found strong support for medical freedom:
- 88% agreed individuals have a legal right to make medical choices
- 87% backed refusing treatment
- 88% wanted doctors to discuss vaccine concerns without backlash
- 80% supported adult vaccine refusal.
Among parents with young children, 67% favored opting out of school mandates, and 65% opposed college COVID expulsions. Majorities also backed investigating vaccine ingredients like thimerosal and HHS safety research. The poll was commissioned by the Health Freedom Defense Fund and Brownstone Institute.
Turning to nutrition, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that by April, a federal definition of ultra-processed foods will enable mandatory front-of-package color-coded labels—green, yellow, or red—on all grocery products to guide consumer health decisions based on ingredients. The initiative has prompted criticism over potential regulatory overreach.
Meanwhile, Target announced that all cereals it sells, including national brands, will exclude synthetic colors by the end of May, ahead of timelines set by companies like General Mills and Kraft Heinz for 2027. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon welcomed the move as a step toward healthier family options and transparency, in line with RFK Jr.’s focus on informed choices. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary cited parental reports and a randomized trial linking dyes to behavioral issues like ADHD, noting industry support for removing petroleum-based dyes.
US Politics
Senator Mike Lee introduced the National Constitutional Carry Act, which would allow eligible Americans to carry concealed firearms without permits nationwide. The bill, supported by the National Association for Gun Rights and Gun Owners of America, would bar states from imposing fees or criminal penalties on public carry, while preserving private property rights and bans in secure locations. Currently, 29 states allow constitutional carry. Separately, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the District of Columbia’s ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds, ruling that such magazines are in common use among law-abiding citizens and protected by the Second Amendment. The ruling included a dissent from Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court blocked California’s policy restricting schools from notifying parents about students identifying as transgender and requiring use of preferred pronouns. The ruling upheld a lower court’s finding that the policy likely violates parents’ rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. It allows religious exemptions for parents who hold beliefs about sex and gender and wish to raise children accordingly. The decision applies to parents but not to teachers’ similar objections.
Meanwhile, Kansas legislators overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto to enact House Substitute for Senate Bill 244. The law requires single-sex bathrooms, locker rooms, and facilities in public buildings based on biological sex at birth, and mandates that driver’s licenses and birth certificates align with that sex. Violators could face civil lawsuits with minimum $1,000 damages per instance and potential criminal penalties for repeats. The measure is estimated to affect 1,700 to 1,800 individuals. The ACLU has filed lawsuits challenging the law’s constitutionality.
Lastly, in a Texas Democratic primary, incumbent Representative Jasmine Crockett was defeated by state Representative James Talarico. Crockett cited polling location confusion and a Dallas County court decision—later reversed by the Texas Supreme Court—as factors in her loss. Talarico campaigned on policy issues and a measured tone. Crockett congratulated Talarico on X and pledged to support his campaign.
European Politics
Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court issued two rulings on freedom of expression. In one, it overturned a fine against a retired police officer who emailed a school headmaster accusing him of obeying a “fascist system” during COVID testing requirements. The court found inadequate balancing of speech rights against personality protection, stressing citizens’ rights to accusatory criticism of officials absent isolated personal attacks. In the second, it protected a psychiatric patient’s letter calling staff a “psychiatric mob,” criticizing a higher court’s cursory rejection and remanding the case. The rulings come amid hundreds of recent prosecutions for online insults against officials. Authorities filed over 6,000 insult charges in 2025.
In other news, Croatia declared itself landmine-free after 31 years of demining following the Yugoslav breakup, when 1.5 million mines contaminated areas roughly twice the size of Zion National Park. Efforts removed 107,000 mines and 407,000 unexploded ordnance at a cost exceeding one billion euros, meeting Ottawa Convention obligations. Interior Minister Davor Božinović said the achievement improves safety for families, rural development, farmland, and tourism, while honoring victims and deminers who lost 40 to 60 lives.
Sources
Jasmine Crockett’s Primary Flameout: Voters Tune Out the Noise
Viral moments apparently don’t translate into confidence at the ballot box.
Germany’s Top Court Delivers Free Speech Wins Against Hasty Insult Convictions
Germany’s top court, the Constitutional Court, issued two landmark rulings strengthening freedom of expression.
Sen. Mike Lee Introduces Bill for Nationwide Permitless Concealed Carry
Senator Mike Lee pushes nationwide constitutional carry gun legislation in Congress
D.C. Circuit Strikes Down Magazine Capacity Ban as Second Amendment Violation
“Because these magazines are arms in common and ubiquitous use by law-abiding citizens across this country, we agree with Benson and the United States that the District’s outright ban on them violates the Second Amendment”
Kansas Ends Transgender Bathroom Madness with Landmark Law
In other words, the LARP is over, at least in Kansas.
ACIP Meeting to Probe COVID Vaccine Injuries, Long COVID, and Recommendation Shifts
The next ACIP vaccine advisory meeting is scheduled for March 18 and 19 to discuss three topics – COVID-19 vaccine injuries, long COVID, and ACIP recommendation methodology.
Target Ditches Synthetic Colors from All Cereals by May
Target announced Friday that every cereal it sells, including national brands, must exclude synthetic colors by the end of May.
Supreme Court Blocks California’s Secret Transgender School Policies, Upholding Parents’ Religious Rights
“We conclude that the parents who seek religious exemptions are likely to succeed on the merits of their Free Exercise Clause claim,”
RFK Jr. Announces Mandatory Color-Coded Labels for Ultra-Processed Foods on All Grocery Products
Every food in your grocery store will have a label on it. It’ll have maybe a green light, a red light, or a yellow light
Croatia Declares Itself Landmine-Free After 31 Years of Demining
“Croatia is free of land mines. After nearly 30 years, we have completed demining in accordance with the Ottawa Convention.”
Supermajority Backs Medical Freedom: Poll Shatters Media Narrative
Remarkable supermajorities in favor of medical and health freedom, with numbers on objective questions exceeding 80 percent.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Decision Desk HQ, D.C. Court, The Advocate, ACLU, ZeroHedge, FoodNavigator-USA, Health Freedom Defense Fund, and Brownstone Institute.