A Socialist Defense With a French Accent Grace Ryan, a 25-year-old New York City resident from Ohio and recent NYU graduate, drew fresh attention on X after defending herself against criticism that she is a wealthy progressive backing socialism. Ryan wrote that people were trying to “dunk” on her for being “a progressive from a privileged background,” then asked if they had “never heard of noblesse oblige.” She added that she has a moral duty to use her advantages to help people who are struggling. That phrase, for readers who did not grow up inside a velvet-rope dictionary, means the rich have duties because of their status. It is not exactly “workers of the world unite,” but politics now comes with branding consultants, so here we are. https://twitter.com/nycgraceryan/status/2089816558633648230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw X Users Noticed the Optics The reaction was fast and not especially gentle. Several X users mocked the tone of Ryan’s post and argued that “noblesse oblige” sounded less like class solidarity and more like a manor-house mission statement. Others pointed to past claims about her living situation and lifestyle, including her rent-stabilized apartment in New York City. The criticism was not just that she has money. It was that she was…

A Dangerous Error Before Surgery Public anger is growing after reports that multiple patients at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville went into cardiac arrest following what was described as a pharmacy error. According to the report, four patients were reportedly given potassium instead of an anesthetic before surgery. CBS noted that too much potassium, if given too quickly, can stop a person’s heart. The hospital later apologized for injecting the patients with too much potassium, but for families facing life-changing harm, an apology is not likely to settle much. When a hospital pharmacy makes a mistake this serious, the public has every reason to demand clear answers about safeguards, supervision, and how the wrong drug reached patients in the first place. The CEO Now in the Spotlight The controversy has also brought attention to Dr. Shubhada Jagasia, the President and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital. The report states that Jagasia is an Indian native and earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in Mumbai, India. It also notes that under her leadership, Ascension Saint Thomas was named one of the 10 best hospitals in Tennessee by U.S. News and World Report. Some online critics focused on…