Deep dive

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As primary elections roll through the U.S., some lawmakers are speaking out against closed, single-party primaries. In these elections, only registered voters of a particular party can cast a ballot in their party's primary. Critics say the system limits voter choice and rewards party loyalty. Here's how single-party primaries could reshape Congress: 

🗳️ Closed primaries exclude independent voters and see less participation than general elections. 
🗳️ Because more than 90% of House seats are now considered safe for one party or another, primaries determine nearly all U.S. House members. 
🗳️ Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., says closed primaries drag members of Congress away from compromise because they fear being ousted by a more extreme opponent.
🗳️ Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., lost his Senate seat primary to a Trump-backed candidate. Cassidy was one of six Republicans who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges. Because of Louisiana's semi-closed system, Democratic or unaffiliated voters who may have wanted to support Cassidy to prevent a more Trump-aligned replacement couldn't vote in his primary.
🗳️ Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, remains the only Republican senator who backed Trump's impeachment to win reelection. Alaska uses a single ballot on which all candidates for statewide offices appear. The top four candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election. 

Healthy or hype?

Andrea D’Aquino for NPR

Wellness influencers are touting bovine colostrum, which is the first milk cows make after giving birth, as a must-have supplement for supporting gut health. Cows produce more colostrum than their calves need, so the excess is collected, pasteurized, dried and packaged for human consumption. But how effective is it? Here's what science says: 

🐂 Preliminary studies in humans suggest that colostrum may improve certain forms of inflammatory bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis and upper respiratory tract infections. 
🐂 Research is still in its early stages, and some scientists caution that it's too early to definitively say colostrum is effective. Others say the early findings are promising. 
🐂 Health professionals recommend trying to improve one's overall lifestyle before introducing a supplement. Regular physical activity, a wholesome diet, sufficient sleep and stress management should be a priority.
🐂 While there's little evidence of serious side effects from colostrum, people who are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy should avoid it.

3 things to know before you go

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This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.