INTERNACIONAL
Reporter’s Notebook: The Who . . . not too old to rock
Who’s too old to play rock and roll? Apparently, not The Who if this past week’s concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall is anything to go by. It featured the two core members of the group, 81-year-old lead singer Roger Daltrey and soon-to-be-80-year-old songwriter and lead guitarist Pete Townshend.
Unlike other «senior» musicians and groups like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, who have well-oiled touring machines around them, this was more of a one-off (well, two-off, there had been another concert a few days before) for the respected UK charity Teenage Cancer Trust.
And so it had more than its share of «bumps,» which only made the moments of rock and roll heaven that much more enjoyable.
Guess what? These guys can still rock, sixty years after their first top-ten hit, if a bit tempered by age.
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Roger Daltrey of The Who performs during the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
Daltrey had a few of his memorable hand-mic air throws. OK, instead of hurling the microphone in the air vertically for thirty feet, they were more sideways for ten.
And Townshend, yes, did his windmill guitar stroke movements. I did count eight in a row at one time, but for the most part it was more like one or two at a time.
Nothing was tempered about Daltrey’s voice, despite problems and surgery in the past. It still sailed over the rafters on a range of songs. The high notes of the tune «Love Reign O’er Me» were done with blockbuster bombast.
And Townshend’s guitar licks could stand up to Clapton’s any day. (The latter also just turned 80, by the way.) Unique, stylish, no flubs.
The Who (with a good backing band) played a few of their very early stand-outs. Especially ironic: «My Generation.» (Key line: «I hope I die before I get old.» Well . . . maybe not.)
The rock opera about the deaf, dumb and blind pinball wizard, Tommy, got a bit of a gloss-over, perhaps because of Daltrey’s recent admission that his vision is beginning to go (along with his hearing).
Fox News Correspondent Greg Palkot at The Who’s concert in London. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)
The follow-up, urban rock opera Quadrophenia, was treated with a deeper dive, maybe plugging the ballet version running in London later this year. It never ends.
But what many consider their finest album, Who’s Next, got the full treatment. From «Bargain» to «Baba O’Reilly,» from «Behind Blue Eyes» to «Won’t Get Fooled Again.»
The synthesizer parts might have been pre-recorded . . . but the forceful Daltrey-Townshend duet on the key «Blue Eyes» line was utterly telling:
«And if I swallow anything evil, put your finger down my throat. And if I shiver, please give me a blanket. Keep me warm, let me wear your coat.»
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Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of the rock band The Who perform on stage during the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
So . . . the «bumps» noted earlier: Townshend acknowledged that he had had knee-replacement surgery a month ago. Aside from a few whinges («I’m in agony,’ «I can’t breathe»), he seemed to take it in his stride. Actually, he took it sitting down through half the songs. (No Woodstock-style jumping scissor kicks for him.) But he admitted that it helped him play better.
And Daltrey’s earpiece (which, despite that spotty hearing, helps him stay «in tune») was acting up throughout the night. At one point, he stopped the entire band. «I’m not hearing the Who,» he said good-naturedly, «it sounds like I’m hearing the Troggs,» referring to an old ’60s British pop band. Townshend said in an aside » . . . it was going so well.»
In fact, the two of them, known to have had their ups and downs over the years professionally, often resembled on stage an odd couple, snapping at each other from time to time but also warm to each other . . . and the audience.
Townshend (not necessarily known for his bedside manner) at one point thanking the 5,000-plus Royal Albert Hall crowd for sticking with them all these years, and calling The Who «geriatrics who pretend to be young.»
The demographics of the crowd, I must admit, were somewhat on the senior side. But enough sons and daughters were present and getting into it to give one hope, if not for the future, then at least for the present.
The Who pose for a press call, July 1971, Surrey, United Kingdom: John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey. (Michael Putland/Getty Images)
For we indeed are seeing, sad to say, the tail end performances of the second great generation of rock and rollers. After Chuck, Little Richard and Elvis, came The Beatles, The Stones, Dylan . . . and, yes, The Who.
That’s why it’s more than just fun; it’s an honor to catch these final farewells.
Along with their punchier later hits like You Better You Bet and Who are You, The Who played a song Townshend said they’d never played in concert before. Incredible, as it was recorded 54 years ago. Amid high critical acclaim.
Called «The Song is Over» (also from the Who’s Next album), it was nothing less than extraordinary. And appropriate.
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As Townshend worked through the riffs and lines. And Daltrey was literally completely slumped over and supported by the standing mic, as if he could go no further, it ended with them singing:
«The song is over, the song is over. Excepting one note, pure and easy, playing so free, like a breath rippling by.»
Except, I take exception. The song, hopefully, is not «over» . . . yet.
Actitud
Reflejo
INTERNACIONAL
HHS probing hospital over firing of nurse who blew whistle on minors getting gender treatments
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is probing «a major pediatric teaching hospital» over the alleged firing of a nurse who sought a religious exemption to avoid administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
«The Department will robustly enforce federal laws protecting these courageous whistleblowers, including laws that protect healthcare professionals from being forced to violate their religious beliefs or moral convictions,» Acting HHS OCR Director Anthony Archeval said in a statement.
While HHS has not confirmed the hospital’s identity, it is believed to be Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) — the largest children’s hospital in the U.S. — as the investigation follows whistleblower nurse Vanessa Sivadge’s testimony on Capitol Hill. Sivadge first came forward publicly in June 2024 and was later fired in August 2024.
Protesters during a rally at Churchill Square in support of trans youth in Alberta following the ‘Sing With Love’ concert at McDougall United Church, on Feb. 11, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
DEMS SPAR WITH WHISTLEBLOWER WHO EXPOSED CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOR PERFORMING TRANS SURGERIES ON MINORS
Sivadge told lawmakers that she had witnessed «disturbing trends and concerning practices» relating to the treatment of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria. She also said that she «observed the powerful and irreversible effects» of treatments that patients were told were «lifesaving.»
«I witnessed firsthand how doctors emotionally blackmailed parents by telling them that if they did not affirm their child’s false identity, their child would harm themselves. In particular, I was saddened to see young girls suffering from profound mental health struggles like depression and anxiety, many of whom had also suffered sexual abuse or trauma, persuaded by doctors at Texas Children’s that a hormone would resolve their gender confusion,» Sivadge told lawmakers.
Dr. Eithan Haim speaks to the media after appearing for an arraignment hearing Monday, June 17, 2024, in Houston. Haim, who calls himself a whistleblower on transgender care for minors has been indicted on federal charges of illegally obtaining private information on patients who were not under his care, with intent to cause harm to the nation’s largest pediatric hospital. He has pleaded not guilty. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
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Dr. Eithan Haim, who was accused of violating HIPAA while in surgical training at Baylor College of Medicine, which is affiliated with TCH, also blew the whistle on the hospital for «lying about the existence of its transgender program.» The Biden DOJ brought charges against Haim for the alleged HIPAA violations, but the case was ultimately dropped under the Trump administration.
Haim claimed the hospital was engaging in fraudulent billing practices to hide the fact that it was carrying out transgender procedures on minors even though it was against Texas law. This included recording mastectomies as «breast reduction» surgeries and billing testosterone prescribed to a teen girl under a male diagnosis.
HHS memo reminds hospitals and providers about Trump’s policies forbidding child mutilation. (Getty Images)
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In her testimony, Sivadge said that federal agents came to her home when investigating the whistleblower, now known to be Haim, because of her objections to transgender medicine. She described the interaction as intimidating and said that one of the special agents «effectively asked me to compromise my Christian beliefs and made veiled threats regarding my career and safety if I didn’t comply with their demands.»
Sivadge’s attorney filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on April 11, alleging that she «observed TCH doctors, after very little deliberation or critical analysis, embarking children on dangerous and often irreversible courses of ‘gender-affirming’ treatment.»
According to the complaint, TCH «temporarily» paused «gender-affirming services» for minors after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in February 2022 that such treatments could constitute child abuse. The treatments were banned in the state following the passage of a bill in May 2023, which went into effect in September 2023. According to Sivadge’s attorney, she asked to be transferred back to cardiology in May 2024, citing her religious beliefs.
Sivadge publicly blew the whistle on TCH on June 18, 2024, and was asked not to report to work the next day, according to the complaint. Just days later, on June 21, she was placed on administrative leave and was officially terminated in August 2024. TCH alleged that the termination of her employment was due to improper access to medical records.
On Jan. 28, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the «Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation» order, which prevents minors from undergoing transgender treatments. In accordance with this order, HHS has issued guidelines for prospective whistleblowers.
Fox News has reached out to TCH and HHS for comment.
Healthcare,Health,Donald Trump,Children’s Health,Health Policies
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Ucrania y Estados Unidos quieren cerrar el acuerdo de explotación de minerales antes del 26 de abril
Ucrania y Estados Unidos aspiran a finalizar el acuerdo de explotación de recursos minerales antes del próximo 26 de abril y firmarlo “cuanto antes” a partir de esa fecha, según el texto del memorando de intención firmado la víspera y publicado este viernes por el Ministerio de Economía ucraniano.
Para ello, el primer ministro ucraniano, Denís Shmigal, viajará la próxima semana a la capital estadounidense para reunirse con el secretario del Tesoro de EEUU, Scott Bessent.
Según dijo este viernes el viceministro de Economía de Ucrania y representante comercial, Taras Kachká, la delegación ucraniana llegará en concreto el próximo jueves en Washington.
El fin del viaje es concluir las discusiones técnicas sobre el fondo de inversión para la reconstrucción de Ucrania que se creará en el marco del acuerdo.
Los equipos negociadores deben informar sobre los progresos antes del 26 de abril, con la intención de “completar las conversaciones para esa fecha y firmar cuanto antes” el acuerdo, según consta en el texto del memorando.
Kachká señaló que todo depende de cuán constructivo será el diálogo la próxima semana, pero el proyecto de acuerdo incluye “decenas de páginas” y algunos de los puntos más sensibles que no se podrán resolver a nivel técnico requerirán decisiones políticas.
Después la firma, la Rada Suprema (Parlamento) de Ucrania y el Congreso de EEUU deben aprobarlo.
El memorándum recoge que EEUU y Ucrania “pretenden establecer un fondo de inversión en la reconstrucción como parte de una alianza económica entre las dos poblaciones y los dos gobiernos”.
“Esperamos que el fondo se convierta en un instrumento eficaz para atraer inversiones en la reconstrucción de nuestro país, la modernización de la infraestructura, el apoyo a empresas y la creación de nuevas oportunidades económicas”, escribió el jueves en su cuenta de la red social X la ministra ucraniana de Economía, Yulia Sviridenko.
La ministra consideró “muy importante” que el memorándum recoja el “deseo de los estadounidenses de invertir con los ucranianos en una Ucrania libre, soberana y segura”.
En el texto se recoge que EEUU ha aportado una importante ayuda financiera y material a Ucrania desde la invasión rusa a gran escala en febrero de 2022 y reafirma que ambas partes buscan “una paz duradera” y una “fuerte alianza entre sus gentes y gobiernos”.
EEUU y Ucrania reconocen además la contribución de Ucrania “al fortalecimiento de la paz y la seguridad internacionales a través del abandono voluntario del tercer mayor arsenal nuclear” por parte de Kiev en 1994 en el Memorando de Budapest.
Otro punto importante para Ucrania era dejar claro que quiere evitar conflictos con sus compromisos y sus obligaciones con la Unión Europea (UE) en su camino hacia la adhesión, al igual que con las instituciones financieras internacionales y otros acreedores públicos.
El memorando sienta las bases para una futura cooperación en la explotación de recursos minerales ucranianos con la que EEUU quiere recuperar la ayuda prestada a Ucrania para hacer frente a Rusia.
El acuerdo preliminar, que se debía haber firmado en la fallida visita del presidente ucraniano, Volodimir Zelensky, a la Casa Blanca del 28 de febrero, preveía la creación de un fondo de inversión conjunto dominado por EEUU en el que se depositaría el 50% de los beneficios que genere la explotación de los recursos naturales ucranianos.
Aunque el acuerdo marco nunca llegó a firmarse, Washington presentó a Kiev a finales de marzo un nuevo documento con más detalles que pretendía obligar a Ucrania a reconocer como deuda el monto de la ayuda militar recibida como donación de EEUU.
Zelensky dejó claro que no aceptaría esta condición y, según medios ucranianos y estadounidenses, EEUU habría aceptado en las negociaciones eliminar algunas de las condiciones más desfavorables para Ucrania.
Kachká explicó que, no obstante, EEUU “ganará al menos tanto como la asistencia aportada” mediante ese fondo de inversión.
(Con información de EFE)
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