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Joan Esmie MS ’26 Named PAEA Student Health Policy Fellow
Reflecting Ithaca College’s Commitment to Community-Minded Leadership
Trump directs team to beef up his public schedule to combat questions about his stamina
Vague descriptions of presidential signing ceremonies, policy meetings and industry executive sit downs — mostly behind closed doors — began peppering President Donald Trump’s public schedule at the end of last year.
WSOC-TV & KFF Health News Win Prestigious duPont-Columbia Award
The SSA's practice left millions of Americans, including some in the Carolinas, facing unexpected financial hardship and prompted sweeping policy changes in the nation’s capital.
Policy Brief: Teen Mental Health and School-Based Services in California
Rates of chronic sadness and suicidal thoughts in teens have been rising in California—and nationwide—since about 2009. Significant gaps exist between the reported need for mental health care and receipt of services. The state has recently invested $8 billion for child and teen mental health, including school-based services.
Republicans Gave ICE a Slush Fund. Democrats Want to Limit It.
The sweeping domestic policy law that Republicans muscled through Congress last year made ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in the country, with no strings attached.
Internal review contradicts Trump administration on Alex Pretti shooting : The NPR Politics Podcast
An initial internal review into federal immigration officers’ fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last weekend contradicts the description of the incident by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. We discuss President Trump’s shifting messages on immigration policy and how his administration’s efforts to restrict legal immigration pathways are changing the political environment. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, immigration policy correspondent Ximena Bustillo, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and Lexie Schapitl, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Singer "Kid Rock" & Entertainment Policy Advocates Testify on Concert Ticket Fees
Singer "Kid Rock," Live Nation Entertainment VP Dan Wall & entertainment policy advocates testify to a Senate Commerce subcommittee on ticket prices and fees.
Fed holds interest rates steady, pausing rate cuts amid economic uncertainty
Federal Reserve policymakers left interest rates unchanged at its January meeting after cutting rates at its three prior meetings amid uncertainty over the labor market and inflation.
Companies rush to refinance amid increased policy uncertainty
The activity may be a signal of corporate borrowers losing confidence.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Inside new NIL policy for Michigan high school athletes from MHSAA
The Michigan High School Athletic Association expanded personal branding opportunities for high school athletes to profit off their own NIL on Jan. 27
Singer "Kid Rock" & Live Entertainment Policy Advocates Testify on Concert Ticket Fees
Singer "Kid Rock," Live Nation Entertainment VP Dan Wall & entertainment policy advocates testify to a Senate Commerce subcommittee on ticket prices and fees.
WATCH LIVE: Rubio testifies at Senate hearing on U.S. policy toward Venezuela
Even in ‘business-friendly’ states, federal policy shocks are hurting Latino-owned firms
Texas, Florida, and North Carolina are so-called “business-friendly” states worth watching because they sit at the intersection of rapid growth, demographic dependence, and policy volatility.
Food policy vs. vaccine politics at the polls
Republicans are betting on an electoral boost from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement — especially around his healthy-food agenda.
Fiscal Policy Institute: BET tax cut would fail to spur business growth
A cut in the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) that recently won approval in the Republican-led House of Representatives would cost the state treasury $26 million a year and do little
Southwest Airlines officially ends longstanding open-seating model, begins plus-size pricing change
Southwest Airlines ends its famous open-seating policy and implements new rules requiring plus-size passengers to purchase extra tickets in advance.
As Generals Fall, Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Is Eating Itself
With childhood friends and top leaders in the firing line, the system is frozen with fear.
Trump says he talked with Minnesota Gov. Walz after weekend shooting of Alex Pretti
The president said the two “actually” seem to be on the same page in wanting to work together as it relates to immigration issues in Minnesota.
These 3 Policy Moves Are Likely To Change Health Care for Older People
By Paula Span | KFF Health News Month after month, Patricia Hunter and other members of the Nursing Home Reform Coalition logged onto video calls with congressional representatives, seeking support for a proposed federal rule setting minimum staff levels for nursing homes. Finally, after decades of ...
Europa Science Experience
Discover how the JRC supports EU policymaking and impacts our daily lives at the Europa Science Experience.
Outdoor learning at Burke Lake shows students science career pathways
Environmental science and policy professor Cynthia Smith organizes outdoor education programs for seventh graders across the county, diving into the importance of hands-on research and environmental conservation.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Your morning read of Florida politics and policy.
America’s health care crisis isn’t inevitable. It’s misdiagnosed.
Washington keeps arguing over who should pay the bill while ignoring what’s driving costs in the first place — a policy failure decades in the making.
What role is China playing in global geopolitical transformations?
Chinese foreign policy is shaped by a paradox: it wants to project power and yet it seeks to avoid conflict.
Hundreds of Michigan districts and schools reject safety and mental health funding
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for Chalkbeat Detroit’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system and Michigan education policy. Hundreds of Michigan school districts rejected school safety and mental health funding from the state after agreeing to new conditions for receiving the money. In early December, 974 district […]
How Junk Science Is Driving Reproductive Health Policy: A Live Conversation With Guttmacher Institute, Georgetown University's O'Neill Institute and Ms.
How Junk Science Is Driving Reproductive Health Policy: A Live Conversation With Guttmacher Institute, Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute and Ms.
What the shape of your bottom reveals about your health
Round, pear-shaped or saggy? Your gluteus maximus muscles can be an important indicator of overall health
Crockett, Talarico take on affordability, ICE and Trump during Texas primary debate
The Democratic U.S. Senate candidates weighed in on everything from foreign policy and the recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela to healthcare costs and whether they'd support raising taxes on billionaires.
Takeaways from the first Texas Senate Democratic primary debate
The first debate in the Texas Senate Democratic primary on Saturday revealed few policy differences between US Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico. The contrast was instead between their styles and the approaches each would take to try to flip a Republican-held seat. No Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas in more than three decades.
Peter Schorsch to deliver behind-the-scenes insight at Argus Foundation luncheon
'His unique vantage point at the intersection of politics, policy, and media gives him unmatched insight into the forces shaping our state.'
6 Podcasts About Medicine and Health Care
These shows can help you navigate a time of soaring insurance costs, confusing policy changes and medical misinformation.
What’s Buried by Baghdad’s Construction Boom
The politics of rebuilding in a city of memories.
NIL: The Creative Disruption Reshaping Both College Sports And Culture
NIL is much more than a policy change quietly happening within college sports. Instead, it's setting the stage for a cultural revolution
Want to Fight for Science? Look to South Dakota. No, Really.
Nature this week offers a series of terrifying, interactive graphs detailing the Trump Administration’s Idiocratic War on Science. Not only has it butchered federal scientific research grants, but as you can see in this graphic, it has hollowed out the federal scientific workforce – the dedicated professionals who develop data to allow for science-informed policy … Continue reading "Want to Fight for Science? Look to South Dakota. No, Really."
McKee finally endorsed a millionaire’s tax. Progressives and business groups aren’t happy.
Gov. Dan McKee's endorsement of a millionaire's tax in his fiscal 2027 proposal has reignited a longstanding policy debate, with progressive lawmakers saying McKee's proposal does not go far enough, and business groups slamming any income tax hikes.
These 3 Policy Moves Are Likely To Change Health Care for Older People
Two Trump administration regulatory rollbacks affect nursing home staffing and home care workers, and a new AI experiment in Medicare has alarmed eldercare advocates and congressional Democrats.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Get ready for a double shot of Florida politics and policy.
Advocacy group urges immigration policy overhaul to protect Texas children's mental health
An advocacy group, Children at Risk, raised concerns on Wednesday about a mental health crisis among Texas children, attributing it to immigration enforcement p
The domestic politics of Trump's foreign policy: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Vice President JD Vance goes to Minneapolis.
New ICE warrant policy disregards a fundamental American right, experts say. Here’s what we know
With an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement memo that allows officers to enter homes without a judicial warrant, the Trump administration is seeking to usurp guardrails that are enshrined in the Fourth Amendment and have protected Americans’ civil liberties for centuries, experts in constitutional law and immigration policy told CNN.
Trump 2.0: Altered Global Politics, Focus on Vets, & Pushed Military Might
President Trump’s first year back in office reshaped U.S. military policy, veterans benefits and foreign relations while triggering sharp debate over the durability of his rapid-fire agenda.
How States Can Combat Health Care Consolidation and Corporate Conflicts of Interest
States have several policy levers they can use to curb consolidation and corporate conflicts of interest, protecting competition and lowering costs.
Frank Winston Crum Launches New Commercial Package Policy to Empower Small Businesses
CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frank Winston Crum (FWC) is proud to announce the launch of its new Commercial Package Policy (CPP), a flexible solution designed to meet the evolving needs of small businesses. This innovative product combines essential coverages — General Liability, Property, Crime & Fidelity, and Inland Marine — into one customizable policy, streamlining protection and simplifying the insurance experience. General Liability is required as its foundation, and
First look at Modesto schools planned mental health policy gets some parent backlash
A second reading of the policy with several revisions will be put forward during a February Board of Education meeting.
Alarm as US mulls prioritising citizens in research funding
A senior White House official said the Trump administration is considering ways to prioritise research funding to American citizens, triggering alarm in the research community that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”The precise meaning of his impromptu comments, and what they could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have alarmed former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Related articlesNIH turmoil risks reciprocal EU-US access to health research fundingUS set to close office responsible for global science and technology dealsTrump halts new NIH grants to international health-research partnersSince then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
Alarm over US plan to prioritise citizens in research funding
The US’s leading science official has said the country will focus its research spending on scientists with US citizenship, triggering alarm that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”Kratsios’s precise meaning, and what it could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have stunned former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Since then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
Chipotle is getting more serious about politics, forming a new PAC
Ahead of the midterms, Chipotle has filed to form a political action committee, in a departure from its prior "Government Affairs Engagement Policy."
Why health insurers face new pressure from GOP on affordability
Policymakers would have to address underlying drivers of health costs to really do something about high premiums.
We dream, we dare, we decouple — how Colorado turns values into policy
By Kathy White Gov. Jared Polis’ final State of the State address was a clear victory lap. After eight years as governor, he used the moment to highlight accomplishments, reflect on progress and remind Coloradans what his administration has delivered. That is understandable. There is a real record to point to, and much of it […]
Focus: Vaccine makers feel a chill as US Health Secretary Kennedy's rhetoric becomes reality
Sweeping U.S. policy changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are having a chilling effect on vaccine makers as anti-vaccine rhetoric has turned into concrete changes to inoculation schedules and recommendations, investors and executives said.
Vaccine Makers Feel a Chill as US Health Secretary Kennedy's Rhetoric Becomes Reality
By Bhanvi Satija LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Sweeping U.S. policy changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are having a chilling effect on vaccine makers as anti-vaccine rhetoric has turned into concrete changes to inoculation schedules and recommendations, investors and executives ...
N.J. reshapes its vaccine policy after controversial federal guidance. Health care industry applauds it.
Officials said the changes will make vaccine policy in the state more dependable.
New Leadership Louisiana program targets statewide health challenges
Leaders for a Better Louisiana’s Leadership Louisiana initiative is expanding with the launch of a new program focused on the state’s health care sector. The program, Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows, is designed to give leaders from business, policy, education and health-related fields a deeper understanding of the systems shaping health outcomes across Louisiana. The program […]
Parents clash with Modesto school board over proposed student mental health policy
John Tapogna takes over as head of Oregon Business Council, influential policy group
Duncan Wyse has run the Business Council for three decades.
'You'll find out': Trump hints at Greenland takeover, touts his 2025 accomplishments
Trump covered a range of issues during a nearly two-hour press briefing, including immigration, foreign policy and Los Angeles' fire recovery, as he lamented not getting enough credit for his job.
Julio Fuentes: Consumer protections for Hispanics, veterans, seniors, and retirees are smart policy
Common sense protections for vulnerable Floridians when disaster strikes hardest.
Introducing the 2026 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows - California Council on Science & Technology (CCST)
We are excited to introduce the 2026 Class of CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows. The program places PhD scientists in Legislative and Executive Branch offices.
Winning Public Trust Through Better Health Communication
Join a webinar on Wednesday, February 4, at 2 pm ET about how public health leaders, state policymakers, and others can strengthen communication about evidence-based health issues. The panel will include:
Congress revives health care deal with PBM reforms
This is the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT's twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine.
Iran on the Brink: Trump's Pressure Politics
As mass protests in Iran enter a decisive phase and are met with escalating violence from a regime fighting for survival, the country is approaching a tipping point. With US President Donald Trump publicly floating options ranging from diplomatic pressure and sanctions to the use of military force, we examine the stakes for Iran, the choices facing US policymakers, and the wider regional and global ramifications.
Why do Alabama schools need Commandments our politicians don’t follow?
Blessed are the hypocrites, for they shall inherit the Education Policy Committee.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Get ready for an espresso shot of Florida politics and policy.
Resilient health: A new investment frontier
Resilient health is becoming a high‑growth frontier for capital: scalable, investible, risk-reducing, and aligned with global policy and market momentum.
Polis’ removal of sex ed funding endangers LGBTQ+ youth
By Shara Smith At a time when the LGBTQ+ community is attacked by public policy driven by religious extremists, I am deeply concerned by the removal of funding in the governor’s budget for Colorado’s Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education (CCHSE) grant program. I hope Gov. Jared Polis and the Joint Budget Committee will recognize the program […]
Ditch Nato and dump Trump: Zack Polanski’s foreign policy
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey talk to the Green party leader Zack Polanski on Donald Trump, Greenland and rejoining the European Union
BOJ to signal more rate hikes as yen, politics fuel inflation risks
TOKYO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its growth forecast on Friday and signal its readiness to hike interest rates further, as recent yen falls and prospects of solid wage gains keep policymakers alert to containing inflationary pressure. But BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda is likely to offer few clues on how soon the central bank could resume rate hikes, a decision complicated by rising bond yields and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's announcement on Monday to call a snap
BOJ to signal more rate hikes as yen, politics fuel inflation risks
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its growth forecast on Friday and signal its readiness to hike interest rates further, as recent yen falls and prospects of solid wage gains keep policymakers alert to containing inflationary pressure.
The marijuana business grows up as Trump eases the rules
A new policy targets the specific financial chokepoints that have kept a $30 billion industry operating like a shadow economy
How Recent Developments Are Shaping The Elevance Health (ELV) Investment Story
Elevance Health’s fair value estimate has been reset slightly higher to US$394.60 from US$387.16, while the discount rate remains effectively stable and revenue expectations are trimmed modestly in the model. This reflects Street research that is increasingly constructive on earnings potential in Medicare Advantage and exchanges, while still accounting for policy and utilization risks flagged in recent reports. Stay informed on these shifting inputs so you are not caught off guard as the...
Top U.S. Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to use moral compass in foreign policy
In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington's foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”
Diagnosis for 1.19.26: Checking the pulse of Florida health care news and policy
It's time again to check the pulse — of Florida's health care policy and politics.
In absence of Special Election, HD 113 hopeful calls for candidate meetings on future policy
‘Our district will be grateful and the winner of the November election will be in a better position.’
Economic Policy and Political Science: Examining Armenian Students’ Understanding of the Intersection Between Two Fields -
Economic Policy and Political Science: Examining Armenian Students’ Understanding of the Intersection Between Two Fields By Vardan Atoyan, Aghavni Hakobyan, Nane Movsisyan and Argam Artashyan, Armenian State University of Economics This study investigates how economics [...]
Policymakers And Lawmakers Eyeing The Use Of AI As A Requisite First-Line For Mental Health Gatekeeping And Therapy Intervention
Should we use AI to pre-screen whether people can see a human therapist? And should we use AI to do initial intervention? It's a huge controversy. An AI Insider scoop.
Mary Katharine Ham details ‘political cost’ of Trump’s immigration policy
The ‘Fox News Sunday’ panel discusses the massive unrest in Minneapolis after a deadly ICE-involved shooting and new polling on President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
GUEST OPINION: Court saw through attack on stoves, science
When the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) filed a federal lawsuit last year challenging Colorado’s new gas stove labeling law, it exposed a troubling pattern of how climate advocacy can morph into scientific misinformation to achieve policy goals through fear rather than facts. At the heart of the court dispute is House Bill 25-1161, […]
In one year, Trump has shaken up everything. With what effect?
Beyond policy specifics, Donald Trump has in many ways raised the bar for how much power a president can wield unilaterally. Controversy has followed, regarding both the policies and the approach to power.
These 5 health conditions cause the most deaths
Three out of four deaths worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and 80% of those deaths are caused by just five conditions. Heart disease is the biggest killer, followed by cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes. Not only do these conditions cause tens of millions of deaths a year, they also carry a staggering economic cost. The good news is they are largely avoidable. Five major risk factors significantly ramp up your chances of contracting an NCD, from air pollution to a poor diet, and 80% of NCDs could be prevented with the right interventions. A new paper from the World Economic Forum and the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR) sets out recommendations for policy-makers to help boost their NCD prevention efforts.
Insider: Former DTE Energy CEO helping Duggan campaign develop policy plans
The revelation could be controversial this year amid criticism from both sides of the aisle about Michigan's rising electricity rates.
The State Department’s secret playbook for using sports to advance Trump’s agenda
American diplomats are hoping the World Cup and Olympics can restore their influence shaping U.S. foreign policy.
3 Policy Moves Likely to Change Health Care for Older People
Two regulatory rollbacks, along with a new A.I. experiment in Medicare, raise some worrisome questions.
Colorado Politics Calendar Jan. 19-25
CoPo’s weekly political calendar will help you find political and public-policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances, water meetings, book signings, county commission hearings, city council meetings and more. As a subscriber, […]
Trump’s push for US control of Greenland is mostly about his ‘ego’: Global politics expert
Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer assesses President Donald Trump’s foreign policy moves on ‘Barron’s Roundtable.’
Hochul's budget won't change Raise the Age law
Hochul's office reviewed the policy for months
How Republicans criticize Trump without criticizing him: From the Politics Desk
Plus, some cracks in GOP support for Trump's foreign policy agenda.
NYC public school hosts Mamdani’s political pick, flouting policy
The city’s public school system appeared to violate its own policy when it invited Mamdani’s preferred socialist candidate into a classroom.
Louisiana takes affirmative action statement out of hiring policy after Trump executive order
Responding to an executive order by President Donald Trump, Louisiana has removed affirmative action programs from its hiring policy.
King County to begin enforcing in-person work requirement
King County employees will soon have to work in the office at least three days a week, a policy that's been in effect but not enforced.
Lynchburg official on hopes for incoming Spanberger Administration for business policy
As the preparations continue, excitement is also rising for people in our area attending the festivities.
Two Cheers for Abundance: Tech Policy and the Politics of Growth
While President Trump has largely failed to fulfill that promise, Abundance can help lay the groundwork for a moderate coalition to remove government barriers to future growth. There’s much that Klein and Thompson get wrong. But they are absolutely correct that we shouldn’t settle for a political class obsessed with fighting over the scraps of a decayed American empire.
A growing share of small businesses fail to pay employees on time
Small companies are struggling to manage through economic challenges like high inflation and federal policy changes.
Defiant Donna Deegan says staffer's ICE warning broke social media policy, but was legal
The Jacksonville mayor was upset that the incident became 'grist for the political mill.'
Meditz Students Pitch Policy Solutions to Bridgeport Regional Business Council
Working in collaboration with the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC), undergraduate students in the “State & Local Politics” course taught by Gayle Alberda, PhD, in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, conducted in-depth research on high-priority regional issues and developed policy briefs designed to inform real-world decision-making.
CT officials voice concerns about Trump health care plan
Connecticut health officials and lawmakers on Thursday expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s new health care policy framework.
Utah Health Policy Project addresses expected changes to healthcare in Utah
Officials addressed uncertainty within the current health policy landscape, and urged lawmakers to find other ways to fund Medicare in Utah.
Trump pitches direct payments to consumers for health care. What policy experts say about the plan
President Donald Trump wants to send payments directly to households for health costs. Experts think the plan may raise costs and the number of uninsured.
Trump releases health policy outline
The White House’s proposal includes many health policies the president has already publicly supported.