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Starmer says UK opening talks with EU on joining €90bn loan scheme for Ukraine

The prime minister is backing the deal as it would allow British firms to access the contracts funded by the loan

May 4 • 3:40 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com

‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field

‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field ‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field A field that once seemed like a direct path to stable, lucrative work is becoming less certain under AI, students and faculty told Spectator. By Ria Vasishtha and Arjun Menon May 3, 2026 Shanying Liu / Deputy Illustrations Editor Asia Genawi, SEAS ’29, first encountered artificial intelligence during her sophomore year at her high school in Indiana. Back in 2023, policies on AI varied widely—even within the same district—and some schools had no guidance at all. As Genawi began to see the effects of AI trickle into her classroom, she turned to guidance from her home state’s Department of Education, which she said she found “outdated and inaccessible.” Genawi spent the rest of her high school career dedicated to the issue, including writing a 15-page memo exploring varying AI policies across Indiana schools, which she sent to every Indiana state senator and representative whose contact information she was able to find. She later helped draft a bill that would have required public high schools to establish and share their own AI policies with students in an accessible format. But with so many other bills already awaiting referral, hers never made it to committee. When Genawi arrived at Columbia to study computer science, she found that the gaps she had spent years trying to address in Indiana had followed her there. Many students and professors were also grappling with what AI meant for the field. Across Columbia’s undergraduate schools, computer science has become the most popular major—accounting for around 11 percent of degrees awarded in Columbia College, 32 percent in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and 12 percent in the School of General Studies in 2024. While the number of computer science majors in SEAS grew from 166 to 173 during the 2024-25 academic year, the total number across the three schools fell around 4.5 percent from 393 to 375, driven by declines at Columbia College and General Studies. At Barnard, it has grown to become the second most popular major as of 2025, up from third the year prior. The number of degrees awarded have grown fivefold since 2016. Faculty members and students in the department told Spectator that the surge in the major’s popularity has been driven in large part by its apparent promise of a secure, well-paid career path. However, they noted that the recent rise of generative AI has compromised the sense of stability that once defined the field, even as interest in technical skills among students persists. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2024, out of 74 majors tracked, computer science had the fifth highest unemployment rate among majors at 7 percent, while computer engineering had the second highest at 7.8 percent. “Anecdotally, people are moving away from CS as a major,” Daniel Bauer, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, said. “They’re still taking some of our classes, right, because they think they need that, but they’re instead majoring in other things.” Bauer described a field that had shifted from what he called a “nerdy outlier discipline” to one that “everyone needs,” a sign that technical skills have become a baseline expectation across industries with the emergence of AI. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, it’s a guaranteed path to a stable income. You get a six-figure job right out of your undergrad,’” Bauer said. Now, companies may see AI as a way to reduce demand for entry-level programmers, especially in what he calls “code monkey jobs,” roles where a large number of employees are “just writing out code nine-to-five.” Chris Murphy, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, described the current moment as the convergence of two forces: the downturn of the job market and generative AI coming onto the scene. “Things kind of started to really pick up in 2014, 16,” he said, recalling the years after the weaker 2010 market. Murphy added that this was also a period where “students were getting more experience outside of class than they were inside of class” through internships, jobs, and side projects. Murphy suggested that the earlier momentum helped make computer science feel like both an academic program and a reliable pathway into work. That feeling is harder to sustain now as the industry reconfigures, which is a shift that students are seeing firsthand. Rebecca Yu, SEAS ’27, said that during a recent internship in Big Tech, she saw that “every single tech company was racing to integrate” large language models. She added that her manager said her intern class was the first to complete their assigned projects, which she attributed to the increased efficiency that comes with AI. Frank Liu, SEAS ’29, said that with AI lowering the barrier to coding, companies now expect everyone to write code. “A lot of companies outright say if you’re not using coding in your job, you might get fired for not being productive enough,” Liu said. Yu similarly expressed that students increasingly have to accept AI being a part of industry workflow, adding that many also “make use of it to maximize their productivity.” Richard Li, CC ’28, described a “franticness” among his peers as the pace of change accelerates. He explained how “some new tool” is released regularly, noting that tools rise and fall in prominence within weeks. He has come to believe that he doesn’t need to “match that speed all the time” and keep up with every development. Li has learned that AI tools allow him to “take a breath” and “get back into the loop much easier than before” when he needs to. While some companies specifically target Columbia when hiring, sending representatives to campus career fairs and recruiting large numbers from Columbia, a computer science degree cannot be treated as a static credential, Yu described. “You can’t just get your degree and stop learning after that. You have to always be learning,” Yu said. “That is something you basically have to expect for your job.” AI has not only affected students’ decisions to major in computer science, but also reshaped how the subject is taught. Across departments, faculty members no longer treat work done outside the classroom as a reliable measure of understanding, shifting instead toward in-person exams, quizzes, and attendance checks. While homework once made up as much as 60 to 70 percent of a student’s grade in computer science classes, Murphy said that breakdown has since flipped, with exams and quizzes now accounting for the majority. “The assumption—especially among pessimists—is that they’re using it to do their homework,” Murphy said. “They take the homework assignment. They put it into generative AI. Out comes the solution. Submit solution. The end.” Murphy said that faculty members ranged in their responses from fully prohibiting AI use to actively teaching students how to effectively work with AI. He said he shifted his approach this year after his teaching assistants called his belief that students weren’t using the technology “naïve,” and now permits students to use AI on assignments. His surveys of students in his introductory classes have told a more complicated story than the one so-called pessimists offer: Around 60 to 70 percent of students who reported using AI said they used it to have concepts explained to them, to clarify assignment instructions, to generate test cases, or to create practice questions. “Those are all ways that you might have had a tutor in the past to do that, and now you have this AI essentially as your tutor,” he said. Bauer has taken a different approach, teaching students how to use AI productively without sacrificing the core principles of the discipline. “People who are trained to actually use AI tools productively, while being in charge of designing the overall project, will be very much in demand in the next couple of years,” he said. Over the past year, a working group of computer science faculty has been redesigning the introductory and intermediate programming sequence to integrate generative AI as both a subject and a tool, representatives from SEAS wrote in a statement to Spectator. The effort is “coordinated” across the department, “not course-by-course,” with a systematic assessment of how AI integration is affecting student outcomes underway to shape the next round of changes. The goal, the department explained, is for students to be able to “read, verify, and reason about code, whether they or a model wrote it.” Tony Dear, senior lecturer in the computer science department, is piloting individualized AI feedback in a discrete mathematics course, while a machine learning course is also testing a Socratic AI dialogue system designed to “guide inquiry rather than supply answers,” the statement reads. Beyond individual courses, SEAS funded seven cross-departmental faculty projects in generative AI this past academic year, spanning biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science, according to the statement. This phenomenon extends beyond the computer science department. SEAS’ new AI minor, which it announced in November 2025, reflects the University’s attempt to adapt. The minor is specifically designed for noncomputer science majors and aims to provide “essential AI knowledge” while emphasizing practical and responsible use across disciplines, according to the SEAS website. At the center of the minor is AI in Context, a course taught by a team of faculty from the departments of computer science, applied mathematics, philosophy, music, literature, and the Writing Center, the representatives told Spectator. Bauer described it as targeted at students who want to bring AI into fields like economics or biology, rather than as a path into software engineering itself. At the graduate level, SEAS announced a new Master of Science in artificial intelligence in February, with the inaugural cohort starting in the fall. While recognizing how AI has helped them navigate coursework, students also described its rise as isolating, even among members of the Application Development Initiative, one of Columbia’s largest computer science clubs. “As people start to ask AI for questions that they would normally ask students and members, it starts to isolate people” Li said. Alexa Kafka, BC ’27, echoed Li’s sentiment, pointing out that computer science has always been a collaborative discipline with code reviews and pull requests, even as AI makes independent work easier. Despite this, Kafka noted that she hasn’t been to office hours “in at least a year.” Bauer added that faculty are exploring long-term solutions to the assessment problem. “One of the things that we’re trying to do at the department or school level is to maybe move towards computerized testing facilities,” Bauer said, referring to ideas in the department to revitalize computer labs as an alternative to pen-and-paper exams. “We have to accept that this is the reality, for better or worse.” But more exams, students say, does not mean better learning, nor does it reflect how computer science is actually done. “Code is so variable and can be approached in so many directions, there’s never just going to be one correct answer. There can be multiple optimal solutions,” Kafka said. Students also expressed concern that the shift toward exam-heavy grading pulls focus away from the applied, project-based work that better reflects both discipline and industry expectations. ADI has tried to respond more quickly than the curriculum can. Through a vibe coding workshop this past semester, club members said they wanted to help students understand not just that AI exists, but how to use it deliberately. “Vibe coding” refers to the practice of prompting AI to write code for a task or project, and has become widespread enough that ADI felt the gap in formal instruction was worth addressing, according to Sophia Huang, BC ’29. The workshop introduced students to the concept of context engineering, which Shaina Sahu, SEAS ’27, described as not just writing a prompt, but optimizing “the rest of the relevant information that you would feed into the model.” Without that, students said that AI-generated code can fail at scale or introduce difficult-to-detect bugs. Genawi said the shift toward AI has changed what it means to be good at computer science. “I think the shift has kind of gone towards what can you create and what can you do, instead of, what do you know,” she said. Indeed, during ADI DevFest, its annual hackathon, Li said more teams are trying to complete their projects than in years past. While sign-ups have historically outpaced submissions, Li said this is beginning to change because teams “have a tool that completes the vision for them.” While many students see AI as an equalizer that lowers the barrier to entry for coding and technical work, Murphy said it also creates new equity concerns inside the classroom around who can afford stronger tools and who already knows how to use them. “The equity issues I worry about are students who have access to paid versions of things versus free versions of things,” he said. Although popular AI models like ChatGPT and Claude have free versions available, both have paid models that can reach over $100 per month, which output different qualities of code. Murphy also pointed to differences in prior exposure to AI literacy itself. “Students who go to high schools or K-12 education, where they’re taught AI literacy, prompt engineering, context engineering, they understand how to do this, as opposed to students who go to schools who don’t teach that,” he said. “Then they come in, and then they’re somehow expected to know how to use these tools.” For Genawi, those disparities begin long before students arrive on campus. “It’s very interesting to consider how lucky you were geographically,” she said. “To be born where you were is influencing your ability to get access to these spaces.” Students like Yu, though broadly apprehensive about the future of computer science, are not without hope. “I’m optimistic, because I think if you’re truly passionate about CS, there will definitely be a place in the field to do something you want to do,” she said. Senior Staff Writer Ria Vasishtha can be contacted at ria.vasishtha@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Staff Writer Arjun Menon can be contacted at arjun.menon@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter and like Spectator on Facebook. Produced with Spectate by Emily Ta

May 2 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • columbiaspectator.com

Iowa lawmakers back vape tax to fund $3M pediatric cancer research

Lawmakers passed $3 million for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa, funded by a tax on vapes and alternative nicotine products.

May 2 • 5:51 PM EDT • Politics • desmoinesregister.com

Event With Links to Oil Industry Teaches Judges "Healthy Skepticism" of Climate Science

As congressional Republicans accuse climate scholars and lawyers of colluding to influence the judiciary, a symposium hosted by a center funded by the fossil fuel industry educates judges about free-market views of climate science.

May 2 • 5:00 AM EDT • Science • propublica.org

Tom Steyer rails against Chevron money — but it flows to his allies, too

A Sacramento Bee analysis found seven Steyer endorsers have received campaign money through PACs funded in part by Chevron.

May 1 • 6:50 PM EDT • Politics • sacbee.com

Trump says he's considering taxpayer-funded deal to bail out Spirit Airlines

Trump said his administration gave Spirit "a final proposal" and would make an announcement Friday or Saturday"

May 1 • 1:07 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

How US equipment ended up in the hands of Iran’s allies in Yemen as USAID was disbanded

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen seized US funded equipment, including vehicles, after the Trump administration suspended and slashed humanitarian funding around the world and began dismantling the US Agency of International Development.

May 1 • 10:05 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Trump signs Homeland Security funding bill, ending record shutdown

DHS has been without routine funds since Feb. 14, causing hardship for workers, though much of Trump’s immigration agenda that is central to the dispute is being funded separately.

Apr 30 • 6:23 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

UNCG Introduces Minerva's Health Chariot to Bring More Healthcare Services to the Triad

A new mobile health unit, funded by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina, is bringing healthcare to eight counties in the Triad.

Apr 30 • 2:05 PM EDT • Health • uncg.edu

UNM Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center Partners with Department of Neurosciences to Promote Greater Rigor and Reproducibility in Research

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has won a three-year $2.6 million federally funded grant intended to bolster the transparency, rigor and reproducibility of HSC research. The initiative, funded by the National Institute of...

Apr 29 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • hscnews.unm.edu

UNM Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center Partners with Department of Neurosciences to Promote Greater Rigor and Reproducibility in Research

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has won a three-year $2.6 million federally funded grant intended to bolster the transparency, rigor and reproducibility of HSC research. The initiative, funded by the National Institute of...

Apr 29 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • hscnews.unm.edu

UNC System awards over $6.4 million to expand rural health care training programs across North Carolina

The UNC System has awarded over $6.4 million in state-funded grants to help its universities, North Carolina Area Health Education Centers, and rural hospitals expand and establish new rural health care workforce training programs.

Apr 29 • 9:00 AM EDT • Health • northcarolina.edu

Sen. Paul introduces bill to keep White House ballroom project privately funded

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is defending President Donald Trump’s controversial project to build a massive ballroom at the White House.

Apr 28 • 7:14 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumnews1.com

Purdue’s space work is featured at NASA Science Showcase

A Purdue professor and graduate student participated in the NASA Science Showcase recently on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The April 21 event highlighted how NASA-funded science research across…

Apr 28 • 5:00 AM EDT • Science • purdue.edu

Op/Ed: Small Businesses Deserve Better Health Coverage Choices in N.C.

Level Funded plans can bridge the gap between fully insured coverage and traditional self‑funding for small employers:

Apr 27 • 4:14 PM EDT • Business • businessnc.com

Volunteers Help NASA Astronauts Record Lunar Flashes

As NASA’s Artemis II astronauts zipped around the Moon in early April, they observed flashes of light caused by meteoroids hitting the lunar surface. At the same time, volunteers for the NASA-funded Impact Flash project scanned the Moon with their own telescopes and sent their videos to scientists to share what they saw from Earth.

Apr 27 • 11:01 AM EDT • Science • science.nasa.gov

Netflix Weighs Profit Discipline Against Growth In Sports Gaming Experiences

Netflix (NasdaqGS:NFLX) is sharpening its capital allocation approach, emphasizing profitability and margin discipline. The company is widening its focus beyond on demand streaming to advertising, live sports, gaming and experiential venues. Management recently chose not to pursue a potential merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, signaling a preference for self funded growth. Netflix shifted from a pure subscription streaming pioneer into a broader entertainment platform that includes ad...

Apr 26 • 11:06 PM EDT • Sports • finance.yahoo.com

Incorporation of the National Institute of Health (NIH) sex as a biological variable policy by R01 grant awardees

Communications Medicine - Warden et al. analyze 574 NIH-funded publications (2017–2024) to assess implementation of the Sex as a Biological Variable policy. They find that most studies...

Apr 26 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • nature.com

Notice of Partial Cancellation: Behavioral Health Services Act-Funded Program Services RFP

Notice is hereby given that a portion of the above-referenced Request for Proposals (RFP) is being cancelled, in accordance with County’s reservation of rights under Part 5, Section I.C of the RFP. Specifically: the scope of services under the RFP is being reduced, to eliminate Category 1.4 – Family and Client Education & Support Program as found in Attachment G (BHSA-Funded Program Descriptions and Allocations) of the RFP.

Apr 24 • 7:24 PM EDT • Health • sonomacounty.gov

Fossil-Fuel Funded GOP Leaders Claim a Renowned Scientific Institution Has ‘Potential Conflicts of Interest’

Republican allies of the oil and gas industry question the objectivity of an independent report from the nation’s top science advisers on the harms of human-caused climate change.

Apr 24 • 3:20 PM EDT • Science • insideclimatenews.org

Billionaire blitz: Steyer's $132 million campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race

Steyer has spent $132 million of his own money on his California campaign, but he remains in a tight race with less-funded Democrats and Republicans.

Apr 24 • 1:31 PM EDT • Politics • calmatters.org

Trump signals interest in buying Spirit Airlines with taxpayer backing, aims to resell for profit

President Donald Trump proposed a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines amid bankruptcy, with a strategy to resell the company after oil prices fall.

Apr 23 • 9:51 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections

[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe

Apr 21 • 9:31 AM EDT • Science • democracysos.substack.com

Amendment 54: New Opportunity: A.12 HAMAQ Science Team

Hemispheric Airborne Measurements of Air Quality (HAMAQ) is a NASA-funded project under the EVS-4 program using two aircraft (NASA’s B777 & P-3B) to

Apr 20 • 12:49 PM EDT • Science • science.nasa.gov

Supreme Court will hear from religious preschools challenging exclusion from taxpayer-funded program

The faith-based facilities argue it's unconstitutional to bar them from a taxpayer-funded free preschool program because of their admission restrictions on LGBTQ+ families and kids.

Apr 20 • 10:29 AM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar

U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold today provided critical maternal and newborn health equipment that will reach healthcare facilities across Madagascar, demonstrating how U.S. foreign assistance builds a safer, healthier world by helping recipient countries build self-reliant health systems in line with the America First Global Health Strategy. Under President Trump’s America First foreign assistance policy and the America First Global Health Policy, U.S. support serves as a tool of strategic engagement – not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar is subject to rigorous oversight to ensure measurable results, maximum efficiency, and accountability, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. Through the bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding with Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health, both governments agreed on shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on maternal and newborn health and Madagascar’s increasing co-investment in its own health system. Madagascar continues to face major challenges in maternal and newborn health, including high maternal mortality rates and significant gaps in access to quality delivery care. In rural regions, many women still give birth at home or in facilities without adequate infection-prevention supplies. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership Project, the United States is providing essential equipment to healthcare facilities nationwide: calibrated reusable drapes for infection prevention in approximately 1,000 community health centers (CSBs), single-use calibrated drapes for 35 hospitals, and management tools for health workers to improve data collection and care coordination. “U.S. foreign assistance makes America safer by preventing instability and strengthening health systems that can detect and contain infectious diseases before they cross borders,” said Chargé d’Affaires Arnold during the handover ceremony. “Our support is temporary and targeted, designed to help Madagascar build greater self-reliance and reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources.” This U.S. support will help standardize safe delivery practices, strengthen infection prevention, and improve data management systems. Used effectively, these materials will contribute directly to reducing maternal and newborn deaths, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to quality delivery care remains limited. From major hospitals to remote health centers, U.S.-funded equipment is already delivering results. The nationwide scope of this support ensures that women and newborns across Madagascar benefit from improved infection prevention and safer delivery practices. This targeted assistance helps save lives today while supporting Madagascar’s transition toward a self-sufficient health system, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s future independence from foreign assistance.

Apr 20 • 8:57 AM EDT • Health • mg.usembassy.gov

Opinion/Guest column: Protecting mental health care for youth a must

A state-funded program deserves credit for reducing the number of youth waiting in the emergency department for mental health care services.

Apr 19 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • telegram.com

LIV Golf CEO on tour's future: 'Funded through the season'

Apr 17 • 11:12 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Da Vinci Science Center gains NASA grant to celebrate moon mission with Lehigh Valley youth

The Da Vinci Science Center is celebrating America’s return to the moon with a Saturday event and after-school outreach programs funded through a NASA grant.

Apr 16 • 7:00 AM EDT • Science • mcall.com

Sports Betting Industry Spends $41 Million to Influence Elections

With a well-funded super PAC, the betting platforms DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics are aiming to shape future regulation of their rapidly growing industry.

Apr 15 • 4:10 PM EDT • Sports • nytimes.com

How mental health and addiction services in Cuyahoga County could get funded – or cut

A Cuyahoga County agency will require mental health and addiction providers to compete for funding under a new proposal. Here's why.

Apr 15 • 12:03 AM EDT • Health • signalcleveland.org

Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Australia for a low-key, privately funded visit

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have begun their first Australian visit since their official royal tour in 2018 | KYW Newsradio

Apr 13 • 11:10 PM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com

Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Australia for a low-key, privately funded visit

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have begun their first Australian visit since their official royal tour in 2018 | 1010 WINS

Apr 13 • 11:10 PM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com

Science & Medicine: Pain researchers have their eyes on ending chronic pain

A UT Health San Antonio researcher is working to map the nerves involved in jaw pain as part of a federally funded consortium aimed at developing the first targeted, non-opioid treatment for chronic pain, research he hopes will give millions of suffering Americans their lives back and ultimately reverse or even prevent pain in the first place.

Apr 12 • 7:00 AM EDT • Science • tpr.org

Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health Launches New Initiative to Strengthen Postpartum Care | Milken Institute School of Public Health | The George Washington University

Initiative, funded by The Commonwealth Fund, will convene leading clinicians, researchers and policy experts to define and advance high-quality postpartum care nationwide

Apr 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • publichealth.gwu.edu

Boston man killed by police during mental health crisis ID'd

Experts say the police shooting highlights the risks associated with an underfunded, overburdened mental health treatment system.

Apr 7 • 3:04 PM EDT • Health • bostonglobe.com

OPINION: Social media tax would hurt Nebraska’s small businesses and communities

I understand lawmakers’ social media concerns, and I share their desire for juvenile mental health. But those issues should be funded directly.

Apr 7 • 4:00 AM EDT • Business • nebraskaexaminer.com

CT lawmakers must improve funding for reproductive health care

Sexual and reproductive health care has always been, and remains, chronically underfunded in our health care system. CT lawmakers must fix that.

Apr 7 • 12:01 AM EDT • Health • ctmirror.org

How climate science is sneakily getting funded under Trump

Scientists are keeping their climate work alive by any other name.

Apr 6 • 7:00 AM EDT • Science • vox.com

Lawmakers seek permanent funding for referral hotlines connecting families to mental health care

A bill heard by a Rhode Island Senate panel last week would fold funding for telephone hotlines used by pediatricians and family doctors to connect kids and parents to mental health treatment hotlines into a health department program funded by insurer contributions.

Apr 6 • 5:50 AM EDT • Health • rhodeislandcurrent.com

New mentorship training aims to boost student mental health support at South Dakota Mines

South Dakota Mines launched a state-funded pilot to expand Peer2Peer mentorship through fraternities and sororities, training students to support peers’ mental health.

Apr 4 • 4:00 PM EDT • Health • kotatv.com

Science Influencers program caps five years of impact

Texas A&M System trains scientists in science communication through the federally funded Science Influences initiative.

Apr 1 • 2:57 PM EDT • Science • agrilifetoday.tamu.edu

This Week in Politics: Partial Government Shutdown, TSA and DHS Disputes

The current partial government shutdown, prolonged by continued disputes among lawmakers regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), marked its 47th day today, becoming the longest shutdown of any kind in the nation’s nearly 250-year history. While many federal agencies and departments have remained funded and operational throughout the shutdown, lawmakers have failed to approve...

Apr 1 • 11:02 AM EDT • Politics • villanovan.com

Building Brand Funded Entertainment in 2026

Little Black Book, Aardman, Somethin’ Else and Little Dot Studios spoke at Advertising Week Europe, sharing how brands can be a part of culture and storytelling in 2026, as reported by LBB’s Cathy Meyer-Funnell

Apr 1 • 4:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • lbbonline.com

Navigating the social media minefield

Scientists and researchers seeking to announce promising findings, exchange ideas or contribute to policy discussions outside of academic circles may find social media an expedient tool.But increasingly, scientists and other professionals are discovering that online platforms can be a double-edged sword: while sharing their work and expertise is crucial for visibility and meeting funder expectations, it also exposes them to baseless criticism and even accusations of spreading false information."It is getting harder and harder for scientists, and researchers in general, to convey their findings without facing attacks on their legitimacy and accuracy of their research," says Valère Ndior, a professor of public law at the University of Western Brittany in Brest, France, who has spent more than a decade studying misinformation on social media. Researchers attempting to challenge deceptive online information may themselves be accused of political bias or not being objective in their research, he explains, adding that some scientists disengage because they feel overwhelmed and unable to sustain meaningful dialogue. "It is quite sad to see in some instances that researchers end up leaving social media altogether because they feel like the pressure is getting too intense or feel threatened," he says.Ndior, a past president of the Francophone Network of International Law, is also involved in European efforts to make science and research findings more accessible to the public. As an ambassador for the Science Comes to Town (SCTT) project, he has participated in recent discussions on public perceptions of science and online misinformation. The European Commission-funded initiative connects Brest and two other cities — Kiel in Germany and Split in Croatia — and aims to strengthen ties between communities, universities and research institutions to promote science awareness and cooperation across Europe.Coordinated campaigns around contentious topicsNdior draws a clear distinction between critical thinking and thoughtless criticism. Yet he sees online discussions being increasingly shaped by suspicious behaviour and coordinated information campaigns — including "raids" aimed at dominating discussions and "astroturfing," where small groups act as larger movements to sway debates. Tracking these patterns has become harder because some platforms have restricted data or charge for it, despite provisions of the European Union's Digital Securities Act aimed at ensuring researchers can have access to such data. According to Ndior, "platforms became more reluctant from the moment access to data became a legal requirement rather than a voluntary initiative."Unfounded claims and scepticism about science existed long before Internet chat groups. But the noticeable rise in online hostility has intensified around contentious topics, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, alongside the weakening of gatekeepers to moderate content.For Ndior, dubious claims about pandemic countermeasures and vaccine safety highlighted the struggle between "balancing freedom of expression and the protection of public health and order." Efforts to remove social media content deemed false or risky for public health triggered accusations of censorship and the silencing of legitimate discussion, and in some cases, legal challenges.Concerns about attacks on the credibility of scientists and researchers have generated a flurry of academic papers in recent years and prompted professional communities to address ways to counter online attacks. Such unease extends to the generation that has grown up with digital media. Ndior points out that his students, some of whom research artificial intelligence regulation, hate speech, online surveillance and other controversial topics, hesitate to share their work or viewpoints online. "Many of them don't want to expose themselves too much because they don't feel ready to be faced with the backlash of other people criticising their research," he explains.Safer harbours for engagementLegal challenges against false or defamatory posts are not necessarily a solution — especially given the trans-jurisdictional nature of the Internet. Lawsuits also take time and money, and if they fail, can be counterproductive. Instead, Ndior advises scientists and researchers to be selective in how and where they communicate. Professional online platforms and moderated discussion spaces offer a better environment for engagement. He also highlights the value of more traditional formats, such as radio interviews and in-person discussions at schools, libraries and science fairs, which encourage dialogue with the public. "Personal contact makes a big difference," he says, while acknowledging that these approaches lack the global reach of social media.Ndior’s interest in digital law and online misinformation stems from his time as a doctoral student in international law in the early days of social media. He began analysing posts from governments and heads of state to determine if they could be considered official and thus used as evidence in litigation. His work attracted media attention and led to conference and speaking invitations. "This was not part of my plan," he says, "but this is what happens as a researcher — your interest is sparked by a certain event or phenomenon, and it suddenly becomes your focus."Ndior believes SCTT provides "a double benefit" for researchers, enabling them to connect with peers and interact with the public. "There is a wide community of people who are not in academia who are critical thinkers looking for opportunities to ask questions, to get information and contribute their ideas,” he says. "I really value that kind of feedback."Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.

Mar 29 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net

Navigating the social media minefield

Scientists and researchers seeking to announce promising findings, exchange ideas or contribute to policy discussions outside of academic circles may find social media an expedient tool.But increasingly, scientists and other professionals are discovering that online platforms can be a double-edged sword: while sharing their work and expertise is crucial for visibility and meeting funder expectations, it also exposes them to baseless criticism and even accusations of spreading false information."It is getting harder and harder for scientists, and researchers in general, to convey their findings without facing attacks on their legitimacy and accuracy of their research," says Valère Ndior, a professor of public law at the University of Western Brittany in Brest, France, who has spent more than a decade studying misinformation on social media. Researchers attempting to challenge deceptive online information may themselves be accused of political bias or not being objective in their research, he explains, adding that some scientists disengage because they feel overwhelmed and unable to sustain meaningful dialogue. "It is quite sad to see in some instances that researchers end up leaving social media altogether because they feel like the pressure is getting too intense or feel threatened," he says.Ndior, a past president of the Francophone Network of International Law, is also involved in European efforts to make science and research findings more accessible to the public. As an ambassador for the Science Comes to Town (SCTT) project, he has participated in recent discussions on public perceptions of science and online misinformation. The European Commission-funded initiative connects Brest and two other cities — Kiel in Germany and Split in Croatia — and aims to strengthen ties between communities, universities and research institutions to promote science awareness and cooperation across Europe.Coordinated campaigns around contentious topicsNdior draws a clear distinction between critical thinking and thoughtless criticism. Yet he sees online discussions being increasingly shaped by suspicious behaviour and coordinated information campaigns — including "raids" aimed at dominating discussions and "astroturfing," where small groups act as larger movements to sway debates. Tracking these patterns has become harder because some platforms have restricted data or charge for it, despite provisions of the European Union's Digital Securities Act aimed at ensuring researchers can have access to such data. According to Ndior, "platforms became more reluctant from the moment access to data became a legal requirement rather than a voluntary initiative."Unfounded claims and scepticism about science existed long before Internet chat groups. But the noticeable rise in online hostility has intensified around contentious topics, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, alongside the weakening of gatekeepers to moderate content.For Ndior, dubious claims about pandemic countermeasures and vaccine safety highlighted the struggle between "balancing freedom of expression and the protection of public health and order." Efforts to remove social media content deemed false or risky for public health triggered accusations of censorship and the silencing of legitimate discussion, and in some cases, legal challenges.Concerns about attacks on the credibility of scientists and researchers have generated a flurry of academic papers in recent years and prompted professional communities to address ways to counter online attacks. Such unease extends to the generation that has grown up with digital media. Ndior points out that his students, some of whom research artificial intelligence regulation, hate speech, online surveillance and other controversial topics, hesitate to share their work or viewpoints online. "Many of them don't want to expose themselves too much because they don't feel ready to be faced with the backlash of other people criticising their research," he explains.Safer harbours for engagementLegal challenges against false or defamatory posts are not necessarily a solution — especially given the trans-jurisdictional nature of the Internet. Lawsuits also take time and money, and if they fail, can be counterproductive. Instead, Ndior advises scientists and researchers to be selective in how and where they communicate. Professional online platforms and moderated discussion spaces offer a better environment for engagement. He also highlights the value of more traditional formats, such as radio interviews and in-person discussions at schools, libraries and science fairs, which encourage dialogue with the public. "Personal contact makes a big difference," he says, while acknowledging that these approaches lack the global reach of social media.Ndior’s interest in digital law and online misinformation stems from his time as a doctoral student in international law in the early days of social media. He began analysing posts from governments and heads of state to determine if they could be considered official and thus used as evidence in litigation. His work attracted media attention and led to conference and speaking invitations. "This was not part of my plan," he says, "but this is what happens as a researcher — your interest is sparked by a certain event or phenomenon, and it suddenly becomes your focus."Ndior believes SCTT provides "a double benefit" for researchers, enabling them to connect with peers and interact with the public. "There is a wide community of people who are not in academia who are critical thinkers looking for opportunities to ask questions, to get information and contribute their ideas,” he says. "I really value that kind of feedback."Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.

Mar 29 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act darkens outlook for government-backed clinics

About 17,000 fed-funded health clinics stand to collectively lose $32 billion in next five years as more uninsured patients rely on them for care

Mar 29 • 1:01 PM EDT • Health • 1011now.com

UWO students to support small businesses through Innovation Foundry program

UWO students will provide project support to small businesses and startups through the new grant-funded Innovation Foundry program.

Mar 27 • 3:09 PM EDT • Business • uwosh.edu

Free travel, occasional seats to MSU sports a perk for unpaid trustees

MSU trustees, though unpaid, receive access to sporting events with university-funded travel. Records show thousands spent on travel for attending athletics.

Mar 27 • 8:00 AM EDT • Sports • statenews.com

Cultural program explores gender and politics in the kitchen in ‘Cookbooks Against War’

The Cedar Rapids Public Library will host a presentation by Dr. Abby M. Dubisar, “Cookbooks Against War,” exploring domestic roles and how these works ignite activism. This free event is open to the public and funded by Humanities Iowa, a private nonprofit supporting culture and history programs in the state.

Mar 27 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • thegazette.com

World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to Los Angeles Stadium, the most expensive sports venue in the world

SoFi Stadium was primarily funded and developed by LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke. It will host eight games including two USMNT fixtures

Mar 26 • 7:00 AM EDT • Sports • nytimes.com

UT Health San Antonio launches clinical trial to study rapamycin and healthy aging - UT Health San Antonio

Contact: Eileen Teves, 210-450-7239, tevese@uthscsa.edu Content provided by Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO, March 25, 2026 – UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is launching a multi-phase clinical study to better understand how the drug rapamycin may promote healthy aging. Funded by the National […]

Mar 25 • 1:05 PM EDT • Health • news.uthscsa.edu

A Critical Political Season Could Decide if Alaska Is a Failed ‘Petrostate’

A governor who spent two terms cutting services to preserve Alaskans’ oil-funded annual checks is leaving office. Voters must now decide what comes next for the state’s faltering fiscal model.

Mar 25 • 10:46 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

Enhancing laboratory preparedness in Eastern Partnership countries to address respiratory health threats

Workshop under the EU-funded Health Resilience in the Eastern Partnership project aim to help countries turn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic into practical actions for stronger, more resilient public health laboratories.

Mar 25 • 8:27 AM EDT • Health • ecdc.europa.eu

Grants help Arts District businesses boost security after break-ins

After a series of break-ins targeting small businesses across the Arts District, some owners are turning to city-funded grants to help improve security and prot

Mar 25 • 1:09 AM EDT • Business • news3lv.com

Epic Games lays off over 1,000 employees following "downturn in Fortnite engagement"

CEO Tim Sweeney says cuts are necessary to "keep the company funded" and to put it "in a more stable place"

Mar 24 • 11:03 AM EDT • Technology • gamesindustry.biz

OpenClaw creator: User asked for a token refund for errors

OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger shared a refund request he received for errors, including "fabricated data." He refunded $0, as the agent is free.

Mar 24 • 5:44 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

College student asks Trump’s UN Ambassador: How is a war half a world away, funded by my taxes, helping

Mar 20 • 10:44 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

National survey of NIH-funded researchers shows precarious state of U.S. science — ‘This is like the Titanic’

A nationwide STAT survey of NIH-funded researchers reveals that, a year after Donald Trump's return to the White House, many scientists are reeling

Mar 19 • 4:30 AM EDT • Science • statnews.com

New Cyberpunk TCG becomes the most-funded TCG game in Kickstarter history

The resource for people who make and sell games.

Mar 18 • 5:00 PM EDT • Technology • gamesindustry.biz

Survey Findings: Integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health into UHC Requires Leadership, Financing, and Political Will

SRHR remains critically underfunded, leaving 164M women with unmet needs and driving preventable maternal deaths. Global survey findings show political commitment is the key driver of financing and integration into UHC. While fiscal constraints persist, leadership determines whether resources are prioritized, enabling equitable access and strengthening health systems.

Mar 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • pmnch.who.int

NJGOP Calls on Congressional Democrats to End DHS Shutdown, Stop Playing Politics with National Security

NJGOP Calls on Congressional Democrats to End DHS Shutdown, Stop Playing Politics with National Security COLTS NECK — NJGOP Chairwoman Christine Hanlon is calling on Congressional Democrats to end the partial government shutdown keeping the Department of Homeland Security closed and unfunded. A month into the shutdown, TSA wait times are growing at airports across[...]

Mar 17 • 6:08 PM EDT • Politics • insidernj.com

Large rapamycin clinical trial launches at UT Health San Antonio - UT Health San Antonio

A drug once known almost exclusively for preventing organ transplant rejection is now at the center of a National Institute on Aging-funded clinical study at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), to determine how rapamycin should be used in older adults to […]

Mar 16 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • news.uthscsa.edu

Sports gambling was supposed to create new revenue. Instead it's damaging college scholarships

Tennessee's sports gambling tax revenue exceeds $100 million but the state's Lottery-funded scholarship program faces an $80 million deficit.

Mar 16 • 6:02 AM EDT • Sports • tennesseelookout.com

Will Illinois’ Democratic Primary for Senate Divide Black Voters?

Two Black female candidates may split Democratic primary voters, and anger is growing at well-funded efforts to widen the divide.

Mar 12 • 2:54 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

ASU-led SPARCS mission achieves 'first light,' marking the start of its science operations in orbit

The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat, or SPARCS, has captured its first images of stars from space. This milestone marks the start of its science operations in orbit.Arizona State University leads the SPARCS mission, which is funded by NASA. It is the first CubeSat mission dedicated to long-term ultraviolet monitoring of nearby low-mass stars. These stars are the most common in our galaxy and often have Earth-sized, possibly habitable planets.

Mar 12 • 12:00 PM EDT • Science • news.asu.edu

No contest: The uneven playing field of high school sports

Public school athletic programs across Miami-Dade are struggling to keep pace with well-funded private school rivals, as shrinking enrollment, limited budgets and transfer rules reshape the high school sports landscape.

Mar 10 • 12:30 PM EDT • Sports • wlrn.org

Judge Voids Mass Layoffs at Voice of America

The ruling, which said that Kari Lake’s appointment to oversee V.O.A.’s parent agency was invalid, was a major rejection of President Trump’s attempts to dismantle the government-funded news group.

Mar 7 • 9:40 PM EST • Politics • nytimes.com

Beer Company BrewDog Leaves Investors Empty-Handed After Missteps

BrewDog, a Scottish beer company once valued at $1 billion, was recently sold for a fraction of that. Small investors who funded its rise were left empty-handed.

Mar 7 • 5:01 AM EST • Business • nytimes.com

Milestone reached on bumpy road to northeast Omaha business park buoyed by $90M from state

A milestone is reached on a bumpy road to a northeast Omaha business park funded in part by $90 million state grant.

Mar 5 • 8:23 PM EST • Business • nebraskaexaminer.com

The Guardian view on Trump’s war on science: Europe should pick up talent fleeing the US

Editorial: The president’s cuts have defunded and alienated thousands of American scientists. Europe can benefit, if it makes the right offer

Feb 27 • 12:50 PM EST • Science • theguardian.com

First Brands nears bankruptcy settlement, tees up business unit sales

Bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands is close to a bankruptcy settlement with its creditors, seeking to wind down most of its business while teeing up separate sales for four business lines that are being funded by major customers like Ford and General Motors .

Feb 27 • 11:47 AM EST • Business • reuters.com

Will team owner greed prevail over the public good in Ohio sports facility financing? Editorial

At a minimum, any publicly funded gilding of the Guardians’ and Cavs’ resources for facility upgrades should be paired with a required renegotiating of the facility leases to take local taxpayers off the hook for any further obligation to pay for repairs and upgrades, writes the editorial board of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.

Feb 25 • 5:51 AM EST • Sports • cleveland.com

Stephen Hawking pictured in Epstein files

The released documents shed light on Epstein’s attempts to cultivate the academic elite, including the physicist, who attended a conference funded by the financier

Feb 25 • 4:25 AM EST • Science • thetimes.com

Uber Health Launches Self-Booking Feature to Empower Riders and Streamline Operations

Industry-first capability reduces administrative burden for providers, health systems, and I/DD organizations while boosting rider independenceSAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uber Health today announced the launch of its rider self-booking feature, a new platform capability that enables healthcare and disability service organizations to offer their riders the ability to book their own organization-funded trips directly in the Uber app. The launch marks the latest milestone in Ub

Feb 24 • 12:00 PM EST • Health • finance.yahoo.com

King of Meat servers are closing and all owners will be refunded

Amazon Games and Glowmade are shutting down the King of Meat servers soon, which will discontinue all Xbox achievements in the dungeon crawler.

Feb 23 • 3:17 PM EST • Technology • trueachievements.com

With billions on the line, Chicago faces turning point on publicly funded stadiums

Chicago's professional sports teams have shaped its global identity for decades. Now they're at the heart of a rare, generational choice for local officials: Should taxpayers foot the bill?

Feb 23 • 6:51 AM EST • Business • chicagobusiness.com

The growing number of US scientists moving to Spain: ‘My colleagues are having a very hard time’

One in three recipients of the state-funded Atrae program comes from the United States

Feb 23 • 6:36 AM EST • Science • english.elpais.com

Approved but unfunded study on universal health care in Colorado finds financial support

With the state’s budget gaps, Colorado School of Public Health was $750,000 short, but can now begin its research.

Feb 22 • 11:00 PM EST • Health • cpr.org

PRESS RELEASE: State Water Contractors release annual science Report

Report shares updates on six studies funded by SWC’s Science Program designed to guide California water management techniques to protect fish and wildlife Press release from the State Water Contractors Today, the State Water Contractors (SWC) released its Annual Science Report for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The report provides updates on six studies, initially funded by more than $4 million from SWC’s Science Program in 2023, designed to generate actionable science that supports fish and habitat protection while maintaining a sustainable water […]

Feb 21 • 11:04 AM EST • Science • mavensnotebook.com

The $134-billion question: Who will get a tariff refund?

The battle is just starting for the 300,000 businesses that want $134 billion in tariffs refunded.

Feb 20 • 3:04 PM EST • Business • cnn.com

Federal proposal limiting foreign scientists at Boulder lab disrupts Colorado’s quantum industry

A proposed update to a federal security policy on government-funded research could shut out non-US associates from the federal lab after March

Feb 19 • 6:00 AM EST • Science • coloradosun.com

On an Ambitious Antarctic Quest, One Nation Is on the Sidelines

None of the main research on the voyage of the Araon was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, a sign of the difficult times for American science.

Feb 19 • 5:00 AM EST • Science • nytimes.com

Tencent's TiMi Studio Group reportedly funded Highguard dev Wildlight Entertainment

Sources claim Tencent subsidiary was "lead financial backer" of Wildlight, which formed in 2023

Feb 18 • 6:19 AM EST • Entertainment • gamesindustry.biz

Sources: Tencent secretly funded struggling shooter Highguard

Wildlight Entertainment has said for years it was "fully-funded" but not shared details.

Feb 17 • 3:18 PM EST • Entertainment • gamefile.news

Who pays for Newsom's travel? Hint: It's not always taxpayers

Gov. Gavin Newsom's international travel is paid for by the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that is funded primarily by corporate donations and run by a board Newsom appoints.

Feb 14 • 10:59 AM EST • Politics • latimes.com

San Francisco Teachers Win Fully Funded Health Care, Wage Increases After 4-Day Strike

San Francisco’s first teachers strike in nearly 50 years concluded early Friday with a tentative agreement addressing the union’s concerns over health care, salaries and other key issues.

Feb 13 • 7:05 PM EST • Health • kqed.org

Federal judge stops Trump plans to cut public health funding to Colorado, other Democratic-led states

The federal government had planned to cut grants that funded HIV prevention work and sexually transmitted disease surveillance in Colorado

Feb 12 • 6:47 PM EST • Health • coloradosun.com

Board of Supervisors awards $12.4 million in Measure O and state funds for mental health and homeless services

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday awarded $12.4 million to support mental health and homelessness services across the county, the latest in a series of investments funded by Measure O, the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020.

Feb 11 • 2:32 PM EST • Health • sonomacounty.gov

AI power players pour cash into competitive primaries as 2026 midterms heat up

An AI-backed political group funded by top Silicon Valley figures is making its first major push into the 2026 midterm primaries, starting with a $500,000 ad blitz.

Feb 10 • 5:04 PM EST • Politics • foxnews.com

Understanding obesity-induced inflammation

NIH-funded researchers detailed a chain of events through which obesity promotes harmful inflammation.

Feb 10 • 11:44 AM EST • Health • nih.gov