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Powell did not break the law with expensive Fed renovations that incensed Trump, report finds
An inspector general review of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters renovation found no sign that then-Chair Jerome Powell broke the law or committed misconduct in his management of the costly project, even as it sharply criticized him and the bank’s board for allowing the price tag to balloon beyond $2 billion.
Federal regulator probing Trump critic Adam Kinzinger for betting on his own pardon
Federal regulators are investigating former Rep. Adam Kinzinger for trading on the prediction platform Kalshi about a pardon he received from former President Joe Biden, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
DOJ ramps up fight against federal judges after some in Minnesota speak to media about immigration surge cases
The Justice Department is filing a judicial misconduct complaint against nearly all the federal judges in Minnesota, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday, in an escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and the judicial branch, which came to a head during the winter surge of immigration enforcement.
Federal Cannabis Rescheduling Update Leads CBT’s Top Stories in September
Former federal prosecutor and CBT contributor Julie A. Werner-Simon breaks down where we are months after the U.S. Attorney General’s April order.
UCLA Researchers to Lead NIH-Funded Center to Advance Science of Interoceptive Neuroscience
UCLA Health researchers were awarded a $3.5 million federal grant to establish a national, multisite research center to study interoceptive neuroscience – the study of how the nervous system senses, interprets and integrates signals from within the body to maintain equilibrium.
The Hyde Amendment's 50th Anniversary: Enough is Enough
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, a budget rider that bars federal insurance programs from covering abortion care. Physicians for Reproductive Health President and CEO, Dr. Jamila Perritt, shares reflections.
Seaboard FCU president and CEO to retire in May
Seaboard Federal Credit Union announced that longtime President and Chief Executive Officer Kyle Casburn will retire effective May 31, 2027. The announcement marks the conclusion of a 31-year tenure of
LePage calls for federal crackdown on Medicaid fraud
The comments came during a roundtable discussion with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota), who talked about Medicaid fraud in his state.
The Legal and Policy Landscape of Crisis Pregnancy Centers
This brief examines the legal status of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, attempts to regulate them, and future efforts to expand their footprints as they gain more recognition and funding from local, state, and federal programs.
Fed's favored inflation gauge cooled in August but remained elevated
The Commerce Department reported that PCE inflation remained elevated in August at a level well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
New federal law puts an end to the hemp industry, Oregon businesses say
Gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets will soon lose the CBD products on their shelves under new federal law
Fraud, compromise, and groupthink. How warped research incentives undermine science
Science is supposed to correct its own errors. In practice, distorted academic incentives often block that quality control. Universities produce far more PhDs than faculty jobs, then judge survival by grants—especially federal awards that benefit the schools themselves. Researchers who stray from funders’ preferred questions face stalled careers. The unfortunate result is groupthink that often hinders scientific progress.
Trump’s shift from ‘Housing First’ is causing upheaval for homelessness programs and many they serve
The Trump administration is shifting federal policy and dollars away from the “Housing First” approach that has been at the heart of federal homelessness policy.
Newly proposed federal rules would have “disastrous” impact on Medicaid, insurance funding, state says
Proposed federal rules could cut hundreds of millions of dollars annually for Medicaid and also impact health insurance programs, state says.
Virginia Democrats warn more healthcare strains loom after November election
Christina Rivera kept her health insurance this year because she needed major back surgery. But maintaining coverage meant absorbing a monthly premium that rose from $235 in 2025 to $1,336 in 2026 — with a higher deductible. “That’s just not reasonable for anybody who is relying on the ACA for healthcare,” said Riviera, a Charlottesville-area resident and founder of the nonprofit Called to Justice. “I don’t have that sitting around. It’s not in the cushions of the couch.” Small nonprofits often depend on the Affordable Care Act marketplace because reasonably priced group coverage is out of reach, Rivera said. After enhanced federal premium tax credits expired last December, her insurance bill became another financial burden alongside groceries, gasoline and utilities.
When “DEI” research is cut, what happens to community health?
“I’m just going to run to the grocery store!” How many times have we said this without thinking about it? For most of us, it's usually an easy walk or a short drive to get the cheese we forgot. In reality, though, 13% of the U.S. population (about 39 million people) live in “food deserts,” which means living more than a mile from a grocery store in urban areas and more than 10 miles in rural areas. This was the case for people in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where a quick run to buy food wasn’t an option. In the 1930s, federal maps marked the Hill as "hazardous" for lending, a practice known as redlining that steered investment away from Black neighborhoods. Decades of disinvestment followed, and residents went about 30 years without a nearby grocery store. This made it hard to keep healthy eating habits and contributed to chronic disease. When a grocery store finally opened in the area in 2013, researchers saw the opportunity and launched the PHRESH study, which initially compared the health of participants from the Hill district to those in the Homewood district. Over time, the study expanded to other factors such as brain health and Alzheimer's risk. Residents like Roderick Blair overcame initial hesitation to share their health data, trusting it would benefit their neighborhood. Then, in August 2026, the NIH abruptly canceled the study’s grant, citing that it was “subjective” and fell outside their scientific scope—an effect of the administration’s interpretation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Research like PHRESH can help determine what changes in a neighborhood actually improve health, so cutting it has left that question unanswered. Other canceled studies have examined health issues like maternal health, preterm birth rates, or sickle cell disease. Courts have reversed some of these grant cancellations, but not all of them. If we really want America to be healthier, research into why some communities get sicker than others is absolutely critical. The law that created the federal minority health research institute passed with bipartisan support in 2000. But these days, as evidenced by grant cancellations, the political shift in attitudes toward DEI means we often lose access to the health information we need to help all communities thrive. DEI vs. health equity vs. equality and the overlap (or lack thereof) The letters “DEI” evoke very different reactions depending on who you are in the U.S. DEI programs can address gender, disability, age, and other factors, but the fiercest debate centers on race. For some people, hearing DEI brings to mind policies that may have cost them a job or a college seat because they are white. Others see DEI as a matter of justice: a way to expand representation and opportunity for groups that have been historically marginalized. Both perspectives are rooted in lived experience, and both center on the same question: whether hiring and admissions practices are fair. Hiring and admission practices, though related, are not the same as health equity. Health equity is “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people.” It’s the recognition that some groups of people consistently experience worse health outcomes than others. For instance, black mothers die from pregnancy-related complications at three times the rate of white mothers, and rural Americans are more likely to die from issues such as heart disease and cancer. Equity is also often conflated with “equality,” which leads to misunderstanding of how to actually best support communities. Equality ignores the fact that we aren’t all starting life with the same resources or circumstances, whereas equity is about helping people get what they specifically need based on their situation so they have the chance to achieve the same outcome as anyone else. For example, if every household in Pittsburgh got a $30 grocery gift card, that would be equal. But during the decades the Hill District went without a grocery store, that card wouldn’t have helped much. Equity means making sure everyone can actually access a store in the first place. DEI policies can overlap with health equity in many ways. For example, they may help expand access to quality education and stable, well-paying jobs, which in turn can provide health insurance, safer housing, and improved finances—all of which can reduce health disparities. But to make that happen, we first need data to identify disparities in communities and to develop solutions that effectively address them. What we lose when the research stops Community data is important to health equity because: You can’t fix what you don’t see: Data show which communities are most affected by health factors such as infection, heart disease, and cancer. If we don’t know what is happening and where, then we can’t develop interventions to help. Poor health costs everyone: Chronic disease is expensive—both to the individual person and to the overall economy. Understanding what groups of people are most at risk allows us to develop interventions that can save everyone money. Disparities exist for many communities: Health equity includes disparities that exist due to a whole host of factors, such as family background, race and ethnicity, rural vs. suburban residence, gender and sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, and lower income. This means many Americans can benefit from research into differences in health outcomes and how to improve them. Trust is easy to lose: Some participants in the PHRESH study were initially vocal about their concerns about participating. But that trust was earned because the researchers kept their promises and centered their work on the community. When projects are canceled mid-cycle, researchers have no choice but to leave behind communities they had promised to help. This hurts trust in the long run. It’s also a very inefficient use of resources, and it will take significant time and effort to redo the work when the government realizes this work is important again. How should we talk about health equity? This is hard because the words “equity” and “DEI” are currently very politically charged. So whether you’re a public health professional, teacher, or friend, how we talk about this topic matters. The right framing can help people who might otherwise be skeptical see why health equity research is important and deserves funding. Here are some suggestions to help your conversations: Choose your words strategically: Who are you trying to reach with your message? Are they likely to be resistant to terms like “diversity” and “equity”? If so, find alternative words to use to still get the message across. It is frustrating to be in that position, but the goal of improving health is too important not to try to make inroads. Sometimes simply reframing can help the message reach those who need to hear it. Focus on the problem: The terms “health equity” and “DEI” are abstract. Make it more specific. For example, discuss differences in maternal death or ways to improve health outcomes in rural communities. These still have equity at their core but will likely be better understood by those you’re talking with. Focus on systems: Disparities exist, but if they are communicated poorly, people can mistakenly think the issue is the individual’s fault. Disparities are largely driven by failures of the system—such as lack of access to health care and a long legacy of racism. When discussing the disparities, frame them around these systemic issues to ensure blame isn’t placed on the individuals impacted. Tell stories: Personalize these policies by using stories from those impacted that connect to the data you’re trying to convey. This helps make the policies and outcomes more concrete and meaningful. Bottom line Some communities end up sicker than others. That’s just the facts. We can argue about the best way to do that research, but canceling it simply because it may be linked to DEI doesn’t make anyone healthier. It just leaves communities like the Hill district behind. And in the end, it causes us all to move backward in our efforts to improve health in this country. Love, EM Big thanks to MacKenzie Isaac & Legairre Radden, who reviewed this piece and generously shared their expertise and lived experience to help improve it. Dr. Liz Marnik, PhD, is Executive Director of The Evidence Collective and a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust, science, and public health. To discuss communication training on topics like health equity and storytelling, email Liz at liz@yle.health or learn more on our website. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Your Local Epidemiologist is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Higher Debt Caps to Boost Small Business, Personal Bankruptcies
Federal lawmakers’ move to permanently raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief will give more small businesses and individuals access to options that were previously out of reach under current economic pressures and persistent inflation.
Drugs are widely used to sedate dementia patients. Her sons wanted to keep her off them
Potent sedating medications are often used on agitated people with dementia in long-term care facilities despite federal efforts to discourage them. A clash over whether to drug a Michigan woman illuminates the wrenching decisions families and guardians face.
Payer-provider disputes increase amid federal cuts, inflation
After months of contract negotiations this year, Sentara Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia weren’t close to an agreement, foreshadowing
Trump signs executive order rebranding AI as 'Super Intelligence' as tech titans ink separate SI accord
The order follows a White House summit with top tech executives and directs federal agencies to use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in official communications.
Rep. Mike Kennedy questions federal role in health policy
Rep. Mike Kennedy questioned the federal government's role in overseeing Americans' health while speaking at the University of Utah on Tuesday.
Protect College Sports Act moves to the House
The act would regulate college sports at the federal level.
9,300 noncitizens in Illinois to lose Medicaid benefits due to changes by federal government
The new federal eligibility changes mean immigrants seeking asylum and those who entered the country through humanitarian parole will also lose health coverage.
Whistleblowers allege top NC health officials used false information to secure Medicaid funds
In a newly unsealed federal lawsuit, former state workers allege North Carolina health officials used false information to secure federal funding for a Medicaid technology overhaul, and that federal regulators approved money despite red flags. The lawsuit was dismissed but might be revived.
Federal designation helps FAU/NCHA Community Health Center expand local access
Access to high-quality primary care can make the difference between a health concern being identified early and becoming a more serious problem.
Tom Watson to lead Cherokee Federal as president
Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, announced that longtime industry executive Tom Watson has been named president, effective Oct. 1.
Medicaid is about to end in NC for thousands of refugees
Thousands of refugees and people granted asylum who are living in North Carolina will lose their Medicaid coverage due to cuts made in the 2025 federal spending bill.
What to know about America.gov, the Trump administration’s new AI-driven services website
The Trump administration thinks the federal bureaucracy is way too complex for Americans to navigate — and it believes that artificial intelligence can help.
Office of Personnel Management uncovers $500M in fraud and waste in federal health benefits programs
The Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management uncovered $510 million in fraud and waste across federal employee health benefits programs.
Representative Nathaniel Moran introduces H.R. 10582: Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act
We have received text from H.R. 10582: Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. This bill was received on 2026-09-24, and currently has 9 cosponsors.Here is a short summary of the bill: This bill would create a new federal tax credit for certain U.S.-based film and television productions. In general, eligible productions could claim a credit equal to a percentage of their qualified compensation costs, meaning wages and c
Rural healthcare providers in Colorado get boost from federal government
Newsom signs bills pushing back on Trump's immigration agenda
The more than 20 bills approved by the governor Tuesday were crafted to thwart tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, while others are meant to boost state oversight of federal detention centers in the state.
Federal court will hear if Wake schools wrongly suspended GOP candidate from job
Scott Lassiter charges Wake suspended him as an assistant principal in 2024 to help his Democratic opponent running for NC Senate.
Iowa attorney sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud
A 67-year-old Iowa attorney has been sentenced to six months in federal prison after pleading guilty in a health care fraud case. Timothy Mark Anderson of Garner worked with clients with nursing home expenses who hoped to qualify for Medicaid. According to the Department of Justice, Anderson is also “an avid collector of luxury vehicles” […]
Michigan got $173M to transform rural health. Where is it going?
Some rural healthcare leaders say the first round of funds allocated from the Rural Health Transformation Program don’t go far enough to stabilize their industry amid federal cuts.
New federal law puts an end to the hemp industry, Oregon businesses say
A new federal law will ban the sale most hemp-derived products by end of the year.
Top U.S. Health Officials to Address Rare Disease Leaders at 2026 NORD Breakthrough Summit in Washington, D.C.
/PRNewswire/ -- Three of the nation's leading federal health officials will join more than 900 rare disease leaders across patient advocacy, industry, policy,...
FAU/NCHA Community Health Center Earns Federally Funded FQHC Designation
The FAU/NCHA Community Health Center has received federally funded health center status through an award from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, bringing new resources to expand access to care in West Palm Beach. The center served more than 5,400 patient visits in 2025, providing primary and mental healthcare, immunizations, screenings, chronic disease management and other services regardless of patients’ ability to pay. The funding will help reach more patients and strengt
FAU/NCHA Community Health Center Earns Federally Funded Designation
The FAU/NCHA Community Health Center has earned federally funded health center status, bringing new resources to expand access to care in West Palm Beach.
The Beclowning of Scott Bessent
One iron law of current politics is that nobody who associates themselves with Donald Trump emerges with a shred of credibility. For some, that’s not a big loss — it’s not as if anyone respected Pete Hegseth even before he decided that the key to military success in an age of drones and AI was more testosterone. For others, however, the costs are real. I’m old enough to remember when Marco Rubio was widely considered a reasonable, thoughtful politician. Right now, however, my candidate for the biggest loser is Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury. Bessent started out with significant reputation to lose: When Trump selected him, this was the headline in the Financial Times: Jason Furman, Barack Obama’s chief economist, described him as a “credible Treasury secretary who has a real understanding of the global economy”. But Bessent has now transformed himself into the Baghdad Bob of bonds. Three weeks ago, after intervening (for reasons that remain somewhat unclear) to support the Japanese yen, Bessent boasted about his ability to move markets and dared investors to bet against his, declaring “I am the house now.” He then tried to push long-term interest rates down, buying 30-year U.S. Treasuries in a move some have compared to paying down part of your mortgage by running up your credit card balance. Here’s how that’s going so far: To get some perspective on how high interest rates have gone, here’s a longer-term perspective: We haven’t seen interest rates this high since the fading days of the dotcom bubble. Why are interest rates hitting new records? The backdrop, as I argued in last Sunday’s primer, is the huge AI-driven investment boom; more on that next week. But the immediate cause of the latest interest rate spike was Trump’s rejection of an Iranian proposal to end the war. This rejection sent crude oil prices, which for a while had fallen considerably, shooting back up: It’s notable, by the way, that oil prices remain high even though a significant amount of oil is now being shuttled through the Strait of Hormuz by night, on smaller vessels. That’s an interesting story, which has a lot to do with the fact that oil from the Hormuz shuttle runs must be transferred to larger vessels before being shipped to markets in Europe and Asia; around 15 percent of the world’s large crude carriers are now parked off the coast of Oman, waiting to be tanked up. This is creating a shipping crunch: But that’s a topic for another day. For now, the point is that with oil still high and refined products, especially diesel, still close to record levels, inflation will remain elevated. And this in turn means that the Federal Reserve will keep short-term interest rates high, an expectation that is feeding into longer-term rates. Hence Bessent’s bond-market humiliation. The truth is that Bessent might not have been able to get interest rates down even in the best of circumstances. But he certainly won’t get anywhere as long as Trump keeps believing that he can somehow convert his Iran debacle into a triumphant victory. And Trump will keep believing that as long as he is surrounded by sycophants who tell him what he wants to hear. Sycophants like, for example, Scott Bessent, who is predicting the imminent collapse of the Iranian economy, possibly within two weeks. Bessent is right to say that the embargo on Iranian oil exports is placing the country under great economic strain. But his implicit prediction that this will quickly produce a deal that Trump can call victory looks no more plausible than his boasts about the bond market. The big question now is, why would anyone with a reputation to lose work for Donald Trump? As the beclowning of Bessent shows, joining the Trump team won’t just damage your reputation; it will utterly destroy it.
Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith will tell senators he won't 'be silenced' by threats of prosecution
The former Justice Department special counsel who brought two federal indictments against President Donald Trump will tell lawmakers he “will not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution” from the Trump administration and believes the rule of law is being threatened like never before
Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith will tell senators he won't 'be silenced' by threats of prosecution
The former Justice Department special counsel who brought two federal indictments against President Donald Trump will tell lawmakers he “will not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution” from the Trump administration and believes the rule of law is being threatened like never before.
Federal judge upholds Idaho law that bans vaccine, medical treatment requirements in daycares
The ruling upholds an Idaho law that bans daycares, businesses, governments and schools from mandating vaccines or “medical interventions."
About 8,000 lawfully present Pennsylvania immigrants face Medicaid health insurance terminations on Oct. 1
New federal Medicaid eligibility cuts for immigrants, including refugees and asylees, were passed by Congress and President Trump.
Rural Hospital Administrators: The Rural Health Transformation Program Isn’t Helping, Yet
The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) was supposed to help rural hospitals deal with cuts to federal funding as a result of H.R. 1, or the “One
Subpoena records offer clues about federal probe of L.A. County voters
Federal investigators have sent L.A. County election officials multiple grand jury subpoenas as part of a criminal investigation into illegal voting, according to records reviewed by The Times.
Rural Colorado communities getting healthcare upgrades with $170M in federal grants
Grant funding will benefit 250 projects aimed at strengthening rural Colorado’s healthcare workforce, equipment and services
$10 for a gallon of gas has red Alaska thinking about a Democratic senator
Mary Peltola hopes to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in a race all about prices, federal aid and Donald Trump.
Protect College Sports Act gains Senate approval in bipartisan vote
The Protect College Sports Act took its next step forward on Monday, with the Senate voting overwhelmingly 77-22 in favor of the proposed federal legislation reforming college athletics.
Pensacola pediatrician appointed to federal health task force
Dr. Patrick Hunter was named to the U.S. Preventive Services Task, which is tasked with improving the health of Americans through evidence-based recommendations about preventive services.
U.S. Senate votes, 77-22, to pass Protect College Sports Act
The Protect College Sports Act, a federal bill aimed at reshaping the industry, took a step toward becoming law on Monday when the U.S. Senate voted, 77-22, to pass it, with Ted Cruz saying "this bill puts an end to the chaos plaguing college athletics."
The Senate just passed a historic bill to federally regulate college sports. What happens now?
Senate approval is a massive win for the NCAA and its conferences, but the Protect College Sports Act must pass the House, too.
Talarico, Paxton want to cut federal gas taxes as they court Hispanic voters in Texas Senate race
After court ruling, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to hold Kalshi accountable for operating illegally
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is promising to hold prediction market platform Kalshi accountable for skirting state gambling regulations for years after a federal court ruling.
Second Prosecutor Quits Trump’s ‘Grand Conspiracy’ Case
The resignation adds to the setbacks to the most sweeping effort by the Justice Department to fulfill the president’s desire to take revenge against the federal officials who have investigated him.
Health Brief: The fight over ultra-processed foods
The Trump administration is weighing a federal definition of ultra-processed foods as RFK Jr. pushes a broader crackdown on ingredients tied to chronic disease
Federal agency sues Ohio-based Catholic health system over alleged antisemitism
The EEOC lawsuit states Dr. Ian Walton is
Texas awards $51 million in first round of Rural Texas Strong funding
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday that Texas is awarding $51 million in federal funding to rural hospital districts and authorities as part of the state’s Rural Texas Strong initiative.
As work requirements kick in for Medicaid, some states are taking a tougher stance
At least six states will require documentation that individuals are too sick to meet Medicaid work requirements kicking in next year. The rules are stricter than what the federal government is requiring.
CDC vaccine policy recommendations grind to a halt under Health Secretary Kennedy
Federal vaccine recommendations have stalled following Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s dismissal of the advisory committee and subsequent legal challenges to his attempts to overhaul immunization policy.
Michigan got $173M to transform rural health. Where is it going?
Some rural healthcare leaders say the Rural Health Transformation Program doesn’t go far enough to stabilize their industry amid federal cuts. Meanwhile, Michigan lawmakers say there’s a ‘transparency issue.’
Bobby Kotick’s lawyers sent me a bad email (and later apologized)
The message I had received was unsettling—for a moment. Then it was just really confusing. Back on January 20 of this year, at 5:15pm ET, I received an email with the subject line “Legal Correspondence re Bobby Kotick.” It was from the law firm Clare Locke, a firm I’d heard had been emailing reporters in recent years about their coverage of Kotick, the former, longtime CEO of Activision Blizzard. The letter was threatening. A lawyer from the firm introduced themselves as “defamation counsel to Bobby Kotick.” They issued a “demand” that I “correct” a Game File article I’d published a week prior. The article that had irked them had been a scoop of sorts. I’d written about a a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Swedish pension fund, AP7, over Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. The suit wasn’t news, but I was first to review and report about Kotick’s extensive pushback to the fund’s claims. The pension fund’s core contention was that the sale had been rushed by Kotick to avoid the consequences of sexual misconduct scandals swirling around the company in 2021. (He’d not been accused of misconduct himself in those suits, to be clear.) As I wrote at the time, Kotick had denied the allegations of the rushed sale. Beyond that, Kotick used a December 2025 reply to the Swedish fund’s lawsuit to assign blame for those workplace scandals, the bad press and even for the AP7 lawsuit. I’d found Kotick’s arguments novel and newsworthy. Across nearly 3,000 words, I explained Kotick’s take: that a Swedish gaming company was behind the Swedish fund’s lawsuit (the Embracer group; they denied it); that the Microsoft-Activision deal was not rushed and was secured at what Kotick felt history had proven to be an optimal price for shareholders; that he believed a conspiracy of people at unions government agencies, PR firms and the media had spun up claims of widespread workplace misconduct at Activision Blizzard in 2021. The article gave context for all of this, letting readers assess the claims and weigh their credibility. As I’d later write to Kotick’s lawyers: I would be surprised if you could point to any news article about Bobby Kotick in the last five years that has spent more of its wordcount articulating his point of view. He is welcome to do an interview with Game File any time. Nonetheless, there they were in my inbox that Tuesday evening: Clare Locke, the law firm that secured a $787.5 million settlement from Fox News over false statements about voting machines. They were emailing me, threatening that failure to comply with their demand could support a claim of “actual malice,” a legal standard for libel. Unless… Unless, they said, I added a key paragraph to my article. This was a paragraph that I already knew Kotick’s lawyers had been emailing reporters about for at least a year, and it was a paragraph that was already in my article. The paragraph they wanted is from a 2023 settlement that California’s Civil Rights Department struck with Activision Blizzard. The settlement had closed a two-year-old lawsuit over alleged sexual discrimination at the game maker. The paragraph basically said that claims of systemic or widespread sexual harassment—or of execs like Kotick tolerating such behavior—had never been proven. I’d already seen proof that Kotick’s lawyers had pushed for the settlement’s language to be added to reports about 2021 sexual discrimination and misconduct lawsuits brought against Activision Blizzard by California and, separately, by the U.S. federal government (both suits were since settled). I knew that Kotick and his lawyers felt that the California settlement language should be mentioned in the same breath as references to an article he hated and denied, a November 2021 Wall Street Journal article claiming Kotick knew “for years” of sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard. So, in the Game File article that Clare Locke emailed me about, in the interest of ensuring I was being fair and balanced regarding the person I was covering, I had already included the following excerpt from the California settlement [emphasis added in bold]: (Kotick has repeatedly pushed back against that November article in the Wall Street Journal, citing among other things, language from a court-approved consent decree as part of Activision’s 2023 $54 million settlement over the California suit. It states: “no court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations that: there has been systemic or widespread sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard [or] that Activision Blizzard senior executives ignored, condoned, or tolerated a culture of systemic harassment, retaliation, or discrimination.”) On the evening of January 20, I was incredulous. How do you write a four page legal threat about a week-old article and miss this? While scrambling to also make my kids dinner, I wrote a lengthy reply to Clare Locke’s lawyers, basically asking them to cool it with the threats and to start making sense. In part, I wrote: I hope you can understand why I am having trouble understanding what you’re asking for, when the statement you’re demanding to see in Game File’s article already appears in Game File’s article. Actual malice, as you know, refers to a reckless disregard for the truth. I’m not sure what your argument is when my article already states your client’s position. Here is where I should remind you, the reader, that I am an independent journalist. I publish on Substack, and have availed myself of the Substack Defender program that provides writers on the platform with legal support. But I’m no Wall Street Journal or New York Times, nor even IGN or GameSpot when it comes to such things as, well, having a legal department. There are more fun things for me to do as an independent journalist than writing back to a powerful law firm representing a very rich person. On the evening of January 20th, I was just trying to cook some pasta, broccoli and chicken nuggets for hungry twins. Nevertheless, I wrote back to them. Two hours later, I got a reply. Summarizing: A lawyer for Clare Locke said they’d “reviewed an incomplete version” of my article and they “apologize for the confusion.” (My guess: Someone didn’t read past the piece’s paywall, even though they’d had a full week to scrounge up the funds to do so. What I’d published above the paywall was balanced, as was what came after.)1 That was almost that, but something about the situation bothered me. The letter had been marked “confidential.” I hadn’t agreed to that, and I disliked the idea that powerful people on the beat that I cover would act like they could unilaterally control what I might tell my readers about. On the morning of the 21st, having already gotten the powerful law firm to back off, I oh-so-wisely re-approached them with just one more thing. I thanked them for clearing things up the night before but noted that I’d never agreed to keep their letter confidential. I’m all for agreeing with a source to keep things off the record, but that’s the thing. We have to agree. You can’t just declare it. I’m not bound by that. I wrote to Clare Locke’s lawyer and said, in part: I trust the matter is resolved. It was disappointing to have to spend less time with my kids last night in order to address your legal letter. Family time’s precious. I will add, for clarity’s sake, that, while your letter stipulated that it was confidential, I did not agree to those terms. In the future, should you wish to communicate with me confidentially, I am happy to agree to classifying our communication as “off the record” prior to the actual communication—as is standard with any professional journalist. The firm’s lawyer replied, not directly addressing the confidentiality issue but asserting that the matter was resolved. Why I didn’t write about this until now In May, I told this story on an episode of Simon Parkin’s podcast My Perfect Console, but I held off on sharing it directly with Game File readers. I held off to avoid stepping on the toes of another reporter, the journalist Mikhail Klimentov. He’d interviewed me in the spring of 2025 about an investigation he was working on regarding Bobby Kotick lawyers pressing the media to add the California settlement language to stories referencing the 2021 lawsuits. And about how some outlets had changed their stories and how some simply deleted them. Initially, I was a third-party source for Klimentov’s reporting, providing on-the-record context about the state of the games media. I’d heard about the letters but hadn’t put the time into pursuing the story. I thought it was interesting, and I was glad he was covering it. When the outlet that Klimentov was going to run his reporting in dropped the story, I began talking to him about potentially publishing his reporting on Game File. This was tentative. Then, in January, when I got my own Clare Locke letter, I told Klimentov that I didn’t think it would make sense for me to publish him, not with me now being part of the story. I had my own version of this situation to tell. But I wished him well and said I’d refrain from telling my tale until he could get his reporting out there. Last Friday, Klimentov finally ran his investigation, in a nearly 48-minute video report for People Make Games. It covers various Clare Locke letters, how media outlets reacted to them and what to make of all this. His video weighs the merits of Kotick’s request and looks at some of the articles that were changed (one of which had a glaring error). I highly recommend watching it: (Note, I did some editorial consulting for a People Make Games video last year but nothing to do with this report.) While many outlets haven’t left any public evidence that they updated their Kotick coverage at Kotick’s counsel’s request, at least one has. Back in October 2025, the mainstream outlet Reuters applied the most transparent article update I’ve seen. On the 3rd of the month, they published an article about the state of the Swedish pension fund’s lawsuit. Days later, they added this: In an October 7 letter sent after publication of this article, Kotick’s defamation counsel disputed claims of widespread harassment at Activision. “Not a single investigation, court finding, verdict, or ruling ever concluded that there was any merit” to the allegations of widespread harassment at Activision, Tom Clare and Nick Brechbill of Clare Locke wrote. I’ve never added a statement to my article on Game File, because none was needed. Not for fairness’ sake, nor to meet any demands of Kotick’s lawyers. I’ve nevertheless wanted to be transparent with Game File readers. If someone powerful is questioning my reporting, is threatening a lawsuit over it… if that threat is part of a pattern involving other games media outlets and if, in my case, the whole thing ran into a ridiculous ditch, I want you to know about it. I also share this as a real example of how I handle threats to Game File. I stand up for my own reporting, even when it’s not comfortable to do so. (In that same category of standing up for the work I do, I’ll point to an incident in late August. Asocial media post I published to X/Twitter regarding reporting I did about Take Two and GTA VI was hit by bogus copyright claim by a firm working for the publisher. I pushed back and got it reversed; even while a bigger games media outlet let themselves be censored. This is the other reason I’m sharing this story: To emphasize that dealing with threats from powerful people is one of the costs of covering the video game industry independently and as fearlessly as possible. This is where you come in. Your support, through free and paid subscriptions (sign up here!), can help me keep doing that. It can ensure that I’ve got the back-up I need. And it can help make fiascoes like this even less of a worry, so I can spend my evenings dealing with more important things, such as making sure I steam the kids’ broccoli just right. 1 That pension fund lawsuit I wrote about in January has all but gone away. In May, the fund and Activision Blizzard owner Microsoft agreed to settle. Lawyers for the fund brokered a $250 million settlement for former Activision Blizzard shareholders. In the settlement, the fund’s lawyers changed their rhetoric. Where once they’d questioned the meaning of the California settlement language, they adopted a version of it for themselves. Several weeks ago, while seeking to get a court to sign off on the terms of the settlement, they proposed their fee for their work in the case: $60 million.
Colorado distributes $170 million in federal funding to help 91 rural healthcare organizations
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Zhen Xu Receives Golden Goose Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science
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State awards nearly $170 million to rural healthcare providers
Colorado is awarding nearly $170 million in federal grants to rural healthcare providers across 52 counties to expand telehealth, strengthen the workforce and improve access to care.
Delaware health centers receive nearly $23M for technology, mobile care
Gov. Matt Meyer and other Delaware officials announced nearly $23 million in federal funding to upgrade patient records, expand care coordination and improve access to services in rural communities between three federally qualified health centers.
When Breaking the Law Becomes a Business Strategy, the Federal Trade Commission Should Step In
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Federal court rules Kalshi is subject to Tennessee’s gambling laws for sports contracts
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that prediction market Kalshi’s sports-event contracts are subject to Tennessee’s sports-wagering laws
Blumenthal, Lamont: Trump blocking CT grants for political reasons
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California coalition trains thousands of election monitors ahead of midterms
Organizers say they’re concerned recent federal actions could discourage some people from voting
US police report raises questions over Chinese researcher Wang Danhao’s death
Key details about semiconductor scientist’s visit from US federal agents the day before he took his own life mysteriously wiped from report.
Federal funding supports FSU quantum communication testbed for real-world conditions
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New York hospitals push for exemption from federal H-1B visa fee
Hospitals warned U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that the policy could have “detrimental impacts” on the healthcare sector.
Smart Headlights Finally Trickle Down to Cars in the U.S.
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Republicans and Democrats Find a Unifying Target: Pharmacy Benefit Managers
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New Hampshire Receives Over $2 Million in Federal Grants to Support Mental Health Efforts Statewide
Governor Kelly Ayotte and Commissioner Lori Weaver of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) celebrated New Hampshire receiving over $2 million in federal grants aimed at expanding behavioral health crisis support and mental health services across the state. The grants will provide critical funding for New Hampshire’s 988 Lifeline and support mental health...
White House expands taxpayer-paid ad campaign boosting Trump
New taxpayer funded ads featuring President Trump have sparked debate over whether they violate federal law.
Video: Trump’s 2024 Campaign Ad Returns, With Taxpayers Paying For It
An ad nearly identical to one President Trump ran during his 2024 campaign returned on Saturday, paid for using public money. Several ethics lawyers it may violate federal law.
A Trump 2024 Campaign Ad Returns, Now Brought to You by The Government
The ad, which ethics experts said could violate federal law, shows Mr. Trump vowing to “expel warmongers” from the government and fight the “deep state,” even as he wages a war with Iran.
Federal rescheduling to impact taxes, operations of medical marijuana businesses
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Attorney General Rob Bonta defends settlement with Paramount as judge delays merger
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California Politics 360 full episode | Attorney General Rob Bonta reacts to Paramount settlement
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Dallas Fed gives updates on manufacturing, service and energy sectors
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Feds charge semi-truck business owner in $105M investment fraud scheme
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Protect College Sports Act favors universities over players
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Protect College Sports Act favors universities over players
Universities are seeking federal help to avoid paying athletes, but the free market should decide their value.
VOICE OF BUSINESS: Dayton area businesses have a big stake in election
Dayton area businesses invest capital, time, talent, reputation, and passion in building companies and creating jobs that employ our families, neighbors, and friends. The decisions made by elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels can shape the environment in which our businesses operate, grow and compete. For business leaders, civic engagement is an important part of protecting those investments and helping shape the future of the Dayton region.
CDC vaccine policy recommendations grind to a halt under Health Secretary Kennedy - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
NEW YORK (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new flu vaccine that tested well in older adults. But the federal agencyRead More
Court Orders Reddit Moderator to Pay Nintendo $4.5 Million Over Switch Piracy
A federal court in Washington has ordered Reddit moderator James "Archbox" Williams to pay Nintendo $4.5 million in damages over alleged Nintendo Switch piracy. US District Judge Lauren King granted Nintendo's motion for default judgment in full on September 23, along with a permanent injunction...
Trump administration awards $23M to boost rural healthcare in Delaware
A major infusion of federal money is headed to Delaware health centers, with nearly $23 million aimed at expanding care and modernizing services.
Trump administration awards $23M to boost rural healthcare in Delaware
A major infusion of federal money is headed to Delaware health centers, with nearly $23 million aimed at expanding care and modernizing services.
Trump administration awards $23M to boost rural healthcare in Delaware
A major infusion of federal money is headed to Delaware health centers, with nearly $23 million aimed at expanding care and modernizing services.
Trump administration awards $23M to boost rural healthcare in Delaware
A major infusion of federal money is headed to Delaware health centers, with nearly $23 million aimed at expanding care and modernizing services.
What Is a ‘Pocket Rescission’? Inside Trump’s Move to Cancel $810 Million in Federal Funding
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Joliet gets $1 million federal grant for community mental health program
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Alaska to launch second funding round for Rural Health Transformation Program
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Your $2,000 phone is being safety-tested with 1996 radiation science
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Former Wenatchee health care executive sentenced to 4 years after embezzling $24 million
The CEO of a company in charge of managing health care payment contracts for a pool of clinics in the Pacific Northwest was sentenced to four years in federal prison
US scientists launch workaround after Trump administration dismantles National Climate Assessment
Major scientific groups moved quickly to keep the work alive after the Trump administration dismantled key parts of the federal process behind the next National Climate Assessment.