SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " divide " 713 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Fox poll finds love blooming across political divide on Valentine's Day
Fox poll finds love blooming across political divide on Valentine's Day
Catalyst-Cascadia project divides downtown Greeley businesses
“I’m not sure either side has really stated how Catalyst and Cascadia positively or negatively impacts downtown,” Estrin said. “It seems that both sides like to use downtown as a talking point to c…
This week in politics: How Schuylkill County’s legislators voted
Between ongoing budget stalemates and severe partisan divides, it can be easy to feel like nothing is getting done in government. But every week is a busy week in politics, and important developmen…
Column: There should be no partisan divide about naming Epstein's fellow abusers
Shielding sex traffickers of children is not politics as usual. It reveals a moral crisis.
Over hot plates and politics, diners divided on Trump's Fort Bragg visit
At the Rainbow Restaurant in Fayetteville, diners served up differing opinions on President Trump's Fort Bragg visit.
The State of the City and the politics of interruption in Memphis
On Tuesday, as Memphis Mayor Paul Young delivered his State of the City address,, a grassroots organization disrupted it by shouting. The setting was a church. Children were present. Reactions were immediate and divided. Some called it courageous. Others called it disrespectful. What has unsettled so many people about this disruption is not the protest […]
Department of Homeland Security on track to shut down with lawmakers leaving Washington and an unresolved ICE fight
A bitterly divided Washington is headed for its third government funding lapse of President Donald Trump’s second term — this time, a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security over the issue of federal immigration enforcement.
Why J.D. Vance wants Olympians to stop talking about politics
At the Winter Olympics, JD Vance urges Team USA to play their sport and avoid political comments that divide fans and spark online backlash.
Fox News Poll: Beyond red vs. blue, finding me + you across the political divide
Fox News poll reveals 6 in 10 voters believe love can transcend political differences this Valentine's Day, while humor trumps politics in relationships.
Talking politics with family: We won't make it if we don't 'put our hearts and heads together'
This episode of One Small Step reflects on how political polarization can strain family relationships and how trying to build connections across political lines can help repair that divide.
Young Americans express deep dissatisfaction with how the political system works
Johns Hopkins research examining generational divides in democratic institutions finds younger respondents have the least amount of trust in political parties and elected officials to reflect their views
Telehealth Nurse honored for lifesaving bond with Veteran | VA Central Alabama health care
For most patients, a telehealth nurse is a reassuring voice on the phone or a face on a screen, a distant guide navigating the complexities of health care. For Veteran Jacqueline, however, that voice became a lifeline that transcended the digital divide and pulled her back from the brink of death.
Kid Rock's 'Rock the Country' festival cancels several dates after artists drop out
Kid Rock has canceled several of his 'Rock the Country' tour dates in South Carolina after multiple artists dropped out. One band says its 'purpose is to unite, not divide,'
What is Considered a Good Stock Dividend? 2 Healthcare Stocks That Fit the Bill.
These companies pay very healthy dividends.
Decent or disastrous? Starmer’s judgment and leadership divide opinion
Letters: Readers respond to a piece by Polly Toynbee in which she says she cannot understand the reason for this level of public dislike
A rift between Trump’s favorite lawyers exposes a broader MAGA divide in the administration
A rift between two of President Donald Trump’s favorite prosecutors came to a head at the start of the year, when Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the president’s former personal lawyer, removed MAGA firebrand Ed Martin from a key post investigating the president’s political enemies.
Appeals court greenlights Trump admin policy of detaining undocumented immigrants without opportunity to seek release
A divided federal appeals court on Friday ruled in favor of the Trump administration’s policy of detaining millions of undocumented immigrants, even those who have been living in the US for decades, without the opportunity to challenge their detention, handing President Donald Trump a major win as he seeks to carry out an aggressive deportation campaign.
Live updates: The latest on the Trump administration as US-Iran talks are underway in Oman
Nuclear talks between the US and Iran are underway in Oman. Meanwhile, lawmakers remain sharply divided over DHS and ICE funding. Follow for live news updates.
Watch The Entertainment Industry’s Trump Divide
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show could be yet another example of the growing divide over Trump in the entertainment industry, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Ronald Brownstein says.
The tension at the center of Trump's retooled immigration message: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the racial divides that are shaping the Texas Democratic Senate primary.
When Sports Meets Statecraft: Marçal Jané on Sports Diplomacy in a Divided Moment
Ahead of the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics, Marçal Jané argues that sports are diplomacy in action. Learn about the power of sports diplomacy.
Live updates on the Trump presidency: DHS faces funding cliff as Congress remains divided over ICE reform
Democrats and Republicans are divided over proposed changes to ICE as funding for the Department of Homeland Security hangs in the balance. Follow for live updates.
Delegation for 2.3.26: Shutdown — FEMA — immigration — IMEC
From Florida to Capitol Hill.
Medicaid work rules advance through Senate Health Committee
Democrats and Republicans were divided on adding work requirements for Medicaid.
At a ‘Melania’ screening, cheers for Trump, snickers at Obama — and a reminder of our nation’s political divide
Having read a biography of her and learned almost nothing from it, I was looking forward to gaining insights about our First Lady. But nothing in the documentary has a true “behind the scenes” feel.
‘Intrusion of politics’: Pakistan’s boycott of India game divides opinion
Ex-players and politicians criticise the politicisation of cricket and urge the ICC to step in and mend ties.
Trump’s AI push exposes a divide in the MAGA movement
There is a growing fault line within Trump’s coalition over how aggressively to unleash a technology that is rapidly reshaping the economy and society.
‘SNL’ Satirizes a Politically Divided Family Trying to Talk
Last night’s standout performance was about a mom who was reconsidering her beliefs.
As Susan Collins awaits, a generational divide splits Maine Democrats in pivotal Senate race
Gov. Janet Mills was laying out her case against Sen. Susan Collins to several dozen supporters earlier this month when one attendee raised a question on the minds of many voters in Maine.
Epstein files release raises key question for Trump administration: From the Politics Desk
Plus, a Democratic divide in California with 2026 and 2028 campaign implications.
John Leguizamo under fire for demanding fans choose between him and ICE
John Leguizamo sparks controversy telling ICE supporters not to follow him or watch his movies. Fans remain divided over the actor's bold stance.
Amy Klobuchar Announces Run for Minnesota Governor
The Democratic senator, who signaled her bid after Gov. Tim Walz said he wouldn’t run again, talked about moving past political divides in a video announcement.
The Gen Z gender divide in politics
As Gen Z becomes older, a college student fears there will be less social cohesion and greater risks to democratic consensus.
UPS delivers on fourth-quarter numbers, and its stock rises
UPS trades on a 30% discount to the S&P 500 on a price-to-earnings basis with a dividend of roughly 6%.
The nuclear power station at the centre of the political divide in Scotland
The twin reactors of Hinkley Point C in Somerset will form the first nuclear power plant built in the UK for 30 years.
The Gen Z gender divide in politics
I fear as Gen Z becomes older, there will be less social cohesion and greater risks to democratic consensus.
Political fallout grows after Minnesota shooting
With lawmakers in Congress divided after Saturday’s fatal shooting involving federal officers in Minneapolis, Democrats are now threatening to vote against funding the Department of Homeland Security, as a deadline to fund the government looms, threatening a potential shutdown. NBC News’ Monica Alba reports.
We must not let AI ‘pull the doctor out of the visit’ for low-income patients
Generative AI is being pushed into healthcare – and diagnostic risks may deepen the class divide
Opinion | What Science Tells Us About Arguing With Your Father-in-Law
It’s rarely been harder to disagree politically — but social science suggests ways to have constructive conversations across ideological divides.
The biggest accelerant of our political tribalism
In years past, my go-to word in describing our political condition was “polarization.” I used it endlessly and still do on occasion. But as time has moved on, and the divide has only grown in depth and toxicity, polarization no longer seems to fully capture the magnitude of what has overtaken us. In its place, […]
How party politics divided Colorado in 1876 — and eased its path to statehood
The headline in the Jan. 23, 1876, edition of the Rocky Mountain News was a calculated provocation: “Jeff Davis Elected President.” The column that followed, which purported to be a dispatch from “Nov. —, 188–,” told the fictional history of a future presidential campaign won by the “arch-traitor” Jefferson Davis. “The ‘On to Washington’ that […]
Frustration over U.S. health costs erupts at congressional hearing
Democrats and Republicans are divided on many things, but they joined in pillorying health care executives at a committee hearing on Thursday.
As political dust settles, Portland’s new council president wants to focus on city’s ‘real crises’
Jamie Dunphy wants a divided City Council to stop the infighting and tackle homelessness, jobs, crumbling infrastructure and what he calls an increasingly tyrannical federal government.
Ring a Republican: Payphones linking San Francisco and Texas aim to bridge US political divides
A Matter Neuroscience project lets callers in liberal San Francisco and conservative Abilene speak across party lines
Dual citizenship: Bangladesh’s latest political flashpoint before elections
A divide over whether dual citizens should be allowed to contest is threatening Bangladesh's February elections.
A phone on SF's Valencia Street aims to address the political divide through conversation
A social experiment is underway on the streets of San Francisco, aimed at connecting a country that at times seems so far apart. It all starts with picking up the phone.
Billionaire tax sparks intraparty war in California
The proposal has divided Democratic politicians and stirred discord within organized labor.
Trump unveils healthcare plan without clear funding or execution timeline
Trump's healthcare plan promises lower costs but lacks specifics and faces challenges from a divided Congress.
What Live Nation Entertainment (LYV)'s Earnings Beat but Revenue Miss Means For Shareholders
In the past few days, Live Nation Entertainment reported quarterly results that exceeded analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates but fell short on revenue and event volume expectations, prompting a mixed reaction from the market. At the same time, analysts remained divided, with some reaffirming positive views based on continued demand for live events while others downgraded the stock amid ongoing concerns about the Ticketmaster business. We’ll now look at how this adjusted operating...
Trump Shakes up Latin American Politics
The U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro has divided the region. But every nation wants to avoid being next.
Trump Shakes up Latin American Politics
The U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro has divided the region. But every nation wants to avoid being next.
Nevadans divided on Governor's newest push to ban transgender athletes from female sports
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced a new push to ban transgender athletes from competing in female sports around the state.On Wednesday, the Protect Girls'
5 years later, political divide still wide over Jan. 6
Siena University political science professor Leonard Cutler and New York law professor Jeffrey Wice discussed what it will take to bridge that divide.
Obesity, M&A, Biotech Resurgence: A 2026 Guide to Health Stocks
The health-care corner of the US equity market has traditionally been viewed as defensive, thanks to steady growth and healthy dividend yields among the industry’s stalwarts. That narrative is changing.
How did Branson, Missouri, become America's capital for conservative entertainment?
A new book explores the cultural impact of Branson, Missouri, a tourist town that inspires devotion and disdain in equal measure. Long known for wholesome, family-friendly entertainment, the Midwestern destination has become a stage that showcases today’s cultural and political divides.
Trump signs order to block defense companies from buying back stock until arms production improves
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to block defense companies from paying dividends or buying back stock until they improve production.
[CES 2026] An Entertainment Companion for Every Moment Seen and Heard
The Entertainment Companion zone at The First Look 2026 marked a new chapter in Samsung’s visual display evolution — building on two decades as the world’s No. 1 TV brand. The space was divided into art, gaming and entertainment sections, anchored by the world’s first 130-inch Micro RGB TV and the Vision AI Companion. Samsung
The political divide over January 6 is only deepening five years after the deadly US Capitol attack
Five years after the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol, the fundamental facts of that day continue to fuel deep divisions that have created dueling political realities.
Florida students are learning how to bridge the political divide on controversial topics
To find common ground, University of Florida students investigate the point where topics get split: People's values — what's most important to them.
In China, a Debate About Political Power Ignites After Maduro’s Capture
The reactions online revealed a Chinese society divided: Some saw what happened in Venezuela as a playbook for seizing Taiwan, while others warned about ideological rigidity.
Mike Lawler, George Latimer clash on Nicolas Maduro arrest
Reps. Mike Lawler and George Latimer gave clashing views in a partisan divide over the Trump administration's capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.
US capture of Maduro divides Latin America, thrilling Trump's allies and threatening his foes
Through a combination of tariffs, sanctions and military force, he has pressured Latin American leaders to advance his administration's goals of combating drug trafficking, halting immigration, securing strategic natural resources and countering the influence of Russia and China.
What Trump’s Venezuela intervention means for US domestic politics
Trump’s Venezuela intervention has divided his ‘America first’ support base.
Scientists uncover a hidden switch that helps cancer cells thrive
A protein once thought to simply help cancer cells avoid death turns out to do much more. MCL1 actively drives cancer metabolism by controlling the powerful mTOR growth pathway, tying survival and energy use together. This insight explains why MCL1-targeting drugs can be effective—but also why they sometimes damage the heart. Researchers have now identified a way to reduce that risk, potentially unlocking safer cancer therapies.
Divided GOP returns to Washington this week for key vote on health care
Congress returns this week to a slew of bitter political fights and the threat of another government shutdown at the end of the month — all while facing high stakes as President Donald Trump and GOP leaders attempt to unify their fractured party in a midterm year.
Sports Business in 2026: Women Get Paid and Dodgers Hate
The Bloomberg sports crew has predictions on everything from private equity in college sports to why there will be more criticism of baseball’s payroll divide.
Sports Business in 2026: Women Get Paid and Dodgers Hate
The Bloomberg sports crew has predictions on everything from private equity in college sports to why there will be more criticism of baseball’s payroll divide.
A new Deux Ex isn't coming in 2026 as people in charge are "psychopaths", jokes series voice lead
Voice actor Elias Toufexis has assured fans a new Deus Ex game isn't coming in 2026, states the people in charge are "psychopaths".
Matt Szafranski of Western Mass. Politics & Insight on some of the Pioneer Valley's top political stories of 2025
All politics is local, and the Pioneer Valley is no exception. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief James Paleologopoulos spoke with Western Mass Politics and Insight editor-in-chief Matt Szafranski about some of this year’s top political stories. They include what could be a generational divide taking shape in Springfield and beyond, and political upheaval in Northampton, where a group devoted to securing public school funding took on the city government at the ballot box...
Trump, DOGE and deep divides: Biggest Michigan politics stories of 2025
It was a monumental political year in Michigan, with the return of a divided state government and the return of President Donald Trump. These are the stories that defined the year, from the Michigan Capitol to the White House.
Amid low flu vaccination rates, rising morbidity, health officials clash over inoculation policies
Only 17% of Israelis have been vaccinated; health fund CEOs are divided over sanctions versus accessibility.
The political divide in Washington could send ripples through the market in the new year
Stocks are riding high as 2025 wraps up, but friction in Washington could threaten performance in the new year.
Colorado Politics in focus: the year’s top in-depth cover stories and series
In 2025, Colorado Politics went beyond the daily headlines, delivering in-depth reporting on the major issues shaping the state — from congressional action to legislative proposals to the urban-rural divide and the future of Colorado’s economy. Here’s a look at some of the top cover stories and special projects from 2025: State of the State: […]
Small Town Politics: WALB investigates allegations of election fraud; several South Georgia counties being investigated by the state elections board
Across South Georgia, small town politics can divide communities, neighborhoods, and even families. That’s why we are launching a new segment...Dedicated to uncovering and unpacking stories about local corruption, confusion, and conflicts. Beginning in the city of Nicholls where the November election led to a recount.
How one politically divided family keeps the peace during the holidays
Talking about politics over the holidays can be difficult for many families, even for politicians themselves. One politically divided family in Colorado makes sure get along, especially during the holidays.
AMC Entertainment Stock Hits All-Time Low Despite Avatar Success, Billionaire Buy-In
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) stock hit a new all-time low Tuesday at $1.64, even as the company reported its strongest pre-Christmas weekend since 2021. Here’s what investors need to know. Don't Miss: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion – they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends 7 Million Gamers Already Trust Gameflip With Their Digital Assets — Now You Can Own a Stake in the Platform What To Know: The bearish price action s
What voters say they want for Christmas
Political opposites are closing 2025 as they did 2024: on each side of America’s Donald Trump divide. But CNN’s “All Over the Map” survey did provide several interesting takeaways. Some may be instructive about the midterm election climate, at least at this beginning stage.
Gridlock dotted with bipartisan breakthroughs in divided Legislature
The first divided Michigan Legislature in years stands out as historically unproductive. Despite some bipartisan action, gridlock looms over the year.
Indiana twins bridge political divide with kindness: ‘You have one family’
Indiana twins Nick and Nathan Roberts prioritize kindness and civility, and say ‘we never argue about politics’
SURF Project Bridges Data Divides in Health Care
Under the mentorship of Ph.D. student Venkatesh Sivaraman, Ziyong Ma spent the summer developing a tool designed to help clinicians query medical databases without needing programming expertise.
Jeff Dye on leaving Los Angeles, Newsom, and the politics driving comedy’s new divide
Comedian Jeff Dye sat down with Fox News Digital and explained why he’s leaving California for Texas and how politics have increasingly influenced the stand-up comedy world.
Kansas City spent decades healing a racial divide. Redistricting could reopen it
A recently enacted US House map would again make Troost Avenue a dividing line in the community, part of a plan to have Democratic-leaning Kansas City represented by three separate Republican lawmakers.
Meet the Identical Twins on Opposite Sides of the Political Divide
One is a Democratic city councillor, the other is an anti-immigration activist. Things got confusing when they appeared at the same public debate.
Troops will receive $1,776 checks before Christmas, Trump announces
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he would be issuing checks to members of the United States military for $1,776 – in honor of the country’s founding – calling the payment the “Warrior Dividend.”
Trump talks lower prices, health care costs, military bonuses in year-end address
Watch full coverage as President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House, highlighting his achievements and outlining future objectives. He announced a “warrior dividend,” stating that more than 1 million military service members will receive a bonus payment. NBC News' Tom Llamas and Peter Alexander provide analysis of Trump’s remarks.
Generational Divide & Antisemitism; City Politics; Artists & Affordability; Rob Reiner Tributes | The Brian Lehrer Show
A Generational Divide on Antisemitism; This Week in City Politics; The Affordability Crisis for Creative New Yorkers; Rob Reiner's Legacy and Your Tributes
'Fallout' is bleak but funny science fission : Pop Culture Happy Hour
Fallout is based on a hugely successful video game series known for blending a sardonic, very dark comedic sensibility, and violence. The series is set in the game's post-apocalyptic world – an America divided into factions wrestling for control of an irradiated wasteland. When the hopeful Lucy (Ella Purnell) steps out of the comfortable life she's known in an underground vault, the world she's confronted with is harsh, brutal, merciless – and kinda funny. Fallout just returned for a second season on Prime Video, so today we’re revisiting our conversation about the show.
Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland are a family divided in new 'The Odyssey' images (exclusive)
New exclusive images of Christopher Nolan's next movie, The Odyssey, show stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Himesh Patel, in adaptation of Homer's epic.
Speaker Johnson unveils health care plan as divided Republicans scramble for alternative
The Senate failed to get anywhere on health care this week. Now it’s the House’s turn. Speaker Mike Johnson late Friday released a package of proposal to address growing health care costs.
Speaker Johnson unveils health care plan as divided Republicans scramble for alternative
The legislation, unveiled Friday, is a last-minute sprint as Johnson's party refuses to extend the enhanced tax subsidies for those who buy policies through the Affordable Care Act.
Speaker Johnson scrambles to find a health care plan as Republicans remain divided
The Senate failed to get anywhere on health care this week.
Speaker Johnson scrambles to find a health care plan as Republicans remain divided
The Senate failed to get anywhere on health care this week. Now it’s the House’s turn. Speaker Mike Johnson is rushing to compile a package of bills to address growing health care costs.
With Republicans Divided, Indiana Senate Set to Vote on Redistricting
President Trump wants a new congressional map in Indiana that would boost Republicans, but he has struggled to win over some state lawmakers in his party.
Mamdani and top New York rabbis will meet privately, but their core divide remains unresolved
The Friday after Zohran Mamdani won, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch gave a sermon saying that he believed the incoming New York mayor’s criticisms of Israel aligned with Hamas and that critics of Israel wanted to separate “good Jews” from “bad Jews” in a way that endangers the city’s Jewish community.
A divided GOP forges ahead on health care message — without plan to address spiking premiums
Congressional Republicans are taking a major political gamble this week, laying out a GOP health care agenda that ignores the soon-to-expire enhanced subsidies that help tens of millions of Americans afford Obamacare — despite pleas from some in their own party.
A divided GOP forges ahead on health care message — without plan to address spiking premiums
Congressional Republicans are taking a major political gamble this week, laying out a GOP health care agenda that ignores the soon-to-expire enhanced subsidies that help tens of millions of Americans afford Obamacare — despite pleas from some in their own party.
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Warner Bros. Merger Fight Draws Fire Across US Political Divide
The battle for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. has already lit a fire in Hollywood, with unions decrying the potential job losses, theaters sounding an alarm about the future of film releases and actors worrying about free speech.
America’s Emotional Divide: Navigating the Powerful Decision-Making Forces Impacting Politics, Policies & Personal Choices Pt. 2
CEO Brent Buchanan, alongside VP Chris Kratzer, unpacks the insights behind his #1 Amazon bestseller in Elections America’s Emotional Divide: Navigating the Powerful Decision-Making Forces Impacting Politics, Policies & Personal Choices.
House GOP to bring vote on health care plan without ObamaCare subsidies
House GOP leaders will bring a vote next week on a package of health care bills that does not include an extension of expiring ObamaCare enhanced subsidies, as Republicans remain divided about how …