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NFL news, live updates ahead of Super Bowl 2026: NFC rallies to beat Shedeur Sanders and AFC in Pro Bowl; Mike Vrabel sticks up for Robert Kraft
NFL, NFLPA disagree about 18th regular-season game
The NFL wants an 18th game. The NFLPA says that the NFL hasn’t even reached out to discuss that possibility
Longevity doctor Peter Attia faces backlash over comments in Epstein files
Attia, a well-known author and influencer in the longevity space, issued an apology Monday.
NFL Mock Draft 2026: Eagles 7-round simulation, Version 3.0
How would you grade this projection?
6 NFL Teams Should Hunt for New Quarterbacks in 2026
In his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, Sam Darnold threw for over 4,000 passing yards and led them to the franchise’s first NFC Championship since 2014. Over in Foxborough, Drake Maye racked up 4,200 yards and 30 scores to lead New England to 13 wins in just his second season, leading many to believe […] The post 6 NFL Teams Should Hunt for New Quarterbacks in 2026 appeared first on The Lead.
NFL has a troubling championship diversity problem
Seahawks-Patriots will be the 10th rematch in the 60-year history of the Super Bowl
Judiciary Committee advances efforts to limit foreign influence by Cuba, China on Florida governments
Legislation would increase disclosure requires for those advocating for countries of concern and restricting the awarding of contracts.
Epstein files reveal close ties to Trump’s influential inner circle
The latest tranche of files reveal new details about the extent to which key members of President Donald Trump’s inner circle were interacting with Jeffrey Epstein for years after he was initially arrested and convicted.
NFL coaching carousel: College assistants drawing growing interest
The wave of coaches going from college to the NFL ranks has begun.
AI will supercharge sports team valuations, says Arctos Partners’ Charles
Arctos is the only private equity firm approved to own equity in teams across all five major North American professional leagues: the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS.
Perspectives on Politics: Gendered Perceptions of Legislative Influence -
Gendered Perceptions of Legislative Influence By Jaclyn Kaslovsky, Washington University, Tabitha Koch, Rice University, and Michael P. Olson, Washington University Women legislators face a variety of gendered barriers both outside and inside the legislature. Yet, [...]
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: High on Life 2, Madden NFL 26, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and More
Coming soon to Xbox Game Pass: High on Life 2, Madden NFL 26, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and more!
NFL Honors picks: CBS Sports experts predict annual awards winners
It appears to be a two-horse race for the top individual honor
Cleaner Politics Is as Important as Cleaner Fuels
A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.
Football, politics, and protest: This year’s Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration's immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl.
Football, politics and protest: This year's Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration’s immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl
Football, politics and protest: This year's Super Bowl comes at a tinderbox moment in the US
The NFL faces pressure to take a stance against the Trump administration's immigration policies ahead of the Super Bowl
Atrium Health reports influx of virus patients, urges vaccines and handwashing
Atrium Health warns people of spreading viruses in Georgia. Atrium Health has recently seen an influx of patients with several different viruses.
5 Takeaways from Roger Goodell's Super Bowl Press Conference
Roger Goodell broke news about the NFL's international schedule, where things stand on an 18-game regular season and what he thought about Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame snub.
WHO launches 2026 appeal to help millions of people in health emergencies and crisis settings
The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched its 2026 global appeal to ensure millions of people living in humanitarian crises and conflicts can access health care.
Chiefs Drive Momentum for Girls Flag Football During Week of National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Wichita Sports Commission Panel, Super Bowl Week Participation, and Upcoming Kansas Sanctioning Vote Highlight Pivotal Support for the Sport
Cheifs Drive Momentum for Girls Flag Football During Week of National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Wichita Sports Commission Panel, Super Bowl Week Participation, and Upcoming Kansas Sanctioning Vote Highlight Pivotal Support for the Sport
Broncos promote Davis Webb to offensive coordinator
According to multiple reports, including NFL Network’s insider Tom Pelissero, the Denver Broncos are promoting Davis Webb to offensive coordinator. They’re also reporting that the Broncos are promoting Logan Kilgore to Webb’s previous role as quarterbacks coach. We will have more on this developing story soon…
2026 potential NFL free agents: Ranking the top 50 players who could hit the market
An early look at the 2026 projected free agency field before franchise tag and extension decisions are made
Bad Bunny and Super Bowl LX: How sports culture influences his musical playbook
Bad Bunny reveals his passion for sports in his lyrics, in which he mentions legends from MLB, the NBA, NFL and soccer.
NFL announces 2026 game in Paris, with Saints featured
Part of the NFL's eight-game international slate in 2026 will include a New Orleans Saints game played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
Jaguars land 'electric' defender in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars added an 'electric' defender in the second round of a recent 2026 NFL mock draft.
Minorities in Sports Business Network hosts A Toast to Black Sports luncheon at Super Bowl LX
SAN FRANCISCO – Former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes, NFLPA executive Carl Francis, and longtime corporate strategist Debra Langford will be honored for their community engagement at the fourth annual A Toast to Black Sports luncheon, a private gathering of Black sports leaders during the week before Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Sponsored by the […]
2026 NFL mock draft: Broncos add RB to backfield
Draft Wire's latest 2026 NFL mock draft has the Broncos adding PSU RB Nick Singleton in the third round.
CalMatters’ “visionary” co-founder, Dave Lesher, retires
Co-founder Dave Lesher turned CalMatters into one of California’s most influential newsrooms — and launched new tools to make your government transparent
An incredible sports week arrives with Olympics, Super Bowl. Plus: NFL coaching carousel wraps up
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! It’s the start of a brilliant sports week. Coming up: 🏅 Olympic stars to know 🏈 Super Bowl week, baby ✍️ Coaching carousel problem We often talk about the unmatched glory of a great sports weekend, whether that’s the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, MLB’s Opening Day blitz, Thanksgiving weekend in the football world, whatever. We have arrived at one of those junctures — and it’s a full week. Let’s start...
Ranking the 10 NFL head coach hires including the Steelers
10 NFL teams hired a new head coach after the 2025 season including the Steelers and we rank the hires.
NFL mock draft 2026: AI predicts the entire first round
USA TODAY Sports had Microsoft Copilot AI predict the entire first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The experiment yielded a surprise omission.
NFL quiz: Name every Super Bowl MVP winner since 2000
With each Super Bowl winning team there's also a Super Bowl MVP. Can you name them all since 2000?
Arizona Cardinals to hire Mike LaFleur as next head coach
If Mike and Matt LaFleur ever get to face off, they’ll be the second brother pairing to do so in NFL history.
Do scientists follow the data
Personal feelings about immigration subtly influenced how 71 teams of academics analysed the same figures in a study
Scientists’ political views change how they interpret identical data
Personal feelings about immigration subtly influenced how 71 teams of academics analysed the same figures in a study
Lord Wallace of Tankerness obituary
Influential Liberal and Lib Dem politician who served as Scotland’s deputy first minister from the outset of devolution
Browns coach Todd Monken explains why he left Georgia
Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken explains why he left Georgia football to return to the NFL
NFL salary cap expected to significantly jump for 2026 season
The increase is especially good news for NFL teams like the Buffalo Bills, where cap overages will be a key factor in 2026.
Former Bills safety Jim Leonhard coming to Buffalo as DC
Leonhard hasn’t overseen an NFL defense but is considered a rising defensive mind with ample college coaching success.
Why Disney is more expensive than ever
Disney park prices have risen faster than inflation, driven in part by the growing importance of parks to Disney's business.
Politics are everywhere. Is the Super Bowl different?
As the Seahawks prepare for the Super Bowl, the NFL stands as the preeminent cultural force in an America that seems to be tearing itself apart at the seams.
Todd Monken Continues Ravens Pipeline With Ian Kolste Hire
Former Ravens offensive analyst Ian Kolste is joining Todd Monken’s Browns staff, continuing Cleveland’s Ravens-influenced approach.
60 mind-blowing stats from 2025 NFL season: From Phillip Rivers to Cam Little and more
Get ready to take some Tylenol because your head is about to explode from all of these insane stats
Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL draft profile: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Is the Alabama quarterback the second best option in this year's class?
Local Business Spotlight: Borderland Lodge
When guests arrive at Borderland Lodge, owners Dave and Stephanie Shea say they want visitors to experience what many find along the Gunflint Trail, a “sense of magic and wonder.” For the past five years, they have been doing just that. When guests call to book a room or cabin, Dave, Stephanie, and their staff...
Scott Galloway urges Big Tech boycott to influence Trump ICE policies
Small businesses struggled to observe the national shutdown to protest ICE. Here's why a boycott of companies like OpenAI and Amazon could be easier and more effective.
2026 NFL mock draft: Expert projections for top picks ahead of Super Bowl 60
The 2026 NFL Draft order will be set in stone after Super Bowl 60. Here's how experts are projecting the first 32 picks ahead of the Super Bowl.
LaRussell joins Super Bowl 60 entertainment lineup with game-day performance
Rapper LaRussell will perform during Super Bowl 60 festivities, taking part in the NFL Tailgate and later serving as the game's in-house band.
US exit from the World Health Organization marks a new era in global health policy – here’s what the US, and world, will lose
The US will no longer participate in the WHO’s global influenza monitoring system – a shift experts say will lead to more flu hospitalizations and deaths.
It’s not too late to vaccinate, Grand Forks Public Health officials say
Vaccinations for influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory illness can prevent disease, reduce symptoms and reduce risk of virus transmission, says GFPH's Ashley Krone.
Rybakina beats Sabalenka for first Australian Open title
Elena Rybakina inflicts further Grand Slam final heartbreak on Aryna Sabalenka with a stunning third-set fightback to win the Australian Open.
Electric fields flip the rules of water chemistry
nside electrochemical devices, strong electric fields dramatically alter how water molecules behave. New research shows that these fields speed up water dissociation not by lowering energy costs, but by increasing molecular disorder once ions form. The reaction becomes entropy-driven—exactly the opposite of what happens in ordinary water. The findings also reveal that intense fields can push water from neutral to highly acidic, with major implications for hydrogen production.
Bengals take top defensive tackle in latest NFL Mock Draft
This could be a really good first round pick for the Bengals.
San Francisco businesses prepare for influx of customers in Super Bowl week
The excitement is building across the Bay Area as Super Bowl week gets ready to kickoff in a matter of days.
Atlanta's 500 Most Powerful Leaders in 2026: Arts, Sports, & Entertainment
These are Atlanta's 500 most powerful leaders. We spent months consulting experts and sorting through nominations to get a list of the city's most influential people—from artists to chefs to philanthropists to sports coaches and corporate CEOs. In this section, we focus on arts, film, music, entertainment, and sports.
Former Steelers Wide Receiver Eyeing NFL Comeback In 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had their hands full so far this offseason when it comes to sorting through their coaching mayhem. After Mike Tomlin’s stunning resignation, the team moved quickly to hire former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy as his replacement. Since then, McCarthy has begun building out his coaching […]
Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez Praises ‘Amazing’ Seahawks Star Before Super Bowl
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez will have his hands full during a marquee matchup that could sway Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. New England’s red-hot defense must find ways to slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Levi’s Stadium. The 23-year-old has blossomed into arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver during his third season, […]
Night owl or early bird: Chronotype can influence your health and muscle strength
Being more active in the morning or afternoon is not just a matter of personal preference. Chronotype, which is each person's biological tendency to function better at certain times of the day, can play ...
Falcons hire Ian Cunningham; NBA, MLB Power Rankings; Top 25 NFL stories of 2025
Plus Buffalo's Josh Allen has his recovery timeline after undergoing foot surgery
Why some Greater Cincinnati businesses are taking part in national ‘ICE out’ strike
Multiple small businesses in Greater Cincinnati are participating in a national strike in response to the ongoing conflict involving Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operations.
Sports quiz of the week: Australian Open, Winter Olympics and Six Nations
Have you been following the big stories in football, rugby, cycling, tennis, cricket, NFL and winter sports?
CT’s largest business group lays out top priorities. They sound familiar
Speakers said Connecticut is at a crossroads with a mixed economic picture, uncertainty due to federal policy changes, inflation and cost of living.
Sports Take: Super Bowl shows why NFL teams shouldn’t give up on QBs so quickly
The NFL is witnessing a growing trend of teams dumping young quarterbacks after only a few seasons. Stories of some of these quarterbacks reviving their careers prove that teams should invest in these players to develop into pro-level passers. The trend also serves as a warning for up-and-coming college quarterbacks.
Former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator heads back to the NFL
Former Hokies’ defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes is heading to Green Bay.
Sean Mannion hired to be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator
The Eagles have opted for the 33-year-old former NFL quarterback to be the new OC in Philly.
NFL fans react to Eagles' official Sean Mannion announcement
The Philadelphia Eagles have hired Sean Mannion.
U.S. Department of State and National Football League Sports Diplomacy Partnership - United States Department of State
Today, the U.S. Department of State and the National Football League (NFL) announced a partnership to support and enhance the Department’s sports diplomacy initiatives and to collaborate on major sporting events, including international NFL games, the Super Bowl, and the debut of flag football at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles (LA28). As American […]
Browns Myles Garrett takes home yet another award
Garrett is the first player in NFL history to be The Sporting News’ DPOY for 3 consecutive years.
Best of gameday entertainment from 2025
Take a look back at the best shots of gameday entertainment from the 2025 season at Allegiant Stadium.
Jason Kelce lauds Patriots' underappreciated defense before Super Bowl
As Eagles great Jason Kelce sees it, the Patriots' defense deserves more credit for their work in the 2025 NFL playoffs.
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has announced a new partnership with SEAT, the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology, to empower technology, marketing, and operations executives across the global sports and entertainment industry. The collaboration will bring Info-Tech's expertise to SEAT's influential community of North American entertainment venues, sports teams, and league leaders who are driving innovation in fan engagement, digital experience,
Where Eagles' pending free agents rank on NFL-wide lists
The Eagles have some big-name free agents this year. Here’s a look at where they rank among the entire NFL.
Commentary: Farewell to Peter Duesberg, a godfather of scientific disinformation
Peter Duesberg squandered his scientific reputation by advancing a debunked theory about AIDS, but his influence on anti-vaccine activists lives on.
Lions may have Georgia Tech QB on NFL draft radar
The Detroit Lions reportedly talked with Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King at the Shrine Bowl.
How widespread sports betting affects NFL players: ‘People have said they’d kill me’
We asked NFL players about their interactions with sports bettors and fantasy players — and whether they participate themselves.
'EGREGIOUS!' Sports World Reacts To Bill Belichick’s First-Ballot Hall of Fame Snub
The sports world reacts to the news that NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Giannis Reaction, NFL Coaching Carousel, and State of the Agent Business
The guys dive straight into the latest news around Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as the NFL coaching carousel. Speaking of coaches, today’s edition of Five-Minute Max has to do with yesterday’s Bill Belichick news. Plus, after what transpired at Clemson, Rich wants to talk about the state of the agent business, including why ‘Jerry Maguire’ actually hurt that business!
These two viruses may become the next public health threats, scientists say
Two emerging pathogens with animal origins—influenza D virus and canine coronavirus—have so far been quietly flying under the radar, but researchers warn conditions are ripe for the viruses to spread ...
Fed holds interest rates steady, pausing rate cuts amid economic uncertainty
Federal Reserve policymakers left interest rates unchanged at its January meeting after cutting rates at its three prior meetings amid uncertainty over the labor market and inflation.
12th NCAA Division I school to add varsity women’s flag football team
Charleston Southern is at least the 12th Division I program in the NCAA to add women's flag football, which is growing with the NFL's help.
Fact check: Trump says Democrats don’t talk about affordability anymore (they do) because inflation is over (it isn’t)
President Donald Trump tried Tuesday to concoct an alternative reality on the subject of “affordability” – piling lie on top of lie to try to convince Americans that the issue has vanished.
How your health is being commodified by social media
From heath tech developers to influencers, our health is being monetised – and we need to be aware of what's going on, says Deborah Cohen
NFL Hall of Fame snubs Bill Belichick and sports world is gagged: 'I can't be reading this right'
Sports figures from Patrick Mahomes to LeBron James expressed shock and outrage after news broke that Bill Belichick failed to gain Hall of Fame election on his first ballot.
New Doc by Former Colleagues Explores Asian Americans' Growing Political Leadership
Two Asian American professors with ties to York College have collaborated on a timely and engaging new documentary examining the growing political influence of Asian Americans.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retiring as retailer gains more wealthy shoppers amid inflation
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon retires after 40 years, leaving behind a transformed retail giant that attracts higher-income shoppers through convenience.
Darden Restaurants: Wonderful Business At A Below Average Price
Darden Restaurants (DRI) shows resilient sales amid inflation, trades below its 10-year P/E, and targets 9% sales growth. Read the latest analysis on the stock here.
2026 NFL mock draft: Senior Bowl week begins as Round 1 picture comes into focus
Here are our latest first-round projections with the draft order nearly set ahead of Super Bowl LX.
18 free agents with connections to Lions coach Mike Kafka
Taking a look at the 2026 NFL free agents who have connections to Detroit Lions coach Mike Kafka.
Vikings, other NFL teams not surprised Commanders hired Daronte Jones
Other NFL executives raved about new Commanders DC Daronte Jones.
Who will win next year's Super Bowl? 2026 NFL power rankings using Super Bowl 2027 odds
The 2026 Super Bowl is just over one week away, but who are the early favorites to win a title next season? Here are the latest odds.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Commentary: They said Katie Porter was dead politically. I checked her pulse
A one-two punch of unflattering videos caused many to write off Porter's gubernatorial candidacy. But the former O.C. congresswoman remains a top contender.
Scientists say these two viruses may become the next public health threats
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two emerging pathogens with animal origins — influenza D virus and canine coronavirus — have so far been quietly flying under the radar,…
Ashley Capps named one of SPIN's 2026 most influential people in music
Ashley Capps, who created Big Ears and co-founded Bonnaroo, has enriched countless people by bringing them music from the world's best artists.
NFL: Fewest points scored to reach the Super Bowl
We usually measure championship runs by highlight reels and scoreboard-breaking offense, but sometimes the path to Sunday is paved with something grittier. There is a special kind of beauty in the teams that survived the winter gauntlet not by outscoring…