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NWA EDITORIAL | Region’s business behemoths, families keep investing in Northwest Arkansas
They could be called fly-on-the-wall meetings. After all, we'd imagine when billionaire individuals and billionaire companies get together to chat about taking a big step, it's bound to be interesting.
Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, a move some lawmakers called illegal
Bills wideout Joshua Palmer making the most of his opportunities
Palmer has all of two catches for the Bills this season. Both went for touchdowns.
How To Catch a Predator Turned Crime Stings Into Prime-Time Entertainment - FINCHANNELTo Catch a Predator: How Chris Hansen’s NBC Show Changed Reality TV
To Catch a Predator became a ratings hit by confronting suspected child-sex offenders on camera. Its methods, police cooperation and the death of Bill Conradt sparked a lasting debate over journalism and entertainment.
Blumenthal forum on ICE shootings, AI risks: CT politics news
Plus: Senate Republicans on Zulma Toro’s resignation, and Congress’ final acts before the midterms on a bill CT senators oppose.
Bill introduced to support newborn health screenings
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Congressman Nick Langworthy was joined by Hall of Fame Bills quarterback Jim Kelly on Thursday to announce the introduction of a bipartisan bill that would dedicate fed…
2026 Small Business of the Year at the Billings Chamber annual celebration
Tiffany Miller-O'Brien of Frae Collective was named Small Business of the Year at Billings Chamber of Commerce' 2026 annual business celebration.
Talking health and welfare in Arkansas District 2
Second District Democratic candidate Chris Jones dissects the One Big Beautiful Bill and its impact on the poor.
Senate passes mental health in aviation bill named for UND student who died by suicide
The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act now heads to the House
Record-breaking singer Ella Langley shuts down influencer who shouted at her in public asking for date
Langley currently reigns at No. 1 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 with “Choosin’ Texas,” which shattered Mariah Carey’s record for most weeks atop the chart.
Billings Chamber of Commerce 2026 Business Celebration
Billings Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee Chair Toby O'Rourke of KOA starts the celebration.
Senate approves legislation targeted at pilot, air traffic control mental health guidance
The Senate passed two bills Thursday aimed at removing barriers for pilots and air traffic controllers seeking mental health treatment, as well as reduce stigma surrounding the conditions. Sponsore…
DJ Moore questionable ahead of Week 3
The Bills top receiver is listed as questionable for Week 3.
Game on for Science Stadium at Buffalo Museum of Science
The Buffalo Museum of Science has opened its $3 million Science Stadium interactive exhibit. Developed in partnership with the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, and Buffalo Bandits, the permanent exhibit brings
Wisconsin senator introduces bill to ban ICE, CPB agents from polling locations
Sen. Tammy Baldwin said the legislation sends a message to the president that lawmakers are watching, even if there’s no chance the bill passes before Election Day.
Bill Gates warns AI could lead to 'a billion deaths'
The cofounder of Microsoft made grave predictions about AI and voiced support for government regulation of the sector.
Nathan Fielder Just Helped A Pilots’ Mental Health Bill Become Law
Fielder's campaign has now been successful after the Senate just passed the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act.
‘Data senator’ ad prompts Frank Farry to send a cease-and-desist letter to his Democratic challenger in Bucks County
An attorney representing state Sen. Frank Farry (R., Bucks) called on Democrat Eileen Hartnett Albillar's campaign to retract the "data senator" advertisement.
NBAA Applauds Approval of Bills to Support Mental Health, Clarify Aerospace Medicine Guidelines and More
NBAA welcomed Senate passage of the Mental Health in Aviation Act and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act, which will increase transparency around medication guidelines, expand access to mental health resources and reduce the stigma surrounding such needs, therefore safeguarding the careers of pilots, controllers and other aviation professionals.
HBO’s Billionaire Divorce Drama War Doesn’t Know What It’s Trying to Say
The glossy series has all the elements of prestige TV but no perspective on the world it's depicting
NFL gameday: Brock Purdy 'in prime' for San Francisco 49ers, Patrick Mahomes chases Tom Brady record and Dexter Lawrence leads Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl charge
Watch the Los Angeles Chargers against the Buffalo Bills exclusively live on Sky Sports from 5.30pm on Sunday, before the Dallas Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens in the first NFL game to be played at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 9.25pm
McDonald’s may get into the advertising business
The fast-food giant is testing a commerce media network, saying it could be a $1 billion business.
$3 billion benefits broker club: decade of dominance revealed
DOL Form 5500 data reveals a three-way race - and a lead that changed hands three times
Pioneer of China NewCo model sued in US over trade secret misuse, double-dealing
A legal feud unfolding in New York is putting a spotlight on the work of a business development veteran who is credited for pioneering one of biopharma’s hottest dealmaking mechanism: the China “NewCo” model. In a lawsuit originally filed in New York state court and recently moved to federal court, China’s Lepu Medical Technology has alleged that biopharma business development consultant Su Zhang, who was hired to help shop its GLP-1 weight-loss candidates to Western partners, engaged in corporate double-dealing and trade secret leaks. According to the complaint, while acting as Lepu’s primary dealmaking liaison for a group of obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, Zhang was secretly double-dipping as the acting chief business officer for a direct competitor, BrightGene Pharmaceutical. “She never adequately disclosed the role, never sought Lepu’s consent, and never proposed any safeguard,” Lepu alleged in its complaint, which was filed in July after Zhang’s consulting firm, CoDevCo, sought certain transaction-based success fees from its angry customer through an arbitration process in Singapore. Lepu, the parent company of Lepu Biopharma, has asked Zhang to pay back its $500,000 retainer and disgorge all benefits she received during the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, plus other damages and relief. The company has also requested the court grant injunctions to protect Lepu’s trade secrets. The ill-fated partnership officially kicked off in December 2024, when Lepu tapped CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism” to identify collaborators for the company’s drug candidates. According to Lepu’s complaint, Zhang personally negotiated and signed the agreement as managing director for CoDevCo, which used her home address. Before the Lepu deal, Zhang made a name following a short stint as the global head of business development for Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. It was during her tenure that Hengrui signed a landmark deal granting exclusive rights for a portfolio of GLP-1 assets to Hercules, which was at that time newly established by a group of private equity and venture capital firms. In addition to the regular upfront and milestone payments, Hengrui also gained an equity stake in Hercules, which later became Kailera Therapeutics. The Hengrui-Hercules deal opened a new paradigm, where a Chinese biopharma company spins off certain early-stage assets to investors for further development through the creation of a new company abroad. The “NewCo” model quickly came into vogue as it allows Western investors to access high-potential assets originating from China at an early stage while giving the Chinese licensors an opportunity to reap long-term benefits through equity stakes in the new firms. The NewCo model proved its value when Kailera staged a record-breaking $625 million IPO on Nasdaq this April, merely two years into the Hengrui deal. Related Kailera CEO 'knew we were in a good spot' before obesity biotech's record-breaking $625M IPO On her LinkedIn page, Zhang described her work at Hengrui as “[b]uilding team and capability from the ground up,” forming NewCo and major pharma partnerships worth billions of dollars. Lepu clearly wanted that kind of track record to help boost its own cardiometabolic portfolio, which includes a range of assets for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and muscle preservation during weight loss treatment. “Lepu’s pipeline is very valuable, but only if Lepu could secure the right international partner to expand into the overseas market during the available commercial window,” the company argued in its complaint. The Chinese biotech said it had little knowledge of U.S. laws, customs or business practices in the business development field, and therefore “needed to rely entirely” on the expertise of Zhang and her team as the firm’s first engagement of a U.S.-based BD consultant. “Zhang’s dominating influence on the business development strategy is further evidenced by the fact that she personally controlled the business-development communications on behalf of Lepu with potential partners,” Lepu said in its complaint. After entering the deal, Zhang introduced Lepu to her four associates. According to Lepu’s version of events, all of them were allegedly employed at different time points to perform similar jobs at other Chinese companies that Lepu described as its competitors, while having access to Lepu’s confidential information. As such, Lepu described Zhang’s team as “a roster of individuals whose primary professional loyalty, by virtue of their concurrent full-time employment, ran to Lepu’s competitors.” As well as the specific examples set out in the case, a look at Lepu’s deals over the period suggests Zhang may have been involved in at least one transaction. During their partnership, Lepu, through its subsidiary Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology, also out-licensed its GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 agonist MWN105 to a NewCo called Sidera Bio in the fall of 2025. The deal included an upfront and near-term payment of $35 million, up to $1.01 billion in milestones, and a 9.99% stake in the Danish startup. It seems likely that Zhang facilitated the Minwei deal given that Lepu is on record as having used CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism.” The big shock for Lepu came in the form of a news article on June 25, 2025. The article, reporting on phase 2 data for BrightGene’s GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist BGM0504, identified Zhang as acting chief business officer of the Lepu rival. Blindsided by her association with BrightGene, Lepu confronted Zhang in July 2025. “Lepu was given assurances that there was nothing to be concerned about and told that Zhang would explain the matter to Lepu,” Lepu alleged in its complaint. “Zhang never did.” Lepu claimed that Zhang had the motive and opportunity to steer potential prospective partners toward BrightGene or other competitors. Later, in February 2026, one of Zhang’s associates joined BrightGene as the vice president for global business development, according to the complaint. Around the same time, Lepu sent written demand letters asking Zhang to account for her BrightGene role, identify what confidential data were shared with the rival firm, and provide any conflict-of-interest or firewall policies during the engagement. According to Lepu, neither CoDevCo nor Zhang answered the questions in their responses. Related Novo vs. KBP: How a $1.3B deal turned into a fraud accusation and an international legal fight In a motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 4, Zhang’s legal team argued that Lepu’s agreement was signed with CoDevCo, and that an employee of the contractor does not owe fiduciary duties to the client. In its complaint, Lepu said: “That CoDevCo was the contracting entity does not insulate Zhang from personal liability for duties she personally undertook and personally breached.” Taking the argument one step further, the defending party argued that the consulting agreement “does not create a fiduciary relationship even between CoDevCo and Lepu; instead, it identifies CoDevCo as an independent contractor retained to market Lepu’s business to potential western partners.” Although CoDevCo was Lepu’s exclusive business-development contractor, there were no terms stipulating that the consulting firm should serve only Lepu, Zhang’s lawyer noted. As to Lepu’s claims that Zhang misappropriated trade secrets, the defendant argued that Lepu authorized the use of the information so Zhang’s team could perform their service per the agreement. In a rebuttal filed on Sept. 11, Lepu’s lawyer set out why they believe the Chinese biotech satisfied New York law’s misappropriation definition by alleging that the defendant used a trade secret “in breach of a duty or through improper means.” As an alternative to dismissing the suit, the defendant suggested the action should be stayed pending outcomes from the arbitration of a separate case in Singapore. While NewCo pioneer Zhang is defending her business arrangements, momentum behind the NewCo trend has continued unabated into 2026. Through August, Chinese biotech assets have spurred 15 NewCo deals this year, according to local trade publication PharmaDJ.
Why the U.S. Chamber Shows Up at UNGA: Connecting American Business to the World
Motorcades, boardrooms, and billion-dollar conversations: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Chief International Affairs Officer reflects on what the UN General Assembly really means for American business and global growth.
Brady unsatisfied with Bills' 2-0 start as Buffalo prepares to host Chargers
The Bills have hardly been perfect and their new-look defense has issues to sort after allowing 31 points and 24-plus first downs in each of its first two outings.
Whole Hog Politics: Trump plays the hits, but struggling GOP seeks new material
[Watch Whole Hog Politics Live: Hill Insider members can join us live today at 9 am ET as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon go deep on this week’s political news. Members can join the discussion…
Bill Nye the Science Guy to speak at CU Boulder on Nov. 4
Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 6 and cost $5 for CU students, $10 for CU faculty and staff and $30 for the general public.
Bill Nye the Science Guy to speak at CU Boulder on Nov. 4
Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 6 and cost $5 for CU students, $10 for CU faculty and staff and $30 for the general public.
US politics live: Trump to wrap up Xi summit with a tour of US archives
Xi is expected to depart Washington after touring the nation’s vault of records, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are held
Bill to allow politicians to spend campaign cash on security spurs warnings of misuse
The Assembly gave overwhelming approval to a bill that would allow political candidates to use campaign funds to pay for security measures.
Rick Kriseman endorsement completes Charlie Crist’s sweep of St. Pete’s living former Mayors
Kriseman joins Rick Baker, Bill Foster and Bob Ulrich in backing Crist’s bid to return to elected office.
Xi’s Visit and the China-Egypt Strategic Partnership
China’s annual trade volume with Egypt, which stood at approximately $0.9 billion in 2000, reached approximately $20.8 billion by 2025.
US lawmakers pitch tax credit bill for entertainment industry
The law seeks to reshore production work for movies and TV to the US
Future of Marketing Briefing: Imagining the ad business hiding inside Meta’s Muse
Meta built its $243 billion ads business on human attention. Agents could be next in line.
Starbucks workers say health insurance premiums have soared, pushing some to drop coverage
"During the summer, the electric bill goes up from the AC."
Imprisoned tech fraudster Elizabeth Holmes to be moved to halfway house
Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced onetime youngest self-made billionaire whose health care startup Theranos turned out to be a fraud, will be moved from her current minimum-security prison to a halfway
Reality Check: “Fifteen” attack ad on Ford raising taxes
The Better Nevada PAC’s assertion that Ford supported 15 tax hikes totaling over $3 billion is largely inaccurate. Several alleged tax increases were actually extensions of previous legislation or involved
Akamai Stock Surges On Anthropic AI Computing Agreement
It's an $11 billion agreement for computing infrastructure.
Bills' Josh Allen, Joe Brady reveal biggest challenges Chargers pose
Bills duo Josh Allen and Joe Brady explain what makes the Chargers a tough matchup ahead of Week 3.
Lawmakers introduce bill to create federal film tax credit
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are proposing a 20% federal film tax credit
Lawmakers introduce bill to create federal film tax credit
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are proposing a 20% federal film tax credit
Lawmakers introduce bill to create federal film tax credit
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are proposing a 20% federal film tax credit
Senate bill on college athletics won’t ‘save’ NCAA sports, Sam Acho says
ESPN analyst Sam Acho discusses his perspective on the Senate bill aimed at restructuring college sports.
‘It’s been transformational’ | Ribbon cut for Science Stadium, celebrating partnership between Bills, Sabres, Bandits and Buffalo Museum of Science
Science Stadium, the new Buffalo Museum of Science (BMS) exhibit created in partnership with the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, and Buffalo Bandits, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday – in a very Buffalonian way.
Governor Stein Announces $5 Million to Strengthen Small Businesses in Western North Carolina
(RALEIGH) Today in Lansing, Governor Stein announced $5 million in new infrastructure grants to support small business recovery in western North Carolina through the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program. Two years since Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, Governor Stein continues to advocate for a $10 billion appropriation from Congress to support the next phase …
Buffalo Museum of Science opens $3M Science Stadium exhibit with Bills, Sabres and Bandits
The Buffalo Museum of Science is opening a new $3 million exhibit that combines STEM education with the world of professional sports. The exhibit is in partnership with the Bills, Sabres and Bandits.
Maryland forecasts $28 billion in revenue amid budget pressures
BALTIMORE — Maryland is projected to collect more revenue in fiscal year 2028, but the increase won’t be enough to close the state’s projected $3.1 billion budget shortfall, according to
Bill seeks to restrict development of artificial superintelligence
The bill would ban artificial superintelligence, which it defines as AI models with cognitive capabilities that surpass those of humans and have the ability to destroy humanity.
Medicare Beneficiaries with Multiple and Complex Health Needs Face Challenges
New KFF polling focuses on the health care access and affordability challenges among adults with multiple or complex health conditions, including older Medicare beneficiaries. The results suggest important opportunities for policymakers to strengthen Medicare access and affordability. Medicare Beneficiaries Often Have High Health Needs Many Medicare enrollees have multiple or serious health conditions. More than […]
Governor announces another $54.6 million in rural health grants
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced an additional $54.6 million in federal funding to bolster rural healthcare on Thursday, the latest allocation from the state's share of a $50 billion fund established by Congress last year.
Discovery Channel’s ‘Moonshiners’ stars, local business excited for Freedom to Home Distill Act
NEWPORT AND ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)- Earlier this month, Tennessee’s First District Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) introduced a bill to end a more than 150-year ban on home distill…
‘It’s been transformational’ | Buffalo Museum of Science cuts ribbon on Science Stadium
New exhibit, a collaboration with Sabres, Bills, Bandits, celebrates Buffalo sports and explores career options in the field.
Amid rising political violence, N.J. passes bill that would allow campaigns to use funds for security
The bill, which would campaign dollars to pay for politicians' alarm systems and other security measures, now heads to Gov. Mikie Sherrill's desk.
House Science Leaders Introduce a $10 Billion Fusion Bill
The bipartisan proposal from the House Science Committee comes with the backing of the Fusion Industry Association.
This Book Made Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Nye joins Books That Changed My Life to discuss the Newbery Medal-winning novel that set his life’s course: "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch."
Bills TE Kincaid is once again pulling his weight in production
The fourth-year player is leading the Bills (2-0) with 12 catches and is third in the NFL with 225 yards receiving.
Buses mean business
Heavy-duty transit buses are a critical component of America's public transportation system, carrying approximately 3.8 billion passenger trips annually and representing nearly half of all public transit trips in the United States.
Attorney General Marshall Urges Congress to Add Women's Sports Protections to College Sports Bill
For Immediate Release:September 24, 2026
US government foots bill for television advertisement featuring Trump's midterm messaging
An ad running on Fox News and Newsmax showing images of President Donald Trump and calling for the defeat of communism was paid for by the U.S. government. The 30-second
A decade after debacle, Billy Bush joins Fox News. What took so long?
Billy Bush joins other right-leaning personalities who've rebuilt their careers at Fox following scandals elsewhere.
Parking meter sale heads to full City Council after aldermen wring $75M from deal
A $2.53 billion transfer of Chicago’s parking meter system is poised for a final City Council vote after aldermen secured an upfront payout and a share of future profits.
Caesars stockholders approve $6 billion merger with Fertitta
Caesars Entertainment shareholders have approved a multibillion-dollar merger with Fertitta Gaming
Generic, Biosimilar Medicines Saved US Health Care $496B in 2025
The Association for Accessible Medicines report, prepared with the IQVIA Institute, also reports $25.4 billion in biosimilar savings for the year.
Bills defensive lineman T.J. Sanders out indefinitely after having appendectomy
Brady didn’t provide a timetable for Sanders’ return in announcing the player had surgery a day earlier.
Wild GM Bill Guerin’s contract reportedly has been extended
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin reportedly has signed a contract extension, another sign of the organization’s all-in pursuit of a Stanley Cup title.
Energy Department will spend nearly $2 billion to squeeze more electricity from the nation's aging power grid
The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states that are expected to produce more than 23 gigawatts of additional electricity capacity — enough to power 16 million homes.
US government foots bill for television advertisement featuring Trump's midterm messaging
At first glance, it looks like a typical Republican campaign advertisement. As images of President Donald Trump flash across the screen, the 30-second spot says “America will never be a communist cou...
SBA Loan Defaults Surged at 2 Nonbank Lenders. $1.3 Billion Entered Liquidation
The Small Business Administration stopped non-bank lender exams just one week before lifting a nearly 40-year moratorium on admitting more of them into the program.
Businesses shocked in Kiryat Shmona: State demands $68 million return
Blow to northern businesses: Out of nearly $1.7 billion transferred to the city, the Tax Authority is demanding hundreds of millions back.
NHL’s Texas expansion may be on ice
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the league is in no rush to decide between Houston and Austin for a potential expansion team following an agreement with Texas billionaire Dan Friedkin.
Energy Department will spend $2 billion for more electricity from power grid
The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states
Energy Department will spend $2 billion for more electricity from power grid
The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states
A reclusive GOP billionaire pulls back his money from Senate Republicans
The donor gave nearly $200 million to support President Donald Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 election. Only Elon Musk donated more.
Fossil-fuel firms in line for billions in benefits after answering Trump’s donation call
Senators’ report says taxpayers face higher bills after ‘bargain’ between president and major polluters
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
Capitol agenda: Democrats fracture over college sports - Live Updates
Despite bipartisan backing of a college athletics bill, Black Democratic lawmakers are warning their own party that supporting the measure risks exploiting Black athletes.
FC Dallas planning to billion-dollar entertainment district around Toyota Stadium
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Bills news: How Joe Brady is helping maximize Josh Allen
By calling more passing plays on early downs, Joe Brady is unleashing Josh Allen’s full potential for a potent offense.
$75 million deal clears path for parking meter transfer vote today
Chicago aldermen are set to vote on the $2.53 billion parking meter transfer after securing a $75 million payment and a share of future revenue.
$75 million deal clears path for parking meter transfer vote today
Chicago aldermen are set to vote on the $2.53 billion parking meter transfer after securing a $75 million payment and a share of future revenue.
Bills vs. Chargers: Wednesday injury reports for both teams
Here are the latest injury reports from Wednesday for both the Bills and Chargers.
Healey proposes new Health Care Stabilization Fund
Gov. Maura Healey filed a $2.24 billion supplemental budget Wednesday that would pump more money into the workforce that supports SNAP benefit recipients and establish a new healthcare fund as the …
AI tools generated nearly $1 billion in extra costs, Blue Cross insurers say
AI tools are raising health spending for insurers by nearly $1 billion over two years, as providers bill for more severe patient care, according to a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association study released Thursday.
Prudential renames U.S. advice business as Prudential Wealth Advisors
Newark-based Prudential renamed its U.S. financial advice business Prudential Wealth Advisors after assets under management grew to $44 billion.
Why are trading cards surging again? Average collectors, wealthy investors seeing value
Trading cards likely generated well over $1 billion in sales in August alone, pushing the once sleepy hobby into uncharted waters.
UNC, Michigan followed the college sports investigations’ playbook: No paper trail
More and more, if a university needs an external investigation, it will retain a law firm that delivers the findings verbally.
Italy: Entertainment & Media sector surges past €54bn
Italy’s Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications (EM&T) market expanded by 2.9 per cent in 2025 to hit €54.9 billion, up from €53.4 billion in 2024. According to PwC, the broader sector is projected to maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1 per cent over the next five years, reaching €63.9 billion by 2030. Italy’s […]
Oklahoma oil executive Harold Hamm commits $150M to advance health education, research
The University of Oklahoma announced a $150 million donation from billionaire oil executive Harold Hamm Tuesday.
McDonald’s is spending billions to make major changes
McDonald’s is spending billions of dollars to boost its franchises, an effort to cement its title as the leader in fast food amid growing competition.
Singapore Scientists Claim They Built The World’s Most Accurate Atomic Clock
Scientists claim a lutetium-ion atomic clock would be off by no more than about one second over 300 billion years.
Manchester United announce seventh annual loss in latest financial record
Manchester United finished third in the 2025/26 Premier League season while recording their lowest wage bill in six years, The Athletic reports.United spent £302 million on wages during the year, dow...
Bills’ Landon Jackson Already Faces Second NFL Punishment of 2026
Bills edge rusher Landon Jackson faces his second NFL punishment of 2026, adding another disciplinary issue for the Buffalo defender. The post Bills’ Landon Jackson Already Faces Second NFL Punishment of 2026 appeared first on HEAVY.
Jared Goff Has Blunt Message for Lions ‘Vultures’
Jared Goff says the Detroit Lions welcome outside doubt after their loss to the Buffalo Bills and are ready to respond at Ford Field.
Shorthanded Lions Suddenly Bring Back Familiar Face
The Detroit Lions are all kinds of banged up right now as they continue preparations to host the New York Jets in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season, hoping to rebound from their frustrating 41-31 loss on the road to the Buffalo Bills last week.The Lions, who were already without the likes of Cade […] The post Shorthanded Lions Suddenly Bring Back Familiar Face appeared first on HEAVY.
Costa Mesa businesses trying to dump trash service get buried in bills
Joe Miracle, owner of Bay Auto Service on Newport Boulevard, has tried to cancel his service with Ware Disposal since April. But the bills keep piling up long after the collection stopped.
Bills WR DJ Moore (shoulder) was limited; WR Keon Coleman (ankle) did not practice
After shareholders approve Fertitta buyout, what is next for Caesars employees?
Caesars Entertainment shareholders have approved a $17.6 billion buyout by Fertitta Entertainment, a move that would take the gaming company private and place i
Rep. Pocan joins bipartisan bill to end cat and dog testing funding
Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan is pushing a bill to end federal funding for cat and dog experiments after Ridglan Farms’ closure.