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What Does the Science of Climate Change Really Look Like?

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part series on how the Right should think about environmental and climate policy. Read Chris Barnard on Reclaiming Environmental Policy from the Left. More than a decade ago, the world’s governments negotiated and signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to hold global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius. In the following years, climate had immense cultural power. Greta Thunberg emerged. Fortune 500 companies established net-zero plans. The U.S. got the Inflation Reduction Act. Then the pendulum swung back. President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office, speaking of green energy as a “scam” and carbon footprints as a “hoax” and on all matters of international policy emphasizing bilateral engagement and power over globalism and cooperation. The technology companies that had been at the forefront of net-zero pledges and green leadership discovered the importance of all-of-the-above power to their visions for artificial intelligence and began quietly postponing or removing their targets. On the left side of the political spectrum, rising concerns about inflation and cost pushed climate lower down in the stated priorities of voters and stump speeches of politicians. The moment is ripe for a reset on the politics of climate change and for conservatives especially to chart a course that acknowledges and addresses the real challenges in plausible ways. So what should we think about climate change as we enter a post-peak climate era? If it is neither an apocalypse nor a hoax, what will hold up as a durable view of climate change? And how does it project onto the concerns and priorities of the right-of-center’s emerging coalition? New to Commonplace_? Subscribe below to get the magazine in your inbox._ Subscribe A Solid Foundation As the politics and economics of climate careened over the past ten years, the physics carried on regardless. In 2015, the year the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted, the world emitted 41.2 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide. By 2025, emissions had risen only 2.4%, to 42.2 gigatonnes, because falling emissions from land use offset increasing emissions from fossil fuels. But slow growth in annual emissions is not rapid decline, let alone net-zero, so carbon dioxide kept accumulating in the atmosphere, going from 399 to 426 parts per million. Global temperature kept rising too, from about 1.1 degrees Celsius above the 1850–1900 average in 2015, to 1.4 degrees above it in 2025. None of this should surprise anyone. Even most prominent skeptics, like the authors of the 2025 report commissioned by the Trump administration’s Department of Energy, accept the basic physics. Carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere at industrial volumes accumulates and traps heat that would otherwise escape to space. That heat warms the upper ocean and increases temperatures at the surface. Increased ocean heat and melting of land ice cause sea levels to rise. Changes in the climate become noticeable to us as subtle shifts in temperature and precipitation, seasons arriving early or late, changes in the surrounding ecosystem, and weather extremes. The much more meaningful debate is not about whether these things are happening, but about what it all means for human societies. (While it is a proxy measure of overall risk, no one experiences global surface temperature.) This debate invokes at least three interesting questions: how much today’s warming is showing up in regional climate trends, how much more warming we should anticipate, and how extreme weather events can be understood in the context of climate change. Recent scientific advances give us new insights into each of these, but there is still much to learn. This is the context in which the next generation of conservative leaders will be the first to deal with significant climate change as a fact, not a forecast. It will be with them for their entire careers. Our evolving scientific picture of climate change will come from weather and climate records stretching further into the past, new kinds of observations in the present, better modeling tools for the future, and simply more time to observe the emergence of climate signals and their tangible effects on ecosystems and communities in the United States and around the world. The policy landscape will be shaped by not only the impacts of changes in the climate, but also by the ways in which societies respond and by the emergence of new technologies for both altering the trajectory of emissions and adapting to new climate realities. Global climate records now show the fingerprints of warming in different phenomena around much of the world. The IPCC, in its most recent assessment report, documents warming trends over all land regions, even as natural variability adds substantial variance to local trends. And the highest temperature extremes have become more intense and frequent, almost everywhere, since the 1950s. Scientists are highly confident that these changes are attributable to human influence. But confidence in detecting trends and attributing them to human influence degrades across heavy precipitation events; drought trends are heterogeneous and not attributable to human activity with great confidence. For hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe storms there is even less confidence in trends or their relationship to climate change. In general, a fair summary of the evidence is that for well-observed phenomena, like surface temperature or heavy rainfall, with a clear relationship to warming, our multidecadal observations are consistent with human influence overcoming natural variability over long time periods and extremes increasing. For regions that are sampled more sparsely, or phenomena with a higher noise-to-signal ratio, we will need to observe them longer to understand the magnitude of the climate signal or improve dynamical understanding using models and observations together. But for Climate For those who can’t wait, we also have new techniques that attempt to understand the role climate change has in influencing particular extreme events. When the climate is changing and disaster strikes, it is natural to ask whether that disaster was somehow “caused” by climate change. For scientists and policymakers acting in good faith, answering that question helps develop a more accurate picture of the problem, how it may be getting worse, and what preparations we should be making to respond to it. It may, at some point, give some weight to how liability is assigned by courts or adaptation funding is distributed by society. But how we ask this question is extremely important. It is easy to get the analysis wrong by discounting the role that meteorology plays. As meteorologist Theodore Shepherd explained in a clear 2016 review of climate attribution methods, “if a weather or climate event is truly extreme in the present climate, then perforce it requires unusual meteorological conditions, which means that climate change is at most a contributing factor.” Share Scientists have two ways to probe climate as a contributing factor, both of which have entered media coverage of extreme weather events. One asks a probabilistic question: How much more likely is a particular event (e.g., a temperature record over a particular area) amid global warming? The answer involves using historical records and computer simulations to estimate the likelihood of such an event in both a changed and a preindustrial climate. The findings are less about the specific event, and more about events of that nature. The other question is: How has the changed climate affected the specific event in question? Here, scientists try to understand what a similar event would have looked like in the preindustrial climate. This is sometimes called the storyline approach, where the story is the specific meteorological details of the event. These methods offer ways to test the intuition of scientists about real weather extremes. In late June and early July of 2021, a persistent high-pressure ridge, or heat dome, set up over the Pacific Northwest and an extraordinary heat wave affected the area from Oregon to British Columbia. For six days, it shattered temperature records across the region and hundreds died from heat-related causes, in an area where such high, and persistently high, temperatures were well outside of experience and many live without air conditioning. Scientists have studied its connection to climate change using multiple approaches. This specific event was created by a rare combination of meteorological factors, a strong high-pressure ridge created the conditions for extreme heat, which occurred on top of higher average temperatures in the region from global warming. Probabilistic analyses showed that climate change increased the likelihood of such an event by at least 8-fold to more than 100-fold. One standout example found that such an event had effectively zero probability of occurring in the preindustrial climate. The enormous range in these assessments reflects how hard it is to estimate probabilities of events at the tail of the historical record. Estimates of the effect on the temperature of the event are more clustered. A recent review paper documents how multiple methodologies have found a positive influence, roughly 1-2 degrees Celsius of an anomaly that exceeded 15 degrees, of climate change on the temperature magnitude of the event. Multiple studies have investigated and found some positive influence of climate change in other extreme events. Attribution studies found climate likely increased the heavy rainfall that accompanied Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and surrounding regions in 2024. The extensive fires that struck Los Angeles in 2025 illustrate how the causal chain can become messy, though. Studies do detect a positive influence of climate on the event’s likelihood, but while climate change likely contributed to underlying aridity, it would not have played a role in the heavy winds or land practices that preceded disaster. These event attribution studies will become more common for extreme, or damaging, weather events. They can be produced quickly, and often are reported before peer review. As the Pacific Northwest heatwave example shows, when multiple methods converge on a positive attribution, the finding should probably carry some weight even if you have to be careful about accepting the results from a single study. I expect that as climate change proceeds and the climate thus departs further from a preindustrial counterfactual, the influence will become more detectable across a variety of extreme events and more easily identified. This will be used to cast blame, but can also be used to inform how communities and society adapt to ongoing change. We May Still Be Surprised One positive development, insofar as less climate change is better, has been that our central estimates for future climate change should probably be revised downward. Mostly, that is because the high-end warmings that scientists regularly analyzed about ten to 20 years ago, driven by high emissions throughout the twenty-first century, now appear to be somewhere between unlikely and impossible. At one time, the upper end of mainstream climate projections extended well into 4 to 6 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of this century, which, models suggest, would have wrought enormous real-world damage. Current energy and policy trends now point toward 2.5 or 3 degrees. Damages and risks are commonly modeled as increasing steeply with more warming, so this is already a better-than-previously-expected outcome for the climate (which is independent of the physical response to emissions). But we should maintain a wide range for plausible outcomes and prepare for the possibility of being surprised. Emissions trajectories are subject to deep uncertainty, the physical climate response is still developing, and whatever change occurs in the climate will then be mediated through unpredictable economic, social, and political institutions. Over the past decade, the pace of warming surprised some keen observers and appeared to accelerate, though not yet outside the range of expectation provided by climate models. The reasons for that apparent acceleration are being actively studied (as was the apparent pause in warming from 1998 to 2012), but no single driver has emerged. Some blame it on the El Niño, variability which would have no bearing on climate. Some think it is a result of factories in East Asia and global shipping fleets cutting aerosol emissions, which in the strongest version of the argument would indicate higher climate sensitivity to carbon-dioxide emissions. Others are more measured, not yet ready to draw solid conclusions as to whether climate projections require revision. We will have to see. Long-Term Thinking Climate change asks us to think over long time scales. But the pace of human-driven warming is compressing a large global change into a century. Changing weather patterns and extreme events are already causing adjustment costs and damages and will do more. Adaptation will help, but it is not free. For some communities, these costs will erode livelihoods and well-being, and may force migration. Are we prepared for large-scale managed retreats in the United States? Thankfully, American wealth, geographical diversity, and moderate climates may leave us better prepared than many around the world. But wealthy countries can still suffer serious disruption from narrowly concentrated costs, even if they appear entirely manageable in aggregate. Readers of Commonplace are familiar with the challenges of rapidly adapting to economic forces. The displacement that came from the China Shock is barely perceptible in aggregate GDP and employment data, but it affected millions of people and those people were far less mobile than economic models tended to assume. Deindustrialization rippled through the nation with enormous effects for not only our economic vitality, but also our national security. The forces surrounding climate change may not be so different; the world gets richer and must accept some diffuse costs. Those may be modest overall, but cause all manner of unpredictable effects with which policymakers must cope. In the case of the China Shock, our faith in a growing pie served us poorly. We’ll need to do better on climate. Leave a comment

Sep 16 • 4:30 PM EDT • Science • commonplace.org

House votes to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress over Epstein investigation

The House approved a resolution Wednesday holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress, referring the matter to the Department of Justice after he defied the Oversight Committee's subpoenas in its investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Sep 16 • 3:12 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Why Allison launched Allison Worldwide Health Group

The Stagwell subsidiary is launching an integrated health communications offering to formalize Allison’s commitment to the medical marketing space.

Sep 16 • 1:34 PM EDT • Health • mmm-online.com

House Subcommittee on Health Examines Healthcare Cybersecurity Proposals

On September 15, 2026, the United States House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on proposals to improve On September 15, 2026, the United States House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing, which in part, considered proposed reforms to improve healthcare cybersecurity.

Sep 16 • 12:52 PM EDT • Health • hipaajournal.com

EPA Science Panel Questions Nitrogen Dioxide Pollution Science

An EPA committee on Wednesday kicked off a scientific review of nitrogen dioxide amid concerns about the uncertainty of the existing science.

Sep 16 • 12:51 PM EDT • Science • news.bloomberglaw.com

Devils Re-Sign Rising Forward Luke Evangelista

The New Jersey Devils have re-signed rising forward Luke Evangelista to a long-term contract extension, keeping him in the “Garden State.”The Devils acquired Evangelista from the Nashville Predators during the offseason for a first-round pick and a second-round pick. Now, he has committed to New Jersey long-term.Devils Re-Sign Luke EvangelistaThe Devils officially announced via their […] The post Devils Re-Sign Rising Forward Luke Evangelista appeared first on HEAVY.

Sep 16 • 12:04 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Kaiser Permanente leads the nation in top-rated health plans

/PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente continues to provide some of the highest-rated health care in the nation. In the 2026 National Committee for Quality...

Sep 16 • 12:00 PM EDT • Health • prnewswire.com

Republican senator faults Trump vaccine policy for US measles deaths as panel weighs health nominees

The Republican chairman of the U.S. Senate health committee on Wednesday blamed the Trump administration's approach to vaccines for ‌recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania and pressed the president's pick for surgeon general to state plainly that vaccines do not cause autism.

Sep 16 • 11:30 AM EDT • Health • reuters.com

WATCH LIVE: Senate panel weighs nominees for top HHS health leadership posts

Nicole Saphier, Chris Klomp and Timothy Westlake face senators as the committee examines their qualifications and plans for leading major health and behavioral-health agencies.

Sep 16 • 9:49 AM EDT • Health • foxnews.com

North Carolina’s Southeast welcomes new Director of Business Development Savannah Taylor

Savannah TaylorSavannah Taylor, a career economic development professional, has accepted the role of director of Business Development at North Carolina’s Southeast. She officially started in the position on Sept. 14.“North Carolina’s Southeast’s success has long been based on strategic collaborative engagement and leadership among our team and with our partners, so a key aim was to find someone who aligned with those dynamics,” said NCSE President Steve Yost in a press release. “Savannah has strong experience for this position through her previous roles in local economic development, research, and policy development, and it became clear that she would be an excellent match in helping to advance the mission for our 20-county region. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to the Southeast.”Before joining the Southeast team, Taylor lived and worked in Georgia as an economic development project manager for the City of Marietta and as public policy & research manager and research director for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She has successfully led public policy and strategic project initiatives related to statewide community development and has served on several special committees, including the Metro Atlanta eXchange for Workforce Solutions Research Committee and the United for ALICE Georgia Research Advisory Committee. “After previously working at the state and local level in Georgia, I knew I was looking for a local or regional organization as my next step,” said Taylor in a press release. “I wanted to find a highly collaborative environment, and that led me to North Carolina’s Southeast.”Taylor graduated from Georgia College & State University with dual degrees — a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in World Languages and Cultures. “I’m really looking forward to interacting with the organization’s partners and all of the local developers,” said Taylor in a press release. “Overall, I think I’m most excited for the new adventures with all the hiking and biking and everything else there is to explore in the region. I hope if anyone has any recommendations, they’ll share them!”

Sep 16 • 9:38 AM EDT • Business • bizfayetteville.com

On Capitol Hill, voter fraud targets vary by party

Van Drew's House committee saw clashes over voting claims, but no new details about NJ voter registration error

Sep 16 • 9:16 AM EDT • Politics • njspotlightnews.org

NCQA Unveils 2026 Health Plan Ratings

18 health plans earn top 5-star rating. / ACCESS Newswire / September 16, 2026 / The National Committee for Quality Assurance () announced its 2026 Health Plan Ratings \- an annual report that helps healthcare consumers and regulators assess the quality and effectiveness of health plans.

Sep 16 • 9:05 AM EDT • Health • finance.yahoo.com

Cumberland County Schools Business Operations earns Meritorious Budget Award for third consecutive year

Cumberland County Schools continues to demonstrate strong fiscal leadership as the district’s Business Operations Department has earned the 2026–2027 Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for the third consecutive year.The national recognition honors excellence in budget preparation and presentation, highlighting the department’s commitment to transparency, accountability and sound financial practices. The award is presented following a rigorous peer review by experienced school finance professionals who evaluate district budgets against nationally recognized standards.“This recognition reflects the leadership of the Cumberland County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Eric C. Bracy, along with the hard work of our Business Operations team,” said Jay Toland, associate superintendent of Business Operations, in a press release. “We take pride in using public funds wisely and making our budget clear and accessible so our community can see how those resources support student success.”ASBO International’s award program promotes budget documents that are comprehensive, accessible and informative for families, staff and community members.“An effective school budget is more than just numbers—it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” said Executive Director of ASBO International Jim Rowan in a press release. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Cumberland County Board of Education that prioritize financial clarity and accountability.”

Sep 16 • 8:44 AM EDT • Business • bizfayetteville.com

Alpes 2030 completes sports venue masterplan as IOC Coordination Commission meeting ends

-The final pieces of the sports venue masterplan for the Alpes 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games fell into place this week in Lyon, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission wrapped up its second annual meeting. The Commission today confirmed the allocation of the ice sports and disciplines to venues in Lyon, and of Alpine skiing events to Courchevel and Val d’Isère.

Sep 16 • 7:45 AM EDT • Sports • olympics.com

Two nations fighting for commitment for Juventus sensation

Adin Licina is enjoying a brilliant season on loan at Cremonese, and his performances have now attracted interest from two nations competing for his international allegiance. The youngster is also hop...

Sep 16 • 7:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

2027 5-star LB remains '100% committed' to Texas A&M

In a interview with AggieYell, 2027 5-star LB Kaden Henderson stated that Notre Dame is still in pursuit, but remains "100% committed" to Texas A&M.

Sep 16 • 5:31 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

New Small Business Alliances Signal Competitive Positioning by 40+ IT and Consulting Leaders Across FedCiv, FedHealth, and DoD

In the GovCon IT and consulting market, some companies react to opportunities. Others shape the board well before the game begins. Mentor-protégé agreements fall squarely into the latter category. These partnerships are not administrative check-the-box exercises. They require sustained commitment, alignment at the leadership level, and a clear view of where the market is heading. […]

Sep 16 • 4:36 AM EDT • Business • orangeslices.ai

Ashes of politics and the preservation of memory

From the perspective of Alija Izetbegovic, genocide is not merely a political crime, but an existential sin committed against the dignity with which God...

Sep 16 • 4:23 AM EDT • Politics • dailysabah.com

SellYourWay.org Launches New Resource Helping Business Owners Understand the Benefits of Working with a Certified Business Intermediary®

Today, SellYourWay.org announces the launch of a new, dynamic feature on their website, defining the Certified Business Intermediary® (CBI) designation. This interactive tool educates small business owners on the advantages of working with these highly qualified and ethical Business Brokers when preparing to sell their business. This new resource emphasizes the benefits of selecting a CBI® — a professional who has met educational and performance requirements — and remains committed to ongoing ed

Sep 16 • 4:00 AM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Senate Hearing on Department of Health & Human Services Executive Nominations

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds a hearing on three of President Trump's executive nominations for positions at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sep 16 • 12:00 AM EDT • Health • c-span.org

Health Professionals Testify on Menopause Care

Senate Special Aging Committee holds a first-of-its-kind hearing to address menopause care in the U.S.

Sep 16 • 12:00 AM EDT • Health • c-span.org

House panel recommends contempt charge for billionaire Leon Black in Epstein probe

The House Oversight Committee has voted to recommend holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress in the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein

Sep 15 • 8:16 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com

N.Y. Senate Health Committee chair optimistic about 'New York Health Act'

The “New York Health Act” is the New York equivalent of Medicare for All.

Sep 15 • 8:12 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com

N.Y. Senate Health Committee chair optimistic about 'New York Health Act'

The “New York Health Act” is the New York equivalent of Medicare for All.

Sep 15 • 8:12 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com

Joint Finance Committee receives updates on tax collections, Rural Health Transformation

CHARLESTON – Members of the West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Finance were updated Tuesday on the latest regarding general revenue fund tax collections and federal Rural Health Transformation grants on the last day of interim meetings. Department of Revenue Cabinet Secretary Eric Nelson and Deputy Secretary Pete Shirley said gains in the collections […]

Sep 15 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • newsandsentinel.com

Runaway Athletics Spending Threatens the Financial Health of America’s Colleges, Cantwell Snapshot Report Shows - U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released a new snapshot report on how runaway athletics spending is harming the financial health and broader missions of U.S. colleges and universities – and hitting students with record-high fees.

Sep 15 • 7:05 PM EDT • Health • commerce.senate.gov

Senate Overwhelmingly Supports Consideration of Protect College Sports Act Following Event with Student Athletes and Coaches - U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation

To watch Chairman Cruz’s remarks on the Senate floor, click HERE WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, with a vote of 74-24, the Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle to move to consideration of the Protect College Sports Act (S.4668), setting the stage for the bill to move through the Senate. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the […]

Sep 15 • 6:38 PM EDT • Sports • commerce.senate.gov

Victims of sexual abuse with NDAs would be able to speak freely under new bill from GOP committee leader

Survivors of sexual abuse would be free to speak about their experiences even if they sign a nondisclosure agreement under a new bill put forward by the House Republican leading the Jeffrey Epstein investigation in Congress.

Sep 15 • 6:19 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Committee Backs Second Chance for Businesses with Past Violations Seeking Entertainment Permits

The Land Use Committee also voted to keep permit appeals with a hearing officer rather than the City Council, over the dissent of its chair.

Sep 15 • 6:15 PM EDT • Entertainment • raincrossgazette.com

Xbox Responds To Rumors That Game Pass Is Losing Day One New Games in 2027

Xbox didn't confirm the rumors, but provided a noncommittal answer that could leave room open for big changes next year

Sep 15 • 4:18 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com

Austin FC's Guilherme Biro fined by MLS Disciplinary Committee

By MLSsoccer staffThe MLS Disciplinary Committee has the following rulings following Matchday 26 of the 2026 season.Biro finedThe MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Austin FC midfielder Guilherme Bi...

Sep 15 • 4:01 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Kash Patel again denies firing Iran experts before Iran war

Patel insisted to a Senate committee that FBI staff fired from an Iran counterintelligence unit were technically "not experts."

Sep 15 • 3:59 PM EDT • Politics • motherjones.com

Inside the Soil Health Practices of the David Brandt Farm

Ohio Ag Net’s Allison Kinney is joined by Jay Brandt of the David Brandt Farm to discuss the operation’s long-standing commitment to no-till farming, cover crops and soil health. Brandt shares how decades of conservation practices have transformed the farm’s soils, improved water infiltration and cr

Sep 15 • 3:18 PM EDT • Health • ocj.com

Vance steers clear of AI regulation during ‘rah-rah political speech’ for House GOP

Vice President JD Vance did not address calls for guardrails to be placed on artificial intelligence development during a Tuesday morning meeting with the House Republican conference. The vice president spoke to GOP lawmakers at the Republican National Committee as a final pep talk heading into the November elections. But multiple GOP members emerging from […]

Sep 15 • 2:04 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com

Wausau city employees face 76% deductible hike under 2027 health plan

Wausau city employees' health insurance deductibles would jump 76% in 2027 under a plan committees approved to hold the premium increase to 9.6%.

Sep 15 • 2:02 PM EDT • Health • wausaupilotandreview.com

Interim Report: Joint Committee on Finance

The Joint Finance Committee met this morning. First, the committee heard from the Department of Revenue. The general revenue fund is $34.8 million over the estimate. The personal income tax revenue and sales tax revenue are both up. Severance is under the estimate. The state road fund is $27.2 million…

Sep 15 • 1:57 PM EDT • Health • blog.wvlegislature.gov

Blanche vows DOJ is ‘not protecting people’ with classified 9/11 documents

Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday committed to releasing more government records related to Saudi Arabia’s possible connections to 9/11, in response to family members of those who died during the attacks who have fought for more information on the issue. On the 25th anniversary of 9/11 last week, several family members attended a New […]

Sep 15 • 1:56 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com

House Small Business Panel Weighs 10-Bill Policy Package

The House Small Business Committee will vote on five bills September 16, 2026. See which measures could shape small-business policy.

Sep 15 • 1:25 PM EDT • Business • legis1.com

Golden 1 Credit Union Expands Business Services Offerings to Support Communities and Economic Opportunity Across California

Golden 1 Credit Union (Golden 1) today announced the expansion of its Business Services offerings, with business checking, savings and money market accounts at the core of a growing suite of services designed to support California businesses. The expansion deepens Golden 1's commitment to entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, micro and small businesses, nonprofits and community builders across California, while broadening the resources available to businesses throughout the state.

Sep 15 • 12:00 PM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Ranking Members Markey, Velázquez, American Small Businesses Fight Back Against Trump SBA’s Discriminatory Anti-Immigrant Lending Policies

More than 120 small businesses and organizations pen letter of support for Ranking Member Markey’s resolution striking down Trump’s ban on awarding SBA loans to green card holders Letter (PDF) (Washington, September 15) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today garnered additional support from Main Street small businesses for his Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to rescind the Trump administration’s discriminatory policy that bans green card holders from accessing essential Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. In a letter of support, more than 120 American small businesses and community organizations, led by Small Business Majority, applauded Ranking Member Markey’s efforts to overturn the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant lending ban and advocated for the passage of Ranking Member Markey’s CRA resolution in the Senate. House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7) is leading the resolution in the House of Representatives. The Trump administration’s green card holder ban is the most recent escalation of SBA’s draconian citizenship restrictions that are killing jobs and putting the American Dream further out of reach for entrepreneurs. In Fiscal Year 2025, Trump’s SBA made an estimated $5.5 billion in loans to green card holders, which supported more than 80,000 jobs nationwide. “The Trump administration’s continued attacks on American small businesses and jobs are anti-American, they’re discriminatory, and they’re dragging down our communities and our economy. Thanks to partners like Small Business Majority, countless small businesses, and community organizations, we are fighting back and holding them accountable,” said Ranking Member Markey. “I will not stop fighting to rescind this hateful policy that attacks American entrepreneurs and prevents them from pursuing the American Dream.” “Small businesses and organizations across the country are sending a clear message that the Trump administration's discriminatory lending rules are bad for business,” said Ranking Member Velázquez. “I want to thank Small Business Majority for leading this effort and amplifying the voices of the entrepreneurs who create jobs and strengthen our local economies. As Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, I will keep pushing to stop these attacks on the American Dream and ensure that every eligible entrepreneur can access the capital they need to succeed.” In the letter, the small businesses write, “Congress must reaffirm its commitment to serving those who are rightfully and legally entitled to accessing key government guaranteed loan programs in pursuit of the American Dream. Restoring access to responsible, government-guaranteed loans for such a critical segment of our economy will allow thousands of small businesses to access the capital they require to grow and invest in American communities. If Congress does not act to protect access to the very ideals that our country was founded upon by rewarding those who adhere strictly to legal immigration pathways, local economies, communities and Main Street will pay the price.” Ranking Member Markey’s CRA resolution follows his introduction of the Investing in the American Dream Act alongside Ranking Member Velázquez earlier this year. The Investing in the American Dream Act would roll back the SBA’s draconian lending restrictions and restore previous SBA lending policies for immigrant entrepreneurs lawfully in the U.S., including green card holders, refugees, and asylees. More than 100 organizations have called for the passage of the legislation and more than 60 Massachusetts state legislators have raised concerns about the impact of the citizenship restrictions in their local communities. Ranking Member Markey is fighting for small business owners and immigrants that rely on SBA loans to start and run their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to their communities. In July, Ranking Member Markey and Ranking Member Velázquez introduced a bicameral resolution to rescind the Trump administration’s policy that bans green card holders from accessing essential SBA loans to start and grow their businesses and invest in Main Streets nationwide. In May, Ranking Member Markey highlighted the significant contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs in Massachusetts and across the country and condemned the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on immigrant communities at a Small Business Committee hearing. MIRA’s Elizabeth Sweet, who participated in Ranking Member Markey’s listening session earlier in May, provided testimony at the hearing. Also in May, Ranking Member Markey hosted a listening session at the Urban College of Boston to hear directly from several Massachusetts immigrant small business owners, lenders, and chambers of commerce how President Trump’s cruel and callous anti-immigrant policies are hurting Main Streets in the Bay State. Earlier in May, Ranking Member Markey hosted a press conference alongside Ranking Member Velázquez, Democratic lawmakers, and stakeholders to condemn the Trump administration’s harmful anti-immigrant lending policies and to introduce the Investing in the American Dream Act. In March, Ranking Member Markey released a comprehensive report detailing the harms to small business owners, workers, and consumers caused by the Trump administration’s ICE raids in communities across the country. In February, Ranking Member Markey introduced the Small Business ICE Disruption Fund Act, which would provide grants to small businesses that have been impacted by the Trump administration’s violent immigration enforcement actions on Main Streets across the United States. Earlier in February, Ranking Member Markey, Ranking Member Velázquez, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) sent a letter urging the SBA to rescind their lending rule change that bars legal permanent residents from receiving SBA loans. Previously, Ranking Members Markey and Velázquez released a statement condemning the actions of the SBA after it announced that small businesses with legal permanent residents will be barred from receiving SBA loans. In December 2025, Ranking Member Markey and all Democratic members of the Senate Small Business Committee sent a letter to the SBA reiterating concerns with the SBA’s citizenship requirements and highlighting a drop in SBA lending volume. In September 2025, Ranking Member Markey heard directly from SBA lenders about the issues with the citizenship verification requirements. In July 2025, Ranking Members Markey and Velázquez sent a letter to the SBA expressing serious concerns with the agency’s new, draconian citizenship verification requirements that require small businesses seeking SBA loans to be 100% owned by U.S. citizens, nationals, and legal permanent residents. ###

Sep 15 • 11:58 AM EDT • Business • sbc.senate.gov

http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-opening-remarks-health-subcommittee-legislative-hearing-0

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at a Health Subcommittee hearing on "Examining Legislative Proposals to Reform Medicare Provider Payment and Bolster Health Care Cybersecurity:”

Sep 15 • 10:57 AM EDT • Health • democrats-energycommerce.house.gov

US House healthcare hearing in Charlotte covers Medicaid fraud, CON

A Charlotte field hearing put North Carolina’s CON law and Medicaid expansion financing at the center of a debate over waste, hospital competition, and rural care.

Sep 15 • 10:24 AM EDT • Health • carolinajournal.com

Global-PTT to Launch Three Next-Generation Business-Critical PTT Solutions at Futurecom Brazil 2026

New G3, G10 and G4 devices showcase Global-PTT's commitment to safer, smarter and more connected communications for public safety and industrial users across La ...

Sep 15 • 9:00 AM EDT • Business • criticalcommunicationsreview.com

FBI chief Kash Patel is set to face off with Democrats critical of his leadership at Senate hearing

FBI Director Kash Patel is set to return to Capitol Hill for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Sep 15 • 7:04 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com

2028 Champions League final at Allianz Arena

After 2012 and 2025, FC Bayern’s Allianz Arena will stage the men’s Champions League for the third time in May 2028. The UEFA executive committee has approved the bid from Munich City Council, wit...

Sep 15 • 7:02 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Carrie Hughes: Health and human services director, House Education and the Workforce Committee

Carrie Hughes knows she is somewhat of a rarity on Capitol Hill. Her first job as a congressional aide was in the office of Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.). Eighteen years later, he’s the only membe…

Sep 15 • 6:01 AM EDT • Health • thehill.com

Gates Foundation bets $1B on AI to boost global health, agriculture and education

The Gates Foundation is committing at least $1 billion over the next two years to AI tools for health workers, farmers and teachers. CEO Mark Suzman told GeekWire he expects the figure to grow, but said AI efficiencies cannot make up for the billions governments have cut from global health.

Sep 15 • 1:37 AM EDT • Health • geekwire.com

2027 EDGE Josiah Sturdivant Decommits from Rutgers Football

Rutgers loses commitment from 2027 class.

Sep 14 • 11:36 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

IOC visits Lyon amid leadership turmoil for 2030 Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday began a three-day visit to Lyon to check on the progress of the 2030 Winter Olympics, which have been hit by a leadership crisis. And he has decided... following the governance tensions that have arisen in recent months, that it was time to bring in new leadership," Pierre-Olivier Beckers, chair of the 2030 Olympic Games Coordination Commission within the IOC, said in Lyon.

Sep 14 • 8:30 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Mike McCarthy noncommittal on Joey Porter's return timeline

Sep 14 • 6:13 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Please Stop Conflating Sports Betting Handle With Spending On Entertainment

Editor’s note: The Cashout for paid subscribers will publish on Tuesday. Every September there’s a huge uptick in how much people bet on sports with the start of football season. Which means it’s time to get ahead of a ridiculous narrative before it picks up steam on social media or in mainstream media. Subscribe Every few months I see some version of this: [ Charlie Bilello@charliebilello Americans bet over $165 billion on sports last year, which is more than they spent on movies, books, concerts and sports tickets - combined. 1:00 PM · Jun 28, 2026 · 4.1M Views 258 Replies · 674 Reposts · 4.23K Likes ](https://x.com/charliebilello/status/2071217050328895935?s=20) Fortune published this in July. The headline and start of the story tell the same narrative (emphasis added): Gambling becomes America’s favorite pastime as Americans spend more on sports bets than movies, arts, museums, and music combined: The North American box office totaled $8.87 billion in 2025, which is still 22% below pre-pandemic levels. Recorded music revenue hit a record $11.5 billion. Live music like concerts and festivals brought in $18.51 billion. Meanwhile, book publishers tracked by the Association of American Publishers reported $14.6 billion for the year. And the U.S. museum industry generated an estimated $16.4 billion. Add it up and the total comes to roughly $70 billion, which is less than half what Americans wagered on sports. The story, to its credit, goes on to tell us why sports betting is entirely different, although people who only read headlines will miss that nuance. (The tweet above definitely skips over the nuance.) I will mostly be preaching to the choir here, but it’s worth saying out loud: Wagering money on sports is not the same thing as spending on entertainment from a financial perspective. When you spend money on a movie or concert ticket, that money is gone. You exchanged money for an experience. It’s a good trade! I get to have fun for “x” dollars. (Unless the movie sucks, I guess.) When you bet money on sports, the money is not necessarily gone every time you wager it. It could be gone, but sometimes it’s not and you actually get more money back! That’s not “spending” money or something you should try to compare directly to entertainment spend. A far better comp would be how much people lose at sports betting. That number was more like $17 billion in the US last year, at least for state-regulated sportsbooks. Why are we trying to equate handle and entertainment spending? I dunno. It makes for splashy headlines, I guess. Now, people should be betting for entertainment, and not because they expect to win in the long term; no doubt about it. Anyway, here’s hoping I don’t see people saying Americans “spent” hundreds of millions of dollars on sports betting this fall. Mindway AI and DraftKings Expand Responsible Gaming Drive with Launch of Gamalyze American Football In time for the NFL kickoff, Mindway AI has expanded its partnership with DraftKings to launch Gamalyze American Football the second title in the neuroscience-based Gamalyze Sports collection. Following the success of Gamalyze Football (soccer) during the FIFA World Cup, this gridiron-themed update replaces static questionnaires with immersive, stadium-inspired gameplay. Backed by 10+ years of Aarhus University research, Gamalyze evaluates real-time decision-making to deliver instant, unbiased player risk assessments. Integrated into DraftKings’ platform and nationwide activations, it engages fans when excitement peaks. Ready to upgrade your player protection? Contact Mindway AI to try Gamalyze Sports today. Gambling news roundup 🚨The important stuff 1st NFL Sunday of Season ‘Champagne-Popping Day for Bettors’ (Covers): “The first NFL Sunday of the season was a champagne-popping day for bettors, while the book was left cleaning up the corks,” Caesars’ head of football Joey Feazel said prior to the Sunday night game. “Caesars Sportsbook reported that Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson were among the top five most-bet players to reach the end zone, and all of them cashed tickets.” [ Ben Fawkes@BFawkes22 A @CaesarsSports oddsmaker on how Week 1 has gone so far: “The first NFL Sunday of the season was a champagne-popping day for bettors, while the book was left cleaning up the corks.” ➡️8 of 10 most popular anytime TD scorers cashed 1:31 AM · Sep 14, 2026 · 276K Views 16 Replies · 16 Reposts · 615 Likes ](https://x.com/BFawkes22/status/2099310001927995849?s=20) 🔍 Are we already getting a “customer-friendly results” narrative in Week 1? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with CNBC about the prediction markets industry: “We think that there needs to be stronger regulations into the predictive markets,” Goodell said. “We want to see that to protect the integrity of our game. We want to make sure we’re protecting the consumers that are on those platforms for the NFL. So, we’re continuing to have conversations with them and talk to them about the things that we think they need to do to strengthen that so that they could be potential partners at some point in the future.” More on the NFL + PMs: [ Straight to the Point Quid Pro Quo The NFL has asked Kalshi and other prediction markets to remove certain easy to manipulate markets. Does a potential partnership hang in the balance… Read more 6 hours ago · 19 likes · Steve Ruddock ](https://straighttothepoint.substack.com/p/quid-pro-quo?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1472492) Kalshi was on my podcast?: Kalshi was on my podcast [ The Event Horizon Episode 32: Talking Prediction Market Enforcement With Kalshi’s Robert DeNault Kalshi? On my podcast? Yep… Listen now 5 hours ago · 6 likes · 1 comment · Dustin Gouker ](https://nexteventhorizon.substack.com/p/episode-32-talking-prediction-market-enforcement-kalshi?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1472492) DraftKings Enhances Responsible Engagement Efforts With New Customer Initiatives, Tools and Education (press release): DraftKings Inc. today announced a series of new initiatives designed to promote responsible engagement and increase awareness and use of the tools and resources to help customers make informed decisions and engage responsibly. The efforts include a new digital advertising campaign featuring Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas that promotes responsible engagement, a PGA TOUR sweepstakes that promotes customer engagement with responsible engagement features, the launch of Gamalyze American Football in collaboration with Mindway AI, and new custom cool-off options that give customers enhanced flexibility when choosing a cool-off period. The initiatives build on DraftKings’ commitment to making responsible engagement an integral part of the customer experience and providing players with accessible tools and resources that help them make informed choices about their gaming experience. “At DraftKings, responsible engagement is embedded in how we operate and is essential to building trust with our customers and our long-term sustainability,” said Lori Kalani, Chief Responsible Gaming Officer at DraftKings. “We’ve continued to invest in tools and resources that give customers enhanced access to information about their play and more choices for managing how they engage. From My Budget Builder and My Stat Sheet to player-set limits and new custom cool-offs, we’re continuing to evolve our approach while promoting awareness and use of the tools and resources available to help customers play responsibly.” … DraftKings is launching a new digital advertising campaign featuring Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas that continues the pair’s road trip and promotes responsible engagement and awareness of the tools and resources available to help customers make informed choices about their gaming experience and engage responsibly. The campaign was initially launched on Sep. 10th and will reach customers through digital channels, bringing responsible engagement messaging to fans in an engaging way. bet365 Launches “The Matchup,” a New Weekly Video Podcast Hosted by Super Bowl Champions Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders (press release): "bet365, a global leader in online sports betting and gaming, today announced the launch of “The Matchup,” a new weekly video podcast hosted by former Super Bowl Champions Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders. Featuring current and former NFL players, the original series marks a significant, intentional investment in football as bet365 works to become a go-to destination for U.S. bettors throughout the season. “The Matchup” premieres September 10, with new episodes released weekly in both video and audio formats. Full episodes will be available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever podcasts are available, with clips and additional content rolling out across YouTube, X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and TikTok. The show is being produced by Last Row Digital Media. Each week, Harris and Sanders will be joined by guests from across the game to break down the biggest NFL matchups, unpack the latest league news and share perspectives that go beyond the box score. By bringing together two former players with distinct perspectives and firsthand experience, “The Matchup” will give audiences timely context and a deeper understanding of the teams, players and storylines shaping the week ahead. “Every great football conversation starts with a matchup—who has the edge, what everyone is overlooking and what could change the game,” said Chris Harris Jr. “Emmanuel and I have experienced the game from different perspectives, and we want the audience to feel like they are part of the conversation and leave every episode knowing more about the week ahead.” Today’s iGaming companies face new litigation threats as expansive consumer protection statutes spark lawsuits with sky’s-the-limit aspirations, sometimes backed by private funders. Clients of Ifrah Law have a staunch defender in Robert Ward – an agile litigator and case tactician who responds to the changing state of play with creative legal defenses and efficient case-closing strategies. Robert draws on federal clerkship experience and appellate defense work to advise iGaming clients on litigation exposure, white-collar risk, and regulatory defense across multiple jurisdictions. Read More: Robert Ward on Helping iGaming Clients Outmaneuver Lawsuit-Obsessed Adversaries 🔮 Prediction markets Update on legal action in Connecticut: [ Daniel Wallach@WALLACHLEGAL Connecticut says gaming service license holders which received subpoenas over sports prediction markets “are not under investigation” by the @CTDCP but may possess information that could assist the state “in evaluating the conduct of prediction market platforms.” 2:31 PM · Sep 13, 2026 · 844 Views 5 Likes ](https://x.com/WALLACHLEGAL/status/2099143914271670576?s=20) American Gaming Association Opposes CFTC Bid to Block New York Prediction-Market Enforcement (DeFi Rate): “The brief points to the Ninth Circuit’s Aug. 28 decision in KalshiEX LLC v. Assad, which the AGA says supports New York’s authority to regulate sports contracts as gambling. It also cites Kalshi advertising, product comparisons and reporting on Kalshi’s sports volume to argue that the economic product resembles a sportsbook wager more than a conventional financial hedge.” [ Daniel Wallach@WALLACHLEGAL AGA intervenes in CFTC v. NY case to oppose CFTC request for preliminary injunction, says the CFTC’s arguments “obfuscate a simple truth: prediction markets offer sports betting.” Highlights CA9 decision, @DustinGouker (6x), and $1.32 billion in OSB taxes for NY (0 from PMs). Daniel Wallach @WALLACHLEGAL High stakes hearing on Monday in CFTC v. New York State. If SDNY judge Lorna Schofield denies the CFTC’s motion for preliminary injunction, the New York AG would have a clearer path for securing a state court geofencing order against Kalshi, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan. 2:08 AM · Sep 13, 2026 · 4.78K Views 1 Reply · 2 Reposts · 8 Likes ](https://x.com/WALLACHLEGAL/status/2098957043474280584?s=20) Gaming Commission remains member of gambling council after questions raised over ties to Kalshi (Mass Live): “The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will not follow the leads of gaming regulators in Ohio and Michigan and drop ties with the National Council on Problem Gambling over its new association with Kalshi.” Sponsor’s messageTrusted Voices: Conversations About Betting is designed to equip adults, including parents and coaches, with tools and resources to talk to young people about gambling, including information on warning signs, risks and proxy betting. The program is led by retired professional basketball player Randy Livingston and his wife, basketball agent Anita Smith, who share their personal stories related to problem gambling, with the hope of preventing others from experiencing similar harms. Learn more and join the conversation here. 📣 Industry news Gaming M&A: Latest Mergers, Acquisitions and Deals (SBC Americas): “But what else is happening in the world of gaming mergers, acquisitions, investments, and partnerships? Here, we round up some of the news you might have missed.” BetMGM Named Official Sports Betting and Online Casino Partner of the Minnesota Vikings in Canada (press release): BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a multi-year partnership with the Minnesota Vikings, naming it the Official Sports Betting Partner and Online Casino Partner of the team in Canada. The agreement gives BetMGM rights to use Vikings marks across approved sports betting, online casino and marketing activities in Canada. In addition, Vikings Big Kick LuckyTap™, a casino game by Design Works Gaming, is available now exclusively at BetMGM Casino in Alberta and Ontario. “Vikings fans bring a level of passion and loyalty that extends well beyond game day,” said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer at BetMGM. “As the home of one of the largest collections of sports-themed casino content in North America, BetMGM is uniquely positioned to combine sports fandom with iGaming. We are eager to start football season off strong with another fantastic partnership especially as we expand our reach in Canada to Alberta.” Martin Nance, Minnesota Vikings Chief Marketing Officer, said, “As we continue to deepen our connection with Vikings fans across Canada, we’re proud to welcome BetMGM as the team’s official sports betting and online casino partner in Canada. Their commitment to innovation and fan engagement aligns well with our organization, and we’re excited to create memorable experiences that celebrate Vikings football and connect with Canadian fans in new and meaningful ways.” Caesars Entertainment Launches Ball Rush Jackpots™ in New Jersey,the Latest Proprietary Online Title from Empire Creative™ (press release): Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars”) today announced the launch of Ball Rush Jackpots™, a new ball-and-peg style online casino game developed by Empire Creative™, the Company’s in-house game development studio. Now live in New Jersey across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, Ball Rush Jackpots is expected to become available in additional jurisdictions where Caesars offers online casino gaming following regulatory approval. The title expands Caesars’ growing portfolio of proprietary online casino titles, following the successful launch of Ca$hline™ earlier this year and further diversifying the Company’s lineup beyond traditional slots and table games. Ball Rush Jackpots follows the traditional ball-drop gameplay experience where players drop a ball down a board filled with pegs to land in a prize slot. As balls navigate independently through a field of pegs, every drop creates new opportunities to collect feature symbols, unlock bonuses and pursue jackpots, delivering a different experience with every round. “Ball Rush Jackpots delivers a different kind of casino experience for our players, combining easy-to-understand gameplay with meaningful customization, exciting bonus opportunities and jackpot potential,” said Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital. “As we continue expanding our proprietary content portfolio, we’re focused on creating games that are simple to pick up, rewarding to revisit and designed around the features players enjoy most.” Bally’s Corporation Secures New Financing to Support the Development of the Bally’s Bronx Project (press release): Bally’s Corporation (NYSE: BALY) (“Bally’s” or the “Company”) announced today that it secured new financing led by WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP to fund further development of the Bally’s Bronx project and general corporate purposes. The new financing comprises closing date term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million and delayed draw term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $160 million (together, the “Facilities”). … Bally’s Chairman of the Board, Soo Kim, commented, “This important financing allows us to progress the pre-construction planning process so that we are ready to complete the remainder of the capital raise and remain on schedule. Furthermore, the additional liquidity provides us greater flexibility for other capital opportunities.” WORLD JAI ALAI LEAGUE LAUNCHES CENTENNIAL SEASON AND ENTERS NEXT CHAPTER IN MIAMI (press release): The World Jai Alai League will open its 2026 fall season on Tuesday, September 15 at Miami’s JAM Arena, beginning a milestone season that marks 100 years since professional Jai Alai first arrived in Miami. Season X, the tenth season of the Battle Court team-based competition launched in 2022, will also be the first since entrepreneur and sports asset investor Rob Gough acquired the World Jai Alai League in August 2026. The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the league. World Jai Alai League will maintain the existing Battle Court competition and operating format, with Chief Operating Officer Scott Savin overseeing Season X. Gough and his team will use the coming months to listen to players and fans, evaluate opportunities across the league, and execute plans for a broader evolution of Jai Alai’s presentation, live experience, media, marketing and commercial strategy beginning in 2027. “This is a really unique moment for Jai Alai,” said Rob Gough, Owner of the World Jai Alai League. “We have a sport with more than 100 years of history in Miami, extraordinary athletes and incredible speed, but I also believe there is enormous untapped potential.” bet365 reveals most popular online slots in 3 US states in August (SBC Americas): “In its monthly Gaming Insights and Performance report, growing online casino operator bet365 tracks player trends and game performance in online slots across its North American online casino markets.” The Closing Line is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe

Sep 14 • 2:45 PM EDT • Entertainment • closingline.substack.com

Pender Community Health receives 2026 Governor’s Wellness Award

Pender Community Health is being recognized for their commitment to creating a workplace that supports employee health and well-being.

Sep 14 • 2:44 PM EDT • Health • ktiv.com

Midwest Access: Mental Health Monday - The Hidden Cost of Constant Busyness

It may be time to clear your schedule and commit some time to relaxing. In today's edition of Mental Health Monday, we are learning the hidden cost of constant busyness.

Sep 14 • 1:50 PM EDT • Health • kttc.com

Trump-Linked PAC Uses Marijuana Business Donations To Campaign For GOP Lawmakers—Including Some Who Voted Against Legalization

A political action committee that shares the same treasurer as President Donald Trump’s own super PAC is using money raised from marijuana business donations to launch a series of ads for 11 vulnerable Republican members of Congress—including several who have voted against legislation to legalize cannabis. As Marijuana Moment recently reported, some of the U.S.’s […]

Sep 14 • 12:37 PM EDT • Business • marijuanamoment.net

Bill Directing Federal Health Officials To Track Testing For Marijuana And Other Drugs In Hospital ERs Set For House Vote This Week

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill this week to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how prevalent drug testing for marijuana, fentanyl and other drugs is in hospital emergency departments. The legislation, which cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a unanimous 46-0 […]

Sep 14 • 11:17 AM EDT • Health • marijuanamoment.net

Mahomes' Commitment To Rehab Started With Surgery Choice

Sep 14 • 9:48 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

BioMarin appoints Robert Plenge to its Board and Science & Technology Committee

BioMarin appointed Robert Plenge, M.D., Ph.D., to its Board of Directors and to the Science and Technology Committee, effective September 10, 2026.Original SEC Filing: BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL INC [ BMRN ] - 8-K - Sep. 14, 2026This is an AI-powered summary. It may contain inaccuracies. Consider veri…

Sep 14 • 9:33 AM EDT • Science • tradingview.com

Skinbetter Science Advances Retinoid Science with New AlphaRet Clinical Findings During National Retinoid Week

skinbetter science, the creator of National Retinoid Week and the #1 dermatologist-recommended retinoid brand, continues to lead the evolution of the retinoid category as it kicks off its third annual National Retinoid Week with new clinical findings that further demonstrate the brand's commitment to advancing retinoid science, innovation and education.

Sep 14 • 9:33 AM EDT • Science • finance.yahoo.com

Testimony of Brian Blase before the United States House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust — "Examining Healthcare Markets: Fraud and Competition"

Government has created incentives to maximize subsidies while weakening incentives to improve productivity and compete for patients.

Sep 14 • 9:00 AM EDT • Health • paragoninstitute.org

PRC approves Welcome Hall at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

The Permit Review Committee has approved plans for a new Welcome Hall and entrance to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry at 5700 S. Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Located on the Chicago Park District-owned lakefront site, the museum occupies the last surviving building from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The building has undergone several major changes since the fair, including a 1990s renovation that added underground parking and new visitor facilities in front of the historic structure.

Sep 14 • 8:30 AM EDT • Science • chicago.urbanize.city

Manchester United Target Signs New Contract At Newcastle

Manchester United may have to look elsewhere in their search for a new left-back after one of their reported summer targets committed his long-term future to Newcastle United.Lewis Hall was high on Ma...

Sep 14 • 6:45 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

AI apocalypse warnings: Market parallels that offer hope for humanity

As AI leaders warn of catastrophe, public pressure is spurring safety commitments and offering a lesson from post-2008 markets.

Sep 14 • 5:50 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

Husted political committee got nearly $500K from a bank he worked for while in office

Then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he was joining a bank's board for the experience, not money. It gave his political committee nearly $500,000.

Sep 14 • 3:55 AM EDT • Politics • ohiocapitaljournal.com

Lewis commits to Purdue Baseball

BRAZIL, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Northview junior shortstop Quinn Lewis has officially announced his commitment to Purdue Baseball. Lewis batted .429 for the Knights last season, helping lead Northview to a sectional title.

Sep 14 • 12:28 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Select committee calls for bill to address AI threat to human rights

A cross-party group of MPs and peers identifies human rights risks that existing laws appear not to cover.

Sep 13 • 11:23 PM EDT • Politics • bbc.com

Wyman Duggan committee picks up six-figure check from Aubrey Edge ahead of potential Jax mayoral run

Rep. Wyman Duggan is expected to run for Jacksonville Mayor, and he just got a big contribution from the company of a local CEO who would like to see

Sep 13 • 6:45 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com

Interim Report: Joint Committee on Health

The Joint Committee on Health met this evening. The Committee first heard from the Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank interested in the benefits of psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in some mushrooms that can enhance mood, thinking, and perception. It has a low potential for abuse…

Sep 13 • 6:34 PM EDT • Health • blog.wvlegislature.gov

Steuben to celebrate fall with Harvest Hootenanny

The Steuben Shenanigans Committee has organized a Harvest Hootenanny at the Steuben Ball Diamond on Unionville Road on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sep 13 • 4:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • ellsworthamerican.com

Sen. Gallego: Fetterman is a ‘committed Democrat’

Sep 13 • 10:32 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Roger Goodell reiterates NFL’s ‘patient’ approach to prediction market partnerships

The NFL has been noticeably slow to hitch its wagon to the prediction market business, and that is intentional. Late last year, the NFL submitted written testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, which oversaw a hearing on prediction markets. The league noted the lack of “guardrails” on prediction markets, and called out so-called…

Sep 13 • 9:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

2026 Vanderbilt Football Mailbag #3: Call For Submissions

Post VANDERBILT Football and/or SEC Football questions in the comments here. In the predictions post before the game, I wrote: I really want to live in a world where we kick off the training wheels of our offense, commit to one QB, have that QB be Curtis E. Bear The Courtesy Bear, and absolutely blow […]

Sep 13 • 7:50 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

HRC 63 | From resolution to reality: Ending harmful health care practices against intersex persons

Join us on 15 September for a Human Rights Council (HRC63) side event to discuss how to move from commitments on paper to changes that intersex people can experience in their lives

Sep 13 • 7:33 AM EDT • Health • ilga.org

South Hadley school staff win pay raises as health costs, override loom

SOUTH HADLEY — The four units of the South Hadley Education Association (SHEA) have ratified a new three-year contract with wage increases for all staff just three months after many of its members demonstrated against the School Committee’s proposal in June. The units are currently in the second year of the contract after the 254 […]

Sep 12 • 3:29 PM EDT • Health • gazettenet.com

WUD Wellness Committee event promotes mental health, wellbeing education amidst semester start

The University of Wisconsin Wisconsin Union Directorate Wellness Committee hosted a new event titled The Amazing Wellness Race Sept. 24 outside at Union South. The event was a collaborative effort from University Recreation & Wellbeing, Mental Health Services and Badger Recovery. The Amazing Wellness Race is a participatory, educational mental health and wellbeing fair, with...

Sep 12 • 1:44 PM EDT • Health • badgerherald.com

Niko Kovac admits Borussia Dortmund struggled after Champions League night

Niko Kovac believes Borussia Dortmund felt the effects of their Champions League commitments during the early stages of Saturday's 3-0 victory over Paderborn. Dortmund came into the fixture just four...

Sep 12 • 12:36 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Louisville basketball adds NKU transfer LJ Wells

It’s the middle of September and Pat Kelsey and company are still active in the transfer portal. LJ Wells, a 6’8 power forward who played the last four seasons at Northern Kentucky, has committed to play for Louisville in 2026-27. Wells is the namesake plaintiff in the ongoing Wells vs. NCAA case in Jefferson County Circuit Court […]

Sep 12 • 11:24 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Nebraska commit suspended for remainder of senior season

Nebraska football commit Jailen Hill was suspended for the rest of his senior season earlier this week.

Sep 12 • 6:15 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

The politics and possibilities of ‘AI could kill us all’

I found myself fielding a lot of questions from folks who don’t usually talk much about AI this week. They were mostly along the lines of “do you think AI is going to kill us all?” or “how worried should I be about this human extinction stuff?” Motivating this wave of existential anxiety was the highly dramatic resignation of now-former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who quit his job while publicly sharing his concerns about safety practices at the leading AI companies. More specifically, he declared that almost everyone at OpenAI and Anthropic, the leading AI labs, believes that there’s a decent chance the AI systems they’re producing could “kill us all” by the end of the decade, and the companies aren’t “acting responsibly.” Other AI safety researchers, including those still employed at Anthropic and OpenAI, all confirmed that yes, Coxon is correct, they’re all worried that their company’s products might prove fatal for the entire human race as well. Two more AI employees quit and joined the chorus. Now, the warning shot has been covered everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to Fox News to WIRED to the Guardian. I understand why all this sounds scary, but my response to those who have asked, has generally been: No, you don’t need to worry that AI will kill go rogue and kill us all. But that does not mean we shouldn’t worry, period. Far from it. The companies building AI products are now among the wealthiest and most powerful entities in the world. And they very much are building enormous engines of mass surveillance, extraction, and automation. They can and have allowed their AI systems to carry out felony hacks of other companies, provided the government with autonomously generated kill lists, and sold enterprise technology to firms around the world that is explicitly intended to replace jobs. But “AI” has done these things not because they have all-powerful minds of their own but, ultimately, because people have programmed, calibrated, and directed them to. In other words, it’s not AI we need to worry the most about. It’s the people and corporations working to profit from and gain power by deploying it. The technology is sophisticated, sure, and, especially in cybersecurity contexts, potentially disruptive to plenty of existing systems. But if we want to stop this predatory, profiteering, and extractive form of AI—and it’s worth noting that at this point, most people do—we absolutely can. A quick note/plea: I can only do all of this with the support of readers like you, so if you find value in independent, critical tech journalism and analysis, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. I want to keep as much of this un-paywalled as absolutely possible, and I need your support to do so. Many thanks to all who continue to chip in, it’s very much appreciated. Onward. Subscribe First, some context: AI industry folks like Coxon have been discussing the prospect that AI will destroy humanity for years. Even before the beginning of the AI boom, many working in the industry, from the executive staff to the rank and file researchers, have obsessed over ‘x-risk’, or the possibility that AI will become sentient or semi-sentient and move one way or another to exterminate humanity. This is ostensibly why Elon Musk bankrolled OpenAI in the first place, and is the grounds for his lawsuit alleging OpenAI betrayed its charter by abandoning its nonprofit status to become a commercial enterprise. Many AI engineers and startup founders have calculated their own personal p(doom), or the probability that the tech product they are working on will initiate an actual humanity-extinguishing apocalypse. 10-25% p(doom)s are pretty common. (I wrote about a long weekend I spent among these folks at one of their top conferences here, to give you an idea of their ideas and belief systems.) Sam Altman himself drove the narrative of the imminent rise of a super-powerful AI, or artificial general intelligence, to prominence by declaring that the technology he was building posed an existential risk to humanity. This idea is in other words baked into the DNA of modern AI companies and into the products they engineer. It’s also why the industry is routinely accused, by myself and others, of “doom marketing,” ie, using such proclamations and framings to impart the sheer power of the technology behind your product onto investors, partners, consumers, and the state. Some ambient understanding of this tendency may have helped prevent the press from repeating the claim every time one of the x-risk folks made it over the years, including when they quit their jobs at AI companies while doing so. Yet Coxon’s AI x-risk alarm has broken containment, as they say, and has exposed the idea to the mainstream media once again. This has happened, I think, for a number of reasons. First, when AI CEOs were going around saying AI might kill everyone in 2023, their companies were well-capitalized, but not nearly to the extent they are today. They were more easily dismissed as eccentric geeks of the sort that Silicon Valley is supposed to produce. Now, not only do their products have much greater market saturation, but people are more aware of a) the often unethical ways the executives and companies comport themselves b) the other adverse impacts of AI that have already arrived, and c) the physical cost of building these systems, particularly when it comes to data centers. Finally, toss in the constant stream of headlines in 2026 about AI models going rogue or potentially upending the world’s infrastructure. [ ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) [ With the backlash to data centers, Flock and AI glasses, a mass opposition to big tech is underway. Silicon Valley is in denial. ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) Brian Merchant · Aug 27 [ Read full story ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) As a result, general sentiment was already overwhelmingly skeptical of AI and its overlords, so the table was pretty well set for someone to come along and say ‘just a reminder, the companies that are building the product that promises to take your job and leave a data center in your neighborhood also think that it might exterminate the human race’ and get a strong reaction from the media and the public. The question is: Should we understand this stuff as hype, strategically fanned to feed already swelling valuations? Is it doom marketing? Genuine cause for alarm that the infrastructure that undergirds modern life is facing a novel threat vector? Or reason to be sincerely worried that AI companies are amassing too much power, and that their products are genuinely dangerous? The answer, I’m afraid, is “yes.” Let me try to untangle all of this a bit, because arguments over how to navigate this moment are extremely heated right now, as they are essentially arguments over how to approach the politics of AI at a moment where there may be a unique opening for action. Those sympathetic to AI alignment concerns and x risk arguments—which increasingly includes a faction on the left who want to shut down AI over safety concerns—argue that people who dismiss AI as all hype have their heads in the sand. Meanwhile, critics of the x-risk narrative—which I might note includes a cadre of investors and tech folks on the right, too—argue that it is hype and can be used to further inflate valuations or for pursuing regulatory capture. The challenge is that many feel that dismissing AI as just hype or purely marketing also diminishes the urgency of taking on the AI industry as the novel and threat to labor, civil society, and the public sphere it is; others that by accepting the industry’s own terms, we imbue it with undue power and enable it. But let’s be clear: Declarations that AI is so powerful it might end the world are a kind of marketing, and anyone who says otherwise is just as off base as those who say that’s all that it is. If you don’t think that these sub-trillion dollar companies have higher-ups who noticed that when their founders talked about super-powerful dangerous AI they got spikes in media interest and phone calls from investors, or that those founders didn’t notice that themselves, and lean into certain narratives to advantage their products, then I don’t know what to tell you. Not all marketing is a Pepsi ad campaign with a celebrity spokesperson. Yet confronting the AI industry should certainly be considered an urgent project. Do I share the x-riskers’ fear that out-of-control, super-intelligent AI agents might end the world? I do not. I’ve read a good deal of AI extinction literature over the last couple of years and I have not come across a credible, step-by-step documentation of how exactly AI might move from self-recursively improving AI to killing every single human on the planet. Most of what I’ve read seems predicated on a sort of reverse Ian Malcolmian logic: Eventually, it becomes smart enough and AI, uh, finds a way (to exterminate humanity). Are the AI companies also overstating and dramatizing what their products can do? Yes, pretty much all the time. They’re in a knife fight for market share and are trying to win customers and government contracts before their investors come knocking. And yet. They have concentrated enormous amounts of compute, have extensive data collection and surveillance capacities, have inserted themselves into the state in numerous capacities, including military kill chains, and they are being run by egomaniacal billionaires who are rushing to monopolize an entire new market. The way I think about their most recent frightening-seeming exploits is not as a “swarm of rogue AI agents building a new civilization” or whatever, but as corporations with a hitherto-unimaginable amount of compute at their disposal recklessly experimenting with automation programs, completely unafraid of any repercussions because we have been unwilling or unable to impose any on them. So I think we should welcome any newfound imperative to hold them accountable. I also think that ultimately, the AI critics, Pause AI folks, leftists, doomers, effective altruists, and, honestly, most of the public, want a lot of the same things: legitimate checks and limits on AI companies’ power, actual transparency into what the companies are doing, and for more of AI to be under public control. (Ultimately, a lot of what animates the x-risk fears are rooted in just that: a fear of losing control.) How we move towards all this, exactly, is the question of the day, and while there’s much to be argued over in terms of building a viable political platform to challenge the AI industry’s power, I do want to cast a vote against one particular approach. Not to pick on Chris here, as there are a lot of folks out there proposing stuff like this, and the policy ideas actually stem from AI safety groups. But not only would this be challenging to land politically (I can already hear the ‘China will beat us to AGI’ calls) and all but unworkable in practice, this approach is a) far too limiting, b) fails to address the current harms caused by AI and c) would likely only wind up serving Anthropic and OpenAI; it’s what regulatory capture looks like in action. Full model transparency is the floor for what should be on offer here. If these companies believe their products will kill us, the very least we deserve is to know how. It’s in the public interest. I would also argue we might get a lot of the way to stopping any currently envisioned robot apocalypse simply by forcing AI companies to assume liability, and to submit to the full brunt of the law. If Sam Altman were liable to be charged with a felony for approving the hack on Hugging Face1, if Google was forced to pay defamation fines each time it published a false and injurious AI Overviews, these companies might suddenly find cause to restrain their models’ output, and we might hear less about rogue AI. We would need to introduce new frameworks and available tools for tracking automated lawbreaking, to be sure, but I’d wager that little would frighten the AI companies more than actually being held accountable for what their products enable. To that end, Illinois has passed an AI liability law, which the industry fought tooth and nail, and Florida is considering one. The next steps would be towards moving AI under public control; again, it’s only reasonable, since everyone, not just AI insiders, should get a say over how a technology whose developers say might kill us is developed and deployed. Dismantling the whole industrial project as currently structured should be on the table, too, pending democratic input. But that’s for another post. For now, suffice to say that while I won’t be losing any sleep about an AI-enabled extinction event, Mr. Coxon and co. have given us an opportunity to underscore the urgency of the clear and present damage AI companies are doing, the extreme power they wield and the extent to which they hold themselves unaccountable, and the abundance of political capital there is out there for taking them on. Subscribe 1 Purely speculative! I do not know if he did or not.

Sep 12 • 3:59 AM EDT • Politics • bloodinthemachine.com

Once again, North Carolina is in the national political spotlight.

As your trusted source for news and analysis, WUNC is committed to serving you with the resources you need to make informed decisions about your daily life, including those that relate to your health.

Sep 12 • 12:14 AM EDT • Politics • wunc.org

Iowa business group endorses GOP candidates, skips governor's race

The political action committee for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry endorsed Republican candidates in several statewide races but did not make an e

Sep 11 • 7:39 PM EDT • Business • cbs2iowa.com

Judge Releases 1999 Murder Defendant Amid Health Issues

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted a homicide defendant’s unopposed motion for release on Sept. 11. George Mudd, 72, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder, with aggravating factors of being especially heinous or cruel while committing or attempting to commit a robbery. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the […]

Sep 11 • 5:39 PM EDT • Health • dcwitness.org

CF Montréal's Alexis Sánchez fined by MLS Disciplinary Committee

By MLSsoccer staffThe MLS Disciplinary Committee has the following rulings following Matchday 25 of the 2026 season.Sánchez finedThe MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined CF Montréal forward Alexis S...

Sep 11 • 4:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Ways and Means to Consider Crypto Tax, Health Bills Next Week

The House Ways and Means Committee is eyeing a Wednesday markup on legislation that includes tax and health care, according to multiple people familiar with the panel’s plans.

Sep 11 • 3:52 PM EDT • Health • news.bgov.com

Armor Health Remembers September 11 and Reaffirms Commitment to Public Safety

/PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Armor Health (Armorhealthcare.com) joins Americans across the country in remembering...

Sep 11 • 3:24 PM EDT • Health • prnewswire.com

Identical Twins Once Had the Perfect DNA Alibi. Here's How Forensic Scientists Found a Way Around It

There was a time when criminals with identical twins could commit serious crimes and still get away with them.

Sep 11 • 1:24 PM EDT • Science • zmescience.com

House Panel Weighs Energy Costs as Small Business Demand Grows

House subcommittee hearing reveals energy policy clash over small business costs. Experts debate resource needs and opportunities. Read the latest.

Sep 11 • 12:49 PM EDT • Business • legis1.com

Fetterman’s GOP convention appearance raises questions about his political future

Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) surprise video appearance at the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) first-ever midterm convention is roiling Democrats in Washington, who are growing ex…

Sep 11 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • thehill.com

Thomas J. Garry

Thomas J. Garry, chair of Harris Beach Murtha’s management committee, is an attorney leader in economic development and public finance on Long Island and across downstate New York.

Sep 11 • 1:00 AM EDT • Business • libn.com

Postpartum politics: What it means to run for government as a new mum

Victorian Greens candidates Nina Crawley and Lini Fernando reflect on their experiences running a political campaign just months after giving birth. From the challenges and compromises to the support networks that wrapped around them, and why showing up vulnerably in public space matters. Subscribe In 2024, when my second child was four months old, I decided to run for local government. Fast forward two years, I am again four months postpartum, with my third child, and this time running in the state election. But this time has hit differently. Going through pregnancy, birth and postpartum while being a political candidate has had a more profound and personal impact than I ever expected. I reached out to my fellow Greens candidate for the state election, Lini Fernando, who gave birth 20 days before me, and her experience closely mirrored mine. Postpartum has its own unique challenges that we’ve not seen reflected in stories about women running for office. When people discuss the “juggle”, they’re usually talking about the practical mechanics of looking after small children - childcare arrangements, pumping schedules and logistics. As mums of multiple children, we were both aware of the logistical changes and difficulties that accompany giving birth and the months after. We assumed that combining this with running for election would be hard, but that we could organise our way out of any problems. What neither of us anticipated was the intense vulnerability that comes with putting yourself into the spotlight of a state election campaign at a time when you are physically exhausted and navigating things like breastfeeding and feeling like a stranger in your own body. There have been challenges that neither of us anticipated. Firstly, needing to buy new clothes because the supportive leggings that are a staple of the postpartum wardrobe weren’t going to cut it for community events. Lini held her first fundraiser - a trivia night - just three weeks postpartum. A business-casual wardrobe, several sizes bigger than pre-baby, was needed, and fast. As women, how we look is closely scrutinised, and the internalised fatphobia is loud. We are conditioned from our earliest days to believe that our appearance is tied to our worth, and taught how we are allowed to show up in public. Women who dare to put themselves into the spotlight also receive more abuse than their male counterparts, including criticism of their appearance. To stand in front of members of your community and try to convince them that you’re the best person to represent them in parliament is a challenge in and of itself. To do it with leaking breasts, a pelvic floor that could betray you at the first sign of a sneeze, a body that still feels unfamiliar, and with half your hair falling out (hello postpartum hair loss!) is another thing altogether. It requires courage, allowing yourself the grace to be vulnerable in public, and the belief that showing up, however imperfectly, matters. And the vulnerability isn’t just physical; it also includes factors like having to ask a campaign team to accommodate the realities of having a baby. Asking for help is hard, and it’s a skill that both new parents and hopeful political candidates need to become comfortable with. Parents understand the disappointment that comes when a call for help or connection is rebuffed, like a friend cancelling a much-needed coffee. That rejection is amplified for political candidates calling dozens of people each week. Many people don’t realise running for Parliament, when you aren’t the incumbent, is a volunteer role supported largely by other volunteers who have to squeeze volunteering in around their paid work. Calls need to be made and meetings held after work hours - usually during “witching hour” (5-8 pm), that special time of night when babies cry for no reason. I found that I was struggling to make these commitments, or having to tap out and ask for them to be rearranged. When I spoke to Lini, we realised that she had had a similar experience, this push-pull of being the candidate and wanting to show our faces at meetings and help recruit new volunteers at ‘calling parties’, but also being the only people who could settle our newborns. Sometimes we could merge the two worlds; Lini and I realised that we had both attended 7:30pm meetings online, sitting in a dark room, struggling though breastfeeding and settling our babies. Although we’re both committed to breaking the stigma around breastfeeding, it can be hard to keep your composure while trying to feed a young baby as they try to latch, spew and fuss. Ultimately, Lini and I agreed that showing up vulnerably in public space matters. Leaders should possess empathy and understanding for those who feel raw and in transition; from the dad who just got evicted to the teen who acquired a disability - anyone who feels they aren’t the version of themselves they expected right now. The patriarchy tries to tell us otherwise, but women shouldn’t have to wait until they’re ‘recovered’, no longer vulnerable, before they feel entitled to participate in public life. In fact, we could all benefit from our leaders being a little more vulnerable. *This piece was cowritten, but has been presented in the first person for the sake of style. About the authors Nina Crawley is former teacher and community organiser who now works in human rights and inequality advocacy for a non-profit. She’s a mother of three keen to get back to running as soon as her pelvic floor allows! She’s contesting the seat of Ivanhoe for the Greens in this year’s state election. Lini Fernando is a lawyer working in diverse areas of law including anti corruption and public law. She’s a mother of two and a gardening and good policy enthusiast. She is currently contesting the seat of Croydon for the Greens in this year’s state election. Thanks for reading Cheek Media Co. ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share

Sep 10 • 10:31 PM EDT • Politics • cheekmedia.substack.com

Business leaders demand action, plan from Seattle mayor on public safety

SEATTLE — Seattle business leaders asked Mayor Katie Wilson and the Seattle City Council to commit to a series of demands on public safety on Thursday, including increasing police patrols

Sep 10 • 9:28 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com

Business leaders demand action, plan from Seattle mayor on public safety

SEATTLE — Seattle business leaders asked Mayor Katie Wilson and the Seattle City Council to commit to a series of demands on public safety on Thursday, including increasing police patrols

Sep 10 • 9:28 PM EDT • Business • hanfordsentinel.com

Business leaders demand action, plan from mayor on public safety

Seattle business leaders asked Mayor Katie Wilson and the Seattle City Council to commit to a series of demands on public safety on Thursday, including increasing police patrols and clearing encampments in some areas. The letter, signed by 35 local...

Sep 10 • 8:40 PM EDT • Business • seattletimes.com

Indiana business climate, one-stop shops for storm victims, ICE in Indy, Amazon lawsuit

Gov. Mike Braun spoke to hundreds of regional government and industry leaders in Muncie Thursday, highlighting the state’s commitment to growing business, jobs and wages and commending the economic momentum

Sep 10 • 7:01 PM EDT • Business • thestatehousefile.com

Narbonne High's appeal to reduce football playoff ban is denied

City Section Executive Committee votes 6-4 to keep three-year football playoff ban for rules violation involving Narbonne

Sep 10 • 5:33 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Annual POLS-a-palooza connects students with political science opportunities

DeKALB – The political science department hosted their annual POLS-a-palooza event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday outside Cole Hall. Students explored a variety of political science-related programs, organizations and career opportunities. The organizations tabling included the Pre-Law Honors Society, the Political Science Student Advisory Committee and Kappa Alpha Pi, a pre-law and government...

Sep 10 • 5:10 PM EDT • Science • northernstar.info

Real Madrid star agrees new contract

A member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid has reached an agreement with the club on the terms of a new long-term contract.The Blancos star set to commit his future to the club over ...

Sep 10 • 3:45 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

An uplifting season - Illinois Times, the capital city's weekly source of news, politics, arts, entertainment, culture

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not much of a sports fan. The idea of the Women’s Professional Baseball League playing its inaugural season in Springfield was interesting as a historical happening. But it was not until Lucky Horseshoes Chief Storyteller Jamie Toole spoke at our neighborhood association meeting that I committed to going […]

Sep 10 • 2:21 PM EDT • Politics • illinoistimes.com