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Chicago police issue alert for string of business burglaries, armed robbery on Northwest Side
Chicago police issued an alert on Sunday about a string of business burglaries and an armed robbery on the city's Northwest Side.
Q&A With 3 Star Edge Troy Mailo
Happy Sunday Husky fans. I’m sorry this is late today but I’m in Hawaii having some family time. I got the chance to talk to 3 star edge Troy Mailo from Mullen HS, CO about his recruitment and interest in UW. Mailo is rated as the 42nd best edge in the country and besides UW […]
Health care costs are cannibalizing the economy — consumers can fight back
American health care costs are cannibalizing the economy, with 2024 national health expenditures reaching $5.3 trillion, double the developed-world average, and hidden prices being the main reason …
Pixel 10 Pro Laughs at Profit Margins With $250 Off Sale
Pixel 10 Pro deal sends it to $200 off, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL drops by $250. We talk quite often about how you should never pay full price for any of the Pixel devices made by... #Deals #Google
These Are The Best Car Tires Of 2026, According To Consumer Reports
Of the millions of components that make cars go and stop with performance and comfort, tires are the only ones that actually touch the road.
New Guide Aims to Improve UTI Care as Telehealth Use Grows
By I. Edwards HealthDay ReporterSUNDAY, Feb. 1, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, send millions of Americans to urgent care every year. But today, many people no longer see a doctor in person. Instead, they message their clinic, use video visits or fill out online forms to get antibiotics, sometimes ...
The best new popular science books of February 2026
Readers are spoiled for choice when it comes to popular science reading this month, with new titles by major names including Maggie Aderin and Michael Pollan
Amid FBI investigation, Trump's 2020 election obsession is still shaping Georgia politics
The FBI search of a Fulton County election office isn't the only sign that Trump's loss six years ago is echoing through Georgia. Just look at the race for governor.
Food and football from the campaign trail (Politics+) : The NPR Politics Podcast
In today's bonus episode, Don Gonyea (national political correspondent) and Deepa Shivaram (White House correspondent) each share the "most" fun politics story they've worked on. Deepa talks about working on her "dream" assignment during the 2024 presidential race. Don recalls a reporting trip during the 2012 presidential campaign where he ended up at a high school football game. He says it was "one of the best nights of his life." Listen to find out how you can submit a most-type question for us to answer in a future bonus episode! To unlock this and other bonus content, and get sponsor-free listening, sign up for NPR Politics Podcast+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Regular episodes haven't changed and remain available every weekday!
High school basketball: Saturday's scores
CIF City Section and Southern Section high school boys' and girls' basketball scores for Saturday's games.
Chargers named potential landing spot for game-changing speedster
The Chargers were named the best landing spot for this home run threat.
Our daily picks of fun things to do in Cincinnati this week, Feb. 2-8
If you're looking for the best events happening in Cincinnati, you're at the right place. Find your next concert, game, festival or family event.
LIVE! Watch UFC 325 Post-Fight Presser Here
With UFC 325 officially in the books after an exciting night (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) of action LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, fight fans can check out the post-fight press conference video above for all the best reaction and official bonus winners. Remember, there’s a new post-fight bonus system in place for 2026. […]
Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL draft profile: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Is the Alabama quarterback the second best option in this year's class?
Ken Burns describes how current politics ‘rhymes’ with the American Revolution: Full interview
Filmmaker Ken Burns joins Kristen Welker in a “Meet the Moment” conversation to dissect America's origin story and argues democracy was an “unintended consequence” of the American Revolution.
This IG Page Collects Funny Dating App Screenshots And These 43 Are The Best
People say that dating is hell nowadays. But after you look at these hilarious interactions on Hinge, you might change your opinion. There's no shortage of funny people on dating apps, and Bored Padna has collected the most interesting screenshots of unhinged and sweet chats to show you that not all has been lost in the dating scene. Fails, Funny
How Blazers can shake up Giannis trade sweepstakes, much to the delight of Bucks
Portland is the single team in basketball best equipped to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo... if it can convince him to stay
Detroit Red Wings buried by Avalanche goals early, often
Detroit Red Wings score: Goalie John Gibson had little chance against a dominant Colorado attack that scored five goals for an NHL-best 17th time.
Pirates 'firmly second best' in Doncaster thrashing
Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle says his side were "firmly second best" as they lost 44-12 at Doncaster in the Champ.
Premier League picks: Tottenham vs. Manchester City betting odds, expert bets
SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer has locked in his best bets for Tottenham vs. Manchester City on Sunday, Feb. 1
Warriors trying to persevere as rampant trade speculation swirls with NBA deadline looming
The Golden State Warriors are doing their best to focus on basketball as rampant trade speculation swirls with the NBA deadline just days away.
Video: Watch LFA's best fight finishes from January 2026
With finishes in two-thirds of its fights in January, the LFA remained about the most consistent home for MMA stoppages out there.
The 4 best wired earbuds for super-reliable sound, tested by editors
Wired earbuds can offer superior sound quality, and they never run out of battery. Here are the four best pairs our editors found after years of testing.
We're a week away from the Opening Ceremony: From the Sports Desk
The opening ceremony is next Friday. Let the Games begin.
Why a healthy Fordham should concern the rest of the A10
The Rams boast some of the best defensive computer metrics, and they were fully on display in a home win over La Salle
Lindsey Vonn withdraws from super-G race a day after crash, no update on Winter Olympics status: 'Doing my best right now'
The 6-6-6 Walking Challenge Is Going Viral for Weight Loss and Other Benefits. Does It Work?
Discover whether the latest fitness trend is safe and effective.
Takeaways from Tallahassee
FSU students, fans and alumni can say, without blinking, ‘we are the best’: the Honors Program.
Flew 9 hours in Europe's 'best' airline economy cabin; food impressed
Turkish Airlines is considered the best airline in Europe. Besides a few complaints, I get the hype — and I'd actually recommend eating the food.
Commentary: Catherine O'Hara remembered in 10 indelible roles
The Canadian actor was a versatile performer whose decades-long career took her from a comedy troupe to box office and television hits.
Improving Marquette aims for first road win at Seton Hall
After its best overall performance of the season, Marquette will bid for its first road win of the season when it travels to Newark, N.J., to face Seton Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Epstein files release raises key question for Trump administration: From the Politics Desk
Plus, a Democratic divide in California with 2026 and 2028 campaign implications.
Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez Praises ‘Amazing’ Seahawks Star Before Super Bowl
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez will have his hands full during a marquee matchup that could sway Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. New England’s red-hot defense must find ways to slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Levi’s Stadium. The 23-year-old has blossomed into arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver during his third season, […]
2026 CBK, Heisman, Tennis Odds: Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s Expert Picks, Best Bets
“The Bear" is back with a few futures best, as well as a wager on one of his favorite sporting events, the Australian Open.
NotebookLM's Best Feature Is Finally Available On iOS And Android
NotebookLM has proven to be an incredibly popular AI tool for Android and iOS users, and now it's finally getting its most requested feature.
4 of the best crowdfunding platforms for businesses
Crowdfunding platforms let large pools of people pledge small amounts of money to help you reach a fundraising goal.
Theo Rossi, Mario Van Peebles & Derek Wilson Sink Teeth Into WeBros’ Vampire Island Thriller ‘Young Blood’
EXCLUSIVE: Theo Rossi, Mario Van Peebles and Derek Wilson are headlining the Ari Schlossberg directed and written vampire island feature Young Blood currently shooting in Key Largo, Florida. The trio join previously announced Myles Truitt, Madison Wolfe, Marley Aliah, Genneya Walton, Alex Aiono and Mitchell Hoog in the WeBros Entertainment production. Young Blood follows three college best friends who …
Sad News in the Entertainment Industry-actress Catherine O'Hara, has passed
Sad News in the Entertainment Industry-Catherine O’Hara, an actress best known for her roles in Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek, Beetlejuice, and The Studio has sadly passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends, and fans. #catherineohara
Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘Home Alone’ actress, dies at 71
The beloved actress received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television at this year's Golden Globes.
Official Samsung Galaxy S26 series renders leak, putting to rest all the rumors
This is your best look yet at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 phones.
Scientists discover molecule in space that hints at origin of life
A 13-atom molecule containing sulfur has been discovered in interstellar space for the first time, providing insight into the origins of the chemistry of life.
Kylie Kelce’s Advice for Sports Parents Can Be Summed Up in 2 Words
"It's so hard to get officials for sports nowadays because of the parents and their feedback."
Kylie Kelce’s Advice for Sports Parents Can Be Summed Up in 2 Words
"It's so hard to get officials for sports nowadays because of the parents and their feedback."
Review | The best movies of 2026 so far, according to critics
“Arco,” “The Testament of Ann Lee” and “No Other Choice” make our evolving list of 2026’s best films.
9 Fruits With the Most Soluble Fiber for Lower Cholesterol and Weight Loss
Soluble fiber has special health benefits, including helping to lower cholesterol and keeping blood sugar steady. Try these fruits high in soluble fiber to meet your daily needs.
The best new science fiction books of February 2026
We pick the sci-fi novels we’re most looking forward to reading this month, from a new Brandon Sanderson to the latest from Makana Yamamoto
I'm a Pro Photographer and Xiaomi's 17 Ultra Leica Phone Looks Amazing
Commentary: This phone packs some key camera upgrades that make it a contender for one of 2026's best camera phones.
Gut Health Docs Always Start Their Day With This 1 Drink
In TODAY.com's Expert Tip of the Day, gastroenterologists share how they start their mornings.
Champions League's best playoff matches: Mourinho returns to Madrid
The UEFA Champions League playoff draw took place on Friday, here's what to look forward to
Lindsey Vonn airlifted from course after crash in final downhill before the Olympics
Vonn lost control when landing a jump in a World Cup race held in difficult conditions with low visibility and ended up tangled in the safety nets on the upper portion of the course.
Milan Cortina 2026 events calendar
The 2026 Winter Olympics are here. Follow all the Milan Cortina Olympic action and track upcoming calendar events before they happen so you'll never miss a beat.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Wake up to the best in Florida politics — Sunburn!
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Gen X and millennial inheritance could take a hit due to health care costs and taxes
Generation X and millennials who may be receiving an inheritance from the previous generations may be receiving less than expected due to health care costs and taxes, according to experts. NBC News' Brian Cheung breaks down how this will impact the younger generation.
Gambling could become a mental health crisis for teen boys
A new report from Common Sense Media found that more than a third of boys ages 11 to 17 have gambled in the past year. NBC News Now Daily anchor Kate Snow joins the "Here's the Scoop" to discuss the rise in gambling among teenage boys and why some experts worry it could cause a mental health crisis.
Eugene business owners grapple with decision to open or close for Friday’s general strike
The general strike protesting federal law enforcement crackdowns leave business owners contemplating what action is best: close in solidarity or stay open to be of service.
U.S. News recognizes Loyola's online Master of Science in Data Science
Loyola University Maryland’s Master of Science in Data Science was named one of the “Best Online Master’s in Info Tech Programs for 2026" by U.S. News & World Report, ranking No. 34 out of 106 universities chosen for the list. Loyola rose 17 spots after ranking No. 51 last year.
The race to avoid another shutdown: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Tom Homan's new approach in Minneapolis.
Several Bellingham businesses will close Jan. 30 for nationwide ICE protest
“It’s time to speak up in the best way to make our government listen: the money in their pockets.”
No. 21 Saint Louis faces Dayton, seeking 15th straight win
Nearing the halfway mark of conference play, No. 21 Saint Louis is well on its way to having the best season by an Atlantic 10 team since Dayton's 29-2 campaign in 2019-20.
Philadelphia Phillies Get New Health Update on Zack Wheeler
The Philadelphia Phillies have built their recent success around a rotation that’s typically one of the best in baseball, but entering the 2026 season, particularly when it comes to ace Zack Wheeler, there are ways Philadelphia will have to navigate without him.
Best of gameday entertainment from 2025
Take a look back at the best shots of gameday entertainment from the 2025 season at Allegiant Stadium.
On Her 72nd Birthday, Oprah Shares Why She Loves This 1 Workout
This type of movement is essential for healthy aging, she says.
Xevant Named a 2025 Modern Healthcare Best in Business Company for AI
Xevant, a leader in real-time pharmacy benefits intelligence, today announced it has been named a 2025 Modern Healthcare Best in Business company in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) category. The recognition honors healthcare suppliers and technology partners whose innovations delivered measurable impact across the healthcare ecosystem in 2025.
The Nex Playground is everything Xbox Kinect wanted to be
The Nex Playground brings motion-tracked games to the entire family. Consider it the best of the Xbox Kinect in a tiny box.
1 'Powerful' Habit For Heart Health That's Not Exercise
In TODAY.com's Expert Tip of the Day, a cardiologist reveals a habit that has the heart-healthy benefits of exercise, but can be done while sitting in place.
Tomodachi Life™: Living the Dream for Nintendo Switch
Buy Tomodachi Life™: Living the Dream and shop other great Nintendo products online at the official My Nintendo Store.
The Joy Rematch: How can sports win over non-fans?
How can sports leagues attract non-fans? Download The Joy Rematch to see how leagues can secure this untapped market.
Small businesses in Portland, Maine, navigate ICE protest challenges
Some small-business owners in Portland, Maine, are debating how best to support staff and customers amid a federal immigration crackdown.
How much B6 is safe? What to know about the supplement found in energy drinks
Poisoning caused by too much of the popular nutrient is rare, but cases are ticking up. Experts warn that people may not be aware they’re getting too much.
Why I decided to share all my health information with ChatGPT Health
“I don’t think people should have to go through 18 years of brain cancer to understand their own health records,” writes Liz Salmi.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Grab a cup of joe and the best in Florida politics — Sunburn
Rep. Ilhan Omar points finger at Trump's 'hateful rhetoric' after town hall attack
The man accused of carrying out the assault has social media accounts that include multiple photos in support of Trump and criticizing Democrats. The FBI is investigating.
Tim Walz says he'll never seek elected office again
The Minnesota governor unexpectedly announced this month that he wouldn't run for re-election.
Prosecution requests July 1 state trial for Mangione in health care executive's killing
Defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione, charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, said the date is unrealistic with a federal case also pending.
Josh Shapiro accuses JD Vance of giving 'comfort' to right-wing antisemitism
The Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, is on a book tour promoting his memoir, which highlights his Jewish faith.
Online Gambling Corrupts Sports—And Americans, Too
The legalization of sports betting, especially at the college level, is a corruption not only of athletics and of education but of American society in general.
How Trump decided to shift his strategy in Minnesota: From the Politics Desk
Plus, tensions between the U.S. and Iran are ratcheting up again.
U.S. health officials monitor deadly virus
Authorities in India have confirmed two cases of nipah virus, often carried by fruit bats. The CDC says it is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist as needed. NBC News’ Raf Sanchez has more.
'Halide' Co-Founder Sebastiaan de With Joins Apple's Design Team
Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the popular iPhone camera app Halide, today announced that he has joined the Human Interface Design team at Apple. "So excited to work with the very best team in the world on my favorite products," he said. This marks a return to Apple for de With, who previously worked on things such as iCloud, MobileMe, and the Find My app. He has also completed design work for other companies, such as Sony, Mozilla, Oracle, HP, and EA, in the past.
'Miracle on Ice' players discuss political climate heading into Winter Olympics
Mike Eruzione says the country needs a unifying moment: "We could use an '80 now."
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth under new ownership, and the transaction is made-for-TV drama
Bridgette Bello’s departure from the magazine turns out to be more than what it seemed.
Some of ‘Star Search’s’ biggest losers became megastars. Can the revival live up to its past?
Aaliyah, Britney and Beyoncé famously lost when they appeared on “Star Search” back in the day. Those who bested them look back as a new reboot takes off.
How to watch NASCAR races on FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Sports App
Check out the best ways to watch NASCAR action on the FOX Sports family of networks in 2026 for the Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
Super Bowl 2026 TV deals: The best sales ahead of kickoff
From sub-$500 sets to high-end OLEDs, you can save on a new TV ahead of this year's big game.
Women's College Hoops Spotlight: Georgetown Coach Praises 'Best' UConn Team
FOX Sports' Laken Litman breaks down Georgetown coach Darnell Haney's eyebrow-raising comments after UConn throttled his team.
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D Review - The Best Just Got Better
The AMD Ryzen 9850X3D builds on the already excellent 9800X3D without trying to shake up the market. Instead, it focuses on refining what already works. AMD delivers modest improvements with smarter tuning, and the same cache magic that gamers love. Thanks to a reasonable price increase, this processor will be a no-brainer pick for future high-end gaming rigs.
Patriots LT Will Campbell trending up ahead of Super Bowl
The Patriots’ left tackle had his best game of the postseason in the AFC Championship Game.
National Institutes of Health Need Agencywide Strategy to Prioritize and Fund Pediatric Research, Says New Report
Childhood health is foundational to lifelong well-being. A new National Academies report makes recommendations on how NIH and Congress can best support pediatric health research and improve health outcomes through childhood and beyond.
Night Owls Have Worse Heart Health, Study Finds
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Jan. 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Do you prefer to stay up late, living it up through the night while everyone else is snoozing away? You might be doing your heart health a disservice, a new study says. Middle-aged and older night owls appear to have ...
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Ashley Capps named one of SPIN's 2026 most influential people in music
Ashley Capps, who created Big Ears and co-founded Bonnaroo, has enriched countless people by bringing them music from the world's best artists.
People who naturally stay up late may have worse heart health than early risers
Adults who described themselves as night owls, especially women, can minimize risks with healthy lifestyle behaviors.
The best and worst states to start a business in 2026
'It’s crucial to establish your business in a state that will maximize your chances of success,' one analyst said.
Why some hospitals are making their own ChatGPTs for patient records
Some large health systems are building their own AI-powered chatbots to make it easier for their clinicians to query patients' health records.
DePaul's mission: Replicating home success at Georgetown
DePaul is off to its best start in Big East play since 2015, but there's still opportunity for improvement.
Auburn, Texas clash in wake of wins over ranked opponents
Host Auburn has won three straight games and has seemingly found its stride but will need to be at its best when enigmatic Texas comes calling on Wednesday in a Southeastern Conference contest.