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World Cup Roundup: Co-Hosts USA And Canada Make History
Here is everything you might have missed from Day 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trump admin must restore displays at national parks by July 4, judge rules
Federal judge orders exhibits and signs on topics like slavery and climate change that were removed be put back at parks and monuments by July 4th.
Trump administration must re-install exhibits on slavery, climate change and other topics at national parks, judge rules
President Donald Trump last year directed the Interior Department to make changes to parks, monuments and memorials to address any “false revision of history.”
EAST TEXAS POLITICS: Texas ag commissioner contacts White House over USDA screwworm handling
Sid Miller criticizes federal response to New World screwworm outbreak
EAST TEXAS POLITICS: Texas ag commissioner contacts White House over USDA screwworm handling
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the USDA’s response to the New World screwworm on this week’s edition of East Texas Politics on East Texas Now with Blake Holland. Smith County Pct. 3 Commissioner J. Scott Herod, a cattle rancher and owner of Cut Beef in Tyler, also appeared on the program. Plus, State Rep. Cody Harris talks data center water usage.
Texas Tech officials address sports betting controversy surrounding transfer QB Brendan Sorsby
Texas Tech University Athletics' top leadership released an unprecedented 21-minute video defending quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s court-ordered return to the field, framing his permanent NCAA gambling ban as a matter of recovering from a medical addiction.
Murray State Athletics to add five new sports programs
MURRAY, Ky. -- Five new sports will be offered by Murray State Athletics, getting approved by Murray State Board of Regents at its quarterly meeting Friday morning.
Trump administration must restore history, science materials at parks, US judge rules
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to reinstall exhibits and signs touching on topics like slavery and climate change that it had removed from parks and monuments nationwide.
Todd Young talks World Cup geopolitics, Section 702 — and 2028 - Live Updates
Between World Cup matches, Young weighs a looming surveillance fight and the GOP's next generation of leaders.
Trump administration must restore history, science materials at parks, US judge rules
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to reinstall exhibits and signs touching on topics like slavery and climate change that it had removed from parks and monuments nationwide "that do not align with its preferred narrative."
What Genres and Streamers Won 2025? And Who Lost? Plus Six Strategy Thoughts
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Okay, time for the tenth and final article in my ten-part series recapping 2025. As I wrote two articles ago, my barometer for whether these articles are worth writing/publishing is whether they yield strategic insights, and once again, every subsection in this article has a strategic takeaway (or two). Honestly, these are the most important takeaways, since I step back and look holistically at the streaming wars in 2025. After I declare which streamers won and lost the year and which genres won and lost the year, I have six bonus thoughts. If you’d like to review the whole series... You can find the film flops here and here. You can find the TV shows flops here and here. You can find the top films here. You can find the top TV shows here, here and here. Then I declared my winners and losers in various categories here. You can find my 2024 recaps here. You can find the 2023 recaps here and here. And my 2022, 2021 and 2020 are all stored here. Yeah, it’s halfway through the year, and I’m just finishing this series up now. This year, I tried to space things out to not clog up my writing calendar, plus I had to wait for Fallout to (finally) drop off the charts. Well, that ended up pushing this series wayyyyy too far back on the calendar. Oh well. Next year, the goal will be to finish this series in March, but frankly, I just need more staff to make that happen. So please subscribe. Or, if you’re an advertiser (movie studio, FYC firm, or other), please reach out. Subscribe Streamer of the Year: Netflix Honorable Mention: Paramount (and CBS) So, just last week, I wrote about how Netflix has lost seven of its top twelve scripted shows in the last year. And I shared two very dour looks at Netflix’s potential slowdown this year and last. Guess what? They’re still the number one streamer in America. In 2025, they dominated new streaming shows (even if most of those new hit shows aren’t coming back for future seasons), they had the two biggest films, and they had the top returning TV show by a mile. The world is complicated, nuanced and messy. There may be warning signs of a future Netflix slowdown, but in 2025, Netflix was still the number one streamer. Note what I didn’t say? That Netflix has “won” the streaming wars, because obviously the streaming wars are still ongoing and, more importantly, YouTube is still growing—so now YouTube has “won” the streaming wars?—while Netflix’s share of TV consumption has stalled out. Avoid simplistic talking points, especially if they’re constantly repeated and could fit on a bumper sticker. I had trouble picking the second-place streamer this year, because all of the candidates for second place—Prime Video, HBO Max, and Paramount+—had some hits, but no one stood out. Then I saw this update from Nielsen on the top shows on TV in the 2025-206 season. Sure enough, Netflix had five of the top ten shows! And they had ten of the top 31 shows and fifteen of the top fifty. But CBS/Paramount+ actually had more shows in the top thirty and the top fifty. Paramount+/CBS had twelve of the top thirty shows and nineteen of the top fifty. Let me emphasize that: CBS/Paramount+ had more top shows in the 2025-2026 season than Netflix. And this look was just for TV shows, not live sports, an arena Netflix barely plays in. Meanwhile, Paramount-Skydance’s market cap is a fraction of Netflix’s. That’s weird, right? Streaming Loser of the Year, TV… We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… ...what streamer lost the year in TV... …whether Netflix could win the title for “film” streamer too… …who won the Disney vs Warner Bros. battle for theaters… ...what TV genres won and lost the year... ...what film genres won and lost the year... ...what film genre people think is thriving on streaming but isn’t… …why F-BOSSS TV shows don’t hold the same sway in the 2020s… …what it means to “flop” as a film on streaming… …UK shows underperforming on streaming… And a lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you’d like to read more about why you should subscribe, please read this article about the Streaming Ratings Report, why it matters, why you need it, and why we cover streaming ratings best.
Politics Unusual: NYC Schools Chancellor investigation, city budget conversation
In this episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay peaks with Andrew Rein, the president of the Citizens Budget Commission, about a potential finalized budget deal for New York City. Also, a conversation with Madina Touré, an education reporter at Politico, about the allegations the Schools Chancellor is now facing.
Drought advisory, Social Security and career paths: CT politics news
Plus: A new tenant union in Meriden is part of a growing movement of renters that has been gaining political power in Connecticut.
Runoffs provide Trump’s next big GOP tests: From the Politics Desk
Plus, deal or no deal with Iran?
DC Wrap: U.S. and Iran have apparent breakthrough in talks
A look at the day's biggest stories in national politics
DC Wrap: U.S. and Iran have apparent breakthrough in talks
A look at the day's biggest stories in national politics
Einstein’s Lost Theory Said Gravity Changes Speed of Light and a New Experiment Claims It Was Right
New claims challenge inconsistencies in one of the foundational principles of physics.
Have politics finally come for the National Academies of Science?
A pending report on climate attribution may be setting the stage for conflict.
Energy Secretary Takes Heat in First House Science Hearing
Democrats used the opportunity to challenge the department’s decision-making on a host of science topics, including Genesis, clean-energy projects, and last year’s Climate Working Group report.
Ugly scenes in Belfast expose a broken politics
Letters: Readers respond to nights of rioting in the city fuelled by anti-migrant rhetoric
Anglers Blame Politics As Wisconsin Cuts Back On Stocking Game Fish
With two state hatcheries closed, musky, walleye and brown trout numbers are on the chopping block.
FAMU Places 141 Student-Athletes on 2025-26 SWAC Commissioner's Honor Roll
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Florida A&M University placed 141 student-athletes on the 2025-26 Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, the league office announced.
FAMU Places 141 Student-Athletes on 2025-26 SWAC Commissioner's Honor Roll
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Florida A&M University placed 141 student-athletes on the 2025-26 Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, the league office announced.
Seniors with UnitedHealth Medicare Advantage may lose access to Fairview hospitals, clinics
Once again, the Minneapolis-based health system notified 11,000 patients by email this week about changes that would happen in 2027. The Minnetonka-based insurer calls the message a “scare tactic.”
Iowa politics: Watch KCCI's full sit-down interview with GOP gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn
KCCI's Amanda Rooker sat down with Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn following his primary win June 2. Watch the full interview.
Senate panel sets markup on college sports bill
The Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled the markup of a bipartisan measure that proposes sweeping changes to collegiate athletics and has the backing of President Donald Trump. The panel is expected to take up several amendments at the markup on June 18, including one aimed at protecting non-revenue sports. Some athletics departments in recent years […]
Political scientist Daniel Smith recognized for scholarly contributions
The award recognizes a political scientist who has made “a significant lifetime contribution to the study of politics and policy in the American states.”
'Heated Rivalry' tops Television Critics Awards nominations — and, yes, its leading men are going head to head
'Heated Rivalry' leads the 2026 TCA Awards nominations with dueling bids for Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. See the full list.
Politics, Pressure, Polymarket: Inside UFC’s $60M White House Spectacle
After many twists and turns, UFC is grappling its Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of the White House into reality.
Weekly Portland women’s sports wrap up (6/12)
Weekly Portland women’s sports wrap up (6/12) presented by Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery.
Trump's grand sporting season begins with UFC fights on White House lawn
U.S. officials hope to use the momentum from these events to promote the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Undersea Cables and the Material Politics of Digital Connectivity
A review of Samanth Subramanian, “The Web Beneath the Waves: The Fragile Cables That Connect Our World” (Columbia Global Reports, 2025).
Defending migrants, Pope Leo calls for ‘legal’ paths, a nod to fraught politics
As he finished a seven-day visit, Pope Leo articulated a fuller position on migration, including the “right” of nations to protect their borders, that his critics often ignore.
Brian Bille Appointed General Manager Of Learfield’s Mississippi State Bulldog Sports Properties
Learfield, the exclusive multimedia rights holder of Mississippi State Athletics, has announced Brian Bille as the General Manager of its locally based team,...
Latest News In AI Chips - AI-Powered Shift: Transforming Data Into Business Intelligence
Treasure Global Inc. has secured a US$15 million contract to develop an AI-powered Social Listening Platform for Creative World Industries, emphasizing the growing demand for AI systems that convert digital data into actionable insights. This platform leverages machine learning and NVIDIA-powered infrastructure to provide real-time sentiment and trend analytics across various sectors. The deployment underscores a trend in the AI chips industry towards enhancing real-time decision intelligence...
Stunning Moon sculpture unveiled at Royal Observatory Greenwich
'Mirror Moon' has been created by the British artist Luke Jerram
Sheriff Grady Judd's nod hands Kevin Steele another edge in crowded CD 14 GOP Primary
Polk Sheriff's endorsement adds to Steele's sweep of Tampa Bay law enforcement and Cabinet support.
France followed to World Cup by home politics after Mbappé’s swipe at far right
Platini among former players to accuse captain of creating distraction as Deschamps defends captain’s right to speak
Art, not politics, explains the achievement of ‘Death of a Salesman’
Liberals say Arthur Miller’s classic, thriving on Broadway, indicts capitalism. No, it captures human pathos.
How the Dangerous Rise in Anti-Immigration Politics Went Mainstream
Violent unrest after a stabbing in Northern Ireland showed the extent to which the far right has taken hold in the U.K., as well as in Europe and the U.S.
How the UFC conquered Trump's Washington
The UFC and Trump have forged one of the most successful cultural alliances in modern politics.
How the UFC conquered Trump's Washington
The UFC and Trump have forged one of the most successful cultural alliances in modern politics.
China arrests US researcher it says is suspected of ‘spying’
Beijing's Foreign Ministry confirms US reports about detention of scholar focusing on politics of neighbouring Myanmar.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis developers used gen AI to get "the right answers faster", Crystal Dynamics explains
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis developers Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog used gen AI to create placeholder assets to assist with visualisation.
Frisco Mayor’s Race Tests Anti-Muslim Politics in Texas
A runoff in the Dallas suburb of Frisco is testing whether anti-Muslim rhetoric, prominent in G.O.P. primaries this year, can win over a broader set of voters.
Men's Hockey lands 24 Atlantic Hockey America All-Academic Honorees
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Twenty-four members of the RIT Men's Hockey team were named to the 2025-26 Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) All-Academic Team, Wednesday.
Science fiction? Musk's lofty SpaceX goals unrealistic, skeptics say
Elon Musk's SpaceX has made awe-inspiring achievements since its founding more than two decades ago and has big ideas—colonies on Mars, orbital AI data centers, rapidly reusable rockets—for the future.
Pope Leo’s visit lays bare Spain’s tangled politics of faith and migration
The American pope's message underlines the rift between his Catholicism and that of Spain's far right.
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, Knicks, T20, Giro and Serena Williams
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, cycling, tennis, motor sport, basketball and athletics?
The diplomacy and realist politics of the World Cup
FIFA reflects international tensions while continuing to provide one of the few arenas where nations can compete without resorting to force.
Is There Any Room for Politics in Judicial Impeachment? The Moliné O’Connor Case in the Inter-American System of Human Rights
--Emiliano Vitaliani, Fox Fellow, University of São Paulo; LL.M., Yale Law School The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (ICtHR) is currently consid
UFC White House and the Billionaire Alliance Monopolizing US Politics, Sports, and Entertainment
https://youtu.be/lEodBu8wALc?si=hkfmpX0f3prZm1SU
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.
Entertainment, politics have always mixed in America, historian says
From colonial pamphlets to TikTok videos, entertainment and politics have always intersected in American life.
Entertainment, politics have always mixed in America, historian says
From colonial pamphlets to TikTok videos, entertainment and politics have always intersected in American life.
South Korea’s ex-President Yoon gets 30 years over drone operation
Seoul court sentences former leader for sending military drones into North Korea.
China Has Arrested U.S. Scholar Who Studies Myanmar Politics
The arrest of U Min Zin, a graduate student at U.C. Berkeley and founder of a research group in Myanmar, took place soon after President Trump met with Xi Jinping in China.
The White House UFC event is a perfect storm of fight culture and US politics
Joe Rogan calls it a ‘gimmick’ but Donald Trump says it will be ‘great for America’. Welcome to the White House UFC event.
USA Today columnist says United States has already 'lost' the World Cup because of politics, Donald Trump
USA Today columnist Nancy Armour claims the 2026 FIFA World Cup reveals America as a hateful nation, inaccurately blaming Trump and ticket prices.
Politics Chat, June 11, 2026
A newsletter about the history behind today's politics.
Maryland Athletics Broadcast & Production Unit Nominated For Six Capital Emmy & Sports Video Group Awards
University of Maryland Athletics
Politics: West Virginia’s children deserve better
A couple of state senators spoke in preparation for this weekend’s interim committee meetings and site tours at Canaan Valley State Park about what they hope to see addressed by the state and their colleagues. Both Sens. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, and Jay Taylor, R-Taylor, told WV MetroNews they are hoping for work toward reform of […]
Kushner’s Island Dream Gets Caught Up in Albanian Politics
Protests against his luxury developments have morphed into an anti-establishment movement.
How Revolutionary Politics Make Art and Spirituality, Better
What if I told you, there’s a dynamic combination of art, politics and spirituality? One that fits our needs. One that fits this moment. It is Mass Line politics and American Romanticism.
College sports bill authors making pitch to Black caucus
The authors of a Senate bill that would overhaul college athletics warned this week that a lack of congressional action this year could financially wreck historically Black colleges and universities and could reduce chances for college educations for minority students. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said they […]
Should the Patriots trade wide receiver Kayshon Boutte?
Share your thoughts in this week’s Patriots fan survey.
DC Wrap: Trump cancels Iran strikes and reveals his intel chief pick
A look at the day's biggest stories in national politics
When the World Cup and war collide: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the House Republicans who bucked Trump on the Epstein files meet their political fates.
The Politics Hour: The final countdown to the D.C. primary and Virginia lawmakers stall over the budget
WAMU's Alex Koma and Washington Informer's Sam P.K. Collins get us ready for the D.C. primaries. Plus, Virginia Delegate Vivian Watts weighs in the data center tax breaks stalling budget negotiations.
Kuumba Olympics, which aims to make sports accessible, to kick off Friday
The Kuumba Olympics in Evanston provide sports access to students, support Camp Kuumba, and honor educators. Over 300 athletes participate.
Florida Chamber rolls out first wave of legislative endorsements
The pro-business group largely backed incumbent Republicans alongside a handful of Democrats.
Wellston Industrial Park to Transition to Manufacturing, Logistics Business Park
City of Wellston, County LCRA working with THO Investments on project Working together, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (LCRA), managed by St. Louis…
Talking Central Florida: DeSantis vs. Disney
On a recent episode of Talking Central Florida, Gabrielle Russon from Florida Politics discusses her recent piece, “The Untold Story of Ron DeSantis vs. Disney.”
MIT affiliates win 2026 Hertz Foundation Fellowships
Three MIT students and an incoming graduate student have won 2026 Hertz Foundation Fellowships. The fellowships in applied sciences, engineering, and mathematics recognize doctoral students who are pursuing solutions to the most pressing challenges in science and technology.
‘Bad policy and even worse politics’: DeSantis spurns potential White House AI preemption
The Trump administration’s longstanding opposition to state AI laws ultimately killed legislation in Florida, and now Gov. Ron DeSantis fears policies in other states could fall by the wayside.
Exclusive | Waymo Readies First National Ads as Rivals and Critics Proliferate
Alphabet’s driverless car service seizes the World Cup stage to try to humanize its technology.
Editor's Note: The Difference Between Politics and Party Labels
As we prepare for the 2026 general election cycle, it’s worth questioning why some offices are partisan and others aren’t As I worked on this week’s story on who’s running […]
Star Fox designer "choked up" by graphics in new Nintendo Switch 2 remake
Ever since it was announced, Star Fox has been drawing plenty of attention thanks to its unusually realistic visuals – a style not often associated with Nintendo titles. The impressive presentation has already left many fans eager to see more of the game ahead of its June 25 launch on Nintendo Switch 2. As of this week, players have been...
AI boosts Lazer Logistics' efficiency in yard management
Lazer Logistics' AI tool, Uncle Phil, revolutionizes yard management by providing site managers with Phil Newsome's decades of logistics expertise.
Whoopi Goldberg collapses live on “The View ”in shock over Knicks game
The EGOT-winning actress displayed her latest feat of feigned unconsciousness at the Hot Topics table.
Dwayne Johnson on Cancer Scare, Not Talking Politics and Oscar Snub
Dwayne Johnson admits he wishes he got an Oscar nomination for 'The Smashing Machine' and reveals a recent cancer scare.
Politics overshadow North America’s ‘unity’ World Cup
Political sparring, visa issues and expensive tickets have lingered over a tournament that was pitched with the overarching theme of unity.
Small Town Politics: Ray City councilwoman questions mayor’s utility billing practices
In a public memo to WALB, a Ray City Councilwoman questioned the Mayor's practices when it comes to city utilities.
Seattle tumbles in ranking for best U.S. cities for foreign businesses
The ranking is based on metrics important to foreign investors, including business environment, workforce talent and trade war resilience.
7 Postbiotic Foods to Help With Gut Health
If you’re interested in a healthy gut, nutritionist Jo Woodhurst says postbiotics should be on your radar.
The Rock talks politics, says Trump should 'sit down' with Springsteen
In a new Esquire interview, Dwayne Johnson touched on politics and said President Donald Trump and Bruce Springsteen \
Gregg Jarrett: Banking discrimination based on politics is illegal
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett explains that banking discrimination based on political or religious beliefs violates federal and state laws.
Today on ARC PDX | June 11, 2026 | Diving into how politics and policy shape the World Cup
ARC PDX AM digs into World Cup politics and global tensions, from Iran conflict to US immigration policy. Plus, Portland council debates turning the River District Navigation Center from 24-hour to overnight-only.
Using AI for medical advice; pelvic floor exercises; the hidden dangers of burning incense; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
Colin Walsh, MD,Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics, was on WTVF News Channel 5‘s “Morningline” show in an interview about whether or not it is safe to use AI for medical advice. Time magazine reporter Stacey Colino interviewed Elisabeth Sebesta, MD, Assistant Professor of Urology, for a story about pelvic floor exercises for issues including menopause, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence in men. “Each Breath,” published by the American Lung Association, quoted Brian Christman, MD, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, for a story about the hidden dangers of burning incense. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted by several news outlets about public health issues, including: Healthline (low vaccination rates lead to more cases of measles, whooping cough and other preventable diseases); ABC News (U.S. measles cases surpass 2,000 for second year in a row); and CIDRAP News (high-dose flu shots cut rates of hospitalization in older adults). Sarah Rohde, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, was quoted in a People magazine story on patient Makalii Andrade, a surfer from Kauai Island who suffered a serious neck injury in 2022 and recently underwent surgery at Vanderbilt Health to begin the final phase of his recovery. James Crowe, MD, Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics, for a piece in Nature about antibodies against a strain of Ebola. SFGATE reporter Gillian Mohney interviewed Xue Zhong, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Division of Genetic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, for a story about a study of a blood test looking at Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. Matthew Franklin Mart, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, was quoted in a Healio story about how inflammation and illness severity is linked to less cognitive resilience after a person has been an ICU patient. The “How We Really Feel” podcast host Sula Windgassen, PhD, interviewed Lindsey C. McKernan, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Urology, for an episode focusing on pelvic and bladder health. The podcast is also available on YouTube and the podcast website. In addition, podcaster Monica Sanford interviewed cardiologist Mark Glazer, MD, for her podcast “The Monica Sanford Show”; the two-part interview is here and here.
The New Republic of Science
The scientific community functions as a republic—with its own governance of rules and norms, internal politics, and relationships with the states and publics that fund it.
Benedictine Sports Information recognized by NAIA-SIDA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Benedictine College Sports Information Office was recognized this week with four awards announced the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA). The honors come from the 2026 NAIA-SIDA Publications & Media Contest.
Scientists Explored an Island Cave and Found 1 Million-Year-Old Remnants of a Lost World
A New Zealand cave revealed million-year-old fossils of ancient birds and frogs, showing extinctions began long before humans arrived.
Parade politics: Collins and Wu-backed challenger Gayle mount-up for summer contest
The contest for First Suffolk Senate got more interesting last week when Mayor Wu back a challenger to Sen. Nick Collins.
Five things to know about women and sport
Women's sports are on a winning streak, reaching new heights and shattering records. From the 2024 Olympics achieving gender parity to the growing audience for women's sports, there is much to celebrate and explore. Yet many gender gaps remain. Here are five key things to know about women and sport:
From Illinois politics to entrepreneur museum: A founder’s $400 million bet
John Tillman, who founded the libertarian think tank Illinois Policy Institute in 2002, is trying to raise $400 million to build a national museum for entrepreneurs called Hall of Giants
The U.S. and Iran Stumble Back Into War | WSJ Politics Newsletter for June 11
Plus, the dilemma facing women in Maine, and Bill Gates testifies to Congress over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Social Security is Facing a Political Crisis
On Tuesday the Social Security Trustees released their latest report on the system’s finances. The numbers didn’t change much: Unless something is done, the Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, Social Security’s official name, will be unable to pay full benefits starting in either 2032 or 2034, depending on some technical issues. That’s not far away: If the Trustees are right, the prospect of a Social Security crisis will loom over the next presidential administration. It’s important to understand, however, the nature of the looming crisis. It won’t be an economic crisis. It won’t even be a serious fiscal crisis. Whatever you may have heard, Social Security isn’t in danger of going bankrupt. What we’re facing, instead, is potential political crisis. Congress and the White House could easily take action to sustain America’s retirement system. But given the current state of our politics, there’s no guarantee that they will. There is a widespread misunderstanding of how Social Security works. While Social Security was designed to look like a pension fund, it isn’t. A pension fund pays benefits out of a stock of assets it has accumulated over time. In contrast, Social Security operates as a government transfer program, like food stamps or Medicaid. Now, unlike food stamps — but like the highway trust fund — Social Security is on paper supported by a dedicated tax, the payroll tax, that is assigned to that program. But I say “on paper” because from an economic point of view assigning the payroll tax to Social Security is just an accounting convention. What matters for the U.S. economy is the overall balance between government spending and government revenue, not the difference between one type of spending and one source of revenue. So there’s no inherent economic significance to the fact that by 2034 payroll tax receipts will be insufficient to cover promised benefits. There is, however, a legislative issue. As long as the Social Security Administration can pay benefits out of payroll taxes and its cash reserve, there’s no need for Congress to vote each year to authorize benefits — they just keep going out until further notice. However, once those resources become insufficient, benefits will fall —by 17 percent according to the Trustees — unless Congress passes new legislation that “tops up” Social Security’s finances. Yet the current administration and Republican party are such extremists that there is a real risk that Social Security will be held hostage on behalf of their goals. If this should come to pass, the hostage-takers will claim that shoring up Social Security is unaffordable. Right on cue, Mike Johnson, the Trump-sycophant Speaker of the House, declared on Monday that “entitlement programs” like Social Security “have to be adjusted and fixed,” and that Republicans will introduce a plan to that effect next year. But this is a ploy, because while the cost of maintaining Social Security benefits at their promised level isn’t trivial, it is in fact affordable. According to the Trustees’ report, the actuarial balance of OASDI up through 2050 — the amount of additional funds it would need to keep paying full benefits for the next 25 years — is 1.06 percent of GDP. To put that number in perspective, the Trump administration proposes increasing military spending next year by $420 billion, equivalent to about 1.4 percent of GDP – without any discussion of whether that’s affordable Yet how did we get to the point where Social Security will need to be topped up? The main answer is that we have an aging population, with a growing ratio of retirees collecting benefits to workers paying into the system: Trump’s anti-immigration policies are making this problem worse. According to the Trustees’ report, lower immigration will deepen Social Security’s financial hole because many immigrants are working-age adults who will pay into the system for decades before they collect benefits. In fact, this problem may be much bigger than the report acknowledges: The report’s baseline assumption is that we’ll have net immigration of almost 1.2 million people a year, and even the pessimistic case assumes 750,000 a year. Meanwhile actual net immigration has already been cut far below that — and may now be negative. Moreover, Social Security is being financially damaged by growing income inequality in America. Payroll taxes are levied only on wages up to $184,500, and they don’t touch capital income. With the distribution of income increasingly shifting from labor to capital, as well as becoming more unequal among wage-earners, revenue from the Social Security payroll tax has been falling as a share of national income. From 1990 to 2024, it fell from 5.02 percent of gross domestic income to 4.46 percent. Which brings me to the question that, these days, we ask about everything: How might Social Security be affected by the advent of AI? A short answer: If, as many of us fear, AI accelerates rising income inequality, it will further reduce the payroll tax receipts that currently pay for Social Security and further endanger its finances. On the other hand, if AI, as its advocates promise, leads to faster economic growth, it will increase the potential tax base that could and should be used to support Social Security and other social insurance programs. But to take advantage of that larger base, we’ll have to get serious about taxing wealth and capital income. Is Social Security in trouble? Yes, but only because of the way its financing is currently structured — a structure that no longer works well because our society and economy have become so unequal. Moreover, Trump’s immigration policies are further endangering its already deteriorating financial condition. So don’t believe Republicans’ gaslighting that it will be necessary to cut Social Security benefits. All that is necessary to preserve Social Security is political will to raise taxes on the wealthy and a sensible immigration policy. MUSICAL CODA Actually 67 under current law.
UTRGV Sports Medicine Adds Muteba Dikanda as Assistant Athletic Trainer
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the addition of Muteba Dikanda as an Assistant Athletic Trainer.