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A new poll shows who Americans trust over the CDC
The new findings come after the Trump administration in January took the unprecedented step of overhauling the CDC’s routine childhood immunization schedule.
Civility, Federalism, and the Future of American Politics
In a week that could easily have been defined by division, the penultimate session of the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting offered something increasingly rare in American public life: two politicians, from opposite ends of the political spectrum speaking candidly about friendship, shared purpose, and the urgent need to rebuild trust in democratic institutions. Moderated by Laura Collins, Director of the […]
What to know about the ongoing antitrust trial against Live Nation
The time has come. After years of ticketing scrutiny, the Department of Justice's antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation started its trial this week. Here's what's at stake.
Brewing Better Health Episode 3: What Respect Makes Possible with Karla Wagner
Karla Wagner, Ph.D., joins Dean Muge Akpinar-Elci, M.D., MPH, to discuss harm reduction, trust and respect in public health.
Digital Science Partners with HERSA to Build Security, Integrity and Trust in UK Research
Digital Science and HERSA are partnering to boost research security and integrity for UK universities, and to build trust in science.
Digital Science partners with Higher Education Research Security Association
Collaboration aimed at strengthening research security and integrity across UK universities and supporting trust in science
Louisville officials say the clock is ticking on college athletics: 'The math no longer works'
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- You probably didn't wake up this morning worried about federal antitrust law.
Press release: Orange Business and Tech Mahindra to forge strategic partnership to accelerate end-to-end digital transformation for enterprise customers worldwide, focusing on AI, automation and secure digital platforms
Press releaseParis, 02 March 2026 Orange Business and Tech Mahindra to forge strategic partnership to accelerate end-to-end digital transformation for enterprise customers worldwide, focusing on AI, automation and secure digital platforms This proposed 5-year partnership aims to fast-track next-generation solutions for international customers by combining Orange Business’ trusted leadership in networks, platforms, cloud and cybersecurity with Tech Mahindra’s strong integration expertise and agil
7 Ways To Use Your Instinct To Grow Your Business Faster
Learn why successful founders trust gut instinct over data. Howard Schultz, Elon Musk reveal how intuition beats analytics for major business decisions.
Live Nation's antitrust trial kicks off with star-studded witness list
The Live Nation-Ticketmaster antitrust trial starts Monday. See the biggest names on the witness list — and what they could say.
How Davis Webb earned Sean Payton’s trust to call plays
Payton’s quotes reveal trust, continuity, and long-term vision behind Webb’s rise to calling plays for the Broncos.
The nuclear nightmare at the heart of the Trump-Anthropic fight
Should we trust Claude to stop a missile attack?
$2B entertainment and retail venue planned for Glen Carbon near I-270 and I-255 intersection
Glen Carbon’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously this week to establish the boundaries for a sales tax and revenue bond district for the development. The goal is creating “a premier entertainment, tourism and mixed-use destination,” according to the developer.
Here's what smart people are saying about Paramount's WBD win
Business and political leaders discuss the impact of the deal, from antitrust concerns to Netflix's big breakup fee.
Medicare spending set to nearly double in 10 years and Medicaid and ACA spending up a third, CBO says, just as Trump’s tax cut shortens its lifespan
Medicare spending alone will nearly double over the next decade, but the CBO projects its underlying trust fund will run dry by 2040.
To fight ‘inherent distrust,’ Utah lawmakers say lieutenant governor shouldn’t run elections
Following false claims of election fraud, Utah lawmakers are advancing a proposal to remove election oversight from the lieutenant governor's office.
Youth sports in CT create stress, inequality and distrust
Youth sports are not just becoming more expensive, they are more stressful, unequal, and tougher on kids' mental health.
Trump risks walking into an Iraq-style trap in Iran
Donald Trump might never have been president but for political and social backlash to the Iraq war that shattered trust in the governing establishment.
Trust SARHAchat with your reproductive health questions
Faculty and students from nursing and computer science use AI and University resources to create a free chatbot that protects user privacy.
Americans trust vaccines, school mandates, rejecting Trump agenda, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
A bipartisan majority of Americans believe vaccines are safe and that children should receive them to attend school, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, illustrating the challenges President Donald Trump's administration faces to win broad support for upending decades of health policy.
Boardman Trustee responds to recent business closures
The Primanti brothers in Boardman recently announced it has permanently closed. It’s joined by several other Boardman businesses that have closed their doors in the last couple of months.
DOJ v. OhioHealth Confirms Antitrust Enforcers’ Continued Focus on Health Care Markets
On February 20, 2026, the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (DOJ) and Ohio Attorney General (Ohio AG) sued OhioHealth Corporation (OhioHealth), alleging that OhioHealth had unlawfully…
What could Kroger Field entertainment district look like? Here are four options
During UK’s Board of Trustees meetings last week, the university provided the first glimpse of what a fan entertainment district near the football stadium could look like.
Opinion | On Youth Gender Care, Medical Associations Hurt Their Credibility
“Trust the science”? Which science?
US Regulators Plan Guide for When Business Rivals Can Share Data
The US antitrust agencies are seeking public comments to help craft new guidelines to ensure businesses can better understand when cooperation between rivals within the same industry is allowed, including when they can share data or pricing information.
Magnesium is trending, offers many health benefits.
Experts say if you're considering a supplement, talk with your doctor and choose a trusted brand that's been third-party tested.
Entertainment Is a Software Industry Now and We Might as Well Get Good at It
The Trade Desk’s SVP of Consumer Products says studios and streamers must evolve their approach and work with trusted partners who share their vision
Who is Asha Sharma? A closer look at Microsoft’s surprise pick to lead the Xbox business
Microsoft's new top gaming exec has the trust of Satya Nadella, a track record running platforms at Facebook, Instacart, and Microsoft's AI division, and a goal to protect Xbox's "renegade spirit." What she doesn't have is gaming industry experience — and the community is watching closely.
Medicare’s AI ‘modernization’ project, and the Ohio hospital antitrust battle
Would you trust AI to help you pick your Medicare plan?
Can Ssense 2.0 Work?
Ssense’s founders got buyout approval. What will the retailer’s next phase look like — and can they build back brand and consumer trust?
‘We want to rebuild trust’: fired CDC workers form group to combat Trump’s war on science
Former employees stepped up to create the National Public Health Coalition to advocate for public health after Trump’s cuts to the agency
Will MAHA turn on Trump? How his executive order feels like 'betrayal'
President Donald Trump called it a matter of national defense. But Make America Healthy Again activists say he broke their trust.
DOJ files antitrust civil complaint accusing OhioHealth of blocking patients' access to affordable healthcare
The Justice Department's civil antitrust enforcement action against OhioHealth comes a week after DOJ's antitrust chief, Gail Slater, was fired from her post.
An Unwavering Belief in Science, Creativity, and Equity: The Legacy of Dr. William H. Foege
In our bitterly partisan age, where science and public health are distrusted, even denigrated, there is a better part of America.
Would you trust AI to renew your drug prescriptions?
Would you trust AI to renew your drug prescriptions? Alex Hogan explores the question on this week's episode of STATus Report.
Fauci discusses HIV cure, renewed trust in medical research
"You know, an anti-science attitude together with an anti-vaccine attitude is not very good for the public health of the country or the world," Fauci said.
MDA Space Launches 49North, a Canadian defence business delivering multi-domain and mission-critical capabilities
MDA Space (TSX: MDA), a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today formally launched 49North, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MDA Space exclusively focused on delivering secure, multi-domain C4ISR* and mission-critical capabilities for Canada's national defence priorities outside the space domain.
U.S. plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
Washington views the online portal as a way to counter censorship, three sources familiar with the plan said.
One Year of RFK Jr. Has Left Public Health Devastated
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a lot of promises on his way to becoming health secretary. He pledged to Make America Healthy Again, of course, and to restore trust in embattled health agencies. And he said he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines.”
With Witkoff and Kushner, Trump Bets on Diplomacy Without Diplomats
President Trump’s most trusted envoys are at the center of the Iran and Ukraine negotiations, an approach that has sidelined the State Department and the National Security Council.
AI Is entering health care, and nurses are being asked to trust it
When alerts misfire or can’t explain themselves, nurses still carry the risk
Olympic curling scandal threatens to forever alter a sport built on a culture of trust
The most troubling aspect of the Olympic curling cheating accusations is that it could mark the official end of the hobbyist foundations of the sport.
NAACP asks judge to protect against 'misuse' after FBI seized of voter data in Fulton County
Georgia residents entrusted the state with their “sensitive personal information” when they registered to vote, and the Jan. 28 seizure of ballots and other election documents from the Fulton County elections hub “breached that guarantee, infringed constitutional protections of privacy, and interfered with the right to vote,” the organizations said in a motion filed late Sunday.
Bipartisan bill aims to end health conflicts and bring down costs after years of complaints in Ohio
A bipartisan bill would prohibit health giants from providing services and paying for them. It would be the biggest antitrust law in decades.
OPINION: Pathways for future scientists are becoming scarce, threatening a strong and innovative workforce
If we want a scientific workforce capable of addressing the challenges we face, we must invest in scientists long before they become scientists. That means expanding research opportunities, supporting students early and building trust with communities.
What C.E.O.s Are Worried About
Fractured politics, disruptive technologies and a distrust in institutions are making it harder to focus on the traditional tasks of growing sales and profits.
Your First 90 Days as a Data Scientist
A practical onboarding checklist for building trust, business fluency, and data intuition
Trump promised RFK Jr. would ‘restore faith in American health care.’ A year in, trust has plummeted
Trust in government health agencies has plummeted, according to health policy and research group KFF, with declines across the political spectrum. And experts told CNN that they fear things could get worse.
Sunbridge Business Park industrial warehouse project valued at $130M
VanTrust Real Estate plans to develop nearly two million square feet of industrial space at Sunbridge Business Park in southeast Orange County.
Inside Trump’s removal of DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater
Gail Slater was ousted for failing to zealously pursue Trump's affordability agenda, sources told Fox News Digital.
Sen. Rand Paul tells leaders immigration agencies have lost public's trust
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said immigration enforcement agencies have lost the public’s trust and must admit mistakes and commit to reforms, following the shooting deaths of two Minnesota residents by agents last month
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
NEW YORK (AP) — Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services one year ago, he has defended his upending of federal health policy by saying the…
RFK Jr. pledged more transparency. Here’s what the public doesn’t know anymore
Health experts say the federal government now shares less public health data, even after Robert F_ Kennedy Jr_ promised “radical transparency.”.
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust.
RFK Jr. promised to restore trust in US health agencies. One year later, it’s eroding
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reshaping U.S. health policy as HHS secretary, and doctors say his changes are eroding trust.
Restoring Trust in Science: Storytelling, AI, and Integrity in Scholarly Publishing - Oncology News, Insights, Stories by OncoDaily
On March 26, 2026, at 10:00 am ET, ISMPP U will host “Restoring Trust in Science: Storytelling, AI, and Integrity in Scholarly Publishing,” a timely webinar
Microsoft warns that poisoned AI buttons and links may betray your trust
: Businesses are embedding prompts that produce content they want you to read, not the stuff AI makes if left to its own devices
Dismissals: Health trusts taking 'punitive' approach to discipline, union says
A total of 1,834 healthcare workers across the six health trusts in Northern Ireland have been dismissed in the last five years due to breaches of, or actions taken under, attendance management policies.
Two longtime North Carolina political rivals (and friends) are 'Talking About Politics.' Plus, PlayMakers' 'Primary Trust.'
Political adversaries Gary Pearce and Carter Wrenn talk about how they became friends and why they are still talking politics with each other. Then, PlayMakers Repertory Company’s production of “Primary Trust” features a vulnerable, comedic, and heartfelt performance from its star, Nate John Mark.
Hearthstone Cataclysm Card Reveal - Ultraxion Looks Like A Must-Have For Deathwing Decks
One of Deathwing's trusty lieutenants helps to Herald your Colossal minion and reduces Deathwing's cost in one fell swoop.
Young Americans express deep dissatisfaction with how the political system works
Johns Hopkins research examining generational divides in democratic institutions finds younger respondents have the least amount of trust in political parties and elected officials to reflect their views
New survey points to falling public confidence in Trump’s public health team
Trump’s NIH director said the administration is trying to “re-establish trust in public health.” There’s fresh evidence that it’s failing badly.
NASCAR emerges from federal antitrust lawsuit bruised but ready for 78th season
The Michael Jordan-led federal antitrust lawsuit last year against NASCAR and its owners took a toll on the France family.
Behind the Baton Rouge bet that led to a billion-dollar business empire
Local auto dealer Joe Agresti built an empire with Nick Saban. So what’s next? In 2004, Joe Agresti bet everything—his life savings and his parents’ home—on a failing Mercedes-Benz dealership in Baton Rouge that had lost $600,000 the previous year. His mother was terrified. His father’s response: “Trust this guy. He’s a winner.” Two decades […]
Haveli To Acquire Budge Studios, Leading Mobile Developer of Digital Interactive Entertainment for Children
AUSTIN, Texas, February 09, 2026--Haveli Investments, L.P. ("Haveli" or "Haveli Investments"), a technology and gaming-focused private equity firm, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Budge Studios, a leader in digital interactive entertainment for children, from General Atlantic, a leading global investor. Creating positive and meaningful experiences to inspire kids’ imaginations, Budge Studios is entrusted by, and collaborates with, the world’s most recognized bran
Antitrust debate tops the college sports agenda
Despite holding a whisper-thin majority in the House of Representatives, Republican lawmakers are attempting to salvage a bill that aims to regulate the college sports business.
Making science more visible
As he enters a laboratory with saltwater pools full of fish, Luka Žuvić explains how climate change is affecting the feeding ecology and reproductive biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna, and how the species is adapting.It is a topic that may seem remote to many people. But in a country where fishing and aquaculture are important to the economy and national identity, Žuvić’s research is at the intersection of science and society. “In Croatia, marine and environmental science are closely connected to people’s lives because fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and coastal development are a big part of our lives,” explains Žuvić, a doctoral student working at the Croatian Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in the Adriatic coastal city of Split. He also serves as one of Croatia’s ambassadors to Science Comes to Town (SCTT), a European Commission-funded project that aims to make scientific research more accessible, while inspiring young people to study the sciences. The project kicked off in Spilt on 20 January with a conference attended by partner institutions, community representatives, policymakers and scientists. Along with Split, Brest (in France) and Kiel (in Germany) will host a year of activities connecting scientists with the public.Žuvić, 31, is part of the Young Researchers' Career Development Project, a doctoral programme funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. His research on Atlantic bluefin tuna builds on a foundation-backed project focusing on the reproductive potential of farmed tuna, including their sexual maturation and spontaneous spawning in captivity, which has implications for the restoration of the Adriatic Sea's natural tuna populations. He also studies the tuna's feeding ecology through stomach-content analysis, using DNA metabarcoding and morphological approaches, and employs geometric morphometrics to improve the identification of juvenile tuna and related species. The research aims to enhance understanding of the tuna farming ecology, improve fish farm management and contribute to sustainable aquaculture and fisheries research.Engaging with local communitiesConnecting with the community is crucial for Žuvić’s research. Conversations with fishermen help him better understand the bluefin tuna's habits and how marine pollution affects the fish. “They are also curious about the biology and ecology of bluefin tuna,” he says of local fishermen, adding that sharing research with non-scientists benefits everyone. “Sometimes scientific research is invisible,” he explains. “That's why we as researchers need to go out from our institutions and labs to the public so that we can show them what we are working on. This helps create more trust in the scientists and their research.”Engaging the public also raises awareness about the anthropogenic changes to the marine environment resulting from human activities and pollution. Žuvić helps remove plastic and other rubbish from the Adriatic Sea that pose a direct threat to marine species. Predators, such as bluefin tuna, are especially vulnerable to ingesting waste churned up by fishing trawlers. “They are very opportunistic fish that follow trawlers and ingest everything,” he notes. To illustrate the impact, he has shown students the contents of bluefin tuna stomachs. “Finding a plastic bottle cap in the stomach of a bluefin tuna is concerning,” he says. "Science can be a powerful way to turn curiosity into practical solutions,” Žuvić adds, and sharing research outcomes “helps increase public awareness and improve understanding of human impacts on the marine environment.”The research also has implications for Croatia's economy. The Atlantic bluefin tuna’s rich, flavourful meat is highly valued for sushi and other raw fish dishes. However, overfishing nearly brought its population to collapse by the early 2000s. Although the species has made a comeback in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, catches continue to be managed through agreements with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Croatia was a pioneer in developing commercial aquaculture as an alternative to open-sea fishing and accounts for about 10% of the EU’s farmed production of the bluefin tuna, with Japan being a key export market.A history of European collaborationCroatia has participated in Europe’s framework programmes for research and innovation since 2007, six years before officially joining the EU. Žuvić believes that EU funding and collaboration with other European researchers is vital for Croatian science. As part of the SCTT opening conference, the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, the University of Split and other local institutions were part of a science fair to showcase research on topics, such as robotics and an EU LIFE project on the protection of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean. “I hope that Science Comes to Town will help increase scientific literacy and curiosity among citizens, particularly students, and show that science is not something that is distant or abstract, but something that directly affects everyday life,” Žuvić concludes. “Ultimately, I hope that projects like it contribute to building a society that values knowledge and critical thinking, and that we can think about long-term sustainability using knowledge from science.”Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.
After decades of cars and loyal customers, a Salt Lake City auto shop closes for the last time
After decades of servicing cars and earning customers' trust in Salt Lake City, Brigham Street Service is closed. Its loyal customers have some stories to tell.
Experts Warn: The Dangerous Blur Between Science and Wellness in Mental Health Bestsellers
A marketplace where labels blur In many bookstores, titles rooted in clinical science sit inches from glossy self-help guides promising instant serenity. That proximity can make rigorous research look interchangeable with lifestyle advice, especially when everything shares the same bright displays. Readers encounter a single aisle labeled “psychology,” even when the content ranges from peer-reviewed evidence to spiritual rituals. The result is a subtle but pervasive blur, turning a complex health landscape into a grab-bag of mixed claims. Why the shelves can mislead Retail categories are built for convenience, not for methodological clarity or clinical accuracy. When “development personal” or “wellness” becomes the default bin, evidence-based psychology competes with coaching manifestos and mystical manuals. The visual language of covers—calming color palettes, confident subtitles, glowing endorsements—flattens the distinction between randomized trials and anecdotal wisdom. In that aesthetic harmony, a guide on cognitive behavioral therapy may appear no more “serious” than a book on moon manifestation. The stakes for readers and patients Confusion carries real risks, including delayed care when people self-treat serious symptoms with untested routines. Vulnerable readers—facing depression, trauma, or anxiety—may be swayed by charismatic voices over careful data. Some messages frame recovery as pure willpower, which can amplify shame when symptoms persist despite effort. Others overpromise universal solutions, ignoring cultural context, diagnostic nuance, and comorbidity. “Shelving is not neutral; it shapes beliefs, expectations, and choices.” What professionals and retailers are asking Clinicians and public-health experts argue for clear, readable signage that separates science-based mental health from broader wellness. Books by licensed psychiatrists or psychologists that cite peer-reviewed studies could be grouped under “Evidence-Based Mental Health.” Adjacent space might host reflective memoirs, coaching workbooks, or contemplative philosophy—valuable in their way, but clearly labeled as non-clinical guidance. Booksellers emphasize their dual role as cultural curators and commercial actors, noting they respond to demand while striving for quality standards. How clarity could look and feel The goal is not to police ideas, but to help readers navigate with confidence. Transparent categorization respects reader autonomy while lifting the signal of credible practice. Clear tags—such as “scientific references,” “clinical overview,” or “personal narrative”—can work like map legends, turning a maze into a route. And when a book blends modes, hybrid labels can acknowledge both insight and limitation. A practical checklist for choosing wisely Check the author’s credentials: clinical license, academic affiliation, or relevant training. Scan the references: citations to peer-reviewed journals or reputable guidelines. Look for scope limits: clear statements about who the book is and isn’t for, and when to seek care. Seek methods, not miracles: approaches tested across diverse groups, with measurable outcomes. Watch the language: be wary of absolute claims, stigmatizing tones, or one-size-fits-all promises. Cross-verify with trusted bodies: national psychology associations or public-health agencies. The publisher’s responsibility Publishers can raise the bar by standardizing disclosure on methods, sample sizes, and limitations. Editorial policies could require conflict-of-interest statements, transparent citations, and plain-language summaries of evidence. Marketing should avoid medicalized framing for books that lack clinical validation, even when sales incentives press for bold claims. When a manuscript mixes reflection with research, honest jacket copy can prevent false equivalence. Coexisting without confusion Wellness writing can offer genuine comfort, perspective, and daily habits that support well-being. Scientific texts can provide structured tools, validated therapies, and realistic expectations for progress. The aim is to let these strands coexist, while giving readers the navigational cues to tell them apart. With clearer shelves, informed labels, and modest design tweaks, we can protect reader trust—and keep the aisle both inviting and intelligent.
States’ mistrust of Trump’s fraud crusade could hinder fight against foreign influence in elections, federal officials fear
State and local election administrators’ growing suspicion of the Trump administration’s motives has triggered concerns among some federal officials that distrust of even routine moves by the FBI could hinder cooperation with states and give an opening for US adversaries trying to influence elections.
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Trust in the CDC and Views of Federal Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes
Weeks after the Trump administration reduced the number of childhood vaccine recommended for routine use, public trust in the CDC is at its lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic, and less than half are confident in federal agencies' ability to make such recommendations. Among those who have heard about the revised recommendations, more say they expect the changes to have a negative impact than a positive one on children’s health.
Jeff Bezos Knows Which Way the Wind is Blowing
He invested in disinformation and propaganda while destroying a trusted news institution.
Claude is a space to think
Anthropic explains why Claude will remain ad-free—how advertising incentives conflict with building a genuinely helpful AI assistant users can trust.
Dr. Robert Roose: Our chrysalis moment in health care (Viewpoint)
This is our chrysalis moment where transformation is paramount — to be both high-tech and high-touch, grounded in innovation and trust, driven by strategic collaborations in ways we have not seen before.
Edward Longe: Don’t hit pause — why the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger should proceed
Antitrust scrutiny should protect consumers, not block voluntary media consolidation
When Can I Trust What Scientists Say?
Claims are based on evidence, and different kinds and quantities of evidence provide different levels of confidence.
AT&T Completes Acquisition of Lumen’s Mass Markets Fiber Business
Deal extends AT&T’s industry-leading, award-winning fiber home internet service to 32 states, bringing millions of Americans the simple, seamless and trusted experience they can depend on, with the best Internet technology available today.
After Sowing Distrust in Fluoridated Water, Kennedy and Skeptics Turn to Obstructing Other Fluoride Sources
Florida and Utah have banned fluoridation, with multiple other states looking to do the same. Critics of fluoride in drinking water point to supplements as an alternative, but many are creating barriers to these very products.
Nestlé’s Chief Is in Turnaround Mode. He Drinks 8 Cups of Coffee a Day.
Philipp Navratil recently took over the 160-year-old Swiss food giant, charged with reviving growth and regaining trust after his predecessor was ousted over a scandal.
MVCC Board of Trustees to meet Tuesday, January 20
UTICA — A meeting of the Mohawk Valley Community College Board of Trustees will take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, on the Utica Campus in the Stetson
CVS Health Faces Antitrust Scrutiny As Valuation Flags Undervaluation Risk
U.S. House Judiciary Committee alleges CVS Health restricted independent pharmacies from using competing digital pharmacy hubs. The investigation cites cease and desist letters and network rule changes as potential antitrust issues. CVS Health disputes the findings and says some policies have been revised. For investors watching CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), the focus is shifting to regulatory risk around how its pharmacy network operates. The company’s shares closed at $74.52, with a return of...
New message from top Democrats: The U.S. Justice Department can't be trusted
Leading Democrats' remarks that the U.S. Department of Justice cannot be trusted hold stunning implications for American democracy, and followed a week of equally stunning actions by the department.
Opinion | In Science We Trust. Or Do We?
Readers respond to a guest essay about the methods and reliability of science. Also: Opioid addiction; judges and presidents; cursive writing.
Falcons hiring Ian Cunningham as GM: Matt Ryan tabs popular candidate to complete braintrust
The general manager role in Atlanta is like most other GM gigs across the league with one exception.
Are These Unprecedented Times for Science, Really?
A science historian looks to the past to understand our current moment, and how ghostwriting in scientific papers is harming public trust.
Opinion | A ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’ on What’s Wrong With Public Health
Jay Bhattacharya, the N.I.H. director, says authorities broke the public’s trust in the Covid era. Now it’s up to outsiders to restore it.
Opinion | A ‘Fringe Epidemiologist’ on What’s Wrong With Public Health
Jay Bhattacharya, the N.I.H. director, says authorities broke the public’s trust in the Covid era. Now it’s up to outsiders to restore it.
Health Care Costs Tops the Public’s Economic Worries as the Runup to the Midterms Begins; Independent Voters Are More Likely to Trust Democrats than Republicans on the Issue
Heading into this midterm election year, the cost of health care tops the public’s economic anxieties and more than 4 in 10 voters say the issue will have a major impact on their vote, this KFF Health Tracking poll finds.
KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 Midterms
Looking ahead to the midterm elections, health care costs are the public’s top economic concern, and many voters say the issue will have a major impact on their vote. On health care issues, including the cost of health care, voters currently trust Democrats more than Republicans, though neither party has an advantage on addressing the overall cost of living. Following the expiration of the ACA enhanced tax credits, two-thirds of the public say Congress did the “wrong thing” by not extending them.
Senate committee reviews Gov. Beshear’s budget proposal
The proposal dedicates $500 million of the budget reserve trust fund to affordable housing, rural hospital assistance and food assistance.
‘Trust, love, commitment’: Esteemed business leaders and former Notre Dame football student-athletes reflect on how to be champions of hope at Walk the Walk Week event
On Monday (Jan. 26), two distinguished business leaders and former Notre Dame football student-athletes — Tracy Graham ’95 and Byron Spruell...
UCA to launch Innovation Campus - Talk Business & Politics
The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees voted Tuesday (Jan. 27) to move forward with the development of a new “Innovation Campus,” an interdisciplinary initiative designed to strengthen workforce...
UCA to launch Innovation Campus - Talk Business & Politics
The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees voted Tuesday (Jan. 27) to move forward with the development of a new “Innovation Campus,” an interdisciplinary initiative designed to strengthen workforce...
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
The Children’s Trust announces “significant expansion” of its investment in student health
The Children’s Trust, established by voter referendum to improve the lives of families and children in Miami-Dade County, announced earlier this month that it will expand its HealthConnect in Our Schools initiative.