SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " sid " 33,618 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
I rented out my pool on Swimply to earn money after losing my business
Portland homeowner Rick Neuhoff is making money by renting out his indoor pool through the app Swimply after losing his business.
When I lost my business, I started renting out my indoor pool to earn money. Now, it's my full-time job.
Trader Joe's items for easy meals and desserts, from recipe developer
As a recipe developer, I shop at Trader Joe's for things to make easy meals and desserts. I always buy the store's super-firm tofu and Zhoug sauce.
California doesn’t need to put an ‘Out of Business’ sign on AI innovation
California should be leading the AI revolution, not regulating itself onto the sidelines.
A WA community thrived thanks to Canadians. Now it is withering.
Canadians once considered Point Roberts a haven, but now many of the residents and businesses of the Washington exclave say they fear politics are crushing the community.
Why stadium food is so expensive
Food and drinks at most sports stadiums cost significantly more than they do outside the venue, but new laws could make concessions more affordable.
Being a caregiver can be both emotionally demanding and rewarding
Careb Bien-Aime enjoyed the flexible hours and getting to help people as a home health aide while studying in college.
Being a caregiver can be both emotionally demanding and rewarding
Careb Bien-Aime enjoyed the flexible hours and getting to help people as a home health aide while studying in college.
Roberts United Methodist Church hosts Small Business and Entrepreneurship Round-Up
BATON ROUGE — The Roberts United Methodist Church held its Small Business and Entrepreneurship Round-Up event on Saturday, connecting residents to local businesses.
Par for the course: Trump forging ahead with DC golf course makeover without input from oversight agencies
Whenever President Donald Trump gets an idea for a major project or renovation in Washington, DC, a pattern has emerged: move forward and ask questions later.
Inside Sean Sweeney's Thoughts on New Job With Magic
New Orlando Magic coach Sean Sweeney joined Ryen Russillo to talk about his position with the team.
A small-business mecca in Philadelphia is leaning into World Cup fandom
World Cup boosts East Passyunk businesses in Philadelphia, leading to creative block parties despite denied city permits and limited support.
East Passyunk's businesses thrive amid World Cup permit woes
World Cup boosts East Passyunk businesses in Philadelphia, leading to creative block parties despite denied city permits and limited support.
Nearly half of Americans in poll say Supreme Court bases rulings on politics
A majority of Americans disapprove of the job the court is doing, a Washington Post-Ipsos survey finds. Still, it fares better than the president or Congress.
The New Washington Temptation: Inside Information and a Prediction Market Account
White House officials are grappling with how deeply betting on political events has worked itself into the fabric of government.
Warren Buffett's message to investors: Be careful
Warren Buffett called out widespread gambling on stocks and the huge amounts being spent on AI. He also discussed his Alphabet wager.
Superyacht private chef shares 5 food upgrades for health, longevity
Chris Demaillet was a private chef on superyachts for almost 20 years. Ultra-rich clients now expect food that's healthy and boosts their longevity.
I'm an enterprise consultant, and here's the truth about AI layoffs
Max Votek, an enterprise consultant on AI adoption, said that AI layoffs are not what they seem to be and explains the economics behind the scenes.
Inside the fight over Israel tearing Democrats on the Hill apart
When a Brooklyn coffee shop announced on social media it was banning Rep. Dan Goldman over his views on Israel, some of his Jewish colleagues in Congress wanted their Democratic leadership to weigh in.
Dodgers edge Yankees 2-1
Max Muncy hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning on Gerrit Cole’s 103rd and final pitch, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Yankees 2-1 on Friday night in their first game in the Bronx since winning the 2024 World Series. New York (54-43) dropped to 18-20 without captain Aaron Judge, still sidelined by a fractured rib. On a night with smoke in the air from Canadian wildfires, New York led on an unearned run against Roki Sasaki in the fourth.
Boston businesses hope energy from World Cup crowds can have lasting impact on nightlife
Boston's summer of major international events is nearing its finale, but businesses and residents hope the momentum will continue long after the final whistle of the World Cup.
First death reported in Upper East Side Legionnaires' disease outbreak as cases rise to 67
The outbreak has sickened 67 people with 12 hospitalized as investigators trace Legionella bacteria to dozens of cooling towers on the Upper East Side.
First Patient Dies of Legionnaires’ Disease After New York Outbreak
New York City’s Health Department is still seeking to identify the source of an outbreak on the Upper East Side that has infected 67 people.
WATCH: House Dems dodge questions on socialist agenda that threatens to abolish key institutions
House Democrats dodged questions about the DSA's new platform calling to abolish the Senate, presidency, and Supreme Court for a parliamentary system.
Rabid bat found in Seattle near the University of Washington
A rabid bat was found in Seattle on July 15, 2026, on the sidewalk on University Way Northeast, between NE 41st and NE 42nd streets. This is near Parrington Lawn, on the University of Washington campus, and is a busy area with many businesses. Anyone who might have had physical contact with this bat (even if not bitten) could be at risk and should seek medical evaluation immediately or call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to determine if rabies preventative treatment is necessary.
First death reported from Legionnaires' outbreak on Upper East Side, Health Dept. says
Health officials have reported the first death in connection with the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in a Manhattan neighborhood.
1 death reported in Upper East Side Legionnaires' disease cluster
One death has been reported in connection to the Legionnaires' disease cluster on New York City's Upper East Side, health officials say.
Paying for early access to Trump’s Truth Social could raise big money
In yet another unprecedented move by America's first billionaire president, Donald Trump may soon be profiting from a new line of business tied to his office: charging access for a first peek at certain posts on his Truth Social platform.
Paying for Early Access to Trump's Truth Social Could Raise Big Money
NEW YORK (AP) — America’s first billionaire president may soon be profiting from a new line of business tied to his office: charging access for a first peek at certain posts on his Truth Social platform. Donald Trump's struggling media company plans to sell Wall Street traders the chance to see ...
Nintendo Gives Fans Their First Official Look at New Switch Joy-Con
Nintendo quietly shares a glimpse at a change the company made to its Joy-Con controller lineup for customers to consider moving forward.
Teens talk mental health while helping shelter pets at Wayside Waifs
A group of teens gathered at Wayside Waifs on Friday afternoon to help shelter pets while also boosting their own mental health.
Florida politics weekly recap: Voter data, campaign cash and 2 lawmakers in court
President Donald Trump's national address renewed the debate over election security this week, while newly released intelligence records put a spotlight on publicly available Florida voter-registration data.
Trump raises election concerns, drawing pushback from Kentucky lawmakers
Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., and two Kentucky congressmen are pushing back on President Donald Trump’s speech Thursday night.
Ranking Member Markey, Senator Hirono Reject Trump’s SBA Policy Proposal that Harms Underserved Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
Letter (PDF) (Washington, July 17) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) submitted a comment letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) opposing a proposed rule change by Trump’s SBA to the 8(a) Business Development Program that would harm underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. The 8(a) Business Development Program was created by Congress more than 50 years ago to level the playing field for small business owners and entrepreneurs who have faced discrimination in starting and operating their businesses. The SBA’s proposed change ignores the existence of historic discrimination that minority and underserved small businesses have faced and continue to face. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “SBA’s proposed rule ignores present-day barriers that entrepreneurs from minority and underserved communities face. Discrimination is not dead; minority entrepreneurs continue to face reduced access to contracting opportunities and capital, as well as racial threats and targeting, including unequal treatment, refusal by others to work with minority-owned firms, being called racial slurs, and bias in the workplace. These barriers lead to wide underutilization of, and less revenue for, minority-owned businesses compared to majority-owned businesses, as supported by decades of disparity studies. The proposed rule diminishes the history of systemic racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States by claiming that remedies for discrimination create discrimination in and of themselves.” The lawmakers continued, “The program has always been open to anyone who can prove they have experienced prejudice or cultural bias in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and other facets of our society. Nonetheless SBA has moved forward with the proposed rule. It lacks a reasoned basis, purporting that the federal government has discriminated against White Americans, but offering no substantive qualitative or quantitative data or research in support. If the examples provided in the proposed rule are the only basis for what constitutes discrimination to the agency, they are woefully insufficient. The final rule must provide strong evidence that there is discrimination against White individuals and show how the rule is narrowly tailored to address it. The record remains devoid of evidence of discrimination against White individuals on the basis of race.” Ranking Member Markey is fighting to protect federal programs that address historic discrimination against small business owners from minority and underserved communities, and for a small business agenda that ensures economic opportunity for all. In June, Ranking Member Markey released a statement condemning the SBA’s proposed changes to the 8(a) Business Development Program. Also in June, Ranking Markey released a new report highlighting Trump’s drastic reduction in federal contracting dollars awarded to American small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses. In February, Ranking Member Markey, alongside Senators Hirono and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), introduced the Strengthening Place-based Access, Resources, and Knowledge (SPARK) Act to spur entrepreneurship and increase access to capital and resources for underserved entrepreneurs nationwide. Ranking Member Markey previously held a field hearing in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to discuss how government and the private sector can come together to make entrepreneurship more accessible for underserved communities. Earlier in February, Ranking Member Markey secured funding with the Appropriations Committee for Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE Chapters, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers and provisions to rein in the Administration’s attempts to eliminate programs that support women, veterans, and underserved entrepreneurs. In January, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to oppose rule changes that would gut protections against discriminatory lending practices that harm small businesses. In December 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler expressing significant concerns with the SBA’s overly burdensome request and unclear guidance for extensive financial documentation over the holidays, as a part of their sweeping attempts to dismantle the 8(a) Business Development Program. In July and December 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent letters to the SBA Administrator demanding answers about the Trump administration’s efforts to limit economic opportunity for American entrepreneurs, including immigrants. In May 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to the SBA Administrator rejecting President Trump’s FY 2026 budget proposal and calling on SBA to immediately release funding for the entrepreneurial development programs, which include programs like the Women’s Business Centers and the Veteran’s Business Development Centers that support underserved small business owners. In April 2025, Ranking Member Markey introduced the New Start Act of 2025 to establish a five-year pilot program providing grants to support entrepreneurial development training for currently or formerly incarcerated individuals. In February 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent letters to the SBA Administrator and Government Accountability Office (GAO) condemning President Trump’s war on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and asking how the SBA intends to implement Trump’s anti-DEIA executive orders. ###
Trump administration races to rebuild tariff wall knocked down by Supreme Court
The U.S. Treasury last year swelled with revenue from President Donald Trump’s double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country on earth. But the money dried up after the Supreme Court struck down the biggest and boldest of Trump’s tariffs in February. The question now is: Can the president’s trade team make good on its promise to replace the lost revenue?
Residential facility for severe mental illness opens in Salem
The facility, called the Ruth Marie House, aims to expand housing and treatment options for adults with persistent mental illness in Marion County.
Trump alleged China took US election data. Its leader is still planning for a lavish state visit to the US
Ordinarily, a claim like the one President Donald Trump leveled at China in prime time this week might herald a major rupture in ties with Beijing.
Trump urges Darline Graham to run for full Senate term as funeral planned for her brother
President Donald Trump said Friday that Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham, has his support to run for a full term to replace her brother in the U.S. Senate.
‘Where does that leave our local business?’
Edgartown’s Winter Street was divided into two sides Friday morning. On one side, a long line of mostly visitors awaited their chance to peek inside the pop-up store of the Amazon-affiliated business Shopbop. Right across the road, a group of local business owners and eager activists stood holding signs in protest against the event. The […]
Fact-checking Trump's address on China, the 2020 election and what documents show
President Donald Trump quoted years-old intelligence community documents, including some that had been declassified or partially redacted, without noting a distinction between what China may have planned versus what analysts say it did.
Nexus unveils first startup school cohort of companies
Nexus Louisiana introduced the inaugural cohort of companies in its Stealthmode Startup School and announced the winners of its DevDays Education Challenge during a recent showcase, highlighting the o… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
CT early childhood educators eligible for new health insurance subsidy in 2027
Many early childhood educators in Connecticut will soon be eligible for help from the state to pay for health insurance.
Taylor Farms pulls lettuce tied to cyclospora outbreak
Taylor Farms said it's removing iceberg lettuce from Mexico due to the cyclospora outbreak, which has affected at least 1,644 people across 34 states.
CT early childhood educators are eligible for a new health insurance subsidy in 2027
An estimated 5,600 of Connecticut's 31,000 early care and education workers don't have health insurance, according to a recent study by Access Health CT.
Fast food, fries, and science: Inside U-M’s lab studying cravings
Inside a tucked-away laboratory in East Hall at the University of Michigan, researchers recreated a fast-food restaurant—not to serve lunch, but to answer a question millions of people wrestle with every day: Why do people make different food choices in tempting environments than they intended?
Last-minute Samsung leak spoils all of its next-gen foldable phones
Samsung's three Galaxy Z foldables have leaked in promotional form five days before Galaxy Unpacked.
Trump cites national security to stop offshore wind development. Here's what to know
President Donald Trump's administration has worked to stop offshore wind development on the grounds that it's a national security risk since late last year.
Marathon Game Director Joseph Ziegler Leaves Bungie
In a surprise announcement on Friday, Marathon game director Joseph Ziegler revealed that he's leaving Bungie as of July 17.
Fed rate-hike voices swell before July decision, rates still seen on hold
Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack on Friday added her voice to a small but growing chorus of policymakers arguing the Fed may need to raise short-term borrowing costs to deal with persistently high inflation, setting up a charged debate at the central bank's July 28-29 meeting.
Wildfire smoke creates health concerns across Michigan, resulting in closures and cancellations
As a sepia-toned haze continues to blanket communities throughout Michigan, some government offices, local businesses and event hosts are closing up shop, as state officials urge residents to limit their time outdoors due to hazardous air quality.
Seminars at Steamboat: Are America’s Science Prowess and Leadership at Risk?
Dr. Marcia McNutt, who was elected in 2016 as the first female president of the National Academy of Sciences, discusses the state of scientific advances in the U.S.
CJEU Clarifies the Conditions for Seizure of Business Emails During Competition Inspections
On July 16, 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") issued a decision clarifying that EU law does not, as a rule, prevent a national
First Central Savings Bank Astoria branches announce new vice president and business development officer
First Central Savings Bank announced that Maria Constantatos has been appointed vice president and business development officer of the Astoria branches,
Bay City-area semiconductor plant once touted by Biden to shutter
President Joe Biden visited the semiconductor wafer manufacturer near Bay City in 2022 and hailed it as a "game changer" for domestic chip production.
Todd Howard Dismisses 'Fan Chatter' About Purported Rivalry Between Bethesda and Obsidian as the New Vegas Developer Starts Work on a New Fallout Game
Todd Howard has dismissed what he described as “fan chatter” about a supposed rivalry between Fallout developers Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment.
🗽 Y! Sports Biz: Name your price, Jalen Brunson
Inside this year's $90 million Fanatics Fest.
Irvine video game maker Obsidian Entertainment lays off 52
Irvine-based video game development studio Obsidian Entertainment is laying off 52 workers as part of a larger restructuring to reset Microsoft’s Xbox video game business.
Battlefield 6 is getting an evolved Carrier Assault mode in Season 4, and the Top Gun collab brings more than cosmetics
Battlefield 6 will deliver an evolution of Carrier Assault alongside a Top Gun collaboration in Season 4, but you'll have to wait a while for that.
L7 Informatics Names Ray Veeraraghavan, Ph.D., Vice President of Science and AI
/PRNewswire/ -- L7 Informatics, Inc., the company behind L7|ESP®, the Enterprise Science Platform that serves as an operating system for precision science,...
Industrial projects set the stage for future retail development in Ascension
Industrial investment is fueling commercial real estate growth in Ascension Parish as developers and retailers prepare for continued population and job expansion, Ascension Business Report writes. According to Charlie Colvin, president of Momentum Commercial Real Estate, major projects such as CF Industries and Hyundai’s investments are bringing new workers to the area, which is increasing […]
Bethesda Reveals Roadmap: The Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, Obsidian's New Fallout Game, Several Remaster Projects, and More All Confirmed
Bethesda Game Studios has laid out its roadmap for the foreseeable future. It includes The Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, a new Fallout game from Obsidian, multiple other Fallout projects, several remaster projects, and a live "Fallout Day" in Washington, D.C. in 2027.
Strolling the street with drink in hand could be legalized in 5 Berkeley nightlife area
In “entertainment zones,” you can order booze from a bar and sip it outside places like Berkeley Rep, La Marcha or Chez Panisse.
Taco Bell, Panera see fewer visitors amid cyclospora outbreak
Foot traffic at Taco Bell, Panera Bread, and Chopt has fallen as fresh produce concerns grow across the US during a cyclospora outbreak.
OpenAI Employees Are Funding a Political Fight Against Their Own President
Researchers charged with studying AI’s risks are spending their own money to counter the political influence of one of their company's co-founders.
GOP Package to Fund Iran War Runs Into Republican Doubts
The package is much smaller than the broader boost President Trump has been seeking, and its passage remains uncertain due to divides in the party.
Cramer, Mulvaney Garner College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Accolades
Springfield, Mass. – July 17, 2026 – Springfield College men's volleyball senior Dylan Mulvaney (Reston, Va.) and men's gymnastics junior Peyton Cramer (Grapevine, Texas) have earned spots on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Teams this year for their hard work in the classroom and in their sports during the 2025-26 academic year.
Maximum Entertainment’s U.S. Subsidiary Agrees to Cathay Bank’s Request for Stipulation of a Receiver
Stockholm, Sweden, July 17, 2026 - Maximum Entertainment AB (Nasdaq: MAXENT B) (“Maximum Entertainment” or the “Company”) today announces that its U.S. subsidiary, Maximum Entertainment, LLC (the “Borrower”), has agreed to stipulate to the appointment of a court-supervised receiver as requested by…
Nashville firefighters save business after street sweeper notices flames, calls 911
The fire sparked inside Music City Psychic on White Bridge Pike early Friday morning.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn appears on the fence about Todd Blanche’s nomination to be Trump’s attorney general
Cornyn, whose reelection defeat Trump ensured in May, expressed concerns during Blanche’s confirmation hearing about President Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund” – which Blanche helped craft as Trump’s personal lawyer.
Trump doubles down on US election attacks in his primetime speech
President Donald Trump has used a primetime address to question the legitimacy of U.S. elections and push for more restrictive voting laws. The Republican president on Thursday revisited debunked theories
Tennessee State Athletics Signs Apparel Deal With Nike
NASHVILLE — Tennessee State University Athletics and Nike have announced a new multi-year partnership that will make Nike the official apparel provider for TSU Athletics.
Opinion: Burke’s second act should benefit all of Cleveland
Creating a human-scale resident neighborhood at the Burke Lakefront Airport site would provide direct and wide-ranging benefits for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, writes economist James Trutko.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy faces political crisis amid Russian attacks
Russian attacks overnight on Ukraine killed at least four civilians and wounded 20, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
How 2 brothers started a junk removal business with less than $10,000
The McKinney brothers said "almost anyone can do it." They describe how they started their junk removal business with about $8,000.
Animal science head named president of Society for the Study of Reproduction
Rebecca Krisher, professor of reproductive biology and head of the Department of Animal Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was named president of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, effective July 22. She is the third Penn Stater to hold the gavel and lead the organization.
To Win Their Races, Black Politicians Confront a New Landscape
With the Voting Rights Act weakened, Black representation will depend less on Black voters and more on broad, multiracial appeal or on ideological outsider campaigns.
Russian blogger who criticised Putin and the war has been detained, TASS reports
Russian blogger Ilya Remeslo, who criticised President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, has been detained on suspicion of spreading false information about the armed forces, state news agency TASS reported on Friday.
Energy security starts at home
By Carly West With Colorado’s legislative session behind us and a new group of lawmakers preparing to take office next year, now is a good time to step back and consider a broader question: What role should Colorado play in America’s energy future? For most Americans, energy security isn’t something they think about every day. […]
Scientists discovered a plastic-eating fungus in the Amazon rainforest that survives without oxygen and could one day help tackle landfill waste worldwide
Deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, scientists discovered a fungus with an extraordinary ability that could offer new clues in the fight against plastic pollution. Known as Pestalotiopsis microspora, the fungus can break down polyester polyurethane, a widely used type of plastic, and use it as a source of carbon.
ThaiBev Is Said to Consider Selling KFC Franchise Business
Thai Beverage Pcl, the maker of Chang beer and SangSom rum, is considering a sale of its KFC restaurant franchise business in Thailand, according to people familiar with the matter.
Timberwolves Get New LeBron James Decision Update After Insider Report
LeBron James hinted his decision is nearing as ESPN insider Shams Charania shared a fresh update for the Timberwolves. The post Timberwolves Get New LeBron James Decision Update After Insider Report appeared first on HEAVY.
A Trump Obsession That Carries a Cost for Democracy
In demanding steps to address the integrity of voting, President Trump persisted in relitigating his 2020 election defeat while finding ways to cast doubt on the 2026 outcome.
Russian troops live an average of 30 minutes on battlefield: CIA chief
John Ratcliffe said the deadly conditions have been spurred mainly by Ukraine's AI-powered drones. He urged the US to learn quickly from Kyiv.
Trump’s devoted base is really shrinking now
Few factors have loomed over American politics for the past decade like President Donald Trump’s sway over his base.
Did ancient Egyptian princesses use weapons? Controversial study claims they hunted or trained with the military, but not all experts agree.
Nearly 4,000-year-old skeletal remains show that several royal women repeatedly used their upper-body muscles. Researchers link those changes to archery and weapon training, but outside experts urge caution.
5 takeaways from Trump’s primetime speech on elections
President Donald Trump’s primetime address from the White House on Thursday night didn’t make huge news.
Trump Released Documents on China and the 2020 Election. Here’s What We Know.
President Trump claimed that China had tried to acquire American voter data. Possessing such information would not allow votes to be manipulated.
Trump uses address to the nation to once again raise doubts about past elections
Trump used the remarks to justify his push to pass a strict voter ID bill in Congress.
Google workers rally for job security at Mountain View HQ
Google workers, led by Alphabet Workers Union, held a protest calling for layoff protections and urging CEO Sundar Pichai to address job security.
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it
From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.
‘Old folks’ and ‘rookies’ in politics
After what we have experienced recently I assure you America will never again hire anyone who would serve as president into their 80s. No blame can go to the founders of our nation who did not feel that it was necessary to put an age limit on the presidency. And then we had the “Joe […]
USNH Yokosuka Public Health Team Safeguards Community Water Supply
YOKOSUKA, Japan — While most residents aboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) saw a precautionary boil water advisory during a recent water line repair, public health professionals at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka were working behind the scenes to verify the safety of the installation's drinking water system and help ensure the community remained protected.
White House touts Trump speech as Democrats warn of recycled falsehoods
The speech marks the president’s latest push to deny his 2020 election loss and rally support for stricter voter ID and citizenship rules.
Mark Shapiro on Why Live Entertainment Has No Ceiling
TKO Group Holdings president and COO Mark Shapiro discusses the thriving economy of live sports, the cultural necessity of shared physical experiences, and the strategic vision driving major entertainment properties like the UFC, WWE, and the WNBA.
Trump is expected to make election conspiracies a focus of his national address
President Trump is set to address the nation on topics he says will include elections and voting machines.
White House operator on leave after betting scandal investigation
Gabriel Perez, White House teleprompter operator, faces a CFTC probe for reportedly earning $100K from bets on Trump's speeches using Kalshi.
Transgender girls who challenged Trump sports order drop lawsuit after Supreme Court ruling
Two transgender girls who were the first to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive order have withdrawn their lawsuit in New Hampshire.
As Climate Extremes Collide, Attribution Science Evolves
A National Academy of Sciences report on extreme climate event attribution confronts political climate denialism with scientific evidence.
Political representatives found more polarized on climate change than their constituents
It is no surprise that there are political disagreements over climate protection measures. Parties differ in their assessments of which measures they consider effective, fair or economically acceptable. ...