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Get To Know a College Basketball Mid-Major: American Conference
A look at who's who and what they are playing for in the men's and women's college basketball mid-major American Conference.
Energy Department Announces Members of the Office of Science Advisory Committee, Strengthening Gold Standard Science in America
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the chair and members of the newly established Office of Science Advisory Committee (SCAC), a unified advisory body that will provide independent advice on complex scientific and technical challenges across the Department’s Office of Science.
What is the US strategic minerals stockpile?
President Trump said the stockpile would 'ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage'.
Rays reportedly acquire INF Ben Williamson in three-team deal
The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly acquired slick fielding third baseman Ben Williamson from the Seattle Mariners as part of a three-team deal. We will update this article when the trade is finalized. Drafted 57th overall in 2023 after what Baseball America called a “monstrous senior season” at William & Mary, Williamson rocketed up to […]
Opinion | How a Conservative Texas District Rejected the Politics of Division
Many Americans are growing both exhausted and frightened by Trump’s scorched-earth, hyperpartisan, fire-ready-aim approach to the presidency.
Rosters announced for 2026 McDonald's All-American Game
Christian Collins, Jason Crowe Jr., Maximo Adams, Branadon McCoy made the boys' team for the McDonald's All-American Game scheduled for March 31 in Glendale, Ariz.
WATCH LIVE: RFK Jr announces initiative to confront mental health, addiction
A bipartisan group of policy leaders will announce the launch of Action for Progress, abipartisan initiative to confront America’s growing mental health and addiction crisis.
Jelly Roll Says He’s ‘Disconnected’ From Politics, But Will Be Ready to Speak Out ‘Soon’
Jelly Roll said he was largely 'disconnected' from what's going on in America, but planned to speak out 'soon,' after winning a Grammy last night.
Indirect Cost Caps: A Hidden Threat to American Science
Reductions in federal reimbursement rates for institutional research facilities and administration costs could bankrupt America’s research universities.
Improve Heart Health With Start TODAY's February Challenge
February is American Heart Month so TODAY fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour stops by Studio 1A with what you should know about your heart health and shares a 28-day exercise move with heart challenge for the month of February.
Trump’s America and the Coming Reckoning in Global Sports
The specter of a Donald Trump-led America hangs over the upcoming Olympics and World Cup as the U.S. has changed in the eyes of the world since these sports festivals were last staged.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Advancing health equity through collaborative care
Collaborative care models offer a proven blueprint for improving outcomes among Black Americans with HIV.
8 Mistakes Cardiologists Say Could Be Wrecking Your Heart Health
For American Heart Month, four cardiologists share the biggest mistakes they see people make for their hearts—and provide simple, realistic fixes.
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.
Trump has turned his biggest political asset into a liability
How America soured on mass deportation.
USA TODAY Sports' 2026 NCAA softball preseason All-Americans
USA Today Sports selects preseason All-Americans for NCAA softball in 2026. Stars like NiJaree Canady and Jordy Frahm are featured.
Hain Celestial sells North American snacks business for $115M
The sale of Garden Veggie Snacks,Terra chips and Garden of Eatin' will allow the company to pay down debt and sharpen its focus on tea, yogurt and home meals.
Hong Kong business confidence rises despite US-China tensions, survey notes
Business confidence in Hong Kong has improved for 2026 despite continuing global uncertainty, according to a survey report published on Monday by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
It’s 2026 and You’re Uninsured. Now What?
Many Americans are expected to lose ACA or Medicaid coverage in coming months and years as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the expiration of enhanced pandemic-era subsidies that helped people afford Obamacare plans. Doctors and researchers say there are still ways to find affordable care.
Social media broke political discourse. Civil service could repair it.
It should not come as a shock that American politics has become hostile, volatile, tribal, and polarized. These are all symptoms of overuse of technology that indulges and force-feeds our worst assumptions about each other.
America's K-Shaped economy is breaking fast food's old playbook
Usually, fast-food consumption is a reliable recession indicator, but in a K-shaped economy, the old playbook has broken down, analysts say.
Korda overcomes 'brutal' conditions to win opener
American Nelly Korda wins the weather-affected Tournament of Champions after "probably the hardest holes I've ever played in professional golf".
Health care costs are cannibalizing the economy — consumers can fight back
American health care costs are cannibalizing the economy, with 2024 national health expenditures reaching $5.3 trillion, double the developed-world average, and hidden prices being the main reason …
Politics are everywhere. Is the Super Bowl different?
As the Seahawks prepare for the Super Bowl, the NFL stands as the preeminent cultural force in an America that seems to be tearing itself apart at the seams.
New Guide Aims to Improve UTI Care as Telehealth Use Grows
By I. Edwards HealthDay ReporterSUNDAY, Feb. 1, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, send millions of Americans to urgent care every year. But today, many people no longer see a doctor in person. Instead, they message their clinic, use video visits or fill out online forms to get antibiotics, sometimes ...
The Hottest Commodity in the Mining Business: American Generals
Companies are bringing in retired military brass to navigate Washington and win Pentagon contracts.
Trump's failed bid to elevate an Arab American ally shows cracks in his political coalition
Donald Trump credits the mayor of a small Detroit suburb with helping him win over Michigan’s Arab American community during the 2024 presidential campaign
A ‘bizarro world’: How Trump’s words have scrambled America’s gun politics
In the wake of a horrific shooting that shocked the nation, President Donald Trump starkly broke with pro-gun groups in off-the-cuff remarks: “Take the guns first, go through due process second,” Trump said during a televised meeting with lawmakers.
Howie Carr: Just another chip from Massachusetts’ anti-business block
Most of the production had long since been transferred to free American states, but Cape Cod Potato Chips left a footprint behind, in Hyannis. The little factory used to be a decent-sized tourist a…
What if we didn't devolve into partisan blame after every tragedy?
Americans should be cautious about how these hyperpolarized narratives warp how they view the people involved.
How Chinese short-video streaming firms are reshaping Latin America's media landscape
Short-drama apps, many with Chinese origins, are making significant inroads in Latin America as the region becomes more affluent, research shows.
Dog Show 101: What to know about the 150th Westminster show
It’s go time for thousands of America’s most dogged competitors. Big or small, sleek or shaggy, they’re all trying for the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The 10 Most Unique American Sporting Events
Take a look at some of the most unique sporting events and venues in the country.
IRS proposes using NAICS to determine lines of business for certain fringe benefit exclusions
The North American Industry Classification System, already in use for other tax purposes, replaces a specified manual that has not been updated since 1974.
Ken Burns describes how current politics ‘rhymes’ with the American Revolution: Full interview
Filmmaker Ken Burns joins Kristen Welker in a “Meet the Moment” conversation to dissect America's origin story and argues democracy was an “unintended consequence” of the American Revolution.
New emails show New York Giants owner asked Epstein to connect him with women
New York Giants owner and American filmmaker Steve Tisch sought out Jeffrey Epstein’s help connecting him with women more than a decade ago, according to emails released Friday by the Justice Department.
Albino or Leucistic? The Science Behind America’s “White Raccoons”
Imagine that you’re taking an evening stroll in the woods. All of a sudden, you spot a flash of color and two glowing eyes. The furry animal looks like a raccoon, but its all-white fur says otherwise. There’s no black fur and the bandit mask is missing entirely; only snow-white hair. What you’ve just observed
American's confidence in Trump continues to slide, survey finds
The president's dip in popularity is coming almost exclusively from discontent among Republicans, where there is a noticeable decline in support
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.
Politicians Are Calling the Protests in Minnesota an Insurgency
The term, used to describe war, poses dangers when applied to American political unrest.
Will corporate America finally stand up to the Trump administration?
The brutal handling of immigration raids and the killing of Alex Pretti have tested the reticence of the corporate class
Kent State Hosts Ball State Sunday in National TV Game on CBS Sports Networks - Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State will host Ball State at the M.A.C. Center on Sunday at noon for a Mid-American Conference women's basketball contest that will be broadcast nation...
GB's Skupski wins Australian Open doubles title
Great Britain's Neal Skupski and American partner Christian Harrison win the Australian Open men's doubles title in their first Grand Slam together.
Response to Melania Trump documentary reflects America’s political division
CARMEL, Ind. — Marla Ailor attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration last year with her family, and remembered thinking it was a long day. So she ...
2026 heart health faculty experts list
February is American Heart Month. The University of South Carolina is home to many faculty members who are available to offer their expertise in cardio care and research.
What 20 years of Arctic report cards can tell us about our changing planet
In 2006, scientists released the first version of the Arctic Report Card, now a staple at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
Legendary Musician ‘Thinking Twice’ About Touring In Trump’s America: ‘Too Dangerous’
The guitarist expressed his concerns about performing on U.S. concert stages in a new interview.
Health care costs top concern in new poll
Americans are more worried about affording health care than any other household necessity, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll published Thursday. The poll, conducted with 1,426 adul…
How American Katie Uhlaender was denied Olympic bid by Canadian coach's point scheme
Sports officials say a Canadian coach manipulated the point system used by athletes to qualify for the Olympics. His move cost American sled racer Katie Uhlaender her trip to the Milan Cortina Games.
County Health Endorses American Academy Of Pediatrics 2026 Child And Adolescent Immunization Schedule
Santa Barbara County Health Department endorses American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026 Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule
HEINEKEN completes acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses
It's Official! Heineken & Imperial - It's Official Shaping what's next Heineken & Imperial - shaping what's next HEINEKEN completes acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses The closing of the landmark transaction reinforces HEINEKEN’s strategic position in Central America and unlocks significant new growth opportunities. Amsterdam, January 30th, 2026, Heineken N.V. (HEINEKEN) today announced the completion of its acquisition of FIFCO’s beverage and retail businesses, following the r
Health Rounds: Apple watches help patients monitor a common heart disorder
Apple watches are proving useful in screening for the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, or AFib, according to two studies published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Science Quiz: Weird ice and quantum collapse
Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.
Trump nominates Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair
The new Federal Reserve chair will step in as the world’s most powerful central bank faces scrutiny over interest rates and rising prices affecting Americans.
Katharine Burr Blodgett’s legacy comes to light
The Lost Women of Science team uncovers Katharine Burr Blodgett’s overlooked brilliance
U.S. Department of State and National Football League Sports Diplomacy Partnership - United States Department of State
Today, the U.S. Department of State and the National Football League (NFL) announced a partnership to support and enhance the Department’s sports diplomacy initiatives and to collaborate on major sporting events, including international NFL games, the Super Bowl, and the debut of flag football at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles (LA28). As American […]
College basketball grades: Revisiting preseason All-American predictions
Some of the All-American projections were poignant, but there were a few notable whiffs
Trailer: Dirty Rotten Scandals Coming Soon To E! Entertainment
E!’s new documentary series exposes the dark side of our pop culture obsessions! The Dr. Phil Show, America’s Next Top Model, and The Price is Right. Dirty Rotten Scandals premieres Wednesday, March 4th on E!
The chemical genius of Katharine Burr Blodgett
The story of a woman whose discoveries in materials science quietly shape our everyday world but whose legacy was long eclipsed by the famous scientist she worked with at the General Electric Company
cbdMD Strengthens Regulatory Science Platform to Support Emerging Regulatory Cannabinoid Evaluation Pathways
cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD), a leading innovator in hemp-derived wellness products, today announced a strategic initiative to integrate and expand its regulatory science, safety, and intellectual property assets to establish a differentiated cannabinoid compliance and evidence platform aligned with evolving federal healthcare evaluation frameworks, including emerging CMS and CMMI innovation initiatives.
Paying for health care is now Americans' top financial worry, KFF poll finds
The Next Era of Sports and Entertainment Technology: Info-Tech Research Group Partners With SEAT to Advance Innovation and Digital Excellence Across Industry
Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has announced a new partnership with SEAT, the Sports & Entertainment Alliance in Technology, to empower technology, marketing, and operations executives across the global sports and entertainment industry. The collaboration will bring Info-Tech's expertise to SEAT's influential community of North American entertainment venues, sports teams, and league leaders who are driving innovation in fan engagement, digital experience,
The promise and reality of the rural health fund
In the 2025 budget bill, Congress created the $50 billion Rural Health Fund to help struggling hospitals, doctors, and patients in rural America. But rural hospitals are expected to lose three times that through Medicaid cuts in that same budget bill. So, what will it take to keep rural healthcare afloat?
Columnist says ‘socialism can't succeed anywhere’ amid Venezuela’s political turmoil
Washington Post opinion columnist Carine Hajjar joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss Venezuela’s economic unraveling and its political future after U.S. forces captured Nicolas Maduro.
John Hancock CEO: We all have a role in driving better health outcomes for Americans
I recently testified before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee on improving long-term health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Survey: Parents a top reason youth coaches quit
Most of America's youth-sport coaches are feeling burned out and fed up with verbal harassment and abuse, mainly from parents of athletes, according to a national survey released Thursday by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Entertainment this week: Ullr Fest, Grateful Shred and more
Friday, January 30 Kilowatt Hours – 9 p.m., Bar of America, 10040 Donner Pass Rd.. Additional dates: 1/30, 1/31. For more information, visit https://www.barofamerica.com/calendar.html or call (530) 587-2626. Manzanita – 7:30-10:30 p.m., Moody’s Bistro, Bar...
Confrontational politics is here to stay. It’s time Europe got on board.
It’s time to stop complaining about America First and get on with putting Europe First.
Innovators removing barriers to health care, accelerating impact on communities in need
DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Driven by an older, more diverse population and a significant increase in risk factors, at least 6 in 10 U.S. adults are projected to have some form of cardiovascular disease, causing related health care costs to triple.[1] That’s...
FAU Honors Craig Zinn as Business Leader of the Year
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business recently hosted a ceremony to honor Craig Zinn, an American automotive entrepreneur and philanthropist, as its 31st “Business Leader of the Year” event.
Bank of America supporting weVENTURE Women’s Business Center
As a Neighborhood Builder, the Florida Tech-based weVENTURE Women’s Business Center is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years.
Americans Are More Worried About Health Care Costs Than Gas or Groceries
The price of health care tops the US public’s long list of economic worries ahead of the midterm elections, according to new polling data, as “affordability” has become a buzzword championed by politicians on both sides of the aisle.
The cost of health care, not food or rent, is now Americans’ top worry
As politicians prepare their pitches for the midterm elections, a survey finds that about 1 in 3 Americans are “very worried” about health care costs.
Inside Maryland’s High-Stakes Bid for Trump’s $50 Billion Rural Health Fund
The White House asked states to compete for a rare pot of new money dedicated to transforming health care across rural America.
State approves tax credits for 6 business projects, including 2 in Cuyahoga County
CSA America Testing & Certification and Rupes USA are expanding in Cuyahoga County with tax credits from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.
WSOC-TV & KFF Health News Win Prestigious duPont-Columbia Award
The SSA's practice left millions of Americans, including some in the Carolinas, facing unexpected financial hardship and prompted sweeping policy changes in the nation’s capital.
Online Gambling Corrupts Sports—And Americans, Too
The legalization of sports betting, especially at the college level, is a corruption not only of athletics and of education but of American society in general.
Brit Hume: Minnesota immigration operations have hit ‘political limits’
Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume assesses new polling that suggests Americans believe I.C.E. operations are aggressive on ‘Special Report.’
America at a Boiling Point: From ICE Protests to an Attack on Rep. Omar
An attack at a town hall in Minneapolis, amid a surge in threats against lawmakers, was the latest sign of the fraying of the nation’s political fabric.
ASNC says PET is now the preferred nuclear imaging test for CAD
Which imaging modality is better for evaluating heart patients, PET or SPECT? After years of discussions and debates, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology is now ready to point to PET as the No. 1 choice. “There are no clinical scenarios or patient subgroups where cardiac PET with myocardial blood flow should be excluded," the group wrote.
The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas marks two years and formally welcomes Bolivia and Uruguay as members
PAHO, the World Bank, and the IDB initiative has driven health system transformation and aligned more than one billion dollars in investments across five countries. Brazil expressed its support, signing a letter of intent.Rio de Janeiro, 28 January 2026 — The Alliance for Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Americas, a joint initiative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank (WB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is celebrating its second anniversary with achievements in transforming health systems across the region.
Psychiatrists plan to overhaul the mental health bible—and change how we define ‘disorder’
The American Psychiatric Association has announced big upcoming changes to psychiatry’s big book of mental disorders, the DSM
America’s biggest science loss: federal government loses over 10,000 STEM PhD scientists in 2025 | - The Times of India
Science News: The US federal government suffered one of the most severe losses of scientific expertise in its modern history in 2025, with more than 10,000 STEM PhD.
Fact check: Trump says Democrats don’t talk about affordability anymore (they do) because inflation is over (it isn’t)
President Donald Trump tried Tuesday to concoct an alternative reality on the subject of “affordability” – piling lie on top of lie to try to convince Americans that the issue has vanished.
Learner Tien shuts down Trump question at Australian Open amid political grilling of American players
American tennis players at the Australian Open continue to face political questions about the Trump administration, with rising star Learner Tien becoming the latest to decline comment.
New Doc by Former Colleagues Explores Asian Americans' Growing Political Leadership
Two Asian American professors with ties to York College have collaborated on a timely and engaging new documentary examining the growing political influence of Asian Americans.
Pegula beats fellow American Anisimova to finally reach Australian Open semis
It marked Pegula’s 14th win in her past 15 matches against fellow Americans.
Kast’s Cabinet Set to Confront Distinctly Political Challenges
Chile’s president-elect has rolled out a pro-business cast of ministers, tasked with finding political solutions, an expert writes.
Bank of America to match $1,000 government deposits for Trump accounts
Bank of America said it will match the federal government’s $1,000 contribution to Trump accounts for eligible U.S. employees with qualifying children.
The surprising science behind how certain foods can make you smell more attractive
Beneath fancy perfumes and deodorants, our food choices may be quietly shaping our natural scent in unexpected ways
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
One Supreme Court Case Is Most Responsible for Our Oligarchy. It’s Not the One You Think.
Whether or not money is the root of all evil, the root of our current American oligarchy is a single Supreme Court case.
How scientists predict big winter storms : Short Wave
This past weekend, Winter Storm Fern struck the States. Sleet, snow and ice battered Americans all the way from New Mexico to New York. Scientists predicted its arrival in mid-January, and in anticipation of the storm, more than 20 state governors issued emergency declarations. But how did scientists know so much, so early, about the approaching storm? NPR climate reporter Rebecca Hersher says it has to do with our weather models… and the data we put into them. Which begs the question: Will we continue to invest in them?Interested in more science behind the weather? Check out our episodes on better storm prediction in the tropics and how the Santa Ana winds impact the fire season this time of year. Have a question we haven’t covered? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. We’d love to consider it for a future episode! Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by our showrunner Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones and Rebecca Hersher checked the facts. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez. News clips were from CBS Boston, Fox Weather, Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, and PBS Newshour.
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