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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.
Carbon Credit Business Report 2026: Market to Grow by 18% to Reach $4,938.7 Bn - Investment Opportunities by 2035: Astute Analytica
The global carbon credit market is experiencing explosive growth, driven by robust corporate demand, net-zero targets, and tightening regulations. This market saw 161 million credits retired in 2023.Chicago, Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to recent data from Astute Analytica, the global carbon credit market was valued at US$ 1,142.40 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit the market valuation of US$ 4,983.7 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 18% during the forecast period 2025–2035. The
UFC 325 Highlights: Mauricio Ruffy Knocks Out Rafael Fiziev
Lightweights Mauricio Ruffy and Rafael Fiziev collided on Saturday's UFC 325 main card in Sydney, Australia and the bout didn't disappoint. Fiziev took the fight to Ruffy, pressuring the Brazilian and saw success in the opening round. Late in the second frame, Ruffy connected with a right hand that ...
Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Reveals Plan For NBA Trade Deadline
The NBA Trade Deadline is coming up on Feb. 5, and players are already starting to change teams. The Boston Celtics are in an interesting position this year. While they were expected to be deadline sellers coming into the season, they’ve wildly surpassed expectations, going 31-18 and ranking second in net rating. Accordingly, the Celtics […]
6 candidates for Seahawks offensive coordinator after Klint Kubiak
Kubiak is expected to be hired by the Raiders after Super Bowl 60.
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".
8 new Windows 11 features expected to arrive with the February 2026 update — Patch Tuesday isn't flashy, but it'll deliver (some) meaningful changes
Microsoft's February "Patch Tuesday" for 2026 brings some quality changes to Windows 11, and this is what you need to know.
Sunday Standings: Time to believe?
Over the summer, a respected voice like Elliotte Friedman really drove home a lot of feelings about the Pittsburgh Penguins in a podcast: “It’s really hard to make deals right now because there are 31 teams in the NHL attempting to get better….then there is Pittsburgh” Turns out the signings of players like Anthony Mantha, […]
NFL salary cap expected to significantly jump for 2026 season
The increase is especially good news for NFL teams like the Buffalo Bills, where cap overages will be a key factor in 2026.
The Science of “the Giggle”: Why Laboratory Rats Love Being Tickled
If you think laughter and comedy are reserved strictly for humans, you’d be wrong. A study in the late 1990s showed that creatures like rats emit ultrasonic vocalizations while playing with or anticipating the opportunity to play with other rats. To make matters sillier, rats emitted similar vocalizations when they were subjected to manual somatosensory
New project in St. Johnsbury expected to bring more business downtown
The Town of St. Johnsbury is looking to attract more visitors into downtown, and they want to hear your thoughts on a new project in the works.
Connecticut Science Center temporarily closed due to burst pipe
The Connecticut Science Center is closed on Sunday due to a pipe burst in the building, the science center announced. “Our team has been working tirelessly to clean and restore the affected a…
Blues superfan Laila Anderson talks ahead of St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction
Laila Anderson, 17, is set to be inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
The Da Vinci Science Center fell short of its first year attendance goals in downtown Allentown. Can it get back on track?
Nearing two years in its downtown Allentown location, the Da Vinci Science Center is “experiencing growing pains,” as it fell short of its projected visitor goals.
Lake Street business owner joins with Latino nonprofit to raise $1M for families
Effort by Colonial Market one of many Minnesota fundraisers popping up to help people impacted by the immigration crackdown.
Basil Talbott Jr., Chicago Sun-Times political editor and journalist, dies at 89
Basil Talbott spent more than 30 years at the Sun-Times and was widely respected by his colleagues as a truth-seeker who bluntly challenged obfuscation.
iPhone Fold Battery Size Revealed In Latest Rumor, With The Capacity Expected To Be The Largest That Apple Has Even Used In Its Smartphone Lineup
A tipster has shared the alleged battery capacity belonging to the iPhone Fold, and it will be larger than the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cell
Hims and Hers Super Bowl ad highlights 'uncomfortable truth' about elite healthcare for the rich and 'broken' system for the rest
The company is putting wealth inequality center stage as millions are expected to drop their Obamacare plans.
Gossip: Magpies reject £20m bid for Willock
Fulham have had a £20m offer for Joe Willock rejected by Newcastle United, who will not sanction a move for the 26-year-old English midfielder unless they find a replacement. (Talksport)
Trump jokes about suing his Federal Reserve nominee Warsh at elite Washington dinner
President Donald Trump joked that he might sue his newly selected Federal Reserve chair nominee, Kevin Warsh, over lowering interest rates in a speech to an elite group of Washington’s power set on Saturday night, according to a person who attended the dinner.
UFC 325 Highlights! Salkilld Shines Again With Dominant Submission Win
Quillan Salkilld kept the hype train rolling earlier tonight (Sat., Jan. 31, 2026) at UFC 325 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, pushing his UFC record to 4-0 with a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) over battle-tested lightweight veteran Jamie Mullarkey. As expected, Salkilld was a large favorite heading into this […]
Scientists discover how to turn gut bacteria into anti-aging factories
Researchers found that small doses of an antibiotic can coax gut bacteria into producing a life-extending compound. In worms, this led to longer lifespans, while mice showed healthier cholesterol and insulin changes. Because the drug stays in the gut, it avoids toxic side effects. The study points to a new way of promoting health by targeting microbes rather than the body itself.
Researchers pinpoint source of black hole's 3,000-light-year-long jet stream using enhanced telescope network
A new study has connected the famous m87 black hole, the first ever imaged, to its powerful cosmic jet, revealing how it launches particles at near light speed.
This IG Page Collects Funny Dating App Screenshots And These 43 Are The Best
People say that dating is hell nowadays. But after you look at these hilarious interactions on Hinge, you might change your opinion. There's no shortage of funny people on dating apps, and Bored Padna has collected the most interesting screenshots of unhinged and sweet chats to show you that not all has been lost in the dating scene. Fails, Funny
Social media reacts to UNC controlling Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon
Here's how social media reacted to UNC earning a solid win at Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon, just its second ACC victory away from Chapel Hill.
Trump says federal government won’t step into protests in Democratic-led cities ‘until they ask us for help’
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests or unrest in Democratic-led cities unless local officials formally request assistance, amid criticism over heavy-handed immigration enforcement tactics used by the feds.
Trump says federal government won’t step into Democratic-led city protests ‘until they ask us for help’
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests or unrest in Democratic-led cities unless local officials formally request assistance, while vowing an aggressive federal response to protect government property.
Living in the US for decades changed me more than I realized
After living in the US for decades, returning to Australia brought unexpected culture shock and forced me to rebuild a sense of home.
Expanded SNAP work requirements are kicking in for more states
The new requirements are expected to reduce the average monthly number of SNAP recipients by about 2.4 million people over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office
New report detects arsenic in 28 popular candies: What you need to know
Florida health officials reportedly detected arsenic in 28 of 46 popular candy products tested, sparking debate over food safety standards.
Today in History - Jan. 31: Nebraska football player inducted into Omaha Sports Hall of Fame
On this day in 2013, a man who helped Nebraska football win its first national championship was welcomed into the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame.
A history of Dodgers brothers playing together
The Dodgers have River Ryan returning from 2024 Tommy John surgery, and is expected to be part of the team’s starting rotation puzzle in the 2026 season. There’s also at least a chance that he might be teammates with his brother Ryder Ryan, who was signed by the Dodgers to a minor league deal that […]
Steelers predicted to part ways with former Pro Bowler
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been predicted to move on from a veteran offensive playmaker.
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...
This Week in Science: Meat-Eater Longevity, Space Viruses, And More!
Our weekly science news roundup.
Businesses fear blowback from Saudi-UAE rift
Emirates workers have had visas to the kingdom rejected since tensions erupted between the Gulf powerhouses
Axiom wins fifth private astronaut mission to space station
NASA has selected Axiom Space for its fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, scheduled for 2027.
Lots of business expected for Snowfest over the weekend
This year, there has been plenty of snow and cold for Zehnder’s Snowfest sculptors and fans.
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…
INDYCAR Drivers React to 'Freedom 250' Race: 'Gonna Be Incredible For Our Sport'
Scott McLaughlin, Graham Rahal and more INDYCAR drivers reacted to the news of the "Freedom 250" race in Washington, D.C.
January 30, 2026
A flu variant called subclade K emerged too late to be fully covered by this year’s vaccine. But the flu shot can still help protect you. Plus, a new study suggests dogs began to diversify about 11,000 years earlier than we thought. And, in turbulent times, it helps to hear stories of resilience. What can we learn from 3.5 billion-year-old bacteria that eat light?
Theo Rossi, Mario Van Peebles & Derek Wilson Sink Teeth Into WeBros’ Vampire Island Thriller ‘Young Blood’
EXCLUSIVE: Theo Rossi, Mario Van Peebles and Derek Wilson are headlining the Ari Schlossberg directed and written vampire island feature Young Blood currently shooting in Key Largo, Florida. The trio join previously announced Myles Truitt, Madison Wolfe, Marley Aliah, Genneya Walton, Alex Aiono and Mitchell Hoog in the WeBros Entertainment production. Young Blood follows three college best friends who …
M Health Fairview brand to end with newly approved agreement
Patients are expected to continue to have access to the same doctors as the health system changes branding under new agreement between U, Fairview.
Epstein files released, but DOJ withholds some 200,000 documents
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ will withhold or redact about 200,000 pages that it has deemed protected by "various privileges."
Scientists Discover Living Bacteria Hidden Inside the #1 Type of Kidney Stone
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected biological factor hidden within the most common type of kidney stone.
Vaulted Deep Named Honoree for the Wichita Business Journal Innovation Awards
Vaulted Deep, a waste management and carbon removal company, has been selected as an honoree for the 2026 Wichita Business Journal Innovation Awards. The award recognizes Vaulted's work modernizing waste management infrastructure while delivering tangible economic and environmental benefits for Kansas communities.
The World’s Largest Biological Battle Is Being Fought in Space
But this evolutionary “arms race” looks a little different when playing out in microgravity.
Radiologists continue to dominate in No Surprises Act payment disputes
The federal government recently released new data pertaining to the landmark legislation, meant to protect patients from receiving unexpected medical bills.
Gray wolves are hunting sea otters and no one knows how
On a remote Alaskan island, gray wolves are rewriting the rulebook by hunting sea otters — a behavior few scientists ever expected to see. Researchers are now uncovering how these coastal wolves adapted to marine hunting, what it means for land–sea ecosystems, and whether this ancient predator–prey relationship is re-emerging as sea otters recover.
Lancaster County public sales: Jan. 30, 2026
Martin & Rutt Auctioneers LLC, of New Holland, conducted a public auction of real estate Jan. 21 at 181 Eastbrook Road, Smoketown. A three-bedroom brick rancher with one-car garage on
Portland businesses closing Friday for 'National Shutdown' strike amid federal immigration concerns
Multiple businesses and restaurants across Portland are expected to close Friday, Jan. 30, in solidarity with a “National Shutdown” strike responding to growing concerns over federal immigration enforcement nationwide. The […]
Legal battle over California's SB 1137 pits property rights against public health
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Senate Bill 1137, enacted in June 2024, has sparked a legal battle over its constitutionality.The bill establishes a 3,200-foot
Trump expected to nominate Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair
President Donald Trump is expected to announce Friday his intent to nominate Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve chair, according to two people involved in the process.
Gen X and millennial inheritance could take a hit due to health care costs and taxes
Generation X and millennials who may be receiving an inheritance from the previous generations may be receiving less than expected due to health care costs and taxes, according to experts. NBC News' Brian Cheung breaks down how this will impact the younger generation.
Communities unite to address stigma and discrimination affecting people with neglected tropical diseases
Marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that millions of people living with NTDs continue to face profound and often unseen suffering due to discrimination, social stigma and untreated mental health conditions. Under the rallying theme "Unite. Act. Eliminate.", WHO and partners urge governments to integrate mental health care into NTD elimination efforts, ensuring that no one is left behind in pain or isolation.
Record $1.76B expected to be bet on Super Bowl
Approximately $1.76 billion is expected to be bet on Super Bowl LX with U.S. sportsbooks, a nearly 27% year-over-year increase, according to the AGA.
Tim Walz says he’s done with politics: ‘I will never run for office again’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declares "I will never run for an elected office again" amid massive fraud scandal that forced him to abandon 2026 re-election bid.
Contractor data breach nay have exposed the protected health info of thousands of Central Oregonians
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Thousands of Central Oregonians soon will receive letters in the mail to inform them of a data breach at TriZetto Provider Solutions last fall that may have exposed the personal health information of more than 700,000 people around the country. TPS is a third-party contractor that provides insurance-eligibility verification services to
Ruben Ostlund may hold ‘The Entertainment System Is Down’ until ...
Satire is in lengthy post-production, has been expected to debut on Croisette this year.
Livingston County establishes registry for people convicted of animal abuse
The county board of supervisors voted on the proposal Wednesday during a meeting to establish the registry.
Anne's College professor selected to Digital Science Communication Fellowship
Florida State University Margaret A. Sitton Endowed Professor Michael Ormsbee has been selected for the 2026 Digital Science Communication Fellowship, a
An AI Toy Exposed 50,000 Logs of Its Chats With Kids to Anyone With a Gmail Account
AI chat toy company Bondu left its web console almost entirely unprotected. Researchers who accessed it found nearly all the conversations children had had with the company's stuffed animals.
Hill Country floods are worsening mental health issues in Kerr County, report finds
In Kerr County, the July 4 flood is expected to quadruple serious emotional disturbances in children and more than triple adult PTSD cases this year.
House Republicans propose stricter voting requirements as Trump administration eyes the midterms
House Republicans are proposing sweeping changes to the nation’s voting laws
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?
More naming opportunities planned for Altru Sports Complex; first part of Phase 2 expected to bid in April
The Grand Forks Park District is looking at options for other naming rights in the facility to help fundraise for the project.
Comcast sheds more broadband customers as wireless competition mounts
Comcast lost more broadband customers than expected in the fourth quarter, as rivals lured away consumers with aggressive offers, piling pressure on the company's mainstay business.
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...
College football transfer portal is 'train wreck.' Ask man who ignited it
One of the creators of the unrestricted transfer portal in college sports calls the current system 'awful' but doesn't regret his involvement.
Survey of over-50s women finds almost two in three struggle with mental health
Of those affected by midlife challenges such as menopause, nine in 10 do not seek help, therapists’ organisation says
The accidental climate scientist who uncovered an unexpected force of global warming
The Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences has awarded the Crafoord Prize to climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan. He discovered a powerful force of global warming.
ACU Sports Podcast: Wildcat Annual Fund Director Anthony Egbo
Anthony Egbo, former ACU football player and current director of the Wildcat Annual Fund, talks about ACU Athletics' unique approach to philanthropy, what to expect for ACU Gives, and shares stories of how ACU has impacted student-athletes' lives even if they are only a Wildcat for a year or two.
Tim Walz says he'll never seek elected office again
The Minnesota governor unexpectedly announced this month that he wouldn't run for re-election.
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.
Convicted sex offender tried to rape a woman in a business, police said. They're searching for other victims
Convicted sex offender arrested for attempted rape inside DTLA business, captured in Skid Row
VA reorganization aims to shift health care workforce to hubs with growing veteran population
Congress directed the VA to make similar changes under the first Trump administration, but blocked it from implementing them under the Biden administration.
Oklahoma businesses face challenges as winter storm impacts sales
A winter storm in Oklahoma has significantly affected local businesses, leading to decreased customer visits and financial challenges.
Federal court documents outlines allegations against Zipps Sports Grill
Newly obtained court documents are revealing more about why federal agent conducted searches at more than a dozen Zipps Sports Grill across the Valley.
Meta Says Revenue to Beat Estimates, Supporting AI Spending
Meta Platforms Inc.’s better-than-expected sales outlook helped ease Wall Street concerns about plans for unprecedented spending on artificial intelligence this year.
Legionella detected in North Oakland Health Center and the Resource and Crisis Center in Oakland County
Oakland County is taking proactive measures after routine water testing detected Legionella bacteria at the North Oakland Health Center (NOHC) and the Resource and Crisis Center (RCC).
Everyone wants to copy the iPhone Fold; Honor developing its own ‘wide’ foldable too
The Android world is bracing for the debut of the first foldable from Apple, expected to be the “iPhone Fold.”...
Internal messages reveal teams, jobs affected in Amazon layoffs
Amazon is laying off 16,000 corporate employees. Internal messages show that many of the affected employees had software engineering roles.
Samsung teases new privacy feature to hide your Galaxy phone screen from onlookers
Samsung said that the upcoming feature will let you protect selected parts of the screen like notification popup area.
Starbucks Says Turnaround ‘Ahead of Schedule’ as Sales Rebound
The coffee chain’s stock jumped after a better-than-expected earnings report.
On Data Privacy Day (and every day): Protect your small business
Cybercriminals target companies big and small. Today is Data Privacy Day — a great opportunity to take a look at how you keep your business and customer data protected. Get started with the FTC’s updated resources at ftc.gov/cybersecurity.
FreshBooks 2025 Ontario Small Business Snapshot: Owners More Reserved Than U.S. Peers, but Most Say Their Businesses Are Stable
Ontario survey data shows lower optimism and higher interest-rate sensitivity than U.S. counterparts, while operating conditions stay steady for most businessesTORONTO, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ontario small business owners are entering 2026 with a more reserved outlook than their U.S. counterparts, reflected in lower economic optimism, softer financial sentiment, and greater sensitivity to interest rates, according to a new Ontario snapshot from FreshBooks’ 2025 State of Small Business
Scott Pilgrim EX Arrives In March, Two New Playable Characters Revealed
Two former enemies of Scott now rally by his side.
Who was Ajit Pawar, the Indian politician killed in plane crash?
Pawar was a key political figure and served as second-highest elected official in Maharashtra, India's wealthiest state.
iPhone 18 Pro Could Feature Teleconverter Alongside Variable Aperture
Apple's rumored new variable aperture camera system for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models has reached the sampling stage, according to a new claim from a Chinese leaker. Posting on Weibo today, the account known as "Smart Pikachu" said the feature had entered late-stage engineering samples, while a teleconverter is also "under evaluation" for the device. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September 2026.
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
TARC to sell West End business center to community group
With approval from the TARC board, a purchase agreement for the Nia Center is expected to be signed by the end of the week.
Doctors, veterans fear near-total abortion ban at VA will put women’s health at risk
The VA’s new rules prevent abortions even in the case of rape or incest. VA Sec Doug Collins is expected to be questioned about it when he testifies Wednesday.
Doctors, veterans fear near-total abortion ban at VA will put women’s health at risk
The VA’s new rules prevent abortions even in the case of rape or incest. VA Sec Doug Collins is expected to be questioned about it when he testifies Wednesday.
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.
Yes, romance & fantasy novels are political. : It's Been a Minute
How do romantic tropes and fantasies impact how you understand politics?You might be a fan of Romantic Fantasy, or as the internet calls it: Romantasy. Even if you're not, you would recognize the tradwives or fascism. Romantasies combine supernatural characters and plotlines with the rush of a whirlwind romance novel, and, in this episode, we're exploring how the politics of some of these books have an effect on politics in the real world.Brittany is joined by Netta Baker, Advanced Instructor of English at Virginia Tech, and Princess Weekes, video essayist and online pop culture critic. They get into how this genre demolishes misogyny while reinforcing conservative politics.Support Public Media. Join NPR Plus.Follow Brittany Luse on Instagram: @bmluseFor handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.
Titans hire Brian Daboll as OC: Here's how fans reacted
The Tennessee Titans are hiring Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator, and here's how fans reacted on social media.
Ethan Hawke says Tom Cruise makes him 'angry' because he's 'changed what’s expected for actors'
Ethan Hawke says that over the years, a certain aspect of Tom Cruise's star persona has gotten him 'angry,' because now, the star has 'changed what's expected for actors.'