Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement after President Trump appointed Cyrus M. Western to serve as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 administrator. As regional administrator, Western will implement President Trump’s environmental priorities in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and with 28 federally-recognized Tribes.
“I am delighted to see Cyrus Western appointed as the new Region 8 Regional Administrator for the EPA,” said Lummis. “Having someone like Cyrus who truly understands Wyoming and will restore the EPA’s commitment to cooperative federalism is a significant win for western states. I look forward to collaborating with Cyrus and Administrator Zeldin to advance President Trump’s American energy resurgence.”
Western previously served as the House Majority Whip in the Wyoming Sate House of Representatives, representing District 51. During his tenure, he served on the Minerals, Business, and Economic Development Committee, chaired the Oil and Gas Bonding Working Group, and was vice chair of the Tourism, Recreation, and Wildlife Committee.
Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced the United States African Development Foundation Dissolution Act. The bill would eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in foreign assistance programs by abolishing the United States African Development Foundation (USADF).Sen. Cruz said, “The Biden administration recklessly spent and abused American taxpayer dollars at the U.S. African Development Foundation. I’m proud to work alongside Senator Risch to address those abuses and continue rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse across government agencies.”
Sen. Risch Said, “Following a nearly two-year investigation into serious allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse at the USADF, I’m proud to introduce this bill to ensure American taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on this program that has been mismanaged for far too long. I’ll continue to work alongside President Trump and his administration to reduce the bloated federal bureaucracy and root out waste in our government.”
Read the full text of the bill here.
BACKGROUND
The United States African Development Foundation Dissolution Act will:
Abolish the United States African Development Foundation and transfer its functions and resources to the U.S. Department of State, better aligning U.S. small grants programs in Africa with the American national security interests Promote more effective use of American taxpayer dollars by reining in spending and holding accountable those who actively sought to shield USADF from Congressional scrutiny.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
March 12, 2025
Democratic lawmakers slammed President Donald Trump’s administration for canceling U.S. military studies on the impact of climate change, saying the move jeopardizes national security by ignoring climate-related risks at home and abroad.
Scientists say climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and wildfires. The lawmakers, in a previously unreported letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, say that translates into damage to military bases, drawing U.S. troops to more relief missions and ushering in greater maritime access to the Arctic.
The issue has emerged in the United States as one of many that is dividing Republican and Democratic politicians. Trump, a Republican, has targeted climate programs as part of a broader effort to slash government spending.
Hegseth posted on X on Sunday: “The (Department of Defense) does not do climate change crap.”
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Read the full article here.
By: Phil StewartSource: Reuters
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
March 17, 2025
Leading Democrats on Monday demanded an investigation of possible criminal corruption involving Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and world’s richest man tasked by Donald Trump with slashing the federal government.
The investigation should involve “the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to cancel a $2.4bn contract with Verizon to upgrade air traffic control communications, and to pay … Musk’s Starlink to help manage US airspace”, senators Chris Van Hollen, Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren wrote to Pam Bondi, the attorney general, and Mitch Behm, acting inspector general of the transportation department.
“We ask that the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice investigate the scope of Mr Musk’s activities at the FAA,” the senators said.
An investigation, the letter said, would determine whether Musk, “in his capacity as a special government employee in the White House … has participated in any particular matter in which he has a financial interest, which would violate the criminal conflict-of-interest statute”.
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Read the full article here.
By: Martin PengellySource: The Guardian
Previous Article
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
March 13, 2025
A group of Democratic senators led by Elizabeth Warren is calling for an ethics investigation into a White House event promoting Tesla Inc.
The demand comes after President Donald Trump on Tuesday held an impromptu press conference to support his billionaire adviser and Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk. During the event, five Teslas were displayed outside of the White House. Trump praised the cars as “beautiful” and selected a red Model S to purchase.
Musk, who is designated a special government employee and helps lead Trump’s government cost-cutting effort known as the Department of Government Efficiency, is bound by federal ethics laws preventing officials from using their public positions for private gain.
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Read the full article here.
By: Emily BirnbaumSource: Bloomberg
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Operating with precision, efficiency, and self-sufficiency, the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 embodies a spirit of tirelessly building, repairing, and sustaining the infrastructure that keeps Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) running.
OTTAWA, March 18, 2025 – Today, the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson, Mr. François Boileau, released Timing Is Everything, the report on our Office’s examination into issues that could prevent some temporary residents from receiving the Canada child benefit (CCB) in a timely manner.
In March 2024, the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson announced that our Office was opening a systemic examination into this situation. During this examination, one of the main issues we found was that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) stops paying the CCB after a temporary resident’s status has expired in its system, even if they may still be eligible for the benefit. This can happen because the onus is on the taxpayer to send the CRA proof of their updated status, but it generally takes the CRA 14 weeks or more to process updated temporary resident status information. As a result, temporary residents will not receive CCB payments while they wait for the CRA to process this information.
Many temporary residents rely on the CCB to make ends meet. Although the CRA will send payments to the temporary resident retroactively once it has updated their immigration status, the temporary resident still has to pay their bills in the meantime. While waiting weeks for the CRA to update their file, single parents still have to feed their children and families still have to pay rent. This can be very difficult or impossible without the CCB.
To more fully understand the factors surrounding the issue, we looked into how the CRA informs temporary residents about the eligibility criteria to continue receiving the CCB without interruption. We also looked at whether the CRA communicates with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and if they could streamline the process to prove eligibility.
To continue receiving the CCB, temporary residents must have legal status in Canada, including maintained status. They have maintained status if, before their permit expires, they have applied to IRCC for an extension for their permit and are waiting for IRCC to make a decision. While on maintained status, eligible temporary residents are still entitled to receive the CCB.
However, we found that the CRA does not notify temporary residents before it stops paying them the CCB. And as mentioned above, the CRA stops paying the CCB after the temporary resident’s status expires in its system, even if they have legal status. Although it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to notify the CRA of updates to their immigration status, this is problematic because they may not know that they need to send updated information to the CRA until they try to find out why their benefit payments have stopped. With the CRA’s long processing times compounding this issue, temporary residents could wait more than four months for their CCB payments to start again.
This issue partly exists because the CRA processes the updated information manually. Additionally, the CRA does not have an information-sharing agreement with IRCC to validate temporary resident status information and help it determine eligibility for the CCB.
As a result of this examination, the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson has made 11 recommendations to improve the service the CRA provides to temporary residents. The CRA should:
remind taxpayers whose immigration status is about to expire that they must provide proof of any update to their legal status to make sure their benefits are not interrupted.
give taxpayers a way to check the expiry date of their immigration status in their online CRA account.
see if it can make information that requires action more prominent on the initial notices it sends to temporary residents.
provide information online at the “Keep getting your payments” web page for temporary residents about:
what they need to do to prevent their payments from stopping; and
what they can do to get their payments reinstated if they are stopped.
centralize the information it provides to newcomers and include information targeted at temporary residents.
communicate directly and in a timely manner with temporary residents who may be eligible for the CCB.
allow taxpayers to track CCB correspondence through its progress tracker.
inform taxpayers through its CRA’s Check Processing Time tool of how long it will take to process CCB correspondence.
improve how it processes immigration status updates for CCB recipients when there is a gap period and the new permit does not reflect that their status was maintained, explaining why they will not get payments for the gap period and who they should contact if they had maintained status for the whole period.
review the length of time it considers someone to be a newcomer after their arrival in Canada.
implement an information-sharing agreement with IRCC to get immigration information and continue collaborating with IRCC to work towards an automated solution to get real-time data.
Background information
The Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson works independently from the CRA. Canadians can submit complaints to the Office if they feel they are not receiving the appropriate service from the CRA. Our main objective is to improve the service the CRA provides to taxpayers and benefit recipients by reviewing individual service complaints and service issues that affect more than one person or a segment of the population.
The Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson assists, advises and informs the Minister of National Revenue about matters relating to services provided by the CRA. The Ombudsperson ensures, in particular, that the CRA respects eight of the service rights outlined in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, arrested 31 illegal aliens March 9 during a targeted enforcement operation in the San Juan area.
The multi-agency operation took place at an illegal cockfight location. Three of the arrested were charged for criminal activity.
All the illegal aliens are in ICE custody pending removal.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos said: “This operation is part of ongoing enforcement under the Presidential Executive Order, to combat illegal immigration across Puerto Rico. Local enforcement partnerships are key to fulfill our mission of keeping our communities safe.”
ICE is focused on public safety and national security threats. Individuals illegally present in the United States who are encountered during an enforcement operation may be taken into custody and processed for removal as stated by law.
Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE HSI mission to increase public safety in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on X at @HSISanJuan.
H.R. 1474 would require the Department of the Treasury to advocate for multilateral development banks to provide technical and financial assistance to promote the use of nuclear energy in foreign countries. Under the bill, the Administration would report on the effectiveness of those efforts as part of an existing annual report.
On the basis of information about similar diplomatic efforts and reporting requirements, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D’Monte. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
After more than a decade of organizing rideshare drivers in Illinois and across the country, the IAM and SEIU are joining together in Illinois to win the pay, benefits and work rules that Uber and Lyft drivers deserve. The drivers, which number roughly 250,000, say they want union representation because they’re underpaid and overworked.
EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James took action to protect New Yorkers from unwanted robocalls. Together with a bipartisan coalition of 27 other attorneys general, Attorney General James filed an amicus brief to support and defend a rule by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that stops telemarketers from obtaining and selling consumers’ phone numbers to robocallers without their consent. The coalition argues in their brief filed in Insurance Marketing Coalition v. Federal Communications Commission that the FCC was acting within its statutory authority when it promulgated the rule, and that the rule would help reduce the volume of robocalls made to consumers nationwide.
“New Yorkers and consumers nationwide are sick and tired of receiving unwanted robocalls,” said Attorney General James. “Robocalls are not only annoying but have also led to serious scams that robbed people of millions of dollars. The FCC’s rule would help stop some of these unwanted calls and could protect consumers from fraud. My office is joining attorneys general across the country to defend this rule and help protect consumers.”
Robocalls have been rampant and have led to scams and fraud. In 2023 alone, consumers reported losing more than $1.2 billion to scams perpetrated through robocalls and text messages, according to data collected by the Federal Trade Commission. To address this issue, the FCC issued a rule under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) that would require lead generators, companies that collect consumers’ information and sell it to third-party companies, to obtain consumers’ consent before sharing their phone number with third-party companies.
In their brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the coalition argues that the FCC’s rule helps bolster efforts by states to stop robocalls. The coalition writes that the rule is effective by targeting robocalls at one of their sources: the point where consumer contact information is first obtained. In addition, they argue that the FCC’s rule protects consumers by providing them with clear and conspicuous disclosures when consenting to sharing their contact information with a seller, such as a website that they use to search for products or receive a quote on a service.
Joining Attorney General James in filing this brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
The Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism announced that the Justice Department filed a statement of interest in the Central District of California to advance the appropriate interpretation of federal laws that prohibit colleges and universities from discriminating against students because of their religion or national origin. The statement of interest is part of the Task Force’s nationwide effort to combat antisemitism in all of its forms.
According to the allegations in Frankelet al. v. Regents of the University of California et al., in the spring of 2024 administrators of the University of California system allowed members of a protest encampment to physically prevent University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) students and faculty from accessing portions of the UCLA campus if they were wearing articles reflective of their Jewish faith or if they refused to denounce Israel.
The plaintiffs are Jewish students and a Jewish professor at UCLA who allege that the university knowingly acted in concert with or allowed members of the protest encampment to prevent them from accessing a central campus space and adjacent classrooms and library on the basis of their Jewish faith or national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, and California state law. The United States’ statement of interest addresses the sufficiency of plaintiffs’ claims that defendant administrators violated Title VI and the Equal Protection Clause.
The Justice Department recently announced the formation of a multi-agency task force coordinated by the Civil Rights Division to combat antisemitism, which is visiting 10 university campuses that have experienced antisemitic events. The Department also recently announced its investigation into the University of California to assess whether the university system engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, religion and national origin against its professors, staff and other employees by allowing an antisemitic hostile work environment to exist on its campuses, including UCLA. The Task Force also recently announced that the Department, together with other federal agencies, would cancel $400 million in federal contracts and grants to Columbia University due to the school’s inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.
“The President, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Task Force know that every student must be free to attend school without being discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion or national origin,” said Leading Task Force member and Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Leo Terrell. “The Department of Justice is working to combat antisemitism using all of the tools at our disposal.”
“Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally for the Central District of California. “Our office will enforce anti-discrimination laws to address the issue of antisemitism affecting our residents.”
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division visit www.justice.gov/crt, and to report possible violations of federal civil rights laws go to www.civilrights.justice.gov or call toll-free at 800-253-3931.
Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
BISMARCK, N.D. – The People’s Republic of China (PRC) halted all international adoptions, except those between blood relatives, in August 2024. Approximately 300 children in the PRC had been matched with American families prior to the announcement.
Co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Trump requesting he engage the Chinese government to finalize the pending adoption cases.
“The sudden termination of China’s adoption program in August 2024 only exacerbated our concern for these children’s well-being,” the senators wrote. “Many of these children have special health care needs, and some will soon age out of care systems without the support of a permanent family. It is particularly critical that these children have access to the care and support that they need — which hundreds of American families approved for adoption are willing to provide.
“We understand that the State Department is working on behalf of these families and seeking clarity on the Chinese government’s decision,” the senators concluded. “We urge you to elevate this engagement and press the Chinese government to finalize pending adoption cases so these children may finally be united with their adoptive families in the United States.”
This follows similar efforts requesting President Biden intervene and urge the PRC to complete pending adoptions and requesting the Department of State seek further clarification on the details and reasoning for China’s decision.
Cosigners from the Senate include U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Todd Young (R-IN).
Cosigners from the House include U.S. Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND-00), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Charles Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Sam Graves (R-MO-06), Mark Green (R-TN-07), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09), Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06), Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02), Erin Houchin (R-IN-09), Julie Johnson (D-TX-32), Thomas Kean (R-NJ-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Julia Letlow (R-LA-05), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11), Richard McCormick (R-GA-07), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), Mark Messmer (R-IN-08), Carol Miller (R-WV-01), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-00), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-03), Andrew Ogles (R-TN-05), Bob Onder (R-MO-03), Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), John Rutherford (R-FL-05), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Keith Self (R-TX-03), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-06), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), William Timmons (R-SC-04), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Daniel Webster (R-FL-11).
Click here for the letter.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Susan Dieleman, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership and Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Lethbridge
A recent poll shows that, across the country, the number of Canadians who consider themselves “proud” or “very proud” has increased — including in Québec, where these numbers have increased from 45 to 58 per cent.
Canadians have been showing their national pride in a variety of ways. Sports fans have been singing “O Canada” at the top of their lungs and booing the U.S. national anthem. Consumers have adjusted their purchasing priorities, buying more Canadian products and avoiding American ones where possible. Vacationers have even changed their travel plans, opting to stay in Canada rather than travel south of the border.
Political leaders, too, have practically draped themselves in the Canadian flag to show their national pride. For example, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been dubbed “Captain Canada” by the media for his response to the tariffs. Federal and provincial leaders have also adopted a so-called “Team Canada” approach — committing to presenting a united front in their response to tariff threats from the U.S.
But what does it mean to be patriotic — and are there good and bad ways of being patriotic? As an expert in the political thought of American philosopher Richard Rorty, I have found his reflections provide useful guidance for understanding the line between being a good patriot — and either taking things too far or not far enough.
The virtuous response
Rorty’s prophetic claims in his 1998 book Achieving Our Country: Leftist Thought in Twentieth-Century America about the likelihood that a “strongman” would be elected went viral after Donald Trump’s 2016 election. His insights can help us understand patriotism and why it might be important in the present moment.
“National pride is to countries what self-respect is to individuals: a necessary condition for self-improvement. Too much national pride can produce bellicosity and imperialism, just as excessive self-respect can produce arrogance. But just as too little self-respect makes it difficult for a person to display moral courage, so insufficient national pride makes energetic and effective debate about national policy unlikely. Emotional involvement with one’s country […] is necessary if political deliberation is to be imaginative and productive. Such deliberation will probably not occur unless pride outweighs shame.”
In this passage, Rorty invokes Aristotle’s notion of a “golden mean” — moderation between the excessive and deficient expression of a particular disposition. Very roughly put, to be virtuous is to feel and respond appropriately to any given situation. To exceed or fall short of the appropriate feeling and response is to be vicious.
For example, to be courageous is to fear appropriately and to respond to that fear appropriately. The courageous person is not a person without fear. Rather, they fear what’s worthy of fear and don’t fear that which isn’t.
The courageous person also responds appropriately to fear. What this response looks like will vary according to situation. Sometimes, courage calls one to stand and fight — while at other times, it calls one to turn and run. An inappropriate response is when one is reckless because they’re overly unafraid — or when one is cowardly because they’re overly afraid. As the wise fool character of Falstaff notes in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, the better part of valour is discretion.
Virtuous patriotism
Applying the same approach, we can understand patriotism as feeling and responding appropriately in a situation that calls for national shame. The person who takes pride in their country is not a person who never feels shame. Rather, they’re ashamed when something their country has done is worthy of shame — and not ashamed when there’s no reason to be.
As a result, patriotism sometimes calls one to criticize their country. At other times, patriotism calls us to celebrate our country. The person who exhibits patriotism virtuously will know when criticism and celebration are appropriate. To respond inappropriately, according to Rorty, is to be either quarrelsome and imperialistic when one is overly unashamed, or to be apathetic and uninvolved when one is overly ashamed.
Pride in one’s country is only a virtue when it’s well-deserved. But when it is well-deserved, pride is the virtuous response.
In Achieving Our Country, Rorty was primarily concerned with the fracturing and consequent direction of the political left, worrying that it was veering off the virtuous track in the direction of vicious apathy. The political left, he said, emphasized the ways their country fell short — and of which they were rightly ashamed. But they didn’t look at the way the country had lived up to its promise, which should have made them proud.
However, as I’ve written about previously, the political left wasn’t wrong to identify those aspects of a country’s history that are indeed shameful. And for Rorty, the left has played a vital role throughout history in helping countries become kinder, less shameful places than they otherwise might have been.
In the current political climate, Rorty’s lesson for us is to make sure we don’t veer too far in the opposite direction, becoming quarrelsome or imperialistic. What true patriot love calls for is a more moderate stance — where we’re shameful of that which is worthy of shame, but also proud of that which is worthy of pride. Without a balance of shame and pride, efforts to continue improving what we stand on guard for is likely to falter and fall.
As we Canadians wave our flags and support our Canadian producers, we would be well-served to remember the value of imaginative and productive deliberation — and to steer well clear of both bellicosity and apathy.
Susan Dieleman receives funding as the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at the University of Lethbridge.
The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening Canada’s domestic biomanufacturing ecosystem, boosting the economy while creating and maintaining well-paying jobs and better positioning us to respond to future health needs.
Today, Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne and Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a $60 million contribution through the Strategic Innovation Fund to Delpharm Boucherville Canada Inc. This investment will support Delpharm’s $220 million project to modernize and expand its facility in Boucherville, Quebec, increasing its capacity to manufacture sterile injectables, many of which are essential medicines used on a daily basis by Canadians and in our hospitals. This investment will also enable Delpharm to maintain 450 jobs and hire students for 150 co-op terms.
Through this project, Delpharm will add 28,000 square feet to its Boucherville facility and install new state-of-the-art equipment. This will double production capacity to approximately 130 million units per year. This expansion will significantly enhance Canada’s ability to produce essential sterile injectables for domestic use and the export market.
March 18, 2025Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
The race to decarbonization is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create good-paying jobs, grow our economy and lower harmful emissions. By investing in union training programs and giving tradespeople the green skills required to meet this moment, we are ensuring that Canadian workers play an active role in that race and assume an outsized position in the jobs and opportunities it promises to bring.
Today, the Minister of Jobs and Families Steven MacKinnon announced more than $67 million across 10 projects to help equip approximately 29,300 tradespeople with high-demand skills as industries shift to greener, low-carbon alternatives. This funding will run from 2025 to 2030.
These projects, funded by the Sustainable Jobs funding stream of the Union Training and Innovation Program under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, complement the investment in the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund that helps thousands of workers to upgrade or gain the new skills required for a green economy.
This funding is part of the Government’s response to the skilled trades workforce’s most pressing needs, including addressing barriers to successful entry, supporting progression and completion of apprenticeships, addressing the housing crisis, and increasing net-zero construction to unlock Canada’s economic potential.
Today’s announcement is another step the Government is taking to grow Canada’s economy and create well-paying sustainable jobs for generations to come.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy (CAS) aims to support a trades workforce that is skilled, inclusive, certified and productive. The CAS funds projects that aim to:
promote the skilled trades as a good career option;
develop initiatives that help Canadians explore, prepare for, participate and succeed in apprenticeship;
facilitate the participation of employers and unions in apprenticeship; and
encourage innovative tools and approaches to better prepare pre-apprentices, apprentices and journeypersons for the jobs of tomorrow.
CAS Union Training and Innovation Program Sustainable Jobs Stream
The Sustainable Jobs Stream aims to support projects that will develop and deliver green training for journeypersons and apprentices in Red Seal trades that are key to reducing Canada’s emissions. It supports the Government’s Sustainable Jobs Plan.
Eligible organizations include:
organizations that are located and operate in Canada (except in Quebec);
unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades; and
organizations managing training trust funds for unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades.
The following organizations are also eligible, if they have a partnership with a union representing workers in the Red Seal trade:
not-for-profit organizations;
for-profit organizations;
provincial, territorial and municipal governments, agencies, institutions and Crown corporations; and
The American steel industry will be “reinvigorated” by President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs on steel imports, writes Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — describing how President Trump’s action to close loopholes and exemptions will strengthen the critical industry.
“The American steel industry, in other words, is going in reverse, primarily because of increasing imports from exempt countries and product exclusions. With global overcapacity soaring, foreign producers everywhere will take advantage of any gaps in America’s tariffs to find an outlet for their excess steel in the U.S. market.
The harmful impact of a ton of imported steel sold at the domestic industry’s expense does not depend on whether it comes from an ‘ally’ or ‘adversary’ country.
A stable supply of domestically produced steel is more important than ever to America’s national, economic and energy security. In the face of the considerable pressure likely to come to exempt certain countries and weaken the tariffs, the president has stayed strong and continued to put America first on steel trade.”
Source: United States Small Business Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Montana of the April 18, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the May 6-9, 2024, severe winter storm and flooding.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Blaine, Chouteau, Fergus, Hill, Judith Basin, Petroleum, Pondera, Teton, Toole, Wheatland, as well as the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and the Fort Belknap Indian Community.
Under the declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature and suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. Examples of eligible non-critical PNPs include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs cause by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates can be as low as 3.25% with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications no later than April 18.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
HOUSTON – A total of 245 new cases have been filed in the last week related to immigration and border security, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Of those, 115 are charged with illegally re-entering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, violent and/or sexual crimes and prior immigration offenses. A total 118 face charges of illegally entering the country, 10 cases involve various instances of human smuggling, and the remainder relate to firearms and assault of federal officers.
Of those facing allegations of illegally re-entering the country is Santos Demetrio Marquez-Hernandez from El Salvador. The criminal complaint indicates he has a felony conviction of contact with a minor with sexual intent and was removed just over two months ago on Jan. 8. He could receive up to 20 years in U.S. prison.
Juan Daniel Pena and Jose Cristian Cantu Jr. were also arrested this week for attempting to smuggle 15 aliens through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita. The charges allege the aliens, who were from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Vietnam, were hidden inside two trucks being hauled on a flatbed trailer. Five of the illegal aliens were allegedly previously ordered removed from the United States and are now facing their own charges of illegal reentry into the United States.
Relevant cases also featured this week include an Arkansas man who was found guilty of transporting illegal aliens in a truck’s wheel well and fuel tank. The jury deliberated for under 30 minutes following a less than two-day trial before finding Noel Mercado guilty on two counts of alien smuggling. An x-ray scan revealed at least two individuals in the truck’s wheel wells – found bolted inside modified wheel well compartments. Law enforcement also discovered two more individuals in the auxiliary fuel tank below the truck bed. All four were illegal aliens from the countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala with no authority to be in the United States.
Among those charged this week also includes Gerardo Hervey Rodriguez-Toscano, a Mexican citizen who allegedly ran up the Mexican side of the Hidalgo port of entry and attempted to evade U.S. law enforcement at the midpoint. Authorities were able to detain him, but after a struggle, according to the allegations. One officer allegedly suffered injuries to his wrist, knee and elbow. If convicted, Rodriguez-Toscano faces up to eight years in prison.
In addition, a Honduran man attempted to enter the country illegally by pretending to be a minor. Elger Fabricio Cotto-Navarro claimed he was born in May 2007, when he was actually born the previous year. He initially denied the allegations and made a written statement as such, but ultimately acknowledged he was an adult and that he provided an incorrect date of birth and made false statements.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 215 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 10 through March 13.
In Austin, several individuals were charged with illegal reentry after deportation, after being found in local area jails. Among those were Ricardo Hernandez-Hernandez, a Mexican national who had allegedly been previously removed from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions and had been convicted of indecency with a child sexual contact and failure to register as a sex offender; Andres Garcia-Saldana, a Mexican national who had allegedly been previously removed from the United States on four occasions and had been convicted of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and driving while intoxicated three times—the third time being a felony conviction; Hernan Vasquez-Medina, a Mexican national who had allegedly been removed from the United States three times before and had been convicted of making a terroristic threat and driving while intoxicated three times—like Garcia-Saldana, Vasquez-Medina’s third DWI was charged as a felony as well; and JaimeRicardo Lopez-Rojas, a Mexican national who had allegedly been removed from the United States a total eight times and had been convicted of illegal entry twice, illegal reentry after deportation four times, driving while intoxicated three times, and family violence assault causing bodily injury.
In the Midland-Odessa area, two individuals with prior federal convictions were found in local area jails and were charged with illegal entry after deportation. Mexican national Saul Villalobos-Vasquez was allegedly removed from the United States once before and convicted in the Eastern District of Texas for unauthorized use of a social security number for which he had been sentenced to 12-months imprisonment in 2016. Daniel Olivas-Nieto, also a Mexican national, had been allegedly removed from the United States and was previously convicted in the Western District of Texas for the illegal transportation of aliens for financial gain, for which he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sandoz signs 10-year agreement with partner Delpharm, a global pharmaceutical developer and contract manufacturer
Agreement will secure a reliable supply of affordable, quality sterile injectables made in Canada
With this decision, Sandoz solidifies its position as the #1 supplier of sterile injectables to Canadian hospitals
BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sandoz Canada, the leader in generic and biosimilar medicines in Canada, has signed a 10-year, long-term supply agreement with its partner Delpharm, a global pharmaceutical developer and contract manufacturer. This partnership, along with financial backing from the Government of Canada, will allow Delpharm to carry out its modernization plan for its Boucherville plant.
Michel Robidoux, President and General Manager of Sandoz Canada, said: “Almost every minor or major surgery in the country is performed with at least one Sandoz medicine that is manufactured in Boucherville. This is how we are continuing our Purpose of pioneering access for Canadian patients.”
After Delpharm bought the Boucherville plant in 2022, Sandoz signed an exclusive partnership with the company to maintain its supply of sterile injectables for Canadian hospitals.
The Boucherville plant is considered to be essential to the Canadian hospital network as it produces an essential range of molecules used in various surgical procedures and intensive care units. In addition, the site is responsible for producing 20 of Canada’s top 100 molecules, and has the country’s largest manufacturing capacity for injectable narcotics.
The project mainly involves renewing and refurbishing production equipment and the laboratory to create a state-of-the-art plant. Over the next few years, the plan will be carried out in several phases so as not to compromise supply. This modernization will not only ensure continuity in meeting the highest quality standards, but also maintain cutting-edge local production of sterile injectables commercialized by Sandoz Canada.
Disclaimer This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside of the control of Sandoz. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and Sandoz undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
About Sandoz Canada As a Canadian leader in off-patent medicines, Sandoz Canada has a product portfolio that includes over 700 generics and biosimilars spanning multiple therapeutic areas, such as anti-infective, cardiovascular, central nervous system, immunology and oncology. In 2024, 56 million Sandoz prescriptions were issued in Canada (source: IQVIA Compuscript TRx). Sandoz Canada employs 300 people across the country and at its head office in Boucherville, Quebec. It is a trusted partner for pharmacists, physicians and hospitals for quality medicine and outstanding customer service and is committed to ensuring a reliable supply. For more information about Sandoz Canada, visit www.sandoz.ca.
About Sandoz AG Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose: Pioneering access for patients. 20,000 people of more than 100 nationalities work together to bring Sandoz medicines to some 800 million patients worldwide, generating substantial global healthcare savings and an even larger social impact. Its leading portfolio of more than 1,500 products addresses diseases from common colds to cancer. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to the year 1886. Its history of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world’s first oral penicillin in 1951, and the world’s first biosimilar in 2006. In 2022, Sandoz sales achieved USD 9.6 billion.
Media relations contact
Sophie Levasseur Manager, Corporate Communications sophie-1.levasseur@sandoz.com (+1) 263-788-3835
March 18 , 2025 – Sherbrooke, Quebec – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Honourable Élisabeth Brière, Minister of Veteran Affairs, Minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency and Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence,will announcea significant step in the recapitalization project of the Sherbrooke armouries. She will be joined by The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead.
Date: Wednesday,March 19, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM (EST) Location: 1900, Galt Street West, Room 334, entrance through Door 2 Sherbrooke QC J1K 1H8 Details: Participation in this media availability is for accredited media only.
Notes to editor / news director:
Media interested in attending the event are asked to contact National Defence’s media relations office at mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca to confirm their attendance.
Sarnia, Ontario –The Canadian Coast Guard’s seasonal search and rescue stations across the Great Lakes will open on the following dates:
March 21: Amherstburg, Kingston, Port Dover, Port Weller
March 28: Cobourg
April 4: Goderich, Meaford, Tobermory
April 11: Thunder Bay
Waterways remain very cold at this time of year and take much longer to warm up when compared to the air, so boaters should ensure they take necessary precautions when near or on waterways. Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide is an excellent source of information in preparation for the recreational boating season.
Emergencies on the water can be reported 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, toll-free (within Canada) at 1-800-267-7270. If toll-free service is unavailable, please dial 613-965-3870.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with law enforcement partners from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, apprehended 24 illegal aliens in Charlotte during an enhanced targeted enforcement operation which ran March 1 to 8.
Charges from those arrested included:
13 aggravated felonies or other violent offenses.
Three illegal firearms or weapons offenses.
Two MS-13 gang member affiliation cases.
One assault on a federal officer.
Five property crimes.
11 DWI charges.
Of these criminal aliens, six had active immigration detainers which the Charlotte Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Office had not honored. There are 18 additional targeted aliens still at large who also had detainers that were not honored. ICE has been unable to locate those individuals, and they remain at large and pose a potential danger to the community. These aliens could have been safely and efficiently transferred into ICE custody if their detainers had been honored.
ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the U.S. homeland through the arrest and removal of those individuals who compromise the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws.
Entering the United States without authorization is a violation of federal law, and those who do so may be subject to administrative arrest and, in some cases, criminal prosecution.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROAtlanta.
Demonstrating that Gen Z and Gen Alpha students embody “STEMpathy”—the fusion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills and a compassionate drive to solve community challenges—Samsung Electronics America has announced the 10 National Finalist schools advancing in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. Selected based on the project pitch videos submitted by this year’s 50 State Winners, each Finalist team will be awarded a prize package of $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies, and will advance to the final competition round.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow challenges public school students in grades 6-12 to drive positive change in their communities by applying STEM know-how to address real-world, pressing local issues. Celebrating its 15th year, the award-winning education-based citizenship program launched in 2010 with a mission to boost interest, proficiency, and equity in STEM. Over the years, it has become a force for reshaping the perception of STEM as a vital field for fostering a skilled workforce and informed citizens of tomorrow. To date, Samsung has awarded more than $27 million in resources to nearly 4,000 public schools across the U.S.
This year, with guidance from their teachers, schools, Samsung employee mentors, and local businesses and public officials, the Finalist teams—half of which are from Title 1 schools—will complete their STEM solution prototypes and present them to a panel of judges at a live pitch event on April 28, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The impressive array of bright ideas utilize cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and machine leaning (60%), 3D modeling and printing (60%), Internet of Things (40%) and robotics (20%) to address key challenges in accessibility, public health, public safety, sustainability, and mental health.
Three schools will ultimately be named National Winners, selected by a distinguished judging panel that includes Charlotte Dungan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation, Rameen Rana, Investor, at Samsung NEXT, and other esteemed judges. Notable guests attending the event include Yoonie Joung, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America, and Allison Stransky, CMO of Samsung Electronics America.
“Watching Year 15 of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow unfold, it’s clear that care, compassion and creative genius are alive and well among America’s 6-12 grade students,” said Stransky. “It’s inspiring to see Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as digital natives, embracing emerging tech like AI and harnessing it to improve lives and communities. We are proud to recognize not only the National Finalists but also the many students from schools across the country who participated this year, contributing their innovative ideas and showcasing the incredible promise of the next generations.”
Salman Taufiq, Head of Brand Marketing, Samsung Electronics America, added, “Solve for Tomorrow highlights the incredible potential of young minds. We are proud to see so many bright and passionate students are ready contribute to the growth and progress of our communities and country. As they embrace the power of STEM, they’re not just learning—they’re actively shaping a future where innovation and technology create real, positive impact.”
Introducing the 10 National Finalists
SchoolCity/StateCommunity Issue, STEM Solution & Video
Lathrop High SchoolFairbanks, AKPublic Safety – Winter Driving: Snow-covered roads obscure lane markings, causing dangerous driving conditions that contribute to nearly 300,000 crashes per year on the 70% of U.S. roads that experience snow-related reduced winter safety. Students developed Laser Lane Lines – a solution that uses AI, robotics, and GPS tech to project laser lane markings onto snow-covered roads. Their application of STEM makes driving on snowy roads much safer for residents of Alaska and winter drivers across the country. https://youtu.be/UHzK9OWp0r8
Bentonville West High SchoolCenterton, ARPublic Health – Cancer: Oral cancer causes 170,000 deaths annually, with early detection critical to saving lives. In Arkansas, limited access to affordable specialists and diagnostics makes detection especially challenging, particularly in rural and low-income areas. In 2024, 90% of residents didn’t visit a dentist. To address this, students developed an AI-powered mobile cancer screening app, allowing users to take images of their mouths and self-screen for oral cancer—offering an affordable, accessible early detection solution. https://youtu.be/f0uTMiuasF8
Aurora Highlands P-8Aurora, COAccessibility – Gaming: Gaming isn’t just about high scores—it’s a way to connect, compete, and build friendships. But many games come with controllers that aren’t built for players with physical disabilities or who lack fine motor precision, leading to a risk of social isolation. Using 3D modeling, printing, and coding to design a customizable, affordable controller, middle schoolers developed an adaptive video game controller for gamers with diverse abilities, make gaming more inclusive. https://youtu.be/b_-mV_ld8uo
Academy of Aerospace and EngineeringWindsor, CTClimate Action – Heat Disparities: In approximately 65 U.S. cities, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect causes temperatures to rise by 8°F for 34 million people, a significant temperature increase that impacts public health and sustainable city development. To identify locations with heat-absorptive surfaces (e.g., dark pavement, roofs) or areas lacking cooling vegetation, high school students created H.E.A.T.M.A.P., an AI-powered app using 3D-printed, solar-powered IoT sensors with thermal imaging to track, predict, and mitigate UHI locations in real-time, combatting climate-driven heat disparities. https://youtu.be/MZ2a3BZEHzI
Charter School of WilmingtonWilmington, DEPublic Health – Physician Shortage: Delaware’s physician shortage has left several counties without adequate access to healthcare, causing primary care wait times to soar by nearly 200%. High school students developed the AKQUA-Gel hydrogel bandage—a smart, AI-powered smart bandage with IoT sensors and 3D-printed components that monitors wound healing in real-time. Linked to a mobile app, it tracks biomarkers like moisture, pH, and oxygen, providing data to patients and doctors, advancing treatment, and reducing hospital congestion by enabling remote wound monitoring. https://youtu.be/Vs-Ou3CnCZg
Bloomington High School SouthBloomington, INAccessibility – Sports: Nearly 20% of Americans experience hearing loss, and with 8 million high school athletes participating in sports, many are at risk of damaging their hearing aids during physical activities. Current solutions are bulky and non-compliant. Storm Shield, a lightweight, eco-friendly headband, protects hearing aids from wind, rain, and impact using hydrophobic mesh and a wireless motion sensor for safety. Combining material science, programming, IoT, machine learning, and 3D printing, this all-girl student-led project offers an affordable, sustainable, and innovative solution for athletes’ hearing aid protection. https://youtu.be/PlQEmMA2O9w
Denham Springs High SchoolDenham Springs, LASustainability – Water Quality: To address community concerns about the potential risks of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Lake Maurepas in Southeastern Louisiana, students developed the Safety C Sensor and app. Using AI and IoT, the system monitors carbon levels and alerts users to potential dangers like leaks. This initiative combines engineering, data science, and community education to ensure safety and raise awareness. https://youtu.be/-ZXrb92NUvw
Edgerton Elementary SchoolMaplewood, MNPublic Safety – Ice Hazard: Minnesota’s frozen lakes pose a serious safety risk, with numerous fatalities each winter from falling through ice. To address this, middle school students developed Ice Savers, a sensor system that measures ice thickness and shares real-time data through a mobile app. Using ultrasonic sensors, buoys, and AI-driven analysis, their solution helps prevent accidents by informing users when lake ice is safe to walk on. https://youtu.be/LzUOlEAJ-0w
Doral Academy of Northern NevadaReno, NVAccessibility – Modular Prosthetic: At Doral Academy, a student with a partial arm amputation couldn’t play the violin, a passion of theirs. To help, classmates came together to create a cost-effective, 3D-printed modular prosthetic. By using CAD software and recyclable PLA, the middle schoolers crafted a solution that’s not only functional but adaptable. The innovation enhances accessibility, underscoring how STEM can foster inclusivity. https://youtu.be/5-ufOdRPMn0
CY Middle SchoolCasper, WYMental Health – Youth Well-being: In response to rising youth mental health challenges, students created SEL-bot, a roaming robot that delivers positive messages throughout the school to promote mental wellness and self-esteem. Using mechanical engineering, robotics, and coding, they are applying STEM principles to build a functional robot that fosters a supportive, connected school environment, helping reduce anxiety and improve social interactions. https://youtu.be/n41Jq_mcoVE
Your Vote Matters: Help Choose the Community Choice Winner
The 10 Solve for Tomorrow National Finalists have showcased their groundbreaking STEM solutions in three-minute pitch videos, and now it’s your turn to weigh in! Cast your vote to help select one Community Choice Winner, who will receive an additional $10,000 prize package on top of their $50,000 National Finalist earnings. Watch the videos here, vote for your favorite, and make your voice count. You can vote once per day until 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 20, 2025.
New This Year: An Interactive, AI-Powered Prize to Empower U.S. Classrooms
In celebration of Year 15 of Solve for Tomorrow, in addition to the $2 million-plus total prizes, all 10 National Finalist teams will receive a Samsung WAF Interactive Display, which delivers a dynamic, engaging experience designed for the classroom of the future. Its intuitive interface and wide compatibility make it easier for teachers to leverage education apps and features that optimize lessons to help students discover the joy of learning. Each teacher will also receive specialized training from the Samsung Education Solutions team on effective uses of both interactive display technology and AI technology in the classroom.
What’s Next: Live Student Pitches & Game-Changing Prizes Await
The 10 National Finalists will head to a live Pitch Event on April 28 in Washington, D.C. Based on the live pitch presentations, judges will name three schools National Winners, each of which will receive a $100,000 prize of Samsung technology and classroom supplies. The remaining seven National Finalist schools will have been awarded $50,000 prize packages. All 10 National Finalist teams will receive a Samsung WAF Interactive Display and Samsung Education Solutions team training.
From among the 50 State Winners, one school will be selected for the Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving an added $25,000 prize package to nurture and develop their STEM solution into a venture extending beyond the competition.
One of the 50 State Winner schools will be recognized with a Sustainability Innovation Award for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation, and an additional $25,000 prize package, including Samsung ENERGY STAR® technology.
From the National Finalists, one Community Choice Winner, selected through online voting by the general public, will receive an additional $10,000 in prizes on top of their National Finalist winnings.
One Employee Choice Winner will be chosen by Samsung employees from among the National Finalists to receive $10,000 in prizes in addition to their National Finalist winnings.
To learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, please visit www.samsung.com/solve and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stephen Norris, Professor of History; Director of the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies, Miami University
‘Atlases,’ Victoria Lomasko’s mural at Miami UniversityUsed by permission of Victoria Lomasko
Victoria Lomasko, a graphic artist and muralist, has spent her career documenting how authoritarianism took hold in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. What she has illustrated – as well as the personal journey she has taken – affords a chance to see how dictatorship can develop and strengthen across a decade.
In 2019, I invited Lomasko – who goes by Vika for short – to Miami University, where I teach Imperial Russian and Soviet history. The Havighurst Center for East European, Russian and Eurasian Studies was holding a semester-long series on “Truth and Power” that also included two other Russian dissidents: Leonid Volkov, then chief of staff for opposition leader Alexei Navalny; and Mikhail Zygar, who helped found the independent news station TV Rain in 2010.
I asked Lomasko to paint a mural illustrating the consequences of telling the truth in Putin’s Russia – a theme she has explored in all her works. Her completed mural, “Atlases,” depicted the struggle individuals face between desires to protest or to turn inward under authoritarianism.
Taking action
Lomasko first gained acclaim for “Other Russias,” which was published in English in 2017. The book is a collection of what she terms “graphic reportage”: comic-style art combined with current events.
In it, she covered Russians who are largely invisible: activists, sex workers, truckers, older people, provincial residents, migrants and minorities. She wanted to represent them as “heroes” in their own lives, giving them agency and visibility.
Her heroes came into the public spotlight in 2011 and 2012, when mass protests began in Russia after fraudulent elections and Putin’s return to the presidency. Lomasko attended the protests and sketched the participants. The rallies of 2012 seemed to signify that Russian citizens from a wide range of backgrounds could unite to resist creeping authoritarianism.
A protester in Moscow asks a police officer, ‘Are the police with the people?’ in an illustration from ‘Other Russias.’ Used by permission of Victoria Lomasko
In addition to publishing her drawings, Lomasko also exhibited her work in Moscow and St. Petersburg – a seeming sign that censorship could not prevent an artist or ordinary citizen from voicing their frustration.
This hope did not last long. Over the next few years, the Kremlin passed a series of laws that designated organizations, then media outlets and eventually individuals as “foreign agents” if they received any funding from abroad.
Led by then Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, who was appointed by Putin in 2012, the Russian state also began to demand “patriotic” culture supporting the government, and label anyone who resisted as “unpatriotic.”
In these years, Lomasko documented how protests shrunk to local levels – truckers who decried a new tax, Muscovites who lamented the destruction of local parks, and urban activists who protested plans to tear down Soviet-era apartments. She still depicted participants as everyday heroes, yet she also noticed how protesters’ brief sense of power through collective action faded into disillusionment after the Kremlin went ahead with its plans.
An illustration from ‘Other Russias’ of a truckers protest camp in 2016 in Khimki. Used by permission of Victoria Lomasko
Changing tack
“Other Russias” introduced Lomasko to a worldwide audience. By the time the book came out in 2017, however, she began to question the very basis of her graphic reportage.
Was it enough for an artist to document social change? Lomasko concluded that the answer was no – art should offer solutions. She decided to paint murals that would move beyond graphic reportage.
This new trajectory informed her Miami University project. By the time she arrived in March 2019, Lomasko had completed her first two murals: one for a gallery in England and a second in Germany.
The first, “The Daughter of an Agitprop Artist,” featured her father, who had worked as a propaganda poster artist in her hometown of Serpukhov in the 1980s. In the mural, her father gazes at his work, the rituals of government-sponsored marches, and Lenin posters plastered everywhere. Young Vika stands with her back to her father, holding a red balloon. She stares at her future self, a woman covering the grassroots protests of 2012.
Victoria Lomasko’s mural at the Arts Centre HOME in Manchester, England. Used by permission of Victoria Lomasko
“Our Post-Soviet Land,” her second mural, depicted the ways some former Soviet states, particularly Ukraine, were distancing themselves from their communist past after independence – while others, particularly Russia itself, seemed to be increasingly nostalgic for the Soviet era.
Two paths
Lomasko spent two weeks on campus at Miami University here in Ohio, completing a mural that built on these themes.
The central feature are two figures representing contemporary versions of Atlas, the titan who held up the world in Greek mythology. One faces left, toward a group of people praying in front of an Orthodox icon of Jesus. Here Lomasko depicts one path Russians took in response to the oppressive nature of Putinism: turning inward, retreating to a spiritual life.
The second Atlas gazes upward, holding an artist’s brush. Below this figure a series of people take to the streets, protesting. They hold flags and banners representing a number of causes, including the 2011 “Occupy” movement in the United States. Lomasko’s message seems clear: This is a second path to take to resist authoritarianism – one that might succeed if participants see themselves connected across borders.
Victoria Lomasko stands with her mural ‘Atlases’ at Miami University. Stephen Norris
Art in exile
After unveiling “Atlases,” Lomasko mentioned that she was still trying to retain hope for her country and for humanity. Once again, it did not last long.
During the first two terms of Putin’s presidency, and that of Dmitry Medvedev, the government had largely left citizens’ speech alone, though it controlled information through state media. In 2018 and 2019, however, Russia passed laws that clamped down on internet access and mobile communication.
Lomasko could no longer exhibit her work in Russia and was increasingly unable to find paid work as an artist. As she told me, the state considered her unvarnished depictions of ordinary Russians to be distasteful, while publishers and gallery owners considered her works politically dangerous.
When the country began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, these changes allowed the government to criminalize opposition. Lomasko made the difficult decision to flee Moscow. She took her cat and as many artworks as she could carry, but she had to abandon most of her possessions. She documented this new journey the only way she knew: through a series of art panels titled “Five Steps.”
“Isolation” encapsulates how Lomasko and dissidents like her grew ever more cut off from the rampant patriotism espoused by Putin. “Escape” shows her leap into the unknown, fleeing her country because she feared arrest, while others are caught up in war and political repression.
“Exile” depicts Lomasko starting anew in a different country. “Shame,” the most powerful, seeks to capture her emotions at having to flee, as well as the shame she felt for what Russia was doing to Ukraine. “Humanity” retains the artist’s attempt to preserve her optimism – her sense that humans have more in common than they have differences, and that seeing oneself within a larger, global community might give power to the invisible.
‘Humanity,’ by Victoria Lomasko. Used by permission of Victoria Lomasko
Tens of thousands of Russians have left the country since the start of the war, many of them artists and activists. Zygar and Volkov – the two other Russian citizens on campus for our university’s 2018-19 series – have also had to flee.
Lomasko’s art helps trace how authoritarianism took hold in Russia across the past decade. I believe her responses to Putin’s dictatorship, including her decision to flee her homeland, offer us all something to ponder.
Stephen Norris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Things feel different this time around. Critics seem quieter. Some point to fear of retribution. But there’s also a sense that the protests of Trump’s first term were ultimately futile. This has contributed to a widespread mood of despair.
As The New York Times noted not long ago, Trump “had not appeared to be swayed by protests, petitions, hashtag campaigns or other tools of mass dissent.” That’s a commonperspective these days.
But what if it’s wrong?
As a historian, I study how our narratives about the past shape our actions in the present. In this case, it’s particularly important to get the history right.
In fact, popular resistance in Trump’s first term accomplished more than many observers realize; it’s just that most wins happened outside the spotlight. In my view, the most visible tactics – petitions, hashtags, occasional marches in Washington – had less impact than the quieter work of organizing in communities and workplaces.
Understanding when movements succeeded during Trump’s first term is important for identifying how activists can effectively oppose Trump policy in his second administration.
Progressive activists were a key reason. By combining decentralized organizing and nationwideresource-sharing, they successfully pushed scores of stateand local governments to adopt sanctuary laws that limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
When the sociologist Adam Safer examined thousands of cities and dozens of states, he found that a specific type of sanctuary law that activists supported – barring local jails and prisons from active cooperation with ICE – successfully reduced ICE arrests. A study by legal scholar David K. Hausman confirmed this finding. Notably, Hausman also found that sanctuary policies had “no detectable effect on crime rates,” contrary to what many politicians allege.
Another important influence on state and local officials was employers’ resistance to mass deportation. The E-Verify system requiring employers to verify workers’ legal status went virtually unenforced, since businesses quietly objected to it. As this example suggests, popular resistance to Trump’s agenda was most effective when it exploited tensions between the administration and capitalists.
The ‘rising tide’ against fossil fuels
In his effort to prop up the fossil fuel industry, Trump in his first term withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, weakened or eliminated over 100 environmental protections and pushed other measures to obstruct the transition to green energy.
Researchers projected that these policies would kill tens of thousands of people in just the United States by 2028, primarily from exposure to air pollutants. Other studies estimated that the increased carbon pollution would contribute to tens of millions of deaths, and untold other suffering, by century’s end.
That’s not the whole story, though. Trump’s first-term energy agenda was partly thwarted by a combination of environmental activism and market forces.
His failure to resuscitate the U.S. coal industry was especially stark. Coal-fired plant capacity declined faster during Trump’s first term than during any four-year period in any country, ever. Some of the same coal barons who celebrated Trump’s victory in 2016 soon went bankrupt.
CBS News covered the bankruptcy of coal firm Murray Energy, founded by Trump supporter Robert E. Murray.
The most obvious reasons for coal’s decline were the U.S. natural gas boom and the falling cost of renewable energy. But its decline was hastened by the hundreds of local organizations that protested coal projects, filed lawsuits against regulators and pushed financial institutions to disinvest from the sector. The presence of strong local movements may help explain the regional variation in coal’s fortunes.
Environmentalists also won some important battles against oil and gas pipelines, power plants and drilling projects. In a surprising number of cases, organizers defeated polluters through a combination of litigation, civil disobedience and other protests, and by pressuring banks, insurers and big investors.
In 2018, one pipeline CEO lamented the “rising tide of protests, litigation and vandalism” facing his industry, saying “the level of intensity has ramped up,” with “more opponents” who are “better organized.”
Green energy also expanded much faster than Trump and his allies would have liked, albeit not fast enough to avert ecological collapse. The U.S. wind energy sector grew more in Trump’s first term than under any other president, while solar capacity more than doubled. Research shows that this progress was due in part to the environmental movement’sorganizing, particularly at the state and local levels.
As with immigration, Trump’s energy agenda divided both political and business elites. Some investors became reluctant to keep their money in the sector, and some even subsidized environmental activism. Judges and regulators didn’t always share Trump’s commitment to propping up fossil fuels. These tensions between the White House and business leaders created openings that climate activists could exploit.
Nonetheless, workers’ direct action on the job won meaningful victories. For example, educators across the country organized dozens of major strikes for better pay, more school funding and even against ICE. Workers in hotels, supermarkets and other private-sector industries also walked out. Ultimately, more U.S. workers went on strike in 2018 than in any year since 1986.
In addition to winning gains for workers, the strike wave apparently also worked against Republicans at election time by increasing political awareness and voter mobilization. The indirect impact on elections is a common side effect of labor militancy and mass protest.
Quiet acts of worker defiance also constrained Trump. The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic featured widespread resistance to policies that raised the risk of infection, particularly the lack of mask mandates.
Progressive movements have no direct influence over Republicans in Washington. However, they have more potential influence over businesses, lower courts, regulators and state and local politicians.
Of these targets, business ultimately has the most power. Business will usually be able to constrain the administration if its profits are threatened. Trump and Elon Musk may be able to dismantle much of the federal government and ignore court orders, but it’s much harder for them to ignore major economic disruption.
While big marches can raise public consciousness and help activists connect, by themselves they will not block Trump and Musk. For that, the movement will need more disruptive forms of pressure. Building the capacity for that disruption will require sustained organizing in workplaces and communities.
Kevin A. Young does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Lake Chad once provided adequate livelihoods for 20 million people in Africa, but it lost 90% of its surface area in 30 years.AP Photo/Christophe Ena
Just over half the world’s population shares a river or lake basin with at least one other country. To sustainably manage those water resources for the health of people, ecosystems and economies, neighboring countries must work together.
However, many countries have been less willing to cooperate in recent years, even to protect a resource as vital as freshwater.
This trend away from multilateralism isn’t unique to water. The world is seeing a decline in the general willingness of countries to jointly solve many interstate, regional and global challenges. It shows as countries, like the U.S., pull out of the global institutions, such as the World Health Organization, and drop their support for global climate goals.
The breakdown in cooperation can have severe consequences. If one country takes more water than agreed upon, and builds dams or pollutes the water, its neighbors and their people, cities, agriculture, energy production and wildlife can suffer. That can ultimately destabilize local communities, deteriorate relations between countries and endanger regional peace and stability.
Water flowing into Africa’s Nile River affects several countries. A large dam being built by Ethiopia has led to concerns and disputes in the region. AP Photo/Amr Nabil
We conduct research and work with governments and international organizations on environment and water law, policy and governance. The shift we’re seeing away from multilateral cooperation and rules-based order to more nationalistic tendencies, in which a country prioritizes itself to the detriment of all others, is raising concerns about the future.
Thousands of years of water cooperation paid off
More than 4,000 years ago, two Sumerian city-states – Lagash and Umma – were engaged in a fierce war over a strip of fertile land and a canal fed by the Tigris River in what today would be southern Iraq.
The conflict ended in 2550 B.C. with the first known precursor to an international water treaty. The Mesilim Treaty included payments and agreements on collaborative water use. It didn’t hold the peace permanently, but it created a model that lasted.
In Europe, for example, countries have worked together through treaties, data sharing and joint projects to improve water quality, including in the Rhine and Danube rivers.
Nine countries work closely to protect the health of the Rhine River, which each depends on. In 2018, that cooperation became essential as water levels dropped to levels that interrupted ship travel. AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Having cooperative processes in place also helps when disagreements arise. In Southeast Asia, negotiations and technical exchanges between countries that share the Mekong River have helped to ease tensions over the construction of dams in Laos.
Unilateralism is rising
Despite the proven benefits from cooperating over water resources, we’re seeing a troubling trend: Countries are increasingly taking actions that undermine water cooperation.
Even in the Columbia River Basin, often considered a model of cross-border cooperation, the status of an updated treaty between the U.S. and Canada is in question after the Trump administration paused talks in March 2025.
Since 1964, the U.S. has paid Canada to control the river’s flow to prevent flooding and to serve U.S. hydropower plants. The updated deal has been agreed to in principle, but is not signed. That’s raising questions about what will happen if the interim agreements expire in 2027 before the new treaty comes into force.
Another example is in the Zambezi River Basin in southern Africa, where countries increasingly disregard agreements to notify one another before building projects that will affect the water flow. Similar behavior happens in the Nile and Aral Sea regions, among others.
Ethiopia’s construction of a large hydroelectric damage on the Blue Nile has upset its downstream neighbors.
As unilateral actions over shared water resources become more frequent, the willingness of governments to enter into agreements and establish joint institutions to guide that cooperation is declining. The rate of establishing multilateral agreements has significantly slowed since the 2010s. Only around 10 agreements have been signed since 2020, and only two joint institutions have been established. A large proportion of basins have no agreements or institutions at all.
The few recent attempts to establish cooperative mechanisms have stalled or failed. The formal establishment of an organization to manage Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River basin, shared by Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, was never formally ratified by its member countries. That left the once-promising organization a zombie.
Even when institutions already exist, some governments are withdrawing from them. But moves made for short-term gain can have long-term repercussions.
An example involves the Aral Sea, which has shrunk dramatically since the 1960s due to a combination of water demand for cotton crops and climate change drying the region.
The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, IFAS, was created in 1993 by five countries to support projects designed to ensure water use remains possible along its rivers. However, in 2016, Kyrgyzstan froze its membership, arguing that the organization wasn’t taking Kyrgyzstan’s national interests into account. Kyrgyzstan contributes about 25% of water flowing into the region. Its frozen participation limits IFAS’ effectiveness.
The Aral Sea in Central Asia has been shrinking since the 1960s, but dramatically lost water each year over the past two decades. The top left image is from 2000. NASA
Similarly, Egypt and Sudan froze their participation in the Nile Basin Initiative in 2010 over a cooperative agreement that they saw as violating their historical water rights – established in colonial 1929 and 1959 agreements – in favor of governance centered on “equitable water allocations.” While Sudan resumed participation in the Nile Basin Initiative in 2012, Egypt’s participation remains frozen.
Erosion of multilateralism
The changes we’re seeing with water agreements and institutions reflect a broader decline in countries’ willingness to address shared problems through multilateral cooperation — a trend that seems to be rapidly increasing.
Argentina also announced it would withdraw from the WHO. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States, which promotes economic and political cooperation in the region.
The environment has been particularly affected by this trend. The U.S. move to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and the difficulty of reaching a global plastics treaty also reflect the growing difficulty in reaching cooperative solutions to benefit future generations.
Harm to ecosystems, people and countries
As climate change shrinks freshwater resources, and growing populations lead to overexploitation of water supplies, countries will increasingly need multilateral cooperation to avoid conflict.
These agreements and institutions provide forums for communication and cooperation. Losing them can lead to less well-governed water resources, declining environmental, economic and health benefits, and increasing conflict.
Lake Chad is a cautionary example. The Lake Chad Basin Commission was established in 1964 by Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria to oversee its water and other natural resources and coordinate projects related to the lake. But the countries never fully committed to cooperating.
Since then, the lake has shrunk by around 90%, which has increased poverty by reducing people’s access to vital water resources to support their livelihoods. And that has created optimal conditions for terrorist group Boko Haram’s violent insurgency to succeed in recruiting young men who had limited livelihood options left.
People collect water from a branch of Lake Chad in Ngouboua, Chad, which has been attacked by the terrorist group Boko Haram. People depend on the lake for water, but it has been shrinking. Philippe Desmazes/AFP via Getty Images
We believe this decline in countries’ commitment to multilateral cooperation should be a wake-up call for everyone. If the world’s most precious resource is not managed cooperatively and sustainably across international boundaries, more than just water is at risk.
Melissa McCracken has not received funding related to this article.
Susanne Schmeier does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ben Zdencanovic, Postdoctoral Associate in History and Policy, University of California, Los Angeles
President Lyndon B. Johnson, left, next to former President Harry S. Truman, signs into law the measure creating Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.AP Photo
The Medicaid system has emerged as an early target of the Trump administration’s campaign to slash federal spending. A joint federal and state program, Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for more than 72 million people, including low-income Americans and their children and people with disabilities. It also helps foot the bill for long-term care for older people.
Instead, the United States developed its current fragmented health care system, with employer-provided health insurance covering most working-age adults, Medicare covering older Americans, and Medicaid as a safety net for at least some of those left out.
Health care reformers vs. the AMA
Medicaid’s history officially began in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the system into law, along with Medicare. But the seeds for this program were planted in the 1930s and 1940s. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration was implementing its New Deal agenda in the 1930s, many of his advisers hoped to include a national health insurance system as part of the planned Social Security program.
Those efforts failed after a heated debate. The 1935 Social Security Act created the old-age and unemployment insurance systems we have today, with no provisions for health care coverage.
Harry Truman assumed the presidency after Roosevelt’s death in 1945. He enthusiastically embraced that legislation, which evolved into the “Truman Plan.” The American Medical Association, a trade group representing most of the nation’s doctors, feared heightened regulation and government control over the medical profession. It lobbied against any form of public health insurance.
This PBS ‘Origin of Everything!’ video sums up how the U.S. wound up with its complex health care system.
During the late 1940s, the AMA poured millions of dollars into a political advertising campaign to defeat Truman’s plan. Instead of mandatory government health insurance, the AMA supported voluntary, private health insurance plans. Private plans such as those offered by Kaiser Permanente had become increasingly popular in the 1940s in the absence of a universal system. Labor unions began to demand them in collective bargaining agreements.
The AMA insisted that these private, employer-provided plans were the “American way,” as opposed to the “compulsion” of a health insurance system operated by the federal government. They referred to universal health care as “socialized medicine” in widely distributed radio commercials and print ads.
In the anticommunist climate of the late 1940s, these tactics proved highly successful at eroding public support for government-provided health care. Efforts to create a system that would have provided everyone with health insurance were soundly defeated by 1950.
JFK and LBJ
Private health insurance plans grew more common throughout the 1950s.
Federal tax incentives, as well as a desire to maintain the loyalty of their professional and blue-collar workers alike, spurred companies and other employers to offer private health insurance as a standard benefit. Healthy, working-age, employed adults – most of whom were white men – increasingly gained private coverage. So did their families, in many cases.
Everyone else – people with low incomes, those who weren’t working and people over 65 – had few options for health care coverage. Then, as now, Americans without private health insurance tended to have more health problems than those who had it, meaning that they also needed more of the health care they struggled to afford.
But this also made them risky and unprofitable for private insurance companies, which typically charged them high premiums or more often declined to cover them at all.
Health care activists saw an opportunity. Veteran health care reformers such as Wilbur Cohen of the Social Security Administration, having lost the battle for universal coverage, envisioned a narrower program of government-funded health care for people over 65 and those with low incomes. Cohen and other reformers reasoned that if these populations could get coverage in a government-provided health insurance program, it might serve as a step toward an eventual universal health care system.
While President John F. Kennedy endorsed these plans, they would not be enacted until Johnson was sworn in following JFK’s assassination. In 1965, Johnson signed a landmark health care bill into law under the umbrella of his “Great Society” agenda, which also included antipoverty programs and civil rights legislation.
As Medicaid enrollment grew throughout the 1970s and 1980s, conservatives increasingly conflated the program with the stigma of what they dismissed as unearned “welfare.” In the 1970s, California Gov. Ronald Reagan developed his national reputation as a leading figure in the conservative movement in part through his high-profile attempts to cut and privatize Medicaid services in his state.
Upon assuming the presidency in the early 1980s, Reagan slashed federal funding for Medicaid by 18%. The cuts resulted in some 600,000 people who depended on Medicaid suddenly losing their coverage, often with dire consequences.
Medicaid spending has since grown, but the program has been a source of partisan debate ever since.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Republicans attempted to change how Medicaid was funded. Instead of having the federal government match what states were spending at different levels that were based on what the states needed, they proposed a block grant system. That is, the federal government would have contributed a fixed amount to a state’s Medicaid budget, making it easier to constrain the program’s costs and potentially limiting how much health care it could fund.
These efforts failed, but Trump reintroduced that idea during his first term. And block grants are among the ideas House Republicans have floated since Trump’s second term began to achieve the spending cuts they seek.
In the absence of a universal health care system, Medicaid fills many of the gaps left by private insurance policies for millions of Americans. From Medi-Cal in California to Husky Health in Connecticut, Medicaid is a crucial pillar of the health care system. This makes the proposed House cuts easier said than done.
Ben Zdencanovic does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
