Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
Featured Stories
France's Social Media Ban Misses the Mark for Teen Safety, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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France's Social Media Ban Misses the Mark for Teen Safety, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON-Following a vote in France's National Assembly to advance legislation that would restrict users under 15 from using social media, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, issued the following statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson:
Banning teens from social media cuts them off
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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France's Social Media Ban Misses the Mark for Teen Safety, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON-Following a vote in France's National Assembly to advance legislation that would restrict users under 15 from using social media, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, issued the following statement from Senior Policy Manager Ash Johnson:
Banning teens from social media cuts them offfrom the numerous benefits of social media instead of actually addressing the risks they might face online. Many will find ways around bans, and heavy reliance on age verification creates privacy risks for everyone.
The motivation for bans is grounded in inconclusive research. Rather than embracing this moral panic, France should focus on policies that enhance safety while preserving young people's access to digital tools for learning, connection, and expression.
Children need to use the technology of their generation. Lawmakers worldwide should take a closer look at the evidence on both the limits of age bans and alternative policies that better balance protection with opportunity.
The French proposal follows a broader international trend toward age-based social media bans, including Australia's recently enacted restrictions for users under 16 and a similar measure that advanced in the UK last week.
Contact: Nicole Hinojosa, press@itif.org
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Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/publications/2026/01/28/france-s-social-media-ban-misses-the-mark-for-childrens-online-safety-says-itif/
ONE Data and Rockefeller Foundation to Launch New Development Finance Observatory in 2026
NEW YORK, Jan. 28 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release on Jan. 27, 2026:
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ONE Data and Rockefeller Foundation to Launch New Development Finance Observatory in 2026
New analysis kicking off new US$4 million collaboration reveals a 124% increase in MDB financing, while Chinese finance began to flow out of developing countries, with Africa hit hardest
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WASHINGTON, D.C. | January 26, 2026 -- At a time when international funding to developing countries is in decline, ONE Data announced the "Development Finance Observatory," with US$4 million total funding from Google.org
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NEW YORK, Jan. 28 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release on Jan. 27, 2026:
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ONE Data and Rockefeller Foundation to Launch New Development Finance Observatory in 2026
New analysis kicking off new US$4 million collaboration reveals a 124% increase in MDB financing, while Chinese finance began to flow out of developing countries, with Africa hit hardest
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WASHINGTON, D.C. | January 26, 2026 -- At a time when international funding to developing countries is in decline, ONE Data announced the "Development Finance Observatory," with US$4 million total funding from Google.organd The Rockefeller Foundation, to help maximize the impact of every dollar. This first-of-its-kind, interactive data collaboration launching this year will improve the accessibility of development finance data and reduce data fragmentation, while integrating both financial inflows to and outflows from developing economies. The platform is being developed with technical infrastructure support from Google's Data Commons and produced by ONE Data. An initial analysis finds that over the last decade, China shifted from a net provider of finance for low- and middle-income countries (transferring $48 billion) to a net extractor (pulling $24 billion out). Meanwhile, multilateral lenders stepped up -- boosting net financing by 124% and now providing 56% of net flows, or $378.7 billion between 2020-2024.
Today's development finance data is often fragmented and siloed -- with different datasets optimized for different audiences and blind spots that make it hard to answer straightforward questions quickly. Produced by ONE Data, the Observatory will integrate both financial inflows and outflows to developing economies. Inflows in this analysis include Official Development Assistance (ODA) and new lending to governments -- offset by outflows from governments, such as debt servicing.
David McNair, Executive Director at ONE Data, said: "To make better decisions we need accurate, timely facts. This partnership is about harnessing the latest technology to build a public-good data backbone that reduces fragmentation and improves accountability so that everyone from policy-makers to investors to citizens can follow the money and understand the impact it's having."
Through an investment in technical infrastructure and AI-enabled tools, the Observatory will provide a fuller picture of financing flows into developing country economies by integrating fragmented datasets into a more coherent system, linking flows across aid, debt, private finance, remittances, and domestic budgets, while making sources and methods transparent and auditable. Allowing for a country-focused view, collapsing the time between data and insight, users will be able to follow the money using natural-language questions.
With $3 million from Google's philanthropy Google.org, ONE is expanding its technical team to build the Observatory's platform using Google's Data Commons. This partnership leverages Google's foundational infrastructure and technical support to transform fragmented development finance data into a unified, interactive tool.
Prem Ramaswami, Head of Data Commons at Google said: "By leveraging Google's Data Commons technical infrastructure, we are providing a unified 'data backbone', turning disconnected numbers into a clear roadmap for organizations tackling global challenges."
The Observatory will also represent an ecosystem approach through technical, syndication, and product partnerships. The Rockefeller Foundation, through its public charity, RF Catalytic Capital, is investing $700,000 to support the integration of development finance datasets and help stakeholders to understand the rapidly changing development finance landscape at a more granular level by country, sector, and more. This effort is part of The Rockefeller Foundation's Build the Shared Future Initiative, which is working to inspire and inform global cooperation that's equal to the challenges of the 21st century.
Mike Muldoon, Chief of Staff and Counselor at The Rockefeller Foundation, said: "The future of global development needs to be underpinned by data-driven policy. The Development Finance Observatory will provide policymakers a clear, comprehensive picture of existing aid, debt, and repayments in order to ensure that every dollar, public and private, in the system is spent efficiently. By using AI and other technologies to bring together different sources of data and make them easily accessible, we can help leaders make faster, better decisions to support people in need around the world."
Snapshot of Initial Findings:
The first piece of data analysis from the Observatory, looking at net finance flows into developing countries from 2010 through 2024 (latest available official data) includes, but is not limited to:
* Bilateral flows have quietly retreated. Aggregate bilateral net flows for the last five years fell by $19 billion compared to the 2010-2014 period, a 6% drop. This decline will steepen from 2025 given the ODA cuts.
* Private finance has evaporated. Public and publicly guaranteed long-term external debt from private sources declined from 19% of net flows to 1%. This type of debt collapsed from $115 billion in net new resources over the 2010-2014 period to $7.3 billion in the last five years.
* Chinese finance has undergone a "Great Reversal." China went from being a net provider of finance -- transferring $48 billion to low- and lower-middle-income countries (via official and private lenders) a decade ago -- to a net extractor of $24 billion. Africa has experienced the most dramatic reversal in Chinese finance. It went from receiving $30 billion to paying out $22 billion, a $52 billion swing.
* Multilateral institutions have become the bedrock of development finance. These institutions including Multilateral Development Banks such as the World Bank now account for 56% of net flows, up from 28% a decade earlier. They have increased financing by 124% during this period.
Additional Statements of Support:
* "Data has long been a constraint on better decision-making, investment, and a fuller understanding of both Africa's challenges and its opportunities. Yet data is essential to shaping credible narratives and grounding meaningful debate. In an age of misinformation, making sense of the noise and the numbers matters more than ever. We welcome ONE Data's role, and our partnership with them, in bringing clarity and fact-based insight to critical issues." -- Omar Ben Yeddar, Group Publisher, African Business, which will join the partnership and deliver data driven insights to key audiences in Africa and help ensure the data reaches decision-makers where they work.
* "Understanding the impact of ODA cuts is critical. This partnership will strengthen the work of academic modelers who seek to inform decision makers on the impacts their decisions are having in the real world." -- Davide Rasella, Head of the Global Health Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, ICREA Research Professor, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which will collaborate on modelling the health impacts of ODA cuts.
* "Climate and development finance cannot be analyzed in isolation. New AI and data science approaches make it possible to connect fragmented text-based information and generate more coherent evidence across policy and finance -- supporting clearer, more accountable decision-making." -- Michal Nachmany, CEO, Climate Policy Radar, which will collaborate on AI-based modelling of text data to enhance the integration of climate and development finance insights.
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About ONE Data
ONE Data is an initiative from the ONE Campaign that transforms fragmented, inaccessible development data into trusted, actionable insights for policymakers, campaigners, journalists, and citizens. We organize the world's public finance data -- democratizing access and collapsing the time from data to insight. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at https://substack.com/@insider.
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About The Rockefeller Foundation
Investing $30 billion over the last 113 years to promote the well-being of humanity, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on unlikely partnerships and innovative solutions that deliver measurable results for people in the United States and around the world. We leverage scientific breakthroughs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies to make big bets across energy, food, health, and finance, including through our public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC). For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn, Instagram @rockefellerfdn, YouTube @RockefellerFdn, and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/one-data-and-rockefeller-foundation-to-launch-new-development-finance-observatory-in-2026/
Welcoming the 2026 AFC Board of Directors and New Board Chair Yusef Garcia
CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 28 -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following news on Jan. 27, 2026:
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Welcoming the 2026 AFC Board of Directors and new Board Chair Yusef Garcia
This January, AIDS Foundation Chicago was excited to welcome its new board members, officers, and Chair of the Board of Directors. This year's Board is comprised of a diverse slate of leaders from across the corporate, health care, public health, academic, and non-profit sectors. AFC continues to diversify the Board, and the 2026 Board of Directors is among the most diverse in AFC history in terms of race, gender
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 28 -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following news on Jan. 27, 2026:
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Welcoming the 2026 AFC Board of Directors and new Board Chair Yusef Garcia
This January, AIDS Foundation Chicago was excited to welcome its new board members, officers, and Chair of the Board of Directors. This year's Board is comprised of a diverse slate of leaders from across the corporate, health care, public health, academic, and non-profit sectors. AFC continues to diversify the Board, and the 2026 Board of Directors is among the most diverse in AFC history in terms of race, genderidentity, and expertise.
Meet AFC's new Board Chair, Yusef Garcia
The new Chair of the AFC Board of Directors is lifelong Chicagoan and longtime AFC supporter and Board member Yusef Garcia. A leader in Chicago's non-profit sector for 20 years, Yusef has worked with WTTW, United Way of Metro Chicago, Forefront, and now at the helm of his own leadership consultancy for nonprofits, Monarq Advisors. Yusef first connected with AFC through an affinity group at United Way called United In Pride. There, he met Edward Wagner, AFC's Chief External Relations Officer, and soon became a supporter after learning about the organization and its work. Of his first impressions of AFC, Yusef said, "I was immediately in admiration of how effective the different lanes of work operated at AFC. Policy, programs, health, housing... all of those elements were so seamlessly braided into this amazing organization that helps folks thrive while they're living with HIV."
As Yusef's understanding of AFC's work grew, so did his admiration of the organization's staff. "From a staff and leadership perspective, I thought, who are these brilliant minds, these committed people, who transcend the LGBTQ+ community... part of a tapestry of people who are combatting the HIV AIDS epidemic and homelessness?" he said.
Not long after connecting with AFC, Yusef was recruited by the Morton Group to join the AFC Board, and he has served in various Board roles since 2019. During his years of service, Yusef has observed AFC's progress and its resilience in the face of challenges. Among his proudest achievements with his colleagues on the Board is the implementation of AFC's Racial Equity Action Plan, which he noted was created with staff members working alongside AFC leadership and Board members to be truly inclusive.
Yusef is passionate about the Board's role to provide structured governance, observing that a well-organized Board can provide strength to the organization at this pivotal time, where AFC must fight against the federal government to safeguard the work of the HIV movement and keep pushing forward. He mentions AFC being strong enough to file suit against the Trump administration as a point of pride. Yusef's goals for the three-year term as Chair include building connections and consensus to help the organization meet this moment, and to ensure that AFC is set up for success in the future. He said he wants to help people not be afraid of this moment, and to draw attention to AFC's and the HIV movement's many strengths.
"We are strong, and we have many partners and collaborators," Yusef said. "We have the right board members in this cadre of 27 to figure out our lanes of power and influence, so that we can safeguard AFC and what it does and who we do it for."
Building solidarity, connection, and action are the best parts of leadership for Yusef, because that is often where joy happens. "Joy is the through line for why I do this," he said. "There is so much joy in building the relationships that we need for this work." For an opportunity to connect with Yusef, you can meet him in person at the upcoming World of Chocolate event, benefiting AFC.
New Board Officers
AFC is proud to welcome a new slate of Board Officers representing a broad cross-section of the HIV sector and its allies.
Vice Chair & Fund Development Committee Co-Chair - Cecil Dearborne
Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair - Patrick D. Strieck, BMO
Secretary - Terri Wilkerson, Chicago House and Social Services Agency
Past Chair - Geoffrey Brown, Illinois CPA Society
Board members serving in leadership roles include Cecil Dearborne and Julie Scott as Fund Development Committee Co-Chairs, Nnenna Okeke as Governance Committee Chair, Mary Pounder as Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair, Kara Eastman leading Racial Equity Action Plan Implementation, and Tom Sondergeld leading the Strategy Planning Committee.
New Board Members
Seven new members are joining the AFC Board for the first time this year. AFC looks forward to the impact of their leadership and ideas and hopes they will serve the organization and the HIV movement for years to come.
New members are: attorney Greg Fosheim, Jason Rubin, of ARC Strategies; Jeramy Kaiman, of Grant Thornton Advisors, Nana Ama Aya Erzuah-Amenuvo, of the University of Illinois School of Public Health; Philip Quick, of UChicago Medicine; Stephanie Townsell, of the MIGMIR Fund; and Dr. Terrance Weeden, a pediatrician.
Saying Thanks to Departing Board Members
Finally, AFC also said goodbye to some incredible leaders this year. Nan Silva, who last year was named a Notable Leader in Philanthropy by Crain's Chicago Business, has retired from the AFC Board after 10 years of service. AFC has benefited greatly from Silva's vision. Other valued Board members Jorge Cabrera, Lance Glass, Tim Mullet, and Markus Pitchford are departing as well, and AFC is grateful for their service and leadership.
Explore information on AFC's website about the organization's leaders, including leadership staff and the full list of members of the Board of Directors.
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Original text here: https://www.aidschicago.org/welcoming-the-2026-afc-board-of-directors-and-new-board-chair-yusef-garcia/
Rockefeller Foundation Urges Action to Restore Faith in Constitutional Protections
NEW YORK, Jan. 28 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following statement on Jan. 27, 2026:
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Statement by The Rockefeller Foundation on Events in Minnesota
Recent events in Minnesota, including the fatal shootings of two people, have shaken Americans across the political spectrum. The Rockefeller Foundation encourages those in positions of authority to work together to restore faith in constitutional protections, to de-escalate tensions, and to prevent additional violence.
Our institution has long been proud to support organizations, including in Minnesota and the Twin Cities, that
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NEW YORK, Jan. 28 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following statement on Jan. 27, 2026:
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Statement by The Rockefeller Foundation on Events in Minnesota
Recent events in Minnesota, including the fatal shootings of two people, have shaken Americans across the political spectrum. The Rockefeller Foundation encourages those in positions of authority to work together to restore faith in constitutional protections, to de-escalate tensions, and to prevent additional violence.
Our institution has long been proud to support organizations, including in Minnesota and the Twin Cities, thatadvance dignity and the well-being of humanity in the United States and throughout the world.
We will continue to work with partners to build a country in which the constitutional rights of all Americans are protected, and they can work freely toward a brighter future for their families.
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/statement-by-the-rockefeller-foundation-on-events-in-minnesota/
SEC Bars Use of Exempt Solicitations for Most Shareholders
OAKLAND, California, Jan. 27 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
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SEC Bars Use of Exempt Solicitations for Most Shareholders
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Statement
Tool for providing information on shareholder proposals ended for shareholders holding less than $5 Million of a company's shares.
Media Contact: Ryon Harms, ryon@asyousow.org, (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA - January 27, 2026 - The Securities and Exchange Commission's recently issued guidance reversing its long-standing position allowing Notices of Exempt Solicitation for smaller shareholders represents a significant
... Show Full Article
OAKLAND, California, Jan. 27 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
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SEC Bars Use of Exempt Solicitations for Most Shareholders
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Statement
Tool for providing information on shareholder proposals ended for shareholders holding less than $5 Million of a company's shares.
Media Contact: Ryon Harms, ryon@asyousow.org, (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA - January 27, 2026 - The Securities and Exchange Commission's recently issued guidance reversing its long-standing position allowing Notices of Exempt Solicitation for smaller shareholders represents a significantsetback for shareholder democracy and informed capital markets.
For decades, the SEC has allowed shareholders with less than $5 million in holdings to post an "exempt solicitation," a memo on the SEC's Edgar system providing other shareholders with explanatory information related to shareholder proposals. These memos ensure that investors have access to relevant information to inform upcoming votes. By unilaterally withdrawing this provision-without public notice, rulemaking, or shareholder input-the SEC is narrowing the flow of material information shareholders rely on prior to a vote, the time when investor engagement and transparency are most needed.
Andy Behar, CEO of As You Sow, said: "Communications on material issues central to informed investor decision making is the underpinning of our free market system. Restricting exempt solicitations to the few largest investors harms the core tenets of capitalism -information and trust between corporations and their beneficial owners. This policy should concern all shareholders. The SEC, acting unilaterally, and without public or shareholder input, to rescind such an essential right is a continuation of this administration's attempt to drive the capital out of capitalism."
The SEC's action harms proponents who rely on this low-cost, transparent communication tool to engage fellow investors. Limiting exempt solicitations to only the largest shareholders entrenches power, raises barriers to participation, and undermines the purpose of the proxy system itself: enabling informed decision-making by beneficial owners. Rather than protecting markets, this policy risks chilling legitimate shareholder speech and weakens the fundamentals of a strong market.
As You Sow is the nation's leading shareholder representative, with a 30+ year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility. As You Sow addresses a range of issues that affect shareholder value including climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, biodiversity, racial justice, and workplace diversity. See As You Sow 's shareholder resolution tracker.
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Original text here: https://www.asyousow.org/press-releases/2026/1/27/sec-bars-use-of-exempt-solicitations-for-most-shareholdersnbsp
OMRF to study how exercise benefits older people with multiple sclerosis
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Jan. 27 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF to study how exercise benefits older people with multiple sclerosis
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A year ago, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists launched an ambitious, five-year study aimed at understanding what makes some people over age 60 respond differently to exercise than others.
Now, thanks to a grant from the Presbyterian Health Foundation, a pilot project seeks to answer the same question in older people with multiple sclerosis. The funding will enable an important collaboration between
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Jan. 27 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF to study how exercise benefits older people with multiple sclerosis
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A year ago, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists launched an ambitious, five-year study aimed at understanding what makes some people over age 60 respond differently to exercise than others.
Now, thanks to a grant from the Presbyterian Health Foundation, a pilot project seeks to answer the same question in older people with multiple sclerosis. The funding will enable an important collaboration betweenOMRF researchers who study aging and clinician-scientists who work with MS patients in OMRF's Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence.
In MS, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, a protective layer covering nerve fibers. The damage disrupts nerve signals, leading to a range of problems that include muscle weakness, balance and vision impairment, cognitive difficulties, and fatigue. The disease affects more than 1 in every 500 Americans.
Not that long ago, physicians typically advised MS patients to avoid exercise, fearing the resulting body heat would trigger the disease and cause extreme fatigue. Only in the past 30 years has conventional wisdom switched, said Bobbette Miller, Ph.D., a neurologic physical therapist who will coordinate the new study.
"Most existing studies involve people with MS under age 60, and those studies show that exercise actually improves fatigue," said Miller.
OMRF clinicians will identify 10 current MS patients age 60 and above. All patients who volunteer to participate will undergo a supervised 12-week exercise protocol that involves both cardiovascular and strength training.
"We have limited medical experience treating older MS patients," said Gabriel Pardo, M.D., director of OMRF's MS Center of Excellence. "What we learn through this study will give us insight into how to implement the right strategies to improve function and quality of life."
Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., who leads OMRF's Aging & Metabolism Research Program, applied for the grant for this study. He hopes the results will lay the foundation for a larger study of how exercise can benefit older MS patients.
One important aspect will examine monoparesis, or single-leg weakness, a common symptom of MS caused by neurologic damage. Participants will undergo muscle biopsies to determine whether working out improves this condition, said Certified Physician Assistant Jennifer Smith, who will assist with the study.
April Stuart, the Presbyterian Health Foundation's director of grants and programs, said PHF funded project because it "connects strong science with real patient need."
"By building on an existing clinical trial and the expertise of the MS Center of Excellence, this study creates an important opportunity to better understand how people age with multiple sclerosis and to develop more personalized guidance for maintaining strength and function," Stuart said.
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Original text here: https://omrf.org/2026/01/27/omrf-to-study-how-exercise-benefits-older-people-with-multiple-sclerosis/
LAWSUIT: Illinois law blocks Democratic dissenters from operating without party elites' permission
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 27 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release:
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LAWSUIT: Illinois law blocks Democratic dissenters from operating without party elites' permission
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CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2026 -Like most Americans, you've probably criticized the Democrats or the Republicans at some point. But imagine that the next day, state officials told you to go down to party headquarters and request a permission slip to continue speaking out.
What seems like an absurd hypothetical is the reality in Illinois, where nonprofits are barred from
... Show Full Article
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 27 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release:
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LAWSUIT: Illinois law blocks Democratic dissenters from operating without party elites' permission
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CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2026 -Like most Americans, you've probably criticized the Democrats or the Republicans at some point. But imagine that the next day, state officials told you to go down to party headquarters and request a permission slip to continue speaking out.
What seems like an absurd hypothetical is the reality in Illinois, where nonprofits are barred fromoperating in the state if they mention either "democrats" or "republicans" in their title unless they go to the parties for permission. Now, with the help of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, one group of dissident Democrats is suing to strike down Illinois' unconstitutional law -permanently.
"Illinois can't get around the First Amendment by outsourcing censorship to party bosses," said FIRE attorney Daniel Zahn. "No American -Republican, Democrat, or independent -should have to bend the knee before a political party to participate in the political system."
Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender is a charitable organization composed of current and former Democrats who disagree with the party's stance on transgender issues. The all-volunteer organization believes it offers a unique perspective by voicing their belief that the current Democratic Party consensus is contrary to "core liberal values," such as "promoting evidence-based medical care," "protecting vulnerable children and adults," and "upholding the rights of women and girls."
"The Illinois Democratic Party doesn't get to decide whether we can call ourselves 'Democrats,'" said DIAG Board Secretary Jenny Poyer Ackerman. "DIAG was founded on our belief in open inquiry, challenging ideological conformity, and above all, the freedom to speak out. Backing down would go against everything we believe in."
DIAG has successfully registered as a nonprofit at a national level and has been able to solicit donations in 37 states, but was rejected when it attempted to register to solicit donations in the Prairie State for being in violation of a provision of Illinois law. "To get qualified in Illinois, you will need [an] approval letter... saying it is ok to use 'Democrats' in your name," explained Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias' rejection letter.
Without that letter, DIAG is banned from conducting affairs in the state and could face fines or jail time if it engages in constitutionally protected speech like soliciting donations, sponsoring lectures, or meeting with supporters in Illinois. Based on previous disagreements with the Democratic establishment -the Colorado Democrats denounced DIAG last year and demanded a name change -DIAG has every reason to believe that the Democratic Party of Illinois will deny it approval. But more to the point, its leaders refuse on principle to seek a permission slip from a party whose platform it has criticized and plans to criticize in Illinois.
Illinois' law violates the First Amendment by restricting Americans' speech only when they broach a specific topic: political parties. The law even lists specific words that are banned absent permission. Using a name with "republican" or "democrat" or "democratic" automatically requires outside party approval, while "green" or "libertarian" might not.
As a result, the Democratic Party has a veto over groups like DIAG, and Republicans get a veto over groups like Log Cabin Republicans. But absurdly, it also means the Democratic Party has a veto over organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America, or even Federation for a Democratic China, simply because those organizations choose to use the word "democratic" when describing their beliefs.
The Supreme Court has previously held these sorts of "content-based" speech restrictions are only constitutional when they're the least restrictive way to achieve a compelling government interest. But Illinois doesn't have any compelling interest here. Its provision only serves the interests of the entrenched political parties.
Now, FIRE is suing Giannoulias in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois not only to obtain an injunction stopping him from applying the name provision to deny DIAG's application but also to halt enforcement of the law across the board.
"The Democratic and Republican parties don't have a monopoly on the concepts of what is democratic or republican," said Zahn. "When the government tries to give them that monopoly, it's absurd and unconstitutional."
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought -the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
CONTACT:
Alex Griswold, Communications Campaign Manager, FIRE: 215-717-3473; media@fire.org
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Original text here: https://www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit-illinois-law-blocks-democratic-dissenters-operating-without-party-elites-permission
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Trump's Credit Card Rate Cap
DETROIT, Michigan, Jan. 27 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Jan. 25, 2026:
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Trump's Credit Card Rate Cap
By Louis Rouanet
This is the politics of scarcity, not of affordability.
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On January 9, President Donald Trump called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates--a drop from the 2025 average of 19.7%. This reflects growing political support within the fringes of both the Republican and Democratic Parties for such anti-market policies. In February 2025, Senators Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley also introduced legislation mirroring Trump's
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, Jan. 27 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Jan. 25, 2026:
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Trump's Credit Card Rate Cap
By Louis Rouanet
This is the politics of scarcity, not of affordability.
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On January 9, President Donald Trump called for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates--a drop from the 2025 average of 19.7%. This reflects growing political support within the fringes of both the Republican and Democratic Parties for such anti-market policies. In February 2025, Senators Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley also introduced legislation mirroring Trump'sproposal.
Supporters of price controls like to blame "greedy" corporations. Trump told reporters that credit card companies "really abused the public." Unfortunately, his proposal treats symptoms while ignoring the disease, and that will ultimately harm the very consumers it claims to protect.
An interest rate is a price. It reflects fundamental economic realities: the preference between present and future consumption, the risk of default, and the administrative expenses of lending. When the government caps this price below its market level, these underlying realities do not disappear. They are merely hidden from view, making it harder for private agents to plan efficiently and forcing lenders to find other margins of adjustment.
And adjust they will. When Congress capped debit card interchange fees--the transaction fees merchants pay to banks when customers use payment cards--in 2010, banks responded by cutting rewards programs on those cards entirely. Credit card companies facing a rate cap will pursue similar strategies: reducing rewards, increasing annual fees, tightening credit requirements, and lowering credit limits. That companies can adapt does not mean that the interest cap is not costly. Around 68% of the 21 million American families who regularly carry balances would likely see their access to credit curtailed or eliminated under a 10% cap.
Credit card companies essentially provide a zero-interest short-term loan to customers who pay their balance each month. Those who fail to do so often reveal poor financial habits, and higher interest rates serve as the market's mechanism for pricing this risk. By artificially suppressing rates, Trump's proposal subsidizes financial irresponsibility at the expense of prudent consumers. Since lenders cannot perfectly distinguish between customers who live within their means and those with unsustainable spending habits, they will respond by raising costs for everyone through higher annual fees, reduced rewards, and stricter qualification standards.
The victims of this redistribution will not be wealthy cardholders with excellent credit. They will be young people without established credit histories and lower-income individuals who, despite their modest means, manage their finances responsibly. A study of Chile's 2013 rate cap legislation for consumer loans found that the policy's impact fell hardest on "the youngest, least educated and poorest families." Another study found that this same policy reduced consumer surplus by 2.5% of average income, with the largest losses concentrated among riskier borrowers. The policy did not make credit cheaper for these groups; it simply excluded them from the market.
The proposed 10% ceiling is particularly reckless given America's fiscal trajectory. During the COVID-era inflation surge, prices rose by nearly 9% year over year. Should such inflation return--an increasingly plausible scenario given unsustainable deficit spending--a 10% nominal cap would translate to an inflation-adjusted interest rate of just 1%. Lenders would face catastrophic losses, and the credit card market as we know it could collapse.
Trump's proposal is not a serious economic policy. It is a visible gesture designed to signal concern about affordability while doing nothing to address its root causes. Yet every time price controls are attempted, supply dries up, leaving Americans worse off. Interest rate caps are not the politics of affordability; they are the politics of scarcity.
If the Trump administration genuinely wishes to help American consumers, it should focus its energy on deregulation, fostering competitive markets, and confronting the looming fiscal crisis. Adopting anti-market policies typically championed by the far left is not the path to prosperity. It is the road to credit rationing and lower economic growth.
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Louis Rouanet is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he is affiliated with the Center for Free Enterprise.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/trumps-credit-card-rate-cap/
EU-India Trade Deal Exposes US Trade Vacuum, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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EU-India Trade Deal Exposes US Trade Vacuum, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON-Following the European Union and India's announced trade deal, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Rodrigo Balbontin, Associate Director for Trade, IP, and Digital Technology Governance:
"The European Union and India's free trade agreement should be a wake-up
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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EU-India Trade Deal Exposes US Trade Vacuum, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON-Following the European Union and India's announced trade deal, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Rodrigo Balbontin, Associate Director for Trade, IP, and Digital Technology Governance:
"The European Union and India's free trade agreement should be a wake-upcall in Washington. While other major economies are modernizing their trade relationships and setting new rules for global commerce, the United States is left on the sidelines while U.S. exporters lose ground to foreign competitors as nations around the world reduce or eliminate tariffs.
To be sure, both the European Union and India are not exempt from using unfair trade practices. Several European digital regulations, particularly the Digital Markets Act, are discriminatory to multinational companies. Additionally, India remains one of the world's most challenging major economies for intellectual property protection and enforcement. Still, if this agreement helps reduce behind-the-border barriers, it could ultimately benefit the United States as the Trump Administration works out trade deals in these regions.
In a changing global trade system marked by rising protectionism, ITIF welcomes a free trade agreement between two large democracies. However, the defining challenge of this century is China's mercantilism, and only a coalition led by the United States, alongside the EU and India, can meet it."
Contact: Austin Slater, press@itif.org
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Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/publications/2026/01/27/eu-india-trade-deal-exposes-us-trade-vacuum-says-itif/
Denver Foundation: Community Response During SNAP Freeze
DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 27 -- The Denver Foundation issued the following news on Jan. 26, 2026:
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Community response during SNAP freeze
On October 31, 2025, Mayor Mike Johnston announced the launch of a "food assistance task force" to prepare for the surge in need as the federal government shutdown continued, delaying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that nearly 600,000 Coloradans rely on. The task force would help ensure every Denverite who needs resources could access them, and that everyone who wanted to help knew how to do so. In his announcement, he included
... Show Full Article
DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 27 -- The Denver Foundation issued the following news on Jan. 26, 2026:
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Community response during SNAP freeze
On October 31, 2025, Mayor Mike Johnston announced the launch of a "food assistance task force" to prepare for the surge in need as the federal government shutdown continued, delaying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that nearly 600,000 Coloradans rely on. The task force would help ensure every Denverite who needs resources could access them, and that everyone who wanted to help knew how to do so. In his announcement, he includedThe Denver Foundation as a resource for those who were able to donate money.
We had activated our Critical Needs Fund, our fastest and most flexible way to respond to crises in our community, to support nonprofit food banks and providers who were keeping people and families fed.
A rapid community response
Donations to our Critical Needs Fund immediately came in through the generosity of the public and our donors. As the dollars came in, our team worked quickly to get them out to the community, granting a total of
With both the public's generosity and support from The Fund for Denver, our community's endowment, more resources reached organizations providing groceries and hot meals to our neighbors.
See the full list of organizations below.
At the same time, we were hearing from fundholders reacting to the same concerns, asking what organizations needed immediate support. Within days, they directed more than $358,000 from their donor-advised funds to organizations supporting food security.
Through our Critical Needs Funds and donor-advised funds, we granted $458,000.
Fast grantmaking, guided by need
While we prioritized getting grant dollars out the door fast, we were intentional in reaching people across different communities. We listened to understand which districts and populations were seeing the highest need.
We sent grants to organizations with large distribution systems supplying pantries and food providers across the state, and to community-based organizations that were getting food out quickly in ways that matched their communities' realities.
Our grants to large distributors, like Food Bank of the Rockies, supported their ability to increase their food supply, including protein, fresh produce, and other nutritious foods, and scale food distribution to their partners, especially in areas that saw increased need due to the SNAP pause (source). Neighbors also shared personal stories expressing their gratefulness for the food and support.
Our grants also went to places that aren't always front and center in food security conversations, including college campuses.
Of the grants awarded through our Critical Needs Fund, $15,000 went to six universities and community colleges. While attending a student dinner at Colorado State University Pueblo for our Reisher Scholarship Program, one of the students spoke about his concern for his peers on campus and college students across the state who rely on SNAP. College students are often an overlooked group of SNAP recipients and experience food insecurity at higher rates.
Reyna M. Anaya, Ph.D., vice president of student success at the Community College of Aurora shared, "It's our responsibility to show up for students and provide in different ways, and food security is one of those ways."
In the early weeks of November 2025, during the SNAP delays, Community College of Aurora saw a 35% uptick in recipients of its free mobile market, Foxy's Mobile Market.
"Our team did a good job in thinking ahead and being proactive, and always keeping the concept of sustainability in mind," said Anaya, staying committed to providing food to those who need it, including students, staff, faculty, and their families.
What made this response possible, for the Community College of Aurora and the broader community, was the many ways you showed up.
What your support made possible
Your time, your connections, and your resources helped keep food on the tables for our neighbors throughout the state. Thanks to you, organizations across Colorado were able to provide more meals and quickly adapt to our community's needs.
Nonprofits were there when we needed them most, just as they always have been. We're deeply grateful for everything they do to keep our community strong, and for people like you who believe in their work and help sustain it.
The following organizations received grants through our Critical Needs Fund:
* Arapahoe Community College
* Community College of Denver
* Centro Cristiano Amistad de Denver
* Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
* Colorado Food Cluster
* Community College of Aurora - Foxy's Mobile Market
* University of Colorado Denver - Milo's Market
* Denver Downtown Islamic Center
* Denver Public School Foundation Food Security Fund
* Denver Public School Northwest Community Hub
* Fax Partnership
* Food Bank of Rockies
* Front Range Community College
* The GrowHaus
* Denver Inner City Parish
* Kaizen Food Rescue
* Metropolitan State University Denver - Rowdy's Corner
* Project Access Inc.
* Southwest Food Coalition
* Southwest Improvement Council
* Sun Valley Community Kitchen
* There With Care
* ViVe Wellness
* WellPower
Ways to continue supporting emerging needs
If you'd like to support emerging issues in our community, our Critical Needs Fund is an efficient and effective way to support a variety of organizations. The Critical Needs Fund is our fastest and most flexible way to respond to rapidly changing landscapes and crises in our community.
If you are a fundholder at The Denver Foundation, you can support these efforts through your donor-advised fund. If you have any questions, please reach out to your relationship manager or our team at information@denverfoundation.org or 303.300.1790.
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Original text here: https://denverfoundation.org/2026/01/community-response-during-snap-freeze/
College Park MOM's Organic Employees Slam Union Officials with Charges for Election Interference
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Jan. 27 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
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College Park MOM's Organic Employees Slam Union Officials with Charges for Election Interference
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New filings detail that UFCW bosses cornered employee in bathroom and engaged in other intimidation tactics ahead of vote on forced-dues requirements
Washington, DC (January 27, 2026) - Nora Ricse, an employee of MOM's Organic Market in College Park, MD, is asking a federal labor board to rerun a "deauthorization election" she and her colleagues requested to strip United
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Jan. 27 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
College Park MOM's Organic Employees Slam Union Officials with Charges for Election Interference
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New filings detail that UFCW bosses cornered employee in bathroom and engaged in other intimidation tactics ahead of vote on forced-dues requirements
Washington, DC (January 27, 2026) - Nora Ricse, an employee of MOM's Organic Market in College Park, MD, is asking a federal labor board to rerun a "deauthorization election" she and her colleagues requested to strip UnitedFood and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union bosses of their power to force workers to pay dues. In a brief filed with free legal aid from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, she charges that union officials interfered with the vote by subjecting MOM's employees to intimidation and coercion to join the union in the lead-up to the election.
Although MOM's employees voted nearly 5-to-1 to block the UFCW union from having forced-dues power, this was insufficient for Ricse's effort to prevail because federal law provides that a majority of an entire work unit must vote to deauthorize a union. In contrast, only a majority of those participating in a vote are needed to bring a union into a workplace.
Ricse's objections, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), detail the same conduct that MOM's employee J-quan Tingling is charging UFCW union officials with in unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB. Tingling, who is also receiving free Foundation legal aid, maintains in his charges that a UFCW union agent cornered him in a bathroom to coerce him into signing a union membership card. He also reports that UFCW operatives falsely told him that union membership is a condition of employment, and rebuffed his multiple requests to be left alone or to take the union documents home so he could at least read them. His charges state that he discussed with his coworkers the confrontations he had with union bosses.
"The concern that the Union official's conduct compromised laboratory conditions and the ultimate integrity of the election is also heightened where, as here, there is a possibility that other employees" acted on the belief that union officials could carry out their threats, Ricse's objections brief says.
Ricse's filing cites other NLRB cases in which election results were set aside because union officials threatened workers into signing union cards, and exhorts the Board to administer a rerun election. "The Board would seriously prejudice [Ricse] and her colleagues by denying them access to a free and fair election within this context," the brief says.
UFCW Officials Imposed Contract Over Workers' Objections
MOM's Organic employees pushed for a deauthorization vote after UFCW Local 400 union officials ratified a contract that binds all employees at MOM's Organic - even though a majority of the employees voted to reject that contract. In doing this, union officials cited the UFCW's constitution, which apparently requires union chiefs to ratify a contract over workers' objections if less than two-thirds of the workers authorize a strike.
Maryland lacks Right to Work protections for employees, meaning union officials can impose contracts that require workers to pay dues or be fired. While UFCW officials claim that they won't enforce their forced-dues privileges, the union's contract contains a clause that makes paying union dues a condition of employment.
"I and many of my colleagues at MOM's don't support UFCW union officials, but we are compelled by law to deal with them," commented Ricse ahead of the vote. "We are requesting this vote so we can ensure our hard-earned money doesn't flow into union bosses' pockets, regardless of what they've told us is going to happen."
Workers' Opposition to UFCW Actions Continues
Ricse's and Tingling's actions concerning the deauthorization election are just the latest skirmish in an ongoing conflict between UFCW union officials and MOM's Organic employees. In November 2024, College Park MOM's employees requested a vote to remove the union entirely (also known as a "decertification vote").
"If MOM's Organic employees needed any reason to believe that UFCW officials won't honor their promise to refrain from imposing forced dues on the whole workplace, the intimidation tactics detailed in these employee charges more than fit the bill," commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. "It's now clearer than ever that if MOM's Organic employees want any chance to escape from being forced to pay dues to the UFCW hierarchy, they need to be able to vote in a free and fair deauthorization election.
"If UFCW union officials really wanted workers to have a free choice on whether to pay dues, they should have supported - not opposed - the workers' effort to have a deauthorization vote," Mix added. "But the UFCW's priorities appear to be power and control, as shown by these new charges and the UFCW's constitution, which requires union bosses to ratify forced-dues contracts over the objections of workers."
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The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.
Posted on Jan 27, 2026 in News Releases
***
Original text here: https://www.nrtw.org/news/mom-organic-objections-01272026/
College Park MOM's Organic Employees Slam Union Officials with Charges for Election Interference
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Jan. 27 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
College Park MOM's Organic Employees Slam Union Officials with Charges for Election Interference
*
New filings detail that UFCW bosses cornered employee in bathroom and engaged in other intimidation tactics ahead of vote on forced-dues requirements
Washington, DC (January 27, 2026) - Nora Ricse, an employee of MOM's Organic Market in College Park, MD, is asking a federal labor board to rerun a "deauthorization election" she and her colleagues requested to strip United
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Jan. 27 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
College Park MOM's Organic Employees Slam Union Officials with Charges for Election Interference
*
New filings detail that UFCW bosses cornered employee in bathroom and engaged in other intimidation tactics ahead of vote on forced-dues requirements
Washington, DC (January 27, 2026) - Nora Ricse, an employee of MOM's Organic Market in College Park, MD, is asking a federal labor board to rerun a "deauthorization election" she and her colleagues requested to strip UnitedFood and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union bosses of their power to force workers to pay dues. In a brief filed with free legal aid from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, she charges that union officials interfered with the vote by subjecting MOM's employees to intimidation and coercion to join the union in the lead-up to the election.
Although MOM's employees voted nearly 5-to-1 to block the UFCW union from having forced-dues power, this was insufficient for Ricse's effort to prevail because federal law provides that a majority of an entire work unit must vote to deauthorize a union. In contrast, only a majority of those participating in a vote are needed to bring a union into a workplace.
Ricse's objections, filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), detail the same conduct that MOM's employee J-quan Tingling is charging UFCW union officials with in unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB. Tingling, who is also receiving free Foundation legal aid, maintains in his charges that a UFCW union agent cornered him in a bathroom to coerce him into signing a union membership card. He also reports that UFCW operatives falsely told him that union membership is a condition of employment, and rebuffed his multiple requests to be left alone or to take the union documents home so he could at least read them. His charges state that he discussed with his coworkers the confrontations he had with union bosses.
"The concern that the Union official's conduct compromised laboratory conditions and the ultimate integrity of the election is also heightened where, as here, there is a possibility that other employees" acted on the belief that union officials could carry out their threats, Ricse's objections brief says.
Ricse's filing cites other NLRB cases in which election results were set aside because union officials threatened workers into signing union cards, and exhorts the Board to administer a rerun election. "The Board would seriously prejudice [Ricse] and her colleagues by denying them access to a free and fair election within this context," the brief says.
UFCW Officials Imposed Contract Over Workers' Objections
MOM's Organic employees pushed for a deauthorization vote after UFCW Local 400 union officials ratified a contract that binds all employees at MOM's Organic - even though a majority of the employees voted to reject that contract. In doing this, union officials cited the UFCW's constitution, which apparently requires union chiefs to ratify a contract over workers' objections if less than two-thirds of the workers authorize a strike.
Maryland lacks Right to Work protections for employees, meaning union officials can impose contracts that require workers to pay dues or be fired. While UFCW officials claim that they won't enforce their forced-dues privileges, the union's contract contains a clause that makes paying union dues a condition of employment.
"I and many of my colleagues at MOM's don't support UFCW union officials, but we are compelled by law to deal with them," commented Ricse ahead of the vote. "We are requesting this vote so we can ensure our hard-earned money doesn't flow into union bosses' pockets, regardless of what they've told us is going to happen."
Workers' Opposition to UFCW Actions Continues
Ricse's and Tingling's actions concerning the deauthorization election are just the latest skirmish in an ongoing conflict between UFCW union officials and MOM's Organic employees. In November 2024, College Park MOM's employees requested a vote to remove the union entirely (also known as a "decertification vote").
"If MOM's Organic employees needed any reason to believe that UFCW officials won't honor their promise to refrain from imposing forced dues on the whole workplace, the intimidation tactics detailed in these employee charges more than fit the bill," commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. "It's now clearer than ever that if MOM's Organic employees want any chance to escape from being forced to pay dues to the UFCW hierarchy, they need to be able to vote in a free and fair deauthorization election.
"If UFCW union officials really wanted workers to have a free choice on whether to pay dues, they should have supported - not opposed - the workers' effort to have a deauthorization vote," Mix added. "But the UFCW's priorities appear to be power and control, as shown by these new charges and the UFCW's constitution, which requires union bosses to ratify forced-dues contracts over the objections of workers."
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Share
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.
Posted on Jan 27, 2026 in News Releases
***
Original text here: https://www.nrtw.org/news/mom-organic-objections-01272026/
