Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Private Equity Stakeholder Project: How the PE Playbook Pierced Claire's
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 16 -- The Private Equity Stakeholder Project issued the following news:
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How the PE playbook pierced Claire's
PE Files #001: Claire's
PESP's PE Files take a look at how portfolio companies are impacted by the private equity playbook, from beloved businesses bankrupted to mass layoffs at formerly mom-and-pop operations.
WHO: Claire's; private equity firms Apollo Global Capital, Elliott Investment Management, Monarch Alternative Capital, Ames Watson; devastated American millennials mourning their childhood
WHAT: Last month, tween jewelry retailer Claire's filed
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 16 -- The Private Equity Stakeholder Project issued the following news:
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How the PE playbook pierced Claire's
PE Files #001: Claire's
PESP's PE Files take a look at how portfolio companies are impacted by the private equity playbook, from beloved businesses bankrupted to mass layoffs at formerly mom-and-pop operations.
WHO: Claire's; private equity firms Apollo Global Capital, Elliott Investment Management, Monarch Alternative Capital, Ames Watson; devastated American millennials mourning their childhood
WHAT: Last month, tween jewelry retailer Claire's filedfor bankruptcy protection for the second time. The popular store has had a relatively long history with private equity: in 2007, Apollo Global Capital purchased Claire's for $3.1 billion in a leveraged buyout, loading the retailer with $2.5 billion of debt per 2013 filings[1] related to the company's first failed IPO attempt. Eleven years later, Claire's filed for bankruptcy for the first time as it struggled under $2.1 billion in long-term debt. The restructuring that followed passed the company into the hands of creditors and private equity firms Elliott Investment Management and Monarch Alternative Capital. By the time Claire's declared bankruptcy again, the retailer had over $1 billion in liabilities, according to bankruptcy filings. As the store initiated liquidation of its assets, private equity firm Ames Watson agreed to acquire Claire's and keep the majority of its stores open.
WHERE: Claire's operates over 1000 stores with at least 17,300 employees across the U.S. and Canada
WHY: The throughline in this story is debt, debt, and more debt. Like Joann's, Red Lobster, Bed Bath & Beyond, and other private equity-owned retailers that went bankrupt, Claire's appears to have been unable to bear the load of the significant amount of debt first incurred by Apollo's leveraged buyout. Leveraged buyouts, a strategy in which a private equity firm finances its acquisition of a company using debt secured by the company it is acquiring rather than using its capital or taking on the debt itself, have been a critical driver of instability among PE-owned companies. This tactic saddles private equity-owned companies with substantial debt, often draining resources that could otherwise be invested in innovation, workforce development, or adapting to market changes. Instead, firms under private equity ownership must channel much of their revenue toward servicing this debt, leaving them vulnerable to financial distress and bankruptcy.
Coupled with the continued decline of brick-and-mortar retailers and instability introduced by the Trump tariffs, it's no surprise that Claire's filed for bankruptcy once again.
SO WHAT? Without guaranteed severance legislation in the United States, employees facing layoffs as a result of corporate bankruptcy are forced to rely on taxpayer-funded unemployment. Meanwhile, private equity firms are able to walk away scot-free from portfolio company bankruptcies with few consequences. Another beloved brand bites the dust, another private equity firm walks away unscathed and enriched. Luckily for Claire's, new owner Ames Watson appears to have forestalled the worst for many of its employees.
On a less serious note, the near-miss of a total Claire's liquidation pained the hearts of many a millennial who had once anxiously received their first piercing at Claire's from the iconic (and pretty gross) piercing gun.
WHAT'S NEXT? Private equity firm Ames Watson has agreed to acquire Claire's in a $140 million deal, keeping many of its stores open and Claire's staff employed. Here's hoping the new firm doesn't follow the path of its other private equity predecessors.
[1] Per SEC filings, Apollo made an equity investment of approximately $595.7 million.
-- Sam Garin
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Original text here: https://pestakeholder.org/news/how-the-pe-playbook-pierced-claires/
[Category: Business]
KFF-Washington Post Survey Explores Parents' Trust In, and Confusion About, Childhood Vaccines as the Trump Administration Revamps Federal Policies
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 16 (TNSrep) -- KFF, an organization that says it focuses on health policy, issued the following news release:
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KFF-Washington Post Survey Explores Parents' Trust In, and Confusion About, Childhood Vaccines as the Trump Administration Revamps Federal Policies
Most Parents Remain Confident in Routine Childhood Vaccines and Support School Mandates, But Are Less Certain About Seasonal Flu and COVID Vaccines; 1 in 4 MAGA Republicans Say They Have Delayed or Skipped a Child's Vaccine
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A new KFF-Washington Post partnership survey (https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-the-washington-post-survey-of-parents/)
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 16 (TNSrep) -- KFF, an organization that says it focuses on health policy, issued the following news release:
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KFF-Washington Post Survey Explores Parents' Trust In, and Confusion About, Childhood Vaccines as the Trump Administration Revamps Federal Policies
Most Parents Remain Confident in Routine Childhood Vaccines and Support School Mandates, But Are Less Certain About Seasonal Flu and COVID Vaccines; 1 in 4 MAGA Republicans Say They Have Delayed or Skipped a Child's Vaccine
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A new KFF-Washington Post partnership survey (https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-the-washington-post-survey-of-parents/)of parents explores their experiences with and views about vaccines for their children, including a look into how they make decisions related to vaccines and where they are uncertain or confused about their safety.
The poll comes as the Trump administration's Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to question the childhood vaccine schedule and to raise doubts about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Based on interviews with more than 2,700 parents, including more than 1,000 parents with children under age 6 who have had to make decisions about vaccines in the post-COVID era, the survey's findings will be featured in a series of Washington Post stories and KFF reports analyzing the survey data.
The survey reveals large majorities of parents view long-standing childhood vaccines such as the ones to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and polio as safe and important, but are less confident in seasonal vaccines for flu and especially COVID-19.
While most parents say they keep their children up to date on recommended childhood vaccines, about one in six (16%) say that they have delayed or skipped at least one vaccine for their children (other than those for flu and COVID-19). Those most likely to report delaying or skipping vaccines include Republican parents (22%), especially those who identify with President Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement (25%), parents under age 35 (19%), and those who homeschool their child (46%).
Among parents who delayed or skipped some vaccines for their children, the most common reasons include concerns about side effects, a lack of trust in vaccine safety, and a belief that not all recommend vaccines are necessary.
This is the 37th survey in the KFF-Post partnership dating back to 1995 that combines survey research with in-depth journalism. The Post today published its overview of the results, while KFF published a report breaking down the data. The Post plans to publish additional stories drawing on the survey results.
Key themes from the survey include:
Most favor school vaccine requirements. A large majority (81%) of parents say that public schools should require students to get the measles and polio vaccines, with exceptions for medical and religious reasons. Among all parents, 8% say that they had requested an exemption to vaccine requirements so a child could attend school or daycare.
Many are uncertain about false claims. When asked about several false claims about vaccines and measles, relatively few parents believe the untrue statements, but larger shares are uncertain what to believe. One example: While relatively few (9%) parents believe the false claim that the MMR vaccine can cause autism in children, nearly half (48%) say they don't know enough to say.
Views of parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are somewhat more likely than other parents to believe the false claim that vaccines cause autism (16% vs. 9%).
Confidence in federal health agencies is shaky. Fewer than one in six (14%) parents say they have "a lot" of confidence in government health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, while half say they have only a little confidence (29%) or none at all (22%). Confidence is even lower in the agencies' abilities to make decisions based on science rather than the views of agency officials or to act independently without interference from outside interests. A quarter (26%) of parents overall say that the CDC recommends too many vaccines.
Many parents are unsure about impact of federal vaccine policy changes. Few parents (11%) say they've heard "a lot" about Secretary Kennedy's changes to federal vaccine policy. When asked about the changes' impact, most say either that they don't know or that the changes won't make of a difference on safety, access, and industry influence.
The survey also examines parents' views of the safety testing for vaccines, the number of recommended vaccines, and experiences with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
METHODOLOGY INFO:
The KFF/Washington Post Survey of Parents includes interviews with a nationally representative sample of 2,716 parents or legal guardians of children under age 18 in the U.S. The survey was conducted between July 18-August 4, 2025, online, in English and Spanish, using the Ipsos KnowledgePanel. The margin of sampling error including the design effect for total sample of parents is plus or minus 2 percentage points. For results based on other subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.
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Original text here: https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/new-kff-washington-post-survey-explores-parents-trust-in-and-confusion-about-childhood-vaccines-as-the-trump-administration-revamps-federal-policies/
[Category: Health Care]
ICYMI: UANI Exposes Location of Hamas-Iran Meeting at Qatar's Ritz-Carlton Hotel
NEW YORK, Sept. 16 -- United Against Nuclear Iran issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: UANI Exposes Location of Hamas-Iran Meeting at Qatar's Ritz-Carlton Hotel
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) wrote to Marriott International expressing concern that Hamas terrorist leaders and senior Iranian officials were hosted at a hotel it manages (the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Doha, Qatar). The hotel was the site of a meeting that took place just days before Israeli fighter jets struck the Qatari capital last week.
A photograph showing senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in direct talks with
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Sept. 16 -- United Against Nuclear Iran issued the following news release:
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ICYMI: UANI Exposes Location of Hamas-Iran Meeting at Qatar's Ritz-Carlton Hotel
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) wrote to Marriott International expressing concern that Hamas terrorist leaders and senior Iranian officials were hosted at a hotel it manages (the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Doha, Qatar). The hotel was the site of a meeting that took place just days before Israeli fighter jets struck the Qatari capital last week.
A photograph showing senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya in direct talks withIranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Tehran-based delegation inside the luxury hotel's meeting rooms was circulated online and identified by UANI as the Ritz-Carlton.
The Daily Mail broke the story as an exclusive, reporting on UANI's discovery and highlighting UANI CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace's letter to Marriott International, warning that hosting Hamas posed "exceptional reputational and legal risks." Wallace called on the hotel group to respond publicly and transparently about its decision to host members of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
The story was quickly picked up by The Express and The Mirror, with the former writing: "Explosive intelligence sources from United Against Nuclear Iran have confirmed the damning photograph shows senior Hamas butcher Khalil al-Hayya in face-to-face talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Tehran death squad delegation."
These revelations shine a spotlight on Qatar's continued enabling of terrorist groups and Iran's role in Hamas operations--even from inside a Western-branded luxury hotel chain headquartered in the United States.
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September 9, 2025
Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, Inc., 7750 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Re: Use of Marriott-Managed Property in Doha by Designated Terrorist Entities
Dear Mr. Capuano:
I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a matter of serious concern involving the use of a Marriott-managed property--the Ritz-Carlton in Doha, Qatar--in connection with individuals and entities sanctioned under the laws of the United States and its allies.
Specifically, a publicly circulated photograph (see following page) taken at the RitzCarlton Doha appears to show senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and other senior Hamas operatives meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and members of his delegation from Tehran. Both Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran are well known for their central roles in global terrorism. Hamas is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Iran's regime is officially recognized by the U.S. State Department as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, and the U.S. government has designated Iran's regime as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984.
Hamas has also been designated as a terrorist organization by countries and international organizations, including the United Kingdom and the European Union. In addition, Araghchi, who led the Iranian delegation, is an affiliate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - a U.S. designated FTO. Araghchi has himself publicly acknowledged that he served in the IRGC Quds Force, as per reporting in Iran's state-run media outlets.1 The IRGC Quds Force commands and controls the Iranian regime's network of terrorist militias--such as Hamas and Hezbollah--and spearheads Tehran's transnational repression, including on U.S. soil. It is under multiple U.S. sanctions designations.
1 Etemad Online, "Seyed Abbas Araghchi; a Member of the IRGC Quds Force who entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (in Persian), April 12, 2025.
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Katara Hospitality owns the Ritz Carlton Doha, while the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, a Marriott subsidiary, reportedly manages the premises.2 Marriott International, Inc. is a publicly traded U.S. corporation listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and subject to U.S. laws and regulations, including those related to anti-terrorism, anti-money laundering, and compliance with the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The use of Marriottmanaged properties by designated terrorists or representatives of terror-sponsoring regimes raises grave questions not only about brand reputation but also about legal exposure, fiduciary responsibility to shareholders, and compliance with U.S. sanctions laws.
The foregoing image--showing Hamas and Iranian officials engaging in coordination on Marriott-managed premises--risks associating your brand with actors directly responsible for violence against civilians, the destabilization of regional governments, and the undermining of U.S. national security interests. It also exposes your company to reputational risk that could materially affect shareholder value, investor confidence, and consumer trust in the Marriott brand. Given the seriousness of this issue, I respectfully request answers to the following questions:
1. Was Marriott International aware that individuals affiliated with Hamas and the Iranian government were meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Doha?
2. What due diligence, if any, does Marriott perform regarding high-level meetings or events hosted at the international properties it manages, especially in jurisdictions with known ties to terrorist organizations?
3. Has Marriott International conducted any internal investigation into the use of this property by sanctioned individuals or entities in this case?
2 The Ritz Carlton Doha Fact Sheet.
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4. What compliance mechanisms are in place to ensure Marriott-managed properties are not used--directly or indirectly--to facilitate meetings involving designated terrorist organizations?
5. Has Marriott notified U.S. authorities--including OFAC or the Department of Justice-- about this incident?
The global hospitality sector plays a critical role in upholding international norms, not least by ensuring that its properties are not used to legitimize or facilitate meetings between internationally-sanctioned actors. Your company's response to this matter will demonstrate whether Marriott is committed to operating within the ethical and legal boundaries expected of a U.S.-based multinational corporation.
As you know, the U.S. administration has intensified its efforts to dismantle Iran's decadeslong illicit nuclear infrastructure, including decisive military strikes targeting key nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025.3 These operations underscore a broader strategy not only to impede the Iranian regime's nuclear and missile programs, but also to send a clear message of deterrence against the weaponization of Iran's nuclear program.
Following the strikes on its nuclear facilities, the Iranian regime's posture has become markedly more defiant. Tehran has enacted legislation to suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).4 This decision demonstrates Iran's intransigence and its determination to continue uranium enrichment, sending clear signals of its intent to advance its nuclear program regardless of international concerns. The German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese has been explicit: the suspension sends a "disastrous signal," and Berlin has insisted that IAEA cooperation is "crucial" for any diplomatic solution.5 The sense among U.S. and European officials is that Iran's regime has now "gone rogue," no longer making any effort to appear as though it is following international law or cooperating with international monitoring bodies.
Iran's regime has also undertaken numerous plots to assassinate Americans and Europeans. This includes President Trump, former U.S. national security advisors, a former U.S. secretary of state, members of the Jewish and Iranian diasporas, as well as fomenting terror plots against diplomatic installations in London and elsewhere. In fact, public reporting suggests the U.S. Secret Service had to undertake extraordinary measures to protect former U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien who was participating in a meeting at the Ritz Carlton in Paris and had to be extracted from a meeting at the hotel due to an imminent threat.6
3 Politico, "US bombed 3 Iranian nuclear sites, Trump says - POLITICO," June 21, 2025.
4 Associated Press, "Iran president Pezeshkian reportedly orders to suspend cooperation with IAEA | AP News," July 3, 2025.
5 RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, "European Powers Alarmed As Iran Halts Nuclear Oversight," June 2, 2025.
6 Politico, "Iran has a hit list of former Trump aides. The U.S. is scrambling to protect them," October 11, 2024.
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Iran has also been trying to target, if not outright assassinate, the director-general of the IAEA Rafael Grossi.7 Australia recently expelled Iran's ambassador in Canberra after the regime was implicated in arson attacks against synagogues. As you know, Hamas, with Iranian support, was responsible for the largest massacre of the Jewish people, including Americans and Europeans, since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023. Since then, Hamas has likewise undertaken terror plots against Jewish targets in Europe.8
Given these developments, it is clear that the risks of doing business with Iran, which naturally includes hosting senior Iranian regime officials, have reached unprecedented and intolerable levels. Maintaining such ties now entails exceptional reputational, legal, and strategic risks, far exceeding those of previous years.
In view of the foregoing, we urge you to treat this matter with the seriousness it warrants and to respond publicly and transparently. Stakeholders, including investors, customers, and policymakers, are watching closely.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters. Please let us hear from you within 48 hours of receipt of this letter.
Very truly yours,
Ambassador Mark D. Wallace
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I. IRAN BUSINESS RISKS
Any desire from foreign firms to maintain or ramp up Iran business is short-sighted, ill-advised, and fraught with risk to its shareholders, employees, agents, and contractors. The risks inherent in doing business in Iran are serious and fall into at least ten distinct categories:
Revocation of the JCPOA and Reimposition of U.S. Secondary Sanctions. On May 8, 2018, the United States Administration announced it would withdraw from the JCPOA, and secondary sanctions were reimposed which affect companies even outside U.S. jurisdiction with respect to every major industry in Iran. Due to Iran's military support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there are increasing calls for E-3 signatories to the JCPOA, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to follow the example of the U.S. and reimpose sanctions snapback.
7 "Among the sharpest public threats against Grossi came from Ali Larijani, who is a senior aide to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the head of Iran's National Security Council. "When the war ends, we are going to deal with Grossi," he wrote in a post on X." See Wall Street Journal, "U.N. Atomic Chief Given Security Protection Over Iran Threat," August 26, 2025.
8 Wall Street Journal, "Germany Uncovers Alleged Hamas Terror Plot in Europe," December 14, 2023.
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Impairment of Corporate Reputation. A company that seeks opportunities in a country notorious for sponsoring terrorism and violating fundamental human rights, including state sponsored torture and killing of its own citizens, like Mahsa Amini in late 2022, will inevitably corrode its reputation with consumers, trading partners, and the general public, as recent polling strongly indicates.
Banking Risk. U.S. and European banks are unwilling, largely as a result of Iran's own actions, to finance new business ventures in Iran. Along with the serious money laundering issues in Iran, banking-related Iran risks continue to be severe, as strong penalties remain for those institutions that directly or indirectly facilitate prohibited transactions. Iran remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist.
Doing Business with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Doing business in Iran means doing business with the IRGC. It is flatly illegal for American and international companies to do business with the IRGC, but corporate compliance officers and country managers will be unable to discern if their companies are doing business with a reputable Iranian company or one that is secretly operated, managed, and even owned by the IRGC.
Economic Sanctions Independent of the JCPOA. Notwithstanding the JCPOA, significant economic sanctions unrelated to Iran's illegal nuclear proliferation program remain in effect which bar companies and their affiliates from doing business in multiple sectors of Iran's economy. The passage of the JCPOA does not eliminate or ease those sanctions.
Unavailability and Deficiency of Insurance Coverage. Companies will find that their business operations and assets in Iran are either uninsurable or subject to inadequate coverage and/or extraordinary insurance premiums because of the highly unstable and riskladen political, legal, and business environment. Germany no longer allows export credit insurance from 2023.
Impairment of Shareholder Value. Influential shareholders and the investing public will not look charitably upon any company whose drive for short term profits in Iran will inexorably finance that regime's policies of sponsoring terrorism, nuclear proliferation, subjugation of women, violent repression of LGBT individuals, and the arbitrary incarceration and execution of its citizens. It is difficult to see how share value will not suffer.
Impairment of Future Business Opportunities. A company that shortsightedly embraces business opportunities in Iran will likely be cut off from more lucrative business opportunities in countries that oppose Iran's hegemonic policies, especially among Gulf Arab states. Even worse, companies may be barred altogether from doing any business within the borders of these neighboring countries because they will be viewed as providing financial support to a lawless regime that is antithetical to their very existence.
Arrest, Imprisonment, Kidnapping, Torture, and Execution. A company that does business in Iran exposes its officers, employees, and contractors to a high risk of harassment, arrest, prosecution, and incarceration without due process of law, without the right to legal counsel, and without an effective and independent judicial system to protect basic legal rights. Even individuals with dual citizenship, such as British-Iranian Alireza Akbari, executed by the regime in January 2023, are not safe from the regime's clutches.
Hacking, Cyber Insecurity, and IP theft. Doing business in Iran will inevitably lead to the hacking and theft by Iranian operatives and security agents of a company's proprietary information, trade secrets, confidential employee and corporate information, personal information, and customer information. Moreover, Iranian firms systematically use the slightest association with foreign firms as a pretext to continue advertising purported partnerships, and misappropriate corporate trademarks often many years after ties may have been excised.
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Original text here: https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/press-releases/icymi-uani-exposes-location-of-hamas-iran-meeting-at-qatars-ritz-carlton-hotel
[Category: Energy]
Female Athletes, States to High Court: Save Women's Sports
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Sept. 16 -- The Alliance Defending Freedom, an organization advancing every person's right to live and speak the truth, issued the following news release on Sept. 15, 2025:
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Female athletes, states to high court: Save women's sports
West Virginia, Idaho, along with ADF attorneys, file opening brief with US Supreme Court urging it to uphold women's sports laws
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WASHINGTON - The states of West Virginia and Idaho, together with attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, filed their opening briefs Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court in two cases about state laws that
... Show Full Article
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Sept. 16 -- The Alliance Defending Freedom, an organization advancing every person's right to live and speak the truth, issued the following news release on Sept. 15, 2025:
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Female athletes, states to high court: Save women's sports
West Virginia, Idaho, along with ADF attorneys, file opening brief with US Supreme Court urging it to uphold women's sports laws
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WASHINGTON - The states of West Virginia and Idaho, together with attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, filed their opening briefs Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court in two cases about state laws thatprotect women's sports.
In State of West Virginia v. B.P.J., West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, supported by ADF attorneys who serve as co-counsel and also as counsel to former college soccer player Lainey Armistead, are asking the court to uphold the state's law protecting fairness in women's sports. In Little v. Hecox, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, also supported by ADF attorneys as co-counsel, is asking the high court to uphold his state's women's sports law.
"Female athletes in West Virginia are finally having their voices heard at the Supreme Court. This is a monumental day not only in West Virginia, but across the country," McCuskey said. "The people of West Virginia know that it's unfair to let biological male athletes compete against females; that's why we passed this commonsense law preserving women's sports. We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women's Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX. And most importantly: It protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair."
"After five years, Idaho's law protecting women's sports has finally reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, the ACLU wants to drop the case because they know the strength of our argument," said Labrador. "But the legal arguments of one male athlete do not change the facts: Girls across Idaho can still be forced to compete against boys. That's not fair, it's not safe, and it strips young women of equal opportunities. We're urging the Court to affirm that states have the authority to preserve and protect women's sports."
"Almost every week, we hear a new report about a male taking a girl's rightful spot or medal for which she's trained and that she deserves. That's not just unfair, it's a violation of Title IX. Men cannot become women; their biological differences are scientifically clear. And no ideological arguments attempting to justify allowing males to enter female sports can stand against this truth," said ADF CEO, President, and Chief Counsel Kristen Waggoner. "ADF is honored to support West Virginia and Idaho in defending these states' commonsense laws that restore fairness and safety for female athletes across the nation."
In the West Virginia case, a middle-school male athlete competing on a girls' track team finished ahead of more than 400 different girls, displacing them 1,100 times in three years in cross-country and track-and-field events. Armistead intervened in the lawsuit to help defend the state's law.
The opening brief in State of West Virginia explains how the lower court's decision "reasoned that both the Constitution and Title IX compelled West Virginia to treat sex and gender identity as synonymous when it comes to sports. That approach erases the line between men's and women's athletics. Sex affects athletic performance; gender identity does not. If the court below were right, then Title IX's role in preserving girls' sports opportunities would end."
The brief in Little notes that Idaho's "law reflects a legitimate, evidence-based judgment about how to protect equal opportunities for female athletes. The Ninth Circuit's contrary view transforms equal protection from a shield against unjust discrimination into a sword that harms women and girls and imperils the future of women's sports. With increasing frequency, female athletes have been sidelined from their own teams, championship competitions, and winners' podiums. That is why the NCAA and U.S. Olympic Committee recently changed their policies to mirror those of Idaho and the 26 other states that have enacted similar laws. The Constitution permits what this trend recognizes: female athletes deserve the chance to compete and win in their own sports."
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Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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Original text here: https://adflegal.org/press-release/female-athletes-states-to-high-court-save-womens-sports/
[Category: Sociological]
Brady's End Family Fire Launches Partnership With Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court to Bolster Free Gun Lock Distribution and Secure Firearm Storage in Virginia
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Sept. 15, 2025:
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Brady's End Family Fire Launches Partnership with Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court to Bolster Free Gun Lock Distribution and Secure Firearm Storage in Virginia
This pilot program, in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, is focused on reducing gun-related injuries and deaths through safe firearm storage.
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Today, Brady's End Family Fire program initiated a partnership with Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court Greg Parks and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley to highlight the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on Sept. 15, 2025:
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Brady's End Family Fire Launches Partnership with Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court to Bolster Free Gun Lock Distribution and Secure Firearm Storage in Virginia
This pilot program, in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, is focused on reducing gun-related injuries and deaths through safe firearm storage.
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Today, Brady's End Family Fire program initiated a partnership with Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court Greg Parks and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley to highlight theimportance of secure firearm storage to save lives. Currently, residents who obtain a concealed carry permit receive a free gun lock from the Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court to help ensure they safely store their firearms. Through this new partnership, every gun lock distributed by the Clerk's Office will include Brady End Family Fire stickers that direct Alexandrians via a QR code to Brady's endfamilyfire.org website with additional secure storage guidance and information.
This pilot initiative is focused on preventing "family fire" - a shooting that results from someone misusing an unsecured firearm from the home. Currently, nearly half of Virginians own guns. Yet research shows that less than half of U.S. gun owners securely store their guns, contributing to family fire tragedies. Unintentional shootings, firearm suicide, and many intentional shootings are all forms of family fire. One simple way to decrease instances of family fire is to securely store all firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition.
Brady President Kris Brown said:
Especially as a proud Virginian, I'm excited to initiate this partnership with the Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court Greg Parks and Vice Mayor Bagley to help more Virginians lock up their firearms at home and help end family fire. Every day in America, eight kids and teens are unintentionally injured or killed by family fire, and rates of firearm suicide are rising among youth - especially Black youth. With guns the number one killer of kids in our country, we need to ensure all firearms are securely stored - locked, unloaded, and away from ammo - to prevent these horrific tragedies. And now, thanks to the Alexandria Clerk of Circuit Court and Vice Mayor, more homes, children, and families will be safer from these threats. We look forward to other community leaders following Alexandria's example.
For more information on safe firearm storage and responsible gun ownership, visit endfamilyfire.org.
For municipalities, cities, and others exploring possible partnerships with Brady's End Family Fire program, email endfamilyfire@bradyunited.org.
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Brady has one powerful mission -- to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It's in our hands.
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Original text here: https://www.bradyunited.org/press/end-family-fire-gun-locks-alexandria
[Category: Political]
At CAP25, Pathologists and AI Leaders Join Forces to Shape the Future of Diagnostics
NORTHFIELD, Illinois, Sept. 16 -- The College of American Pathologists issued the following news release:
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At CAP25, Pathologists and AI Leaders Join Forces to Shape the Future of Diagnostics
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) announced during CAP25 a new partnership to advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology, laboratory medicine, and diagnostics.
"Bringing pathologists' expertise to the conversation can help ensure AI technologies enhance clinical decision-making safely and effectively," said CAP President
... Show Full Article
NORTHFIELD, Illinois, Sept. 16 -- The College of American Pathologists issued the following news release:
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At CAP25, Pathologists and AI Leaders Join Forces to Shape the Future of Diagnostics
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) announced during CAP25 a new partnership to advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology, laboratory medicine, and diagnostics.
"Bringing pathologists' expertise to the conversation can help ensure AI technologies enhance clinical decision-making safely and effectively," said CAP PresidentQihui "Jim" Zhai, MD, FCAP. "Through this collaboration, the CAP and CHAI will work together on initiatives that support innovation, equity, patient safety, and public trust in AI technologies."
A memorandum of understanding signed by both groups includes:
* Research and Development: Joint development of standards and best practices for AI in pathology and laboratory medicine, including validation protocols for diagnostic workflows.
* Education and Outreach: Training programs, webinars, and workshops to increase awareness and understanding of responsible health AI, as well as engagement with lawmakers and key federal entities.
* Data Sharing: Supporting responsible access to anonymous lab data to help researchers build smarter AI tools that improve how diseases are diagnosed.
* Evaluation and Monitoring: Developing metrics to assess the performance, fairness, and safety of AI systems in diagnostic settings.
"CHAI is committed to setting best practices for AI in health care," said Brian Anderson, MD, CHAI CEO and co-founder. "Partnering with the CAP helps us bridge policy with practice, ensuring AI supports safe, accurate diagnostics and maintains public trust in these technologies."
Together, the CAP and CHAI are shaping a future where AI enhances diagnostic accuracy, improves patient care, and strengthens trust in emerging health technologies. This partnership is just the beginning of work to advance responsible AI in health care.
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About the College of American Pathologists
As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide.
For more information, visit the CAP Newsroom, CAP.org and yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care.
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URL: Coalition For Health AI
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Original text here: https://newsroom.cap.org/latest-news/at-cap25--pathologists-and-ai-leaders-join-forces-to-shape-the-future-of-diagnostics/s/62bddaf4-5085-4419-a5d0-5422f4074f7d
[Category: Medical]
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee: AB 715 and the Systematic Erasure of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Students in California Classrooms
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued the following news release on Sept. 13, 2025:
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AB 715 and the Systematic Erasure of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Students in California Classrooms
On Friday, September 12, California lawmakers unanimously passed AB 715 with a 71-AYE vote, fast-tracking an unconstitutional K-12 education censorship bill at the 11th hour. The hearing and vote mirrored the classroom itself, systematically erasing Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students while privileging one group over all others.
Proponents claim the bill combats
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 -- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee issued the following news release on Sept. 13, 2025:
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AB 715 and the Systematic Erasure of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Students in California Classrooms
On Friday, September 12, California lawmakers unanimously passed AB 715 with a 71-AYE vote, fast-tracking an unconstitutional K-12 education censorship bill at the 11th hour. The hearing and vote mirrored the classroom itself, systematically erasing Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students while privileging one group over all others.
Proponents claim the bill combatsantisemitism, but AB 715 relies on the discredited and denounced IHRA definition--widely condemned for conflating rightful dissent against Israel's genocide with anti-Jewish hate. During the hearing, bill authors could not answer basic questions, and the committee openly thanked JPAC, signaling political favoritism over educational integrity.
Abed Ayoub, National Executive Director of ADC, said: "AB 715 silences students and teachers who are committed to learning and teaching history as it happened--not as the powerful would rewrite it to serve their interests. Classrooms now risk being weaponized against honest education while privileging one group over all others. California students deserve learning environments rooted in truth, not censorship and deception, and we will continue to fight to ensure that they do."
Once again, politicians have defied the will of the people in favor of special interests. California's AB 715 is opposed by every major teachers' and education association, yet the bill now heads to Governor Newsom's desk--a gift from state legislators that will silence educators, students, and communities, while costing California taxpayers millions in litigation against state officials.
"This battle is not over. ADC will continue to fight to ensure teachers have the right to teach the truth," concluded Ayoub.
ADC urges members and supporters to contact Governor Gavin Newsom and demand that he veto AB 715. Add your voice and take action HERE (https://support.adc.org/a/ab715-4-1).
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Original text here: https://adc.org/ab715classrooms/
[Category: Sociological]
