Featured Stories
Rita Ora to Perform at Second Annual AmfAR London
NEW YORK, Sept. 30 -- AmfAR-the Foundation for AIDS Research issued the following news release:
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September 29, 2026
Rita Ora to Perform at Second Annual amfAR London
Audi and Chancery Rosewood Are Presenting Sponsors
Jeremy Irons and Philip Treacy to Be Honored (Previously Announced)
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September 29, 2026 --Internationally celebrated singer, actor, and producer Rita Ora is confirmed to headline the second annual amfAR London at The Chancery Rosewood on Friday, October 16, 2026. Singer-songwriter Jamie Miller will also perform at the event. Taking place during Frieze London and the BFI
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NEW YORK, Sept. 30 -- AmfAR-the Foundation for AIDS Research issued the following news release:
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September 29, 2026
Rita Ora to Perform at Second Annual amfAR London
Audi and Chancery Rosewood Are Presenting Sponsors
Jeremy Irons and Philip Treacy to Be Honored (Previously Announced)
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September 29, 2026 --Internationally celebrated singer, actor, and producer Rita Ora is confirmed to headline the second annual amfAR London at The Chancery Rosewood on Friday, October 16, 2026. Singer-songwriter Jamie Miller will also perform at the event. Taking place during Frieze London and the BFILondon Film Festival, the evening will raise funds for amfAR's mission to advance scientific discovery to transform global health.
Over the past decade, Ora has established herself as one of the most commercially successful artists in the world. She has accumulated over 10 billion global streams and achieved four UK number one singles. She holds the record for the most UK Top 10 singles by a British female artist, with 13 in total. In 2027, Ora will be seen starring in Amazon MGM's film HONEYMOON WITH HARRY alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Kevin Costner, as well as an appearance in Amazon MGM's film VOLTRON. Throughout her career, Ora has demonstrated versatility across disciplines while maintaining consistent commercial success alongside her global philanthropic efforts. Her body of work reflects sustained relevance in global pop music alongside continued expansion into film, television, and entrepreneurial ventures.
"We're thrilled to add Rita Ora to the lineup for this year's amfAR London. She is a longtime supporter of our work and always delivers dynamic and memorable performances," said amfAR CEO Kyle Clifford. "We're also deeply grateful to Presenting Sponsors Audi and the Chancery Rosewood; their enthusiastic support for the evening allows amfAR to continue supporting scientists around the world focused on curing HIV and improving public health through cutting-edge research with the goal of a healthier world for all."
As previously announced, Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons will receive the amfAR Award of Inspiration, and renowned milliner Philip Treacy will be honored with the amfAR Award of Excellence. The evening will also include a seated dinner and a live auction featuring exceptional contemporary art and exclusive luxury experiences.
Along with Audi and The Chancery Rosewood as the evening's Presenting Sponsors, Fraser Yachts is the Signature Sponsor. Robb Report is the event's Media Partner. The evening will also be generously supported by Boroli Wines, Cap Gin, RUMOR Rose, and You & Me Vodka.
More than 100,000 people are living with HIV in the UK and while most are receiving treatment that controls the virus, lifelong treatment requires consistent access to healthcare and is not a cure. Currently, amfAR is supporting multiple studies using new approaches to eradicating HIV and controlling the virus without antiretrovirals long-term; fundraisers like amfAR London contribute vital funding for research that impacts not just the treatment of HIV, but cancers, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic conditions as well.
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About amfAR
amfAR is a leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and transforming global health with a primary and enduring commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Serving as a catalyst for breakthrough science, amfAR supports innovative research in areas where viruses and the immune system play a defining role, including cancer, neurological conditions, autoimmune disorders, and other viral diseases. Through strategic investments, global research partnerships, and evidence-based policy leadership, amfAR helps accelerate discoveries that improve health and save lives. Since 1985, amfAR has raised more than $950 million and awarded in excess of 3,900 grants to scientists worldwide.
For ticket and table information, please visit the amfAR website (https://www.amfar.org/events/amfar-london-2026/). Advertising and sponsorship opportunities are available.
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Original text here: https://www.amfar.org/news/rita-ora-to-perform-at-second-annual-amfar-london/
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: India's Complicated China Trade Problem
DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 30 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary:
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September 29, 2026
India's Complicated China Trade Problem
Jake Scott
The costs of dependence are growing.
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In the summer of 2025, electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn recalled roughly 300 Chinese engineers and technicians from its facilities in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India's mainland, and a further 300 just weeks later, leaving only the plants and machines behind while withdrawing the capacity to run them. It is symbolic of what India's trade relationship with China
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DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 30 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary:
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September 29, 2026
India's Complicated China Trade Problem
Jake Scott
The costs of dependence are growing.
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In the summer of 2025, electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn recalled roughly 300 Chinese engineers and technicians from its facilities in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India's mainland, and a further 300 just weeks later, leaving only the plants and machines behind while withdrawing the capacity to run them. It is symbolic of what India's trade relationship with Chinaactually looks like, and why the current trade deficit of $112.16 billion (up from $99.12 billion a year earlier, on a bilateral trade of $151.1 billion) is not easily closable, even after Xi Jinping and 400 functionaries visited Delhi for the latest BRICS summit. China has now overtaken the United States as India's largest goods-trading partner.
There are three principal obstacles standing in the way of rebalancing this trade deficit, yet only one of them is in India's hands to resolve.
The first major obstacle is the one over which India has the least control: Beijing's willingness, or lack thereof, to calibrate. Over 90% of India's rare-earth magnets and metals come from China, and China's own customs data showed a 58% fall in magnet exports to India from January 2025. While the actual amount is trivial compared to the billions of dollars of trade, it's the leverage that matters. If one country can slow another's vehicle and electronics production through administrative delays, the trade relationship is not exactly a balanced one.
Since roughly June 2026, Chinese authorities have tightened approvals for Indian business travelers, and only a limited share of applications are clearing the hurdles: industry accounts put approval rates as low as 20-40%, with the electronics and automotive industries being the most affected. That had not changed by the eve of the summit, when Indian executives were still reported to be facing "significant difficulties" in obtaining Chinese visas. Both Modi and Xi stressed the need for greater mobility between the two countries when they met, yet no concrete easing of these restrictions has actually materialized.
This is a structural vulnerability that means India is dependent on Chinese equipment, components, and technical staff but simply cannot get them into its factories without cooperation from Chinese officials. Twelve days before National Security Advisor Ajit Doval (the longest-serving advisor, having been in office since 2014) flew to Beijing for boundary talks in August 2026, China extended anti-dumping duties on Indian optical fiber for a further five years. Such vulnerability goes clearly beyond heavy industry.
The second major obstacle comes from the United States. On August 13, the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy published a report naming over 40 economies as part of a "shadow transshipment network"--placing India in tier one. Transshipment is a loophole in President Trump's protectionist policies that allows China to circumvent the policies both Trump administrations have pursued to reshore or nearshore production, and it's one that the United States is attempting to close. India is not the only major economy to be included in tier one, as it is joined by Canada, Japan, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, and even the European Union, with Mexico, India, and Vietnam identified as the leading conduits for China-origin goods--an estimated $67 billion in 2025.
This is not a result of any deliberate Indian policy of evasion, and the US has not alleged any--but it does not need to. Washington has signaled retrospective duties for undeclared or "misdeclared" origin and rules of origin written into the interim framework agreed in February that cut Indian tariffs from 50% to 18%.
This is a serious limitation on India's growth, given that the US market currently takes over $100 billion of India's exports, and that access is now conditional on limiting the Chinese content of Indian goods. This is precisely the moment India has concluded that it needs more Chinese content in order to grow its manufacturing base. India finds itself between a rock and a hard place: every component sourced to make an Indian factory viable is a component that makes an Indian export suspect. The ground may shift even further, following Xi's visit to the White House on September 24, with a US-China trade truce up for extension.
This is where the third obstacle comes in, and it's one that India owns; however, it's not an easy one to overcome. India can grow the industries it is already strong in and a major exporter of, especially pharmaceuticals, or it can double down on the industries that make it an attractive partner for China, such as raw materials including ores, fuels, and chemicals. India's exports to China grew almost 37% in 2025-26, which seems transformative until the actual numbers are considered: that's only growth from roughly $14 billion to $19 billion.
It was for this reason that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian minister for external affairs, asked Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, for three things in July 2026: fair market access, movement on the trade balance, and the reliability and predictability of supply chains. The last one Beijing can grant quickly and cheaply, because it costs nothing to promise and can be withdrawn easily. Market access can be granted, and selectively so, whether that's in pharmaceuticals or agricultural lines. But balance cannot be granted--it can only be reached by India growing exports, and not ones dependent on Chinese imports--and that is likely to take years.
When Modi and Xi met in Delhi on September 12, their meeting echoed the demands almost word for word, agreeing to address "structural trade imbalance and supply chain issues" and to facilitate meaningful and predictable market access--with no concrete commitment attached to either.
Going into Xi Jinping's visit, India's goals were easily identifiable: dormant bilateral trade mechanisms restarted, undertakings on rare-earth and fertilizer supply, further joint venture clearances, expanded border trade, and some movement on reciprocal visa allowances to restore the status quo ante from around the beginning of 2025. Coming out, the leaders' 40-minute meeting was described by officials as extremely positive, but on the economic track there was little to show beyond the resumption of direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou. Rare-earths, fertilizer, joint ventures, and visas produced no concrete announcements. As Bloomberg observed, the warmth merely papered over fundamental differences.
India can continue with selective de-risking, opening where inputs are needed and holding where the vulnerability is strategic. But Beijing has already shown how quickly India's dependency can convert into political pressure. In August 2025, it eased curbs on magnets, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring equipment after commitments from Wang Yi, only to add 5 more elements to its rare-earth control list a mere two months later; by December of the same year, the list had grown to 12. Each new integration between the economies deepens that risk only further. It would be wrong, then, to say that India's goal is negotiating down a deficit, but rather negotiating what that deficit will look like and how it will shape the nation's economic future.
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Jake Scott
Dr Jake Scott is a political theorist specialising in populism and its relationship to political constitutionality. He has taught at multiple British universities and produced research reports for several think tanks.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/indias-complicated-china-trade-problem/
Washington Legal Foundation Appoints Alison Young as President
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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Washington Legal Foundation Appoints Alison Young as President
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Constance Claffey Larcher, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF), has appointed Alison Young as President. In this role, Young will lead WLF's strategy, growth, and operations.
Young joined WLF last year as Vice President of Strategy and Development, where she expanded the Foundation's relationships with companies, trade associations, and law firms; developed new communications;
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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Washington Legal Foundation Appoints Alison Young as President
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Constance Claffey Larcher, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Washington Legal Foundation (WLF), has appointed Alison Young as President. In this role, Young will lead WLF's strategy, growth, and operations.
Young joined WLF last year as Vice President of Strategy and Development, where she expanded the Foundation's relationships with companies, trade associations, and law firms; developed new communications;and helped bring the work of WLF's Litigation and Legal Studies teams to broader audiences.
Before joining WLF, Young spent more than a decade building and scaling businesses in the digital advertising industry. She helped introduce and grow brands including Quantcast and MiQ in new markets, with a focus on strategy, execution, team development, and client relationships. At MiQ, where she spent nearly eight years, she was part of the leadership team that grew the company's Mid-Atlantic region, most recently serving as Regional Vice President.
"WLF has an incredible legacy to build on," said Young. "There is a tremendous opportunity to expand how we communicate our work and find new ways to extend its reach and impact."
"For nearly 50 years, WLF has earned its reputation through serious, substantive legal work," said Glenn Lammi, Executive Director of WLF. "That work stays at the center of everything we do. Ali has brought new energy to how we expand our relationships and reach, and together we're building a stronger WLF for the years ahead."
"Our litigation team takes on cases that shape the law for businesses across the country," said Cory Andrews, General Counsel and Vice President of Litigation at WLF. "Ali's innovative strategy, communications, and outreach help connect that work to the broader stakeholders it affects. It makes our legal work go further."
Celebrating its 49th year, WLF is America's premier public-interest law firm and policy center advocating for free-market principles, limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law.
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2026/09/29/communicating/washington-legal-foundation-appoints-alison-young-as-president/
TPPF Files Two Cases Challenging FAA Restrictions on Volunteer Pilots
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
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TPPF Files Two Cases Challenging FAA Restrictions on Volunteer Pilots
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AUSTIN -The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed two federal lawsuits challenging Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions on volunteer pilots completing charitable flights.
Wings of Mercy is a charitable organization that provides free transportation to patients in rural and underserved communities. The FAA has claimed authority to regulate such organizations and their pilots like a commercial airline,
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
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TPPF Files Two Cases Challenging FAA Restrictions on Volunteer Pilots
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AUSTIN -The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed two federal lawsuits challenging Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions on volunteer pilots completing charitable flights.
Wings of Mercy is a charitable organization that provides free transportation to patients in rural and underserved communities. The FAA has claimed authority to regulate such organizations and their pilots like a commercial airline,based on an improper reading of federal law and its own regulations.
The first lawsuit, Wings of Mercy v. FAA, was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In Loper Bright Enters. v. Raimondo, the Supreme Court eliminated Chevron deference and replaced it with a rule requiring agencies to follow "the best reading of the statute." TPPF argues that the FAA is not following the best reading of section 821 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 that allows reimbursement for fuel costs.
The second lawsuit, Rivers v. FAA, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Jeremy Rivers, a volunteer pilot for Wings of Mercy, seeks to receive reimbursement under the separate "pro rata" reimbursement exception in FAA regulations. Despite the Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright, FAA interpretations of its own regulations still receive a type of Chevron deference called Auer deference. This case seeks to overturn Auer deference and require agencies to follow the best reading of their own regulations-not an interpretation the agency itself makes up to justify its actions.
"This case involves separation of powers under the Constitution," said TPPF Senior Attorney Ted Hadzi-Antich. "Just as courts have the final say in interpreting legislation enacted by Congress, so too courts should have the final say in interpreting regulations promulgated by administrative agencies. When federal agencies arrogate those powers to themselves, we will step in to ensure the Constitution is honored."
"Congress acted to make it easier for volunteer pilots to help people in need, but the FAA essentially interpreted away that help," said TPPF Senior Attorney Matthew Chiarizio. "Loper Bright makes clear that agencies can't rewrite laws through creative interpretation. Courts must enforce the law Congress actually enacted, and that is exactly what we are asking the Sixth Circuit to do here."
"Loper Bright was a huge victory for average Americans against the administrative state," said TPPF Attorney Eric Heigis. "FAA's moves to discourage charitable flights show the negative consequences that result when agencies have unchecked power to interpret the rules that govern our lives. Loper Bright was a great step toward reining in unaccountable federal agencies. The next step is for the Supreme Court to eliminate Auer deference."
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Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/tppf-files-two-cases-challenging-faa-restrictions-on-volunteer-pilots
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust: People With Localised Prostate Cancer Could Benefit From Advanced Radiotherapy as an Alternative to Surgery While Maintaining Long-Term Cancer Control
LONDON, England, Sept. 29 (TNSxrep) -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
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People with localised prostate cancer could benefit from advanced radiotherapy as an alternative to surgery while maintaining long-term cancer control
Eight-year follow-up data from the PACE-A study suggests that five sessions of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) may be just as effective as radical prostatectomy for long-term disease control
28 September 2026
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People with localised, low-to-intermediate-risk prostate cancer could benefit from SBRT, a
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LONDON, England, Sept. 29 (TNSxrep) -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
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People with localised prostate cancer could benefit from advanced radiotherapy as an alternative to surgery while maintaining long-term cancer control
Eight-year follow-up data from the PACE-A study suggests that five sessions of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) may be just as effective as radical prostatectomy for long-term disease control
28 September 2026
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People with localised, low-to-intermediate-risk prostate cancer could benefit from SBRT, ahighly targeted form of radiotherapy, which research suggests may be just as effective as radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) at controlling localised prostate cancer over the long term.
These findings from the PACE-A (Prostate Advances in Comparative Evidence) clinical trial, a multi-centre Phase 3 randomised controlled trial led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, have been presented at the 2026 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (https://www.astro.org/meetings-and-education/micro-sites/2026/annual-meeting).
Lower incontinence and sexual dysfunction risk associated with SBRT
Treatment decisions about localised prostate cancer are often informed by concerns about the potential long-term impact on the patient's urinary, bowel, and sexual function. Given that previous PACE-A findings have shown that SBRT was associated with less patient-reported urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction than prostatectomy, these results may help patients and clinicians make more informed decisions regarding quality of life when choosing treatment.
This trial included patients who were suitable candidates for prostatectomy and randomised them equally between SBRT and prostatectomy. Patients assigned to the SBRT arm received five fractions of radiotherapy over one to two weeks, often delivered via CyberKnife.
Cyberknife is a pioneering piece of equipment, funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, that can deliver larger doses of precisely targeted radiotherapy treatment at almost any angle using real-time imaging.
Over 94 per cent of trial participants showed no signs of cancer return or progression after five years
Drawing on data from 123 patients and a median follow-up period of eight years, researchers observed that only 13 patients showed signs that their cancer had returned or progressed, including five in the SBRT group and eight in the prostatectomy group.
Five years after treatment, 94.1 per cent and 94.8 per cent of SBRT and prostatectomy patients remained free from signs that their cancer had returned or progressed. After eight years, the figures were 91.2 per cent and 83.7 per cent, respectively.
Of those patients surveyed after five years, three of 36 treated with SBRT reported using at least one urinary pad per day, compared with 14 out of 29 of those who underwent surgery. While these findings are not conclusive, they underscore the importance of considering longer-term quality-of-life outcomes when weighing different treatment options.
"It is essential that patients with prostate cancer are aware of all the options available to them," says Professor Nicholas van As, Chief Investigator of the PACE-A trial.
Professor van As, who is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Professor in Precision Prostate Radiotherapy at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, explains how the PACE-A trial will make a difference for patients.
"Treatment choices are often driven by the desire to preserve long-term urinary and sexual function, but until now we have had limited randomised evidence comparing the long-term cancer outcomes of surgery and SBRT. The PACE-A trial was designed to address this gap.
"Now, these results show that SBRT appears to achieve comparable long-term cancer control to surgery, helping patients make more informed decisions about their care."
"I hoped to continue being active following prostate cancer treatment"
Ken Morren, a 76-year-old civil engineering technologist from West Sussex, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017. After meeting with a surgeon to discuss the possibility of a prostatectomy, he asked for a referral to seek a second opinion with Professor van As at The Royal Marsden.
"It was naturally a shock to hear the diagnosis," he says.
"I've always lived a very active life, and I hoped to choose a treatment that would allow me to continue that.
"I had heard about SBRT and was very keen to explore it. After speaking with Professor van As, I felt grateful for the opportunity to be considered for the trial, and even more so when I was selected.
"I underwent five sessions of radiotherapy and, before long, my PSA levels began to drop steadily until they were negligible. They have remained that way ever since. Even better, the side effects have been very limited. I highly recommend and uphold the treatment."
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The PACE-A trial was funded by Accuray and Varian and sponsored by The Royal Marsden.
PACE is an umbrella of trials is supported by funding from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
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Original text here: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/people-localised-prostate-cancer-could-benefit-advanced-radiotherapy
GCF Honors Dr. Donald C. Harrison With Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award
CINCINNATI, Sept. 29 -- The Greater Cincinnati Foundation issued the following news:
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GCF honors Dr. Donald C. Harrison with Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award
Cincinnati, OH (September 28, 2026) - Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has named Dr. Donald C. Harrison the 2026 recipient of its Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award, recognizing his extraordinary leadership, service and generosity to Greater Cincinnati.
The Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award honors community champions who exemplify leadership, vision, creativity and generosity. Named for GCF's first Governing
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CINCINNATI, Sept. 29 -- The Greater Cincinnati Foundation issued the following news:
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GCF honors Dr. Donald C. Harrison with Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award
Cincinnati, OH (September 28, 2026) - Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has named Dr. Donald C. Harrison the 2026 recipient of its Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award, recognizing his extraordinary leadership, service and generosity to Greater Cincinnati.
The Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award honors community champions who exemplify leadership, vision, creativity and generosity. Named for GCF's first GoverningBoard chair and volunteer director, the award celebrates Davis's enduring legacy of service, philanthropy and community impact.
Dr. Harrison is a renowned cardiologist, academic leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose career spanned more than five decades. Raised in the Appalachian region of Alabama, he became one of the world's most respected cardiologists, but for most of his career, and still today, he calls the Cincinnati region home.
During his leadership at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Dr. Harrison oversaw more than 1,000 faculty members and more than $240 million in funded research. He also helped pioneer treatments for heart disease, founded or co-founded six medical technology companies and served on 12 corporate boards.
Yet his impact extends well beyond medicine and business.
Nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Harrison and his late wife, Laura Harrison, came to GCF with a question: How could they make philanthropy a family activity? Their partnership with GCF grew into an intentional approach to giving that brought multiple generations together around a shared commitment to generosity, service and purpose.
In 2006, the Harrisons established the Donald C. and Laura M. Harrison Family Foundation. Guided by a belief in the power of education to change lives, the foundation focuses on innovative educational programs for children and adults, particularly programs expanding opportunities for underserved people. Since its inception, the family foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million to nonprofit organizations.
"Don's accomplishments in medicine, higher education and business are remarkable, but what makes him so deserving of the Jacob E. Davis Award is what he chose to do with that success," said Matthew Randazzo, president and CEO of Greater Cincinnati Foundation. "He has invested his time, wisdom and generosity in helping others thrive, while bringing his family along on that journey. His example reminds us that philanthropy is not simply about giving. It's about becoming deeply invested in the future of your community."
Dr. Harrison's recognition continues a GCF tradition of celebrating people whose leadership demonstrates what is possible when individuals choose to invest their time, talent and resources in something larger than themselves.
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Original text here: https://www.gcfdn.org/blog/gcf-honors-dr-donald-c-harrison-with-jacob-e-davis-volunteer-leadership-award/
FFRF Files Appellate Court Amicus Brief in Case Attacking Johnson Amendment
MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 28, 2026
FFRF files appellate court amicus brief in case attacking Johnson Amendment
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a friend-of-the-court brief (https://ffrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/FFRF-Religious-Broadcasters-Brief.pdf) before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case that threatens an IRS provision prohibiting nonprofit electioneering.
FFRF argues that the lawsuit filed by National Religious Broadcasters and allied entities against the IRS
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 28, 2026
FFRF files appellate court amicus brief in case attacking Johnson Amendment
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a friend-of-the-court brief (https://ffrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/FFRF-Religious-Broadcasters-Brief.pdf) before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case that threatens an IRS provision prohibiting nonprofit electioneering.
FFRF argues that the lawsuit filed by National Religious Broadcasters and allied entities against the IRSis bogus. The Johnson Amendment forbids nonprofits, including churches, from interfering in political campaigns. The religious groups claim that the Johnson Amendment violates their constitutional rights and that there's a "threat" of the IRS stripping them of their tax exempt status, even though the government has essentially admitted that the chances of the IRS enforcing it against the plaintiffs are vanishingly small.
The plaintiffs are the National Religious Broadcasters and various churches, and they filed this challenge in 2024 against the Johnson Amendment. This federal law prohibits tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organizations, such as churches, from endorsing or opposing candidates for office. In theory, violating the Johnson Amendment could result in the IRS stripping a nonprofit of its tax exempt status, but in practice the IRS has rarely, if ever, enforced the amendment against churches, and it has never been enforced against any of the plaintiffs in this case. The religious groups sued the federal government and then sought a settlement under what they believe to be a friendly administration in an effort to get a court ruling declaring that the Johnson Amendment is unconstitutional.
"Article III of the Constitution limits federal courts' power to only adjudicate actual cases and controversies," the FFRF brief states. "In this pre-enforcement challenge, the parties ask the court to disregard Article III limitations and issue an advisory opinion about the Johnson Amendment's inapplicability to the actions of the plaintiffs-appellants. Article III prohibits the court from adjudicating this case for three reasons: (1) the plaintiffs lack standing (2) no adversity exists between the parties and (3) the plaintiffs' claims are not ripe."
First, FFRF asserts that the plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the Johnson Amendment. To demonstrate standing in a pre-enforcement challenge, the plaintiffs must establish that there is a substantial threat of future enforcement of the law they are challenging. The plaintiffs here have failed to do so. In fact, they have established the opposite: no reasonable threat of enforcement of the Johnson Amendment. Not only is there a long history of nonenforcement of the Johnson Amendment, but Congress has enacted special IRS procedures that protect churches from enforcement. Even more explicitly, this current administration disavowed any intention of enforcing the Johnson Amendment in Executive Order 13798. The plaintiffs themselves state in their brief that "everyone who litigated this case below agreed on the result."
Second, FFRF points out that Article III requires genuine adversity or a controversy between the parties. Yet, no such adversity exists in this case. Rather, both parties agree that the Johnson Amendment is inapplicable to the plaintiffs -- explicitly denying the existence of any controversy requiring adjudication. However, the plaintiffs are asking the court to rule on this bogus, hypothetical case anyway and issue an advisory opinion based on broad claims that the First Amendment protects houses of worships' "right" to interfere in elections.
Third, the plaintiffs' claims are not ripe for review. As the plaintiffs' own brief recognizes, their claims are dependent on a chain of speculative events. The court must not disregard the constitutional limitations of Article III and must dismiss this case for lack of jurisdiction.
The plaintiffs here thus fail to establish the Article III bedrock principles of standing, adversity and ripeness. These failures are demonstrated by decades of nonenforcement, special protective procedures for churches, the executive order, and the parties' own assertions. Rather than asking the district court to resolve a legitimate adversarial dispute, the plaintiffs seek a favorable advisory opinion based on a hypothetical. FFRF contends that the court must refrain from entertaining suits premised on attenuated and hypothetical events that may never come to pass.
Because no case or controversy exists, FFRF asserts that the 5th Circuit should affirm the lower U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Texas' dismissal of the case.
"Religious groups cannot be allowed to manipulate the court system," says FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott. "The courts must apply the same rules to all plaintiffs instead of granting religious groups special treatment. We hope our brief sheds light on this manufactured case."
FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott is the counsel of record for the brief. FFRF would like to thank intern Emma Hanson for help in drafting the brief.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is the largest national association of freethinkers, representing atheists, agnostics, and others who form their opinions about religion based on reason, rather than faith, tradition, or authority. Founded nationally in 1978 as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, FFRF has more than 40,000 members, including members in every state and the District of Columbia. FFRF's interest stems from its concern that parties to this case have sought to usurp the Internal Revenue Code and fundamental Article III principles in order to favor particular religious organizations. Courts must not stray from longstanding jurisdictional principle s to afford leniency to religiously-affiliated litigants while using the same principles to deny access to other civil rights litigants.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-files-appellate-court-amicus-brief-in-case-attacking-johnson-amendment/
[Category: Religion]
