Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Public Policy & NGOs
Featured Stories
Wisconsin Faith and Secular Leaders Unite Against Question 2
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 7 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news:
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Wisconsin faith and secular leaders unite against Question 2
October 6, 2026
A coalition of Wisconsin faith and secular leaders is urging voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would give places of worship exemption from emergency measures.
The coalition sign-on letter brings together Christian, Muslim, interfaith ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 7 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news: * * * Wisconsin faith and secular leaders unite against Question 2 October 6, 2026 A coalition of Wisconsin faith and secular leaders is urging voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would give places of worship exemption from emergency measures. The coalition sign-on letter brings together Christian, Muslim, interfaithand secular voices from across Wisconsin around a common message: Religious freedom does not require placing religious institutions above neutral public safety rules. The coalition is asking the public to reject Question 2.
Question 2 is a dangerous Covid-era proposal that would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to prevent state and local governments from prohibiting gatherings in places of worship during a declared emergency, including a public health emergency.
"Religious freedom protects us from discrimination," the coalition letter states. "It should not place religious institutions above neutral laws intended to protect the public."
The signers emphasize that they strongly support the right to worship and practice one's faith without government discrimination. Their concern is that Question 2 goes much further by creating a permanent constitutional exemption that could restrict how officials respond to emergencies ranging from fires and floods to chemical spills and disease outbreaks.
"We cannot predict the next emergency or what officials may need to do to protect the public," the letter explains.
The coalition also notes that places of worship already comply with generally applicable safety requirements such as fire codes, occupancy limits, building standards and evacuation orders. Those protections do not diminish religious liberty, the signers argue, and emergency measures should operate on the same principle.
"Places of worship are still part of the communities around them, and emergencies do not distinguish between religious and secular buildings," the letter states.
The coalition's breadth underscores that opposition to Question 2 is not opposition to religion. Faith leaders warn that religious liberty is fully compatible with neutral public-safety rules.
"We come from different religious and nonreligious traditions, but we share a commitment to caring for our neighbors, protecting the vulnerable and preserving human life," the letter states. "We do not believe religious institutions need a special constitutional exemption to practice our faith freely."
FFRF Action Fund Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne says the coalition sends an especially important message to Wisconsin voters.
"Question 2, which we're calling the Superspreader Amendment, is being sold as a religious freedom measure, but Wisconsin religious leaders themselves are saying that their faith does not require a constitutional exemption from reasonable emergency protections," Jayne remarks. "Religious freedom means equal treatment under the law, not the right to endanger your congregation or the surrounding community during a state of emergency."
The letter concludes with a straightforward appeal to Wisconsin voters:
"Places of worship should be partners in protecting the public, not exceptions to neutral rules intended to protect them. Wisconsin can protect religious freedom without sacrificing public safety. We urge Wisconsin voters to vote NO on Question 2."
The FFRF Action Fund encourages faith and community leaders to add their names to the letter, and is grateful for partners who have helped to educate voters on this important issue.
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FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
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Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/wisconsin-faith-and-secular-leaders-unite-against-question-2/
[Category: Sociological]
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Wisconsin faith and secular leaders unite against Question 2
October 6, 2026
A coalition of Wisconsin faith and secular leaders is urging voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would give places of worship exemption from emergency measures.
The coalition sign-on letter brings together Christian, Muslim, interfaith ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 7 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news: * * * Wisconsin faith and secular leaders unite against Question 2 October 6, 2026 A coalition of Wisconsin faith and secular leaders is urging voters to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would give places of worship exemption from emergency measures. The coalition sign-on letter brings together Christian, Muslim, interfaithand secular voices from across Wisconsin around a common message: Religious freedom does not require placing religious institutions above neutral public safety rules. The coalition is asking the public to reject Question 2.
Question 2 is a dangerous Covid-era proposal that would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to prevent state and local governments from prohibiting gatherings in places of worship during a declared emergency, including a public health emergency.
"Religious freedom protects us from discrimination," the coalition letter states. "It should not place religious institutions above neutral laws intended to protect the public."
The signers emphasize that they strongly support the right to worship and practice one's faith without government discrimination. Their concern is that Question 2 goes much further by creating a permanent constitutional exemption that could restrict how officials respond to emergencies ranging from fires and floods to chemical spills and disease outbreaks.
"We cannot predict the next emergency or what officials may need to do to protect the public," the letter explains.
The coalition also notes that places of worship already comply with generally applicable safety requirements such as fire codes, occupancy limits, building standards and evacuation orders. Those protections do not diminish religious liberty, the signers argue, and emergency measures should operate on the same principle.
"Places of worship are still part of the communities around them, and emergencies do not distinguish between religious and secular buildings," the letter states.
The coalition's breadth underscores that opposition to Question 2 is not opposition to religion. Faith leaders warn that religious liberty is fully compatible with neutral public-safety rules.
"We come from different religious and nonreligious traditions, but we share a commitment to caring for our neighbors, protecting the vulnerable and preserving human life," the letter states. "We do not believe religious institutions need a special constitutional exemption to practice our faith freely."
FFRF Action Fund Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne says the coalition sends an especially important message to Wisconsin voters.
"Question 2, which we're calling the Superspreader Amendment, is being sold as a religious freedom measure, but Wisconsin religious leaders themselves are saying that their faith does not require a constitutional exemption from reasonable emergency protections," Jayne remarks. "Religious freedom means equal treatment under the law, not the right to endanger your congregation or the surrounding community during a state of emergency."
The letter concludes with a straightforward appeal to Wisconsin voters:
"Places of worship should be partners in protecting the public, not exceptions to neutral rules intended to protect them. Wisconsin can protect religious freedom without sacrificing public safety. We urge Wisconsin voters to vote NO on Question 2."
The FFRF Action Fund encourages faith and community leaders to add their names to the letter, and is grateful for partners who have helped to educate voters on this important issue.
* * *
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
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Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/wisconsin-faith-and-secular-leaders-unite-against-question-2/
[Category: Sociological]
Wildlife Society: Fall 2026 Issue of The Wildlife Professional
BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 7 -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news:
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The Fall 2026 issue of The Wildlife Professional
The fall issue of the magazine features a cover story on water conservation in Iowa
October 6, 2026
The Wildlife Professional is an exclusive benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Published four times annually, the magazine presents timely research news and analysis of trends in the wildlife profession.
Don't miss another issue! Join today to start receiving The Wildlife Professional in your mailbox and all the ... Show Full Article BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 7 -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news: * * * The Fall 2026 issue of The Wildlife Professional The fall issue of the magazine features a cover story on water conservation in Iowa October 6, 2026 The Wildlife Professional is an exclusive benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Published four times annually, the magazine presents timely research news and analysis of trends in the wildlife profession. Don't miss another issue! Join today to start receiving The Wildlife Professional in your mailbox and all theother great benefits of TWS membership.
The cover feature of the fall issue of The Wildlife Professional takes us to a big challenge facing wildlife in Iowa, where our annual conference is taking place. A member of the magazine's editorial review board, Adam Janke, a native of the Hawkeye State, shares with us how nitrate pollution resulting from agricultural runoff in the Prairie Pothole Region affects people, wildlife and their habitats. He also taps into some unusual partnerships taking place to deal with this problem.
Other articles in this issue cover a way to get middle school students involved in forest wildlife research, how to include plants in wildlife conservation, the complexities around red wolf recovery and much more.
Watch for the issue in your mailbox, or log in and check it out online.
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Original text here: https://wildlife.org/the-fall-2026-issue-of-the-wildlife-professional/
[Category: Environment]
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The Fall 2026 issue of The Wildlife Professional
The fall issue of the magazine features a cover story on water conservation in Iowa
October 6, 2026
The Wildlife Professional is an exclusive benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Published four times annually, the magazine presents timely research news and analysis of trends in the wildlife profession.
Don't miss another issue! Join today to start receiving The Wildlife Professional in your mailbox and all the ... Show Full Article BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 7 -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news: * * * The Fall 2026 issue of The Wildlife Professional The fall issue of the magazine features a cover story on water conservation in Iowa October 6, 2026 The Wildlife Professional is an exclusive benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Published four times annually, the magazine presents timely research news and analysis of trends in the wildlife profession. Don't miss another issue! Join today to start receiving The Wildlife Professional in your mailbox and all theother great benefits of TWS membership.
The cover feature of the fall issue of The Wildlife Professional takes us to a big challenge facing wildlife in Iowa, where our annual conference is taking place. A member of the magazine's editorial review board, Adam Janke, a native of the Hawkeye State, shares with us how nitrate pollution resulting from agricultural runoff in the Prairie Pothole Region affects people, wildlife and their habitats. He also taps into some unusual partnerships taking place to deal with this problem.
Other articles in this issue cover a way to get middle school students involved in forest wildlife research, how to include plants in wildlife conservation, the complexities around red wolf recovery and much more.
Watch for the issue in your mailbox, or log in and check it out online.
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Original text here: https://wildlife.org/the-fall-2026-issue-of-the-wildlife-professional/
[Category: Environment]
PA House of Representatives Passes Resolution Designating October as 'PA Chamber - State Chamber of the Year Month'
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 7 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following news release:
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October 6, 2026
PA House of Representatives Passes Resolution Designating October as 'PA Chamber - State Chamber of the Year Month'
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a resolution designating October 2026 as "Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry - Chamber of the Year Month," recognizing the PA Chamber's 110 years of service to Pennsylvania's business community and its selection as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the National ... Show Full Article HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 7 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following news release: * * * October 6, 2026 PA House of Representatives Passes Resolution Designating October as 'PA Chamber - State Chamber of the Year Month' HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a resolution designating October 2026 as "Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry - Chamber of the Year Month," recognizing the PA Chamber's 110 years of service to Pennsylvania's business community and its selection as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the NationalAssociation of State Chambers.
"On behalf of the more than 13,000 employers we represent across Pennsylvania, we are grateful to Speaker McClinton and members of the House for this recognition," PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein said. "Being named State Chamber of the Year by our peers across the country is a tremendous honor, and this recognition from the Pennsylvania House makes this a particularly special year for our organization."
Sponsored by House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), the resolution recognizes the PA Chamber's work to strengthen Pennsylvania's business climate and promote economic opportunity across the Commonwealth.
"For 110 years, the PA Chamber has worked with us in the General Assembly to strengthen Pennsylvania's business climate and promote economic opportunity across the board," Speaker McClinton said in the resolution's cosponsorship memo.
"That work is paying off, as Pennsylvania continues to rank as the best-performing economy in the Northeast," McClinton said. "The voice of the PA Chamber is highly respected in the halls of the State Capitol, providing an important perspective on public policy issues affecting employers, workers, and communities."
In recent years, the PA Chamber has helped advance significant improvements to Pennsylvania's tax climate:
* The PA Chamber advocated for the reduction of the state Corporate Net Income Tax from 9.99 percent to 4.99 percent by 2031, expanded net operating loss deductions and the continued absence of combined reporting. These reforms have helped make Pennsylvania more competitive for employers and investment.
* The PA Chamber also has been a leading voice for improvements to Pennsylvania's permitting process, including the SPEED program, which aims to provide greater predictability and accountability for businesses seeking permits and approvals.
* Additionally, the PA Chamber has pushed for policies that strengthen Pennsylvania's energy competitiveness, support natural gas development, improve electric grid reliability, and position the Commonwealth to capture new investment in emerging industries such as quantum computing, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Beyond public policy, the PA Chamber has expanded its work to strengthen Pennsylvania's workforce and promote economic growth.
Through initiatives such as the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute and Keystone Initiative, the Chamber has brought together employers, government leaders and community stakeholders to advance investment and opportunity across the Commonwealth. The Chamber represents more than 13,000 businesses in all 67 counties, spanning every major industry and businesses of all sizes.
The House recognition follows the PA Chamber's selection as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the National Association of State Chambers, the highest national recognition for a state chamber. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also awarded the PA Chamber an "Accredited with Distinction" rating, an honor achieved by only six state chambers nationwide.
The PA Chamber's national award nomination received bipartisan support from leaders including Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and Speaker McClinton.
Learn more at www.pachamber.org.
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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its statewide membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
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Original text here: https://www.pachamber.org/media/28652/pa_house_of_representatives_passes_resolution_designating_october_as_pa_chamber_state_chamber_of_the_year_month/
[Category: Business]
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October 6, 2026
PA House of Representatives Passes Resolution Designating October as 'PA Chamber - State Chamber of the Year Month'
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a resolution designating October 2026 as "Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry - Chamber of the Year Month," recognizing the PA Chamber's 110 years of service to Pennsylvania's business community and its selection as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the National ... Show Full Article HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 7 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following news release: * * * October 6, 2026 PA House of Representatives Passes Resolution Designating October as 'PA Chamber - State Chamber of the Year Month' HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a resolution designating October 2026 as "Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry - Chamber of the Year Month," recognizing the PA Chamber's 110 years of service to Pennsylvania's business community and its selection as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the NationalAssociation of State Chambers.
"On behalf of the more than 13,000 employers we represent across Pennsylvania, we are grateful to Speaker McClinton and members of the House for this recognition," PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein said. "Being named State Chamber of the Year by our peers across the country is a tremendous honor, and this recognition from the Pennsylvania House makes this a particularly special year for our organization."
Sponsored by House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), the resolution recognizes the PA Chamber's work to strengthen Pennsylvania's business climate and promote economic opportunity across the Commonwealth.
"For 110 years, the PA Chamber has worked with us in the General Assembly to strengthen Pennsylvania's business climate and promote economic opportunity across the board," Speaker McClinton said in the resolution's cosponsorship memo.
"That work is paying off, as Pennsylvania continues to rank as the best-performing economy in the Northeast," McClinton said. "The voice of the PA Chamber is highly respected in the halls of the State Capitol, providing an important perspective on public policy issues affecting employers, workers, and communities."
In recent years, the PA Chamber has helped advance significant improvements to Pennsylvania's tax climate:
* The PA Chamber advocated for the reduction of the state Corporate Net Income Tax from 9.99 percent to 4.99 percent by 2031, expanded net operating loss deductions and the continued absence of combined reporting. These reforms have helped make Pennsylvania more competitive for employers and investment.
* The PA Chamber also has been a leading voice for improvements to Pennsylvania's permitting process, including the SPEED program, which aims to provide greater predictability and accountability for businesses seeking permits and approvals.
* Additionally, the PA Chamber has pushed for policies that strengthen Pennsylvania's energy competitiveness, support natural gas development, improve electric grid reliability, and position the Commonwealth to capture new investment in emerging industries such as quantum computing, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Beyond public policy, the PA Chamber has expanded its work to strengthen Pennsylvania's workforce and promote economic growth.
Through initiatives such as the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute and Keystone Initiative, the Chamber has brought together employers, government leaders and community stakeholders to advance investment and opportunity across the Commonwealth. The Chamber represents more than 13,000 businesses in all 67 counties, spanning every major industry and businesses of all sizes.
The House recognition follows the PA Chamber's selection as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the National Association of State Chambers, the highest national recognition for a state chamber. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also awarded the PA Chamber an "Accredited with Distinction" rating, an honor achieved by only six state chambers nationwide.
The PA Chamber's national award nomination received bipartisan support from leaders including Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and Speaker McClinton.
Learn more at www.pachamber.org.
* * *
The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its statewide membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
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Original text here: https://www.pachamber.org/media/28652/pa_house_of_representatives_passes_resolution_designating_october_as_pa_chamber_state_chamber_of_the_year_month/
[Category: Business]
Menopause Society: Excessive Bloating and Gas Plague Women Throughout the Menopause Transition
PEPPER PIKE, Ohio, Oct. 7 -- The Menopause Society, an organization that is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond, issued the following news release:
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Excessive Bloating and Gas Plague Women Throughout the Menopause Transition
New study documents that gas and bloating are the most prevalent gastrointestinal symptoms during all three phases of menopause while anxiety is the worst during perimenopause
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (October 20, 2026)--It's not uncommon ... Show Full Article PEPPER PIKE, Ohio, Oct. 7 -- The Menopause Society, an organization that is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond, issued the following news release: * * * Excessive Bloating and Gas Plague Women Throughout the Menopause Transition New study documents that gas and bloating are the most prevalent gastrointestinal symptoms during all three phases of menopause while anxiety is the worst during perimenopause - CLEVELAND, Ohio (October 20, 2026)--It's not uncommonfor women to experience more gastrointestinal (GI) issues, especially bloating and gas, during menopause due to fluctuating hormone levels that slow down digestion and alter gut function. Anxiety is also common. But are the two problems related? A new study sought to answer that question. Results of the study will be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in San Diego, October 20-24, 2026.
The menopause transition affects women's bodies in many different ways, including wreaking havoc on their GI systems. Common GI problems include excessive bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and nausea. Menopause is also known to heighten anxiety. A new study involving more than 1,800 women aged between 40 and 60 years sought to examine GI symptom burden and anxiety severity across the menopause stages (premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause) and examine the association between the two issues.
Based on the results, researchers confirmed that excessive bloating and gas were the most prevalent GI symptoms, with 65.6% of women scoring above the normal severity range. GI symptom severity did not differ significantly by menopause stage across any domain but, rather, remained consistent throughout the transition. No other GI symptom was identified to be out of the normal range during the menopause transition.
In contrast, anxiety scores were highest during perimenopause compared with premenopause and postmenopause. Overall, 17.5% of participants reported moderate to severe anxiety. This was lowest in premenopause (14.6% in the moderate to severe category) and remained elevated in both perimenopause (19.2% in the moderate to severe category) and postmenopause (19.0% in the moderate to severe category). Moderate to severe anxiety increases as women progress from premenopause to perimenopause and stays elevated into postmenopause.
The next step in this work is to assess gut microbiota profiles and their relationship to GI symptoms and anxiety. Year 2 testing is ongoing and future use of cohort data will look at changes over time in these measures. The findings suggest that more research is needed to understand the relationship between GI symptoms and anxiety across the menopause journey. Clinicians should screen for both GI symptoms and anxiety in women regardless of menopause stage.
"The connection between the gut and the brain is rapidly gaining attention, and we are excited to see the menopause-specific insights we can provide from our newly established cohort," says Sanjana Solomon, lead author from the University of Calgary.
Details of the study will be discussed as part of the presentation, "Gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with anxiety across the menopause trajectory: findings from the MOMENTUM Canadian menopause cohort."
"Understanding GI symptoms and anxiety during menopause is important because fluctuating and declining hormone levels create a disruptive bidirectional interaction in which GI distress worsens anxiety and anxiety triggers further gut symptoms," says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.
For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.
* * *
The Menopause Society is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. As the leading authority on menopause since 1989, the nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization serves as the independent, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, the media, and the public and leads the conversation about improving women's health and healthcare experiences. To learn more, visit menopause.org.
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Original text here: https://menopause.org/press-releases/excessive-bloating-and-gas-plague-women-throughout-the-menopause-transition
[Category: Medical]
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Excessive Bloating and Gas Plague Women Throughout the Menopause Transition
New study documents that gas and bloating are the most prevalent gastrointestinal symptoms during all three phases of menopause while anxiety is the worst during perimenopause
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (October 20, 2026)--It's not uncommon ... Show Full Article PEPPER PIKE, Ohio, Oct. 7 -- The Menopause Society, an organization that is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond, issued the following news release: * * * Excessive Bloating and Gas Plague Women Throughout the Menopause Transition New study documents that gas and bloating are the most prevalent gastrointestinal symptoms during all three phases of menopause while anxiety is the worst during perimenopause - CLEVELAND, Ohio (October 20, 2026)--It's not uncommonfor women to experience more gastrointestinal (GI) issues, especially bloating and gas, during menopause due to fluctuating hormone levels that slow down digestion and alter gut function. Anxiety is also common. But are the two problems related? A new study sought to answer that question. Results of the study will be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in San Diego, October 20-24, 2026.
The menopause transition affects women's bodies in many different ways, including wreaking havoc on their GI systems. Common GI problems include excessive bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain, and nausea. Menopause is also known to heighten anxiety. A new study involving more than 1,800 women aged between 40 and 60 years sought to examine GI symptom burden and anxiety severity across the menopause stages (premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause) and examine the association between the two issues.
Based on the results, researchers confirmed that excessive bloating and gas were the most prevalent GI symptoms, with 65.6% of women scoring above the normal severity range. GI symptom severity did not differ significantly by menopause stage across any domain but, rather, remained consistent throughout the transition. No other GI symptom was identified to be out of the normal range during the menopause transition.
In contrast, anxiety scores were highest during perimenopause compared with premenopause and postmenopause. Overall, 17.5% of participants reported moderate to severe anxiety. This was lowest in premenopause (14.6% in the moderate to severe category) and remained elevated in both perimenopause (19.2% in the moderate to severe category) and postmenopause (19.0% in the moderate to severe category). Moderate to severe anxiety increases as women progress from premenopause to perimenopause and stays elevated into postmenopause.
The next step in this work is to assess gut microbiota profiles and their relationship to GI symptoms and anxiety. Year 2 testing is ongoing and future use of cohort data will look at changes over time in these measures. The findings suggest that more research is needed to understand the relationship between GI symptoms and anxiety across the menopause journey. Clinicians should screen for both GI symptoms and anxiety in women regardless of menopause stage.
"The connection between the gut and the brain is rapidly gaining attention, and we are excited to see the menopause-specific insights we can provide from our newly established cohort," says Sanjana Solomon, lead author from the University of Calgary.
Details of the study will be discussed as part of the presentation, "Gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with anxiety across the menopause trajectory: findings from the MOMENTUM Canadian menopause cohort."
"Understanding GI symptoms and anxiety during menopause is important because fluctuating and declining hormone levels create a disruptive bidirectional interaction in which GI distress worsens anxiety and anxiety triggers further gut symptoms," says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.
For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.
* * *
The Menopause Society is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. As the leading authority on menopause since 1989, the nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization serves as the independent, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, the media, and the public and leads the conversation about improving women's health and healthcare experiences. To learn more, visit menopause.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://menopause.org/press-releases/excessive-bloating-and-gas-plague-women-throughout-the-menopause-transition
[Category: Medical]
Independent Women's Voice: 'People, Not Pawns' - Provacative Ad Campaign Asks Whether the Left's Favorite Constituencies Have Become Disposable Pawns in Its Pursuit of Power
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- The Independent Women's Voice, an organization that fights for policy solutions for women, posted the following news release:
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October 6, 2026
'PEOPLE, NOT PAWNS': Provacative New Ad Campaign Asks Whether the Left's Favorite Constituencies Have Become Disposable Pawns in its Pursuit of Power
Independent Women's Voice uses cultural commentary to take on the Left's biggest contradictions on women, children, and gender stereotypes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Does the Left hate women? Kids? Gays? It's an intentionally outrageous question. And a provocative new ad campaign from ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- The Independent Women's Voice, an organization that fights for policy solutions for women, posted the following news release: * * * October 6, 2026 'PEOPLE, NOT PAWNS': Provacative New Ad Campaign Asks Whether the Left's Favorite Constituencies Have Become Disposable Pawns in its Pursuit of Power Independent Women's Voice uses cultural commentary to take on the Left's biggest contradictions on women, children, and gender stereotypes. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Does the Left hate women? Kids? Gays? It's an intentionally outrageous question. And a provocative new ad campaign fromIndependent Women's Voice argues that the answer may be even colder: they don't have to hate you to use you.
Today, Independent Women's Voice launched "People, Not Pawns", a new ad series built around a simple challenge: Look past the slogans. Look at the consequences. And ask who actually pays the price.
With the 2026 midterms approaching, politicians are once again telling Americans who they stand for. Independent Women's Voice is turning that question around: What happens when the people politicians claim to champion become inconvenient to the ideology they're advancing?
Through sharp dialogue and unconventional storytelling, the ads tackle women's sports and single-sex spaces, the disappearance of the tomboy, pandemic-era policies affecting children, and the tension between the gay-rights movement's message of self-acceptance and contemporary gender ideology.
The campaign invites viewers to examine the record and reach their own conclusions.
"Our testing confirms that in a political and media culture dominated by slogans and promises, the actual results of policies can be surprising and impactful," said Heather R. Higgins, CEO of Independent Women's Voice.
"The left's promise is compassion. But is it compassion if it hurts the very people it claims to help?"
WATCH: Do Democrats Hate Women? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnKrkfsTSY)
For decades, women fought for equal opportunities, their own sports teams and records, fairness, and the privacy of single-sex spaces. The ad asks how advocating for those same principles became controversial, and what happened when women objected.
"Does the Left hate women? If not, why won't they listen when women say they're the ones being hurt?"
WATCH: Coffee and the Truth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lea9Rbcly0)
Over coffee, two women discuss what happens to women who disagree with progressive ideology on women's sports and spaces.
"I've figured it out... The Left hates women... They just hate women who disagree with them."
WATCH: Bring Back the Tomboy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqG-7QAgtU)
A split-screen jumps from 1975 to today and asks how the message to a tomboy went from "girls can do anything boys can do" to questioning whether a girl who rejects female stereotypes might actually be a boy.
"Maybe accepting gender-nonconfirming kids means.... accepting gender-nonconforming kids."
WATCH: They Put Politics Ahead of Our Kids (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-bsOq0pPi8)
The ad turns the consequences of pandemic-era policies for children, revisiting school closures, social isolation, disrupted development, and learning loss. It poses the question asking who was looking out for children when policies intended to protect them had serious costs of their own.
"Caring about children means counting what actually happens to children."
WATCH: What Happened to Just Being Gay? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl4iLL2xzCY)
The final ad looks at the evolution of the gay-rights movement's message that same-sex attraction and gender nonconformity did not mean something was wrong with a person, to today's rush to medical interventions for minors who question gender norms.
"So, why are we now telling gay kids who are too young to know better that they're the wrong sex and should change their bodies? "
"There's more content competing for people's attention than ever before. We don't think the answer is to shout louder. It's to be more interesting," said Jordanne Kemper, vice president of Independent Women's Voice. "We're making ads that people don't just watch and forget, but make them think about and then want to share with their group chat."
A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLITICAL AD CAMPAIGN
"People, Not Pawns" is the latest installment in Independent Women's Voice's growing investment in creative, unconventional political storytelling designed to reach Americans outside of the traditional political echo chamber.
Last month, Independent Women's Voice launched "Take Me Back!", a Back to the Future-inspired ad that transported a young woman into a fictional 2050 shaped by Democratic Socialists of America-backed policies. Rather than simply repeating familiar political warnings, the campaign used satire and storytelling to illustrate the potential real-world consequences behind promises of "free" health care, guaranteed housing, and other socialist policies.
As with "Take Me Back!," "People, Not Pawns" will extend into key races across the country, with versions of the ads being repurposed to name specific candidates and expose documented positions and records. These alternative versions include naming directly David Crowley in Wisconsin, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Troy Jackson in Maine, Chris Pappas in New Hampshire, and Mary Peltola in Alaska.
The approach reflects a broader strategy from Independent Women's Voice: give people something worth watching, ask the questions others won't, and let Americans decide what they think.
* * *
Watch full "People, Not Pawns" ad series here (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZYReKTbDvoI&si=D72Mu9oILv6g7aOr).
Direct media inquiries and booking requests to press@iwvoice.com
* * *
Independent Women's Voice(R) leverages our policies and initiatives to advocate more effectively, drive change, and win.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iwvoice.com/2026/10/people-not-pawns-provacative-new-ad-campaign-asks-whether-the-lefts-favorite-constituencies-have-become-disposable-pawns-in-its-pursuit-of-power/
[Category: Sociological]
* * *
October 6, 2026
'PEOPLE, NOT PAWNS': Provacative New Ad Campaign Asks Whether the Left's Favorite Constituencies Have Become Disposable Pawns in its Pursuit of Power
Independent Women's Voice uses cultural commentary to take on the Left's biggest contradictions on women, children, and gender stereotypes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Does the Left hate women? Kids? Gays? It's an intentionally outrageous question. And a provocative new ad campaign from ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- The Independent Women's Voice, an organization that fights for policy solutions for women, posted the following news release: * * * October 6, 2026 'PEOPLE, NOT PAWNS': Provacative New Ad Campaign Asks Whether the Left's Favorite Constituencies Have Become Disposable Pawns in its Pursuit of Power Independent Women's Voice uses cultural commentary to take on the Left's biggest contradictions on women, children, and gender stereotypes. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Does the Left hate women? Kids? Gays? It's an intentionally outrageous question. And a provocative new ad campaign fromIndependent Women's Voice argues that the answer may be even colder: they don't have to hate you to use you.
Today, Independent Women's Voice launched "People, Not Pawns", a new ad series built around a simple challenge: Look past the slogans. Look at the consequences. And ask who actually pays the price.
With the 2026 midterms approaching, politicians are once again telling Americans who they stand for. Independent Women's Voice is turning that question around: What happens when the people politicians claim to champion become inconvenient to the ideology they're advancing?
Through sharp dialogue and unconventional storytelling, the ads tackle women's sports and single-sex spaces, the disappearance of the tomboy, pandemic-era policies affecting children, and the tension between the gay-rights movement's message of self-acceptance and contemporary gender ideology.
The campaign invites viewers to examine the record and reach their own conclusions.
"Our testing confirms that in a political and media culture dominated by slogans and promises, the actual results of policies can be surprising and impactful," said Heather R. Higgins, CEO of Independent Women's Voice.
"The left's promise is compassion. But is it compassion if it hurts the very people it claims to help?"
WATCH: Do Democrats Hate Women? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnKrkfsTSY)
For decades, women fought for equal opportunities, their own sports teams and records, fairness, and the privacy of single-sex spaces. The ad asks how advocating for those same principles became controversial, and what happened when women objected.
"Does the Left hate women? If not, why won't they listen when women say they're the ones being hurt?"
WATCH: Coffee and the Truth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lea9Rbcly0)
Over coffee, two women discuss what happens to women who disagree with progressive ideology on women's sports and spaces.
"I've figured it out... The Left hates women... They just hate women who disagree with them."
WATCH: Bring Back the Tomboy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqG-7QAgtU)
A split-screen jumps from 1975 to today and asks how the message to a tomboy went from "girls can do anything boys can do" to questioning whether a girl who rejects female stereotypes might actually be a boy.
"Maybe accepting gender-nonconfirming kids means.... accepting gender-nonconforming kids."
WATCH: They Put Politics Ahead of Our Kids (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-bsOq0pPi8)
The ad turns the consequences of pandemic-era policies for children, revisiting school closures, social isolation, disrupted development, and learning loss. It poses the question asking who was looking out for children when policies intended to protect them had serious costs of their own.
"Caring about children means counting what actually happens to children."
WATCH: What Happened to Just Being Gay? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl4iLL2xzCY)
The final ad looks at the evolution of the gay-rights movement's message that same-sex attraction and gender nonconformity did not mean something was wrong with a person, to today's rush to medical interventions for minors who question gender norms.
"So, why are we now telling gay kids who are too young to know better that they're the wrong sex and should change their bodies? "
"There's more content competing for people's attention than ever before. We don't think the answer is to shout louder. It's to be more interesting," said Jordanne Kemper, vice president of Independent Women's Voice. "We're making ads that people don't just watch and forget, but make them think about and then want to share with their group chat."
A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLITICAL AD CAMPAIGN
"People, Not Pawns" is the latest installment in Independent Women's Voice's growing investment in creative, unconventional political storytelling designed to reach Americans outside of the traditional political echo chamber.
Last month, Independent Women's Voice launched "Take Me Back!", a Back to the Future-inspired ad that transported a young woman into a fictional 2050 shaped by Democratic Socialists of America-backed policies. Rather than simply repeating familiar political warnings, the campaign used satire and storytelling to illustrate the potential real-world consequences behind promises of "free" health care, guaranteed housing, and other socialist policies.
As with "Take Me Back!," "People, Not Pawns" will extend into key races across the country, with versions of the ads being repurposed to name specific candidates and expose documented positions and records. These alternative versions include naming directly David Crowley in Wisconsin, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Troy Jackson in Maine, Chris Pappas in New Hampshire, and Mary Peltola in Alaska.
The approach reflects a broader strategy from Independent Women's Voice: give people something worth watching, ask the questions others won't, and let Americans decide what they think.
* * *
Watch full "People, Not Pawns" ad series here (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZYReKTbDvoI&si=D72Mu9oILv6g7aOr).
Direct media inquiries and booking requests to press@iwvoice.com
* * *
Independent Women's Voice(R) leverages our policies and initiatives to advocate more effectively, drive change, and win.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iwvoice.com/2026/10/people-not-pawns-provacative-new-ad-campaign-asks-whether-the-lefts-favorite-constituencies-have-become-disposable-pawns-in-its-pursuit-of-power/
[Category: Sociological]
Democracy Forward: New Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Policies Threatening Green Card Applicants With Family Separation
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release:
* * *
New Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Policies Threatening Green Card Applicants with Family Separation
October 5, 2026
Boston -- Immigrant families, workers, educators, unions, and immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit today, challenging two Trump-Vance administration policies that make it significantly harder or impossible for eligible immigrants ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release: * * * New Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Policies Threatening Green Card Applicants with Family Separation October 5, 2026 Boston -- Immigrant families, workers, educators, unions, and immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit today, challenging two Trump-Vance administration policies that make it significantly harder or impossible for eligible immigrantsalready living in the United States to obtain lawful permanent residence -- commonly known as a green card -- without leaving the country.
The lawsuit challenges new policies from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that fundamentally alter the longstanding process known as "adjustment of status," which Congress created to allow eligible immigrants already in the United States to apply for permanent residence without having to leave their families, jobs, and communities to pursue a green card abroad.
The challenged policies are:
* Adjustment of Status Policy, issued in May 2026: USCIS directs immigration officers to treat an applicant's decision to seek permanent residence from within the United States, rather than leave the country for consular processing, as a negative factor in deciding their application. It also requires applicants to demonstrate "unusual or even outstanding" considerations to overcome that negative factor.
* Evidence, Requests for Evidence, and Notices of Intent to Deny Policy, issued in August 2026: Allows USCIS officers to deny applications without giving applicants an opportunity to provide additional evidence -- including people who filed their green card applications before the new policies existed.
The policies change the rules for people who have followed the legal process to seek permanent residence and put them at risk of losing their ability to live and work in the United States, being separated from their families, and having their careers and education disrupted.
The organizational plaintiffs serve immigrants across the country who are pursuing permanent residence, including educators and researchers, health care workers, service workers, and people whose spouses and other close relatives are seeking green cards. The individual plaintiffs include people who have built careers, raised children, pursued their education, and established lives in the United States, but whose ability to remain with their families and communities is now threatened by the challenged policies. They are the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and its Harvard Faculty Chapter and Boston University Chapter (BU AAUP); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); SEIU Local 509; 32BJ SEIU; Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice); and individual green card applicants Areli Esmeralda Rojas Correa, Miriam Esther Moreno Coto, Maria Francisca Guardado, Ikechi Obinna Nwaozuzu, Derly Sierra Palacios, and Julieth Melissa Camargo Figueroa.
Plaintiffs are asking the court to block and ultimately set aside the policies and require USCIS to adjudicate affected green card applications consistent with controlling precedent. They are represented by Democracy Forward, the American Immigration Council, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Colombo & Hurd.
"By weaponizing the green card process and threatening immigrant professors, researchers, and students with sudden deportation or forced family separation, this administration is sabotaging scientific innovation and turning our universities into hostile environments for the global talent that drives our country forward. Trump's assault on immigrants is not only cruel and inhumane, it weakens the global competitiveness of our higher education institutions," said Todd Wolfson, President of the American Association of University Professors.
"Immigrant faculty and students are essential to the success and vitality of U.S. higher education and research. By making it even more difficult for international scholars to work and live here, these cruel and counterproductive new policies reflect both the Trump administration's larger anti-immigrant crusade and its unconstitutional war on universities. But the U.S. cannot be a global leader in education while cutting off the globe, and we will always stand up for members of our academic community when they are illegally threatened by this lawless administration," said Kirsten Weld, co-president of the Harvard Faculty Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
"BU AAUP condemns the Trump administration's new green card policies, which impose onerous and opaque rules on our international faculty and students. The revised regulations jettison precedent and due process and threaten the ability and freedom of faculty and students to research, teach, and learn. They harm valued members of our community and interfere with Boston University's stated mission as an international research institution. More, in targeting noncitizen scholars and imposing external rules that seek to limit who can research and teach at American universities, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services strikes at academic freedom--the core principle of higher education," said Mary Battenfeld, co-president of the Boston University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
"SEIU's 2 million members include physicians, long-term care workers, janitors, security officers, airport workers, and others. Many SEIU members are foreign-born U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and immigrants authorized to work in the United States. We oppose any policy that makes it harder for working people to do their jobs and provide for their families," said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Rocio Saenz. "If implemented, this directive will impact people who are following the rules and navigating an immigration system and process already full of red tape. Our government should make it easier, not harder, to keep families together and workers in their jobs so they can continue contributing to their communities and our economy."
This directive disrupts legal immigration and pathways to permanent residency, threatening our members' ability to earn a living, and further straining our healthcare system if these workers are forced to leave the United States, said David Foley, President of SEIU Local 509 "It is clear that the focus of this administration has never been on keeping our communities safe, but rather on expelling as many immigrants as possible from our communities by any means necessary. The people affected are our union siblings, our family members, and our friends. They deserve dignity and the opportunity to remain with their families while they navigate their path toward permanent residency."
"The Trump administration's animosity towards immigrants is so deep that they are now punishing those who have been working their way to becoming permanent legal residents by following the same rules followed by countless immigrants for generations. As a union with a majority immigrant membership, we object to the harm this could do to families and communities everywhere, and we deplore the administration's determination to close the doors on immigrants in every way they can as a thoroughly un-American act of naked cruelty," said Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU
"For decades, people who already live in the United States could apply for Permanent Residency from right here at home. This policy upends that. Immigrants who followed every rule, paid taxes, and waited their turn may now have to leave their spouses, children, and jobs behind to finish the process at a consulate abroad, where waits can stretch for months or even years. Americans for Immigrant Justice stands with these families and will continue to offer free legal guidance so no one faces this alone," said Sui Chung, Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice.
"Congress created a path for eligible immigrants to become permanent residents while they remain in the United States, and families have relied on it for decades. To push these cases to consulates overseas, many of which already carry long backlogs, will separate parents from children and pull workers away from employers," said Paul R. Chavez, Director of Litigation & Advocacy at Americans for Immigrant Justice.
"Congress created a process that allows eligible people who are already living in the United States to pursue permanent residence without uprooting their lives and leaving the country. The executive branch cannot rewrite that system and then treat people's lawful actions as a reason to deny them said permanent residency," said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. "These policies are changing the rules on families, workers, students, and others who have followed the legal process and built their lives here, putting them at risk of separation from their loved ones and communities. We are proud to represent our clients in challenging these unlawful policies and protecting the process Congress established."
"For decades, people who met the requirements to apply for a green card from inside the United States were able to do so without having that choice count against them. But under these new, radical policies, the Trump administration is trying to reverse decades of practice and punish people for using a legal pathway that Congress created," said Leslie Dellon, a senior attorney for business immigration at the American Immigration Council. "This is a major shift with very real consequences: spouses and parents separated from their families, workers forced to leave their jobs, students and researchers yanked away from their work, and people potentially stranded abroad for months or even years waiting for a consular appointment. At a time when our immigration system is already buried in years-long backlogs, the Trump administration is creating even more uncertainty and disruption for people who are simply trying to follow the rules."
"Our immigration system should embody the values that define America: fairness, transparency, due process, and adherence to the rule of law. AILA is litigating this case on behalf of our more than 18,000 members and the individuals, families, and businesses they represent because no administration should be permitted to rewrite the rules unilaterally or place itself above the law. The Constitution established checks and balances for a reason. We urge the courts to continue serving as a safeguard against executive overreach, and we call on Congress to exercise its oversight authority to protect the integrity of our immigration system and ensure it serves the national interest while remaining true to our shared values," said Jeff Joseph, President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
"These policies do more than disrupt individual green card cases. They create uncertainty for the highly skilled professionals who drive American research, health care, education, and innovation. If the United States wants to remain competitive in attracting and retaining global talent, it cannot make lawful permanent residence more arbitrary and less predictable for people who are already building lives here," said Sarah Wilson, Partner & Federal Immigration Litigation Practice Leader at Colombo & Hurd PL
The consequences are already significant. According to the complaint, the challenged policies threaten families with prolonged separation, workers with the loss of employment and work authorization, students and educators with disruptions to their studies and careers, and employers and communities with the loss of people who have built their lives in the United States.
The case is American Association of University Professors et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al. The legal team at Democracy Forward includes Erez Reuveni, Briana Clark, Lisa Graybill, and Robin Thurston.
Read the filing here (https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ECF-1-AAUP-v.-Mullin-AOS-Policy.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/new-lawsuit-challenges-trump-vance-administration-policies-threatening-green-card-applicants-with-family-separation/
[Category: Political]
* * *
New Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Policies Threatening Green Card Applicants with Family Separation
October 5, 2026
Boston -- Immigrant families, workers, educators, unions, and immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit today, challenging two Trump-Vance administration policies that make it significantly harder or impossible for eligible immigrants ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release: * * * New Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Policies Threatening Green Card Applicants with Family Separation October 5, 2026 Boston -- Immigrant families, workers, educators, unions, and immigrant rights organizations filed a lawsuit today, challenging two Trump-Vance administration policies that make it significantly harder or impossible for eligible immigrantsalready living in the United States to obtain lawful permanent residence -- commonly known as a green card -- without leaving the country.
The lawsuit challenges new policies from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that fundamentally alter the longstanding process known as "adjustment of status," which Congress created to allow eligible immigrants already in the United States to apply for permanent residence without having to leave their families, jobs, and communities to pursue a green card abroad.
The challenged policies are:
* Adjustment of Status Policy, issued in May 2026: USCIS directs immigration officers to treat an applicant's decision to seek permanent residence from within the United States, rather than leave the country for consular processing, as a negative factor in deciding their application. It also requires applicants to demonstrate "unusual or even outstanding" considerations to overcome that negative factor.
* Evidence, Requests for Evidence, and Notices of Intent to Deny Policy, issued in August 2026: Allows USCIS officers to deny applications without giving applicants an opportunity to provide additional evidence -- including people who filed their green card applications before the new policies existed.
The policies change the rules for people who have followed the legal process to seek permanent residence and put them at risk of losing their ability to live and work in the United States, being separated from their families, and having their careers and education disrupted.
The organizational plaintiffs serve immigrants across the country who are pursuing permanent residence, including educators and researchers, health care workers, service workers, and people whose spouses and other close relatives are seeking green cards. The individual plaintiffs include people who have built careers, raised children, pursued their education, and established lives in the United States, but whose ability to remain with their families and communities is now threatened by the challenged policies. They are the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and its Harvard Faculty Chapter and Boston University Chapter (BU AAUP); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); SEIU Local 509; 32BJ SEIU; Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice); and individual green card applicants Areli Esmeralda Rojas Correa, Miriam Esther Moreno Coto, Maria Francisca Guardado, Ikechi Obinna Nwaozuzu, Derly Sierra Palacios, and Julieth Melissa Camargo Figueroa.
Plaintiffs are asking the court to block and ultimately set aside the policies and require USCIS to adjudicate affected green card applications consistent with controlling precedent. They are represented by Democracy Forward, the American Immigration Council, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Colombo & Hurd.
"By weaponizing the green card process and threatening immigrant professors, researchers, and students with sudden deportation or forced family separation, this administration is sabotaging scientific innovation and turning our universities into hostile environments for the global talent that drives our country forward. Trump's assault on immigrants is not only cruel and inhumane, it weakens the global competitiveness of our higher education institutions," said Todd Wolfson, President of the American Association of University Professors.
"Immigrant faculty and students are essential to the success and vitality of U.S. higher education and research. By making it even more difficult for international scholars to work and live here, these cruel and counterproductive new policies reflect both the Trump administration's larger anti-immigrant crusade and its unconstitutional war on universities. But the U.S. cannot be a global leader in education while cutting off the globe, and we will always stand up for members of our academic community when they are illegally threatened by this lawless administration," said Kirsten Weld, co-president of the Harvard Faculty Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
"BU AAUP condemns the Trump administration's new green card policies, which impose onerous and opaque rules on our international faculty and students. The revised regulations jettison precedent and due process and threaten the ability and freedom of faculty and students to research, teach, and learn. They harm valued members of our community and interfere with Boston University's stated mission as an international research institution. More, in targeting noncitizen scholars and imposing external rules that seek to limit who can research and teach at American universities, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services strikes at academic freedom--the core principle of higher education," said Mary Battenfeld, co-president of the Boston University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
"SEIU's 2 million members include physicians, long-term care workers, janitors, security officers, airport workers, and others. Many SEIU members are foreign-born U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and immigrants authorized to work in the United States. We oppose any policy that makes it harder for working people to do their jobs and provide for their families," said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Rocio Saenz. "If implemented, this directive will impact people who are following the rules and navigating an immigration system and process already full of red tape. Our government should make it easier, not harder, to keep families together and workers in their jobs so they can continue contributing to their communities and our economy."
This directive disrupts legal immigration and pathways to permanent residency, threatening our members' ability to earn a living, and further straining our healthcare system if these workers are forced to leave the United States, said David Foley, President of SEIU Local 509 "It is clear that the focus of this administration has never been on keeping our communities safe, but rather on expelling as many immigrants as possible from our communities by any means necessary. The people affected are our union siblings, our family members, and our friends. They deserve dignity and the opportunity to remain with their families while they navigate their path toward permanent residency."
"The Trump administration's animosity towards immigrants is so deep that they are now punishing those who have been working their way to becoming permanent legal residents by following the same rules followed by countless immigrants for generations. As a union with a majority immigrant membership, we object to the harm this could do to families and communities everywhere, and we deplore the administration's determination to close the doors on immigrants in every way they can as a thoroughly un-American act of naked cruelty," said Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU
"For decades, people who already live in the United States could apply for Permanent Residency from right here at home. This policy upends that. Immigrants who followed every rule, paid taxes, and waited their turn may now have to leave their spouses, children, and jobs behind to finish the process at a consulate abroad, where waits can stretch for months or even years. Americans for Immigrant Justice stands with these families and will continue to offer free legal guidance so no one faces this alone," said Sui Chung, Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice.
"Congress created a path for eligible immigrants to become permanent residents while they remain in the United States, and families have relied on it for decades. To push these cases to consulates overseas, many of which already carry long backlogs, will separate parents from children and pull workers away from employers," said Paul R. Chavez, Director of Litigation & Advocacy at Americans for Immigrant Justice.
"Congress created a process that allows eligible people who are already living in the United States to pursue permanent residence without uprooting their lives and leaving the country. The executive branch cannot rewrite that system and then treat people's lawful actions as a reason to deny them said permanent residency," said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. "These policies are changing the rules on families, workers, students, and others who have followed the legal process and built their lives here, putting them at risk of separation from their loved ones and communities. We are proud to represent our clients in challenging these unlawful policies and protecting the process Congress established."
"For decades, people who met the requirements to apply for a green card from inside the United States were able to do so without having that choice count against them. But under these new, radical policies, the Trump administration is trying to reverse decades of practice and punish people for using a legal pathway that Congress created," said Leslie Dellon, a senior attorney for business immigration at the American Immigration Council. "This is a major shift with very real consequences: spouses and parents separated from their families, workers forced to leave their jobs, students and researchers yanked away from their work, and people potentially stranded abroad for months or even years waiting for a consular appointment. At a time when our immigration system is already buried in years-long backlogs, the Trump administration is creating even more uncertainty and disruption for people who are simply trying to follow the rules."
"Our immigration system should embody the values that define America: fairness, transparency, due process, and adherence to the rule of law. AILA is litigating this case on behalf of our more than 18,000 members and the individuals, families, and businesses they represent because no administration should be permitted to rewrite the rules unilaterally or place itself above the law. The Constitution established checks and balances for a reason. We urge the courts to continue serving as a safeguard against executive overreach, and we call on Congress to exercise its oversight authority to protect the integrity of our immigration system and ensure it serves the national interest while remaining true to our shared values," said Jeff Joseph, President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
"These policies do more than disrupt individual green card cases. They create uncertainty for the highly skilled professionals who drive American research, health care, education, and innovation. If the United States wants to remain competitive in attracting and retaining global talent, it cannot make lawful permanent residence more arbitrary and less predictable for people who are already building lives here," said Sarah Wilson, Partner & Federal Immigration Litigation Practice Leader at Colombo & Hurd PL
The consequences are already significant. According to the complaint, the challenged policies threaten families with prolonged separation, workers with the loss of employment and work authorization, students and educators with disruptions to their studies and careers, and employers and communities with the loss of people who have built their lives in the United States.
The case is American Association of University Professors et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al. The legal team at Democracy Forward includes Erez Reuveni, Briana Clark, Lisa Graybill, and Robin Thurston.
Read the filing here (https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ECF-1-AAUP-v.-Mullin-AOS-Policy.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/new-lawsuit-challenges-trump-vance-administration-policies-threatening-green-card-applicants-with-family-separation/
[Category: Political]
Catholic League Issues Commentary: Duplicity Over Human Rights
NEW YORK, Oct. 7 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that defends the right of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination, issued the following commentary by Communications Director Michael P. McDonald:
* * *
Duplicity over Human Rights
We've noticed how quick some radical politicians are at condemning alleged human rights abuses in the United States, yet they are mostly silent about documented human rights abuses in their ancestral homes. Their duplicity is astounding. Here is just a sample of our troubling findings.
Senator ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Oct. 7 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that defends the right of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination, issued the following commentary by Communications Director Michael P. McDonald: * * * Duplicity over Human Rights We've noticed how quick some radical politicians are at condemning alleged human rights abuses in the United States, yet they are mostly silent about documented human rights abuses in their ancestral homes. Their duplicity is astounding. Here is just a sample of our troubling findings. SenatorMazie Hirono (D-HI) was born in Japan in 1947 and immigrated to the United States in 1955. When she is not busy proving her anti-Catholic bigotry (she previously argued that adhering to Catholic teachings and membership in the Knights of Columbus should disqualify nominees to serve as judges), Hirono is focused on internment of Japanese people living in America during World War II. As recently as February, she posted on X, "The incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII was a grave injustice fueled by fear and racism."
However, this statement is worth scrutinizing. Beginning in February of 1942, approximately 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans were interned on orders of Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the most liberal presidents in American history. These people were not incarcerated, and their treatment was hardly barbaric. At the time, the American Civil Liberties Union supported Roosevelt's action. Further, many second-generation Japanese-Americans viewed the internment as prudent, since they feared, wrongly, that the older generation was more loyal to Japan than the United States.
It is also worth noting that approximately 11,500 Germans and over 3,000 Italians were interned during the course of the war. It was not just Japanese people being singled out.
What makes Hirono's hypocrisy abundantly clear is that while she has spoken at length about the United States internment of Japanese people during World War II, she has never spoken out publicly on the war crimes committed by the Empire of Japan. For instance, Hirono has never once condemned the rape of Nanking, in which the Japanese Army killed approximately 300,000 Chinese men, women, and children and further raped and brutalized tens of thousands of women and girls.
Likewise, Hirono has never denounced the brutality that the Japanese military inflicted upon American prisoners of war, who were starved, brutally beaten, savagely tortured, and killed in the most barbaric ways.
Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) was born in India in 1965 and came to the United States in 1982. She serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is a champion of the woke left's America bashing.
One of her hobby horses is the treatment of the American Indians. Jayapal recently marked Columbus Day by posting on X, "On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, let us all reflect on the trauma and damage our country's Indigenous people have suffered."
While she is outraged about things that happened hundreds of years ago in the United States (and totally oblivious to the historical reality that before the settlers arrived the American Indians were not living in a state of utopian bliss), Jayapal is rather quiet about conditions in her homeland. The State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" finds that India is currently committing significant human rights abuses including "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "serious restrictions on freedom of expression," and "coerced abortion or forced sterilization."
Additionally the report notes that the Indian "government took minimal credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses." Jayapal has scant criticism for these present day abuses.
In a similar vein, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a member of the "Squad" and arguably the most virulently anti-American member of the House, was born in Somalia in 1982 before her family sought asylum in the United States in 1995. While the United States graciously took in Omar and her family so they could escape the unmitigated human suffering ever present in Somalia, she nevertheless relentlessly rails against America.
One shocking example is from the height of the George Floyd riots when Omar took to social media to say, "Systemic racism is not only present in our justice system--it is everywhere, including in our medical system, and we will not see equitable and healthy communities until it is dismantled everywhere we find it."
But while she is tirelessly finding fault with America, Omar has not even uttered the slightest condemnation of Somalia. The State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" finds that the failed state has significant ongoing human rights abuses including "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "use of children in armed conflict," and "the worst forms of child labor." Further, the radical Islamic government has "criminalized blasphemy and defamation of Islam." But Omar has never spoken out publicly about these violations. Her hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Not to be outdone by the others on our list, Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) never misses a chance to cast aspersions on America. Born in Uganda in 1991, he moved to the United States in 1998 and has found a plethora of reasons to castigate this country. In a rather melodramatic post on social media, Mamdani claimed, "I stand with all, whether under apartheid [and] occupation or the racism and xenophobia that has been acceptable in [American] politics for too long."
Of course, he loves Uganda. Mamdani celebrated his marriage there on his family's sprawling estate, and boldly stated in an interview "I am a proud son of Africa." What exactly is he proud of? The State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" notes that Uganda has a problem with "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "use of children in armed conflict by nonstate armed groups," "serious restrictions on freedom of expression," and "the worst forms of child labor." The report also notes that the Ugandan "government did not take credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses."
But it is not just limited to foreign-born politicians. Even some people born in this country are just as quick to condemn America and portray the home of their ancestors as idyllic lands of peace and harmony when they are anything but that. The poster child of this is Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Although she was born in Michigan to refugees, Tlaib more frequently identifies herself with Palestine than the United States.
Tlaib has harsh words for America. She is constantly expressing her shame in this country for some perceived shortcoming. She has made inflammatory comments about law enforcement in the United States, noting "Policing in our country is inherently [and] intentionally racist....I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed."
However, the State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" finds significant human rights abuses committed by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza including "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "trafficking in persons, including forced labor," and "the worst forms of child labor." Given her outrage about what she perceives to be the failings of American policing, if she were ethically consistent one would think she would strongly denounce these brutal practices committed by the Palestinians. But of course, she never does.
Further, Tlaib has never unequivocally condemned the violence committed by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups. In the rare instances when she calls out these militants, Tlaib is quick to equate their violence with Israel. She has been widely criticized by her colleagues and the general public for this.
It is disturbing that those who have benefitted so much by coming to America continuously seek to find fault with the United States while ignoring real and persistent problems in the lands they have escaped. What is more, these same people then go on to find positions of prominence in our political life. That should be beyond the pale.
October 6th, 2026
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Original text here: https://www.catholicleague.org/duplicity-over-human-rights/
[Category: Sociological]
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Duplicity over Human Rights
We've noticed how quick some radical politicians are at condemning alleged human rights abuses in the United States, yet they are mostly silent about documented human rights abuses in their ancestral homes. Their duplicity is astounding. Here is just a sample of our troubling findings.
Senator ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Oct. 7 -- The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that defends the right of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination, issued the following commentary by Communications Director Michael P. McDonald: * * * Duplicity over Human Rights We've noticed how quick some radical politicians are at condemning alleged human rights abuses in the United States, yet they are mostly silent about documented human rights abuses in their ancestral homes. Their duplicity is astounding. Here is just a sample of our troubling findings. SenatorMazie Hirono (D-HI) was born in Japan in 1947 and immigrated to the United States in 1955. When she is not busy proving her anti-Catholic bigotry (she previously argued that adhering to Catholic teachings and membership in the Knights of Columbus should disqualify nominees to serve as judges), Hirono is focused on internment of Japanese people living in America during World War II. As recently as February, she posted on X, "The incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII was a grave injustice fueled by fear and racism."
However, this statement is worth scrutinizing. Beginning in February of 1942, approximately 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans were interned on orders of Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the most liberal presidents in American history. These people were not incarcerated, and their treatment was hardly barbaric. At the time, the American Civil Liberties Union supported Roosevelt's action. Further, many second-generation Japanese-Americans viewed the internment as prudent, since they feared, wrongly, that the older generation was more loyal to Japan than the United States.
It is also worth noting that approximately 11,500 Germans and over 3,000 Italians were interned during the course of the war. It was not just Japanese people being singled out.
What makes Hirono's hypocrisy abundantly clear is that while she has spoken at length about the United States internment of Japanese people during World War II, she has never spoken out publicly on the war crimes committed by the Empire of Japan. For instance, Hirono has never once condemned the rape of Nanking, in which the Japanese Army killed approximately 300,000 Chinese men, women, and children and further raped and brutalized tens of thousands of women and girls.
Likewise, Hirono has never denounced the brutality that the Japanese military inflicted upon American prisoners of war, who were starved, brutally beaten, savagely tortured, and killed in the most barbaric ways.
Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) was born in India in 1965 and came to the United States in 1982. She serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is a champion of the woke left's America bashing.
One of her hobby horses is the treatment of the American Indians. Jayapal recently marked Columbus Day by posting on X, "On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, let us all reflect on the trauma and damage our country's Indigenous people have suffered."
While she is outraged about things that happened hundreds of years ago in the United States (and totally oblivious to the historical reality that before the settlers arrived the American Indians were not living in a state of utopian bliss), Jayapal is rather quiet about conditions in her homeland. The State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" finds that India is currently committing significant human rights abuses including "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "serious restrictions on freedom of expression," and "coerced abortion or forced sterilization."
Additionally the report notes that the Indian "government took minimal credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses." Jayapal has scant criticism for these present day abuses.
In a similar vein, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a member of the "Squad" and arguably the most virulently anti-American member of the House, was born in Somalia in 1982 before her family sought asylum in the United States in 1995. While the United States graciously took in Omar and her family so they could escape the unmitigated human suffering ever present in Somalia, she nevertheless relentlessly rails against America.
One shocking example is from the height of the George Floyd riots when Omar took to social media to say, "Systemic racism is not only present in our justice system--it is everywhere, including in our medical system, and we will not see equitable and healthy communities until it is dismantled everywhere we find it."
But while she is tirelessly finding fault with America, Omar has not even uttered the slightest condemnation of Somalia. The State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" finds that the failed state has significant ongoing human rights abuses including "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "use of children in armed conflict," and "the worst forms of child labor." Further, the radical Islamic government has "criminalized blasphemy and defamation of Islam." But Omar has never spoken out publicly about these violations. Her hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Not to be outdone by the others on our list, Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) never misses a chance to cast aspersions on America. Born in Uganda in 1991, he moved to the United States in 1998 and has found a plethora of reasons to castigate this country. In a rather melodramatic post on social media, Mamdani claimed, "I stand with all, whether under apartheid [and] occupation or the racism and xenophobia that has been acceptable in [American] politics for too long."
Of course, he loves Uganda. Mamdani celebrated his marriage there on his family's sprawling estate, and boldly stated in an interview "I am a proud son of Africa." What exactly is he proud of? The State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" notes that Uganda has a problem with "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "use of children in armed conflict by nonstate armed groups," "serious restrictions on freedom of expression," and "the worst forms of child labor." The report also notes that the Ugandan "government did not take credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses."
But it is not just limited to foreign-born politicians. Even some people born in this country are just as quick to condemn America and portray the home of their ancestors as idyllic lands of peace and harmony when they are anything but that. The poster child of this is Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Although she was born in Michigan to refugees, Tlaib more frequently identifies herself with Palestine than the United States.
Tlaib has harsh words for America. She is constantly expressing her shame in this country for some perceived shortcoming. She has made inflammatory comments about law enforcement in the United States, noting "Policing in our country is inherently [and] intentionally racist....I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed."
However, the State Department's "2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" finds significant human rights abuses committed by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza including "arbitrary or unlawful killings," "arbitrary arrest or detention," "trafficking in persons, including forced labor," and "the worst forms of child labor." Given her outrage about what she perceives to be the failings of American policing, if she were ethically consistent one would think she would strongly denounce these brutal practices committed by the Palestinians. But of course, she never does.
Further, Tlaib has never unequivocally condemned the violence committed by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups. In the rare instances when she calls out these militants, Tlaib is quick to equate their violence with Israel. She has been widely criticized by her colleagues and the general public for this.
It is disturbing that those who have benefitted so much by coming to America continuously seek to find fault with the United States while ignoring real and persistent problems in the lands they have escaped. What is more, these same people then go on to find positions of prominence in our political life. That should be beyond the pale.
October 6th, 2026
* * *
Original text here: https://www.catholicleague.org/duplicity-over-human-rights/
[Category: Sociological]