Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Court Declines to Block New York Supplement Sales Law Pending Full Legal Challenge
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council for Responsible Nutrition posted the following news release:
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Court Declines to Block New York Supplement Sales Law Pending Full Legal Challenge
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Press Releases
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, expressed disappointment today after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit declined to grant a preliminary injunction to pause enforcement of a New York law restricting the sale of certain dietary supplements to individuals
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council for Responsible Nutrition posted the following news release:
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Court Declines to Block New York Supplement Sales Law Pending Full Legal Challenge
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Press Releases
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, expressed disappointment today after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit declined to grant a preliminary injunction to pause enforcement of a New York law restricting the sale of certain dietary supplements to individualsunder 18.
Oral arguments in the appeal were heard on January 24, 2025. While the Second Circuit did not disturb the lower court's denial of a preliminary injunction, CRN's broader lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law on First Amendment grounds is still permitted to proceed.
The law, which took effect on April 22, 2024, prohibits retailers from selling over-the-counter dietary supplements to minors if those products are labeled, marketed, or otherwise represented for weight-loss or muscle-building. Rather than banning specific ingredients, the law focuses on how products are marketed particularly claims related to body image and physical appearance. CRN argues that this constitutes an unlawful restriction on commercial speech under the First Amendment.
"While we are disappointed in the court's decision not to halt enforcement at this stage, we remain confident in the strength of our constitutional challenge," said Megan Olsen, CRN's Senior Vice President and General Counsel. "This law improperly targets truthful, lawful marketing claims about dietary supplements and represents a troubling attempt to regulate speech, not safety."
"This case is far from over," said Steve Mister, CRN's President and CEO. "We are prepared to continue fighting for the principle that the government cannot suppress commercial speech simply because it disapproves of the message. Consumers and companies alike deserve regulatory frameworks that are rooted in science, not stigma."
The New York law, enacted in 2023, was the first in the nation to prohibit the sale of supplements marketed for weight-loss and muscle-building to individuals under 18. It was developed with support from the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED) at Harvard, which has promoted similar legislation in other states, claiming without evidence that eating disorders and body dysmorphia are caused by supplement use.
Currently, lawmakers in several other states are considering comparable restrictions, signaling a broader national trend that raises significant concerns about regulatory overreach and the erosion of commercial free speech rights. Even this decision on the preliminary injunction acknowledged that the New York legislature used a product's marketing as a proxy for determining whether it is actually harmful. CRN maintains that reliance on a product's marketing claims, rather than any actual evidence of harm from the product itself, violates the First Amendment by regulating speech in a way that does not directly and narrowly advance a substantial government interest.
CRN has consistently refuted the claim that there is a causal relationship between dietary supplement use and the development of eating disorders or body dysmorphia. In a 2022 review published in Nutrients, researcher Susan Hewlings, Ph.D., R.D., found that the evidence to date does not support a causative role for dietary supplements in eating disorders, concluding that "the available literature does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between dietary supplement use and disordered eating behaviors," and emphasized that most supplement users report using these products responsibly as part of broader health and fitness goals.
CRN maintains that policies restricting supplement access based on unfounded assumptions risk undermining legitimate health and wellness practices without addressing the complex, multifactorial causes of eating disorders.
About the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN's Code of Ethics.
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Original text here: https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/court-declines-block-new-york-supplement-sales-law-pending-full-legal-challenge
Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets Lauds the European Commission's Investigation Into Google's Anticompetitive Search Conduct
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Business] -- Open Markets Institute posted the following news release:
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The Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets Lauds the European Commission's Investigation Into Google's Anticompetitive Search Conduct
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Courtney C. Radsch, Director of the Center for Journalism & Liberty at Open Markets Institute issued the following statement regarding the European Commission's investigation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) into anticompetitive conduct by Google, which appears to be using its monopoly control of search and visibility to discriminate against
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Business] -- Open Markets Institute posted the following news release:
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The Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets Lauds the European Commission's Investigation Into Google's Anticompetitive Search Conduct
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Courtney C. Radsch, Director of the Center for Journalism & Liberty at Open Markets Institute issued the following statement regarding the European Commission's investigation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) into anticompetitive conduct by Google, which appears to be using its monopoly control of search and visibility to discriminate againstnews publishers:
"This is a welcome and necessary use of the European Union's DMA authoritiesparticularly in light of misguided political attacks from the Trump administration and others who have tried to equate Europe's digital regulation with censorship or anti-Americanism. In reality, these rules are essential to restoring fairness and transparency in digital markets, ensuring a level playing field for publishers, protecting the public's access to reliable information, and cultivating a healthy information ecosystem that supports both press freedom and a pluralistic, economically sustainable media sector.
"The Commission's concernsthat Google may be demoting news websites and failing to uphold its DMA obligations to apply transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory conditions in Google Search rankingsreflect yet another example of practices Big Tech firms like Google have repeatedly employed: using opaque "internal policies" to the detriment of businesses and citizens, and failing to learn from past antitrust proceedings.
"Limiting the visibility of publisher content tied to commercial partnerships undermines legitimate revenue streams for journalism, making it even harder for publishers to remain economically viable and connect with their audiences in monopolized information ecosystems. Google's dominance across distribution, monetization, search, and audience visibility creates structural barriers that weaken both competition and democratic accountability."
The Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute works to ensure that the news media of the United States and our democratic allies is fully independent and robustly funded in the 21st century's digital economy. The Center's work is guided by the belief that government plays a fundamental role in structuring news media markets and business models to ensure that neither the state nor any one or few private actors control the words or actions of reporters, editors and publishers.
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Original text here: https://www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications/european-commissions-investigation-into-googles-anticompetitive-search-conduct
CAIR-MI Welcomes Arrest of Illinois Man Who Allegedly Threatened Dearborn Heights Mosque
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-MI Welcomes Arrest of Illinois Man Who Allegedly Threatened Dearborn Heights Mosque
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The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of an Illinois man who allegedly made threats targeting a Dearborn Heights mosque.
That suspect was taken into custody November 10, and faces multiple charges, including: False Report or Threat
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-MI Welcomes Arrest of Illinois Man Who Allegedly Threatened Dearborn Heights Mosque
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The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of an Illinois man who allegedly made threats targeting a Dearborn Heights mosque.
That suspect was taken into custody November 10, and faces multiple charges, including: False Report or Threatof Terrorism, Hate Crime Using Force, Causing Bodily Injury, Stalking, or Damaging Property, Aggravated Stalking (Felony).
In a statement, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said:
"We welcome the swift action taken by law enforcement authorities to apprehend the suspect accused of making threats against a Dearborn Heights mosque. No community should have to live in fear of hate-motivated violence. We urge state and federal authorities to continue taking such threats seriously and to ensure that all houses of worship are protected from acts of hate and intimidation."
He noted that in October, CAIR-MI called for stepped-up police protection for mosques and Islamic institutions in that state after law enforcement authorities identified a person of interest from Texas who allegedly made threatening calls to the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights.
That statement came just one day after CAIR-MI welcomed terrorism charges filed against a Virginia-based white supremacist who allegedly threatened to "kill Muslims" at a Michigan mosque.
Walid urged community leaders to increase security protocols for all mosques and Islamic institutions.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offers a "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La mision de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprension del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR's work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR's advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR's media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com ; CAIR Lead Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 586-943-8823, adoukoure@cair.com ; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com ; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com ; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com ; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-welcomes-arrest-of-illinois-man-who-allegedly-threatened-dearborn-heights-mosque/
CAIR Says Biden Officials Who 'Enabled and Covered Up' Gaza Genocide Should Face Criminal Charges, ICC Probe
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Says Biden Officials Who 'Enabled and Covered Up' Gaza Genocide Should Face Criminal Charges, ICC Probe
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that former Biden administration officials who reportedly violated U.S. and international law when they "enabled and covered up" the Israeli government's genocide in Gaza should face criminal charges and an investigation by the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Says Biden Officials Who 'Enabled and Covered Up' Gaza Genocide Should Face Criminal Charges, ICC Probe
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that former Biden administration officials who reportedly violated U.S. and international law when they "enabled and covered up" the Israeli government's genocide in Gaza should face criminal charges and an investigation by theInternational Criminal Court.
CAIR's statement comes in response to revelations by two former U.S. officials that the Biden administration reportedly knew that Israeli forces were violating U.S. and international law, including by sending Palestinian human shields into Gaza tunnels potentially lined with explosives. The information was shared with the White House and analyzed by the intelligence community in the final weeks of former President Joe Biden's administration, the officials said.
International law prohibits the use of civilians as shields during military activity.
Earlier this month, HuffPost also reported that President Biden "personally considered new American intelligence about Israel's devastating offensive in Gaza that prompted concerns that American and Israeli officials were violating U.S. and international law - then rejected suggestions from advisers to reduce American involvement in the war."
SEE: US intel revealed Israeli officials discussing use of human shields in Gaza, sources say
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
"These revelations show that the Biden administration privately knew what it publicly denied: the Israeli government was flouting U.S. and international law by committing war crimes with American weapons. Whether through the Justice Department or the International Criminal Court, President Biden, Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Tony Blinken and other who enabled and covered up the Israeli government's genocidal crimes should be held accountable for violating federal law, flouting international law and lying to the American people."
CAIR previously called for the application of the Leahy Law on Israel after a report by the State Department's Office of Inspector General that found "many hundreds" of possible human rights violations by Israeli military units in Gaza.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Application of Leahy Law After State Dept. IG Report Shows Hundreds of Israeli War Crimes in Gaza
CAIR also welcomed a New York Times expose of the Biden administration's cover-up of the 2022 murder of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes NYT Expose on Biden Cover-Up of Shireen Abu Akleh's Murder, Calls for Trump to Hold Israel Accountable for Killing American
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CONTACT : CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-says-biden-officials-who-enabled-and-covered-up-gaza-genocide-should-face-criminal-charges-icc-probe/
Brian Sprague Pledges to Support Term Limits on Congress
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Political] -- U.S. Term Limits issued the following news release:
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Brian Sprague Pledges to Support Term Limits on Congress
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Washington D.C. - U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the leader in the non-partisan national movement to limit terms for elected officials, praises 2026 U.S. House candidate for Texas, Brian Sprague (district 12), for signing the pledge for an amendment to term limit Congress. Previously, candidate Kenneth Morgan-Aguilera also signed the pledge.
U.S. Term Limits has the support of more than 150 pledge signers in Congress. USTL President Philip
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 [Category: Political] -- U.S. Term Limits issued the following news release:
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Brian Sprague Pledges to Support Term Limits on Congress
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Washington D.C. - U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the leader in the non-partisan national movement to limit terms for elected officials, praises 2026 U.S. House candidate for Texas, Brian Sprague (district 12), for signing the pledge for an amendment to term limit Congress. Previously, candidate Kenneth Morgan-Aguilera also signed the pledge.
U.S. Term Limits has the support of more than 150 pledge signers in Congress. USTL President PhilipBlumel commented on Sprague's and Aguilera's pledges saying, "Brian's and Kenneth's strong support of term limits shows that there are individuals who are willing to put self-interest aside to follow the will of the people. America needs a Congress that will be served by citizen legislators, not career politicians."
The U.S. Term Limits amendment pledge is provided to every announced candidate for federal office. It reads, "I pledge that as a member of Congress, I will cosponsor and vote for the U.S. Term Limits amendment of three (3) House terms and two (2) Senate terms and no longer limit."
Blumel noted, "We have seen a dramatic increase in supporters wanting term limits on Congress. More than 87% of Americans have rejected the career politician model and want to replace it with citizen leadership. The way to achieve that goal is through congressional term limits."
According to the latest nationwide poll on term limits conducted by Pew Research, term limits enjoy wide bipartisan support. Pew's analysis states, "An overwhelming majority of adults (87%) favor limiting the number of terms that members of Congress are allowed to serve. This includes a majority 56% who strongly favor this proposal, just 12% are opposed."
Blumel concluded, "America is in trouble. Our career politicians have let the people down. It is time to return control of our nation to the people. It is time for a constitutional amendment limiting congressional terms."
The term limits amendment resolutions would require a two-thirds majority in the house and senate, and ratification by 38 states, in order to become part of the U.S. Constitution.
View Sprague's signed pledge here.
View Aguilera's signed pledge here.
U.S. Term Limits is the largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating solely on term limits. Our mission is to improve the quality of government with a citizen legislature that closely reflects its constituency and is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. USTL does not require a self-limit on individuals. Our aim is to limit the terms of all members of Congress as an institution. Find out more at termlimits.org.
*U.S. Term Limits does not endorse candidates. Candidates who sign the pledge endorse term limits.
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Original text here: https://www.termlimits.com/brian-sprague-pledges-to-support-term-limits-on-congress/
As Strikes Intensify and Temperatures Drop, Ukrainians Ready Themselves for a Fourth Harsh Winter Ahead
ATLANTA, Georgia, Nov. 13 -- Care, an organization that says it is dedicated to ending poverty, issued the following news release on Nov. 12, 2025:
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As strikes intensify and temperatures drop, Ukrainians ready themselves for a fourth harsh winter ahead
CARE and its local partners are stepping up efforts to distribute home repair materials and other emergency supplies before freezing temperatures set in.
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Kyiv - As Ukraine heads into its fourth wartime winter, escalating strikes on power and transport systems are putting millions at risk of freezing temperatures and prolonged blackouts.
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Nov. 13 -- Care, an organization that says it is dedicated to ending poverty, issued the following news release on Nov. 12, 2025:
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As strikes intensify and temperatures drop, Ukrainians ready themselves for a fourth harsh winter ahead
CARE and its local partners are stepping up efforts to distribute home repair materials and other emergency supplies before freezing temperatures set in.
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Kyiv - As Ukraine heads into its fourth wartime winter, escalating strikes on power and transport systems are putting millions at risk of freezing temperatures and prolonged blackouts.With more than 200 civilians killed each month since June, CARE warns that immediate action is needed to protect people from direct attacks and the humanitarian consequences of being exposed to frigid temperatures.
In recent weeks, massive waves of missile and drone strikes have hit power plants and rail lines across the country, triggering widespread blackouts and disrupting fuel and water supplies. Damage to railway infrastructure is hampering the transport of coal, timber, and lifesaving supplies, further threatening the survival of civilians on the frontlines of this war and beyond.
"Every winter is another test of endurance for people already exhausted by four years of war. Recent strikes on energy and transport networks have created a perfect storm. Staying in a cold house, without light or heat, and plywood boards instead of windows, is a daily struggle for many Ukrainian families," says Michael McGrath, CARE Ukraine Country Director. "Our partners are racing against time to deliver insulation materials, heating equipment, and aid before the first frost - as forecasters predict this winter will be one of the most severe ones in recent years. We need governments and donors to step up: lives depend on how fast help reaches those most in need."
In towns and villages on the frontlines, women bear the brunt of inadequate shelter and energy shortages. Many are heads of households and bear the responsibility of caring for children, older family members, and people with disabilities, often in damaged homes with limited access to heating or safe fuel.
In Izium, 72-year-old Nina and her bedridden husband survived last winter by insulating broken windows with old coats and plastic sheets after their house was hit by shelling. "I was prepared to go through another winter with no windows," she said.
Thanks to CARE's local partner CFSSS, her home was repaired before temperatures dropped. According to the humanitarian needs assessments for the coming winter, aid organizations aim to support 1.7 million Ukrainians, 77 percent of whom live in frontline communities. Local authorities estimate that nearly 900,000 people in these areas will require immediate assistance to survive sub-zero temperatures.
Long-term weather forecasts for the winter of 2025-2026 indicate that Ukraine, and much of Eastern Europe, will likely experience an exceptionally cold and severe winter, marked by periodic Arctic outbreaks and substantial snowfall, especially in the first two months of next year.
Severe cold spells often trigger new waves of displacement, especially among women and children, who seek safer and warmer places to make it through the winter. In the Donetsk region, where CARE and its local partner Avalyst are delivering repair supplies for home restoration, families are already preparing for the cold season amid ongoing shelling.
"Life in the village has never been easy," says 53-year-old Svitlana from Donetsk region. "We don't have central heating or gas, and gathering firewood in the forest, as we used to do before, is now extremely dangerous due to the landmines. The damage to our house because of the shelling puts us in a very difficult situation before winter. But thanks to the materials we received from Avalyst and CARE, we were able to quickly board up the damaged windows to at least temporarily keep the heat in the house."
CARE and its local partners emphasize that timely and coordinated support to families in need before the winter sets in are critical to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis. The international community must not abandon Ukraine. Diplomatic efforts to ensure the protection of civilians are now more critical than ever. This war, like any war, cannot be normalized. We call on donors and humanitarians to accelerate funding and support, so that communities on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine can survive the months ahead with dignity and warmth.
For media inquiries, please email usa.media@care.org or contact Halyna Bilak, Communications Coordinator at CARE UKRAINE, Bilak@care.de
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Original text here: https://www.care.org/media-and-press/as-strikes-intensify-and-temperatures-drop-ukrainians-ready-themselves-for-a-fourth-harsh-winter-ahead/
[Category: Sociological]
AFP Launches Seven-Figure Ad Campaign Holding Senator Ossoff Accountable
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Americans for Prosperity posted the following news release:
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AFP Launches Seven-Figure Ad Campaign Holding Senator Ossoff Accountable
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Nov 13, 2025 by AFP
Atlanta, GA - Today, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is launching a seven-figure ad campaign targeting Senator Jon Ossoff for putting his progressive agenda over Georgia families. The campaign will air on digital platforms across the state. It was first announced in this morning's Politically Georgia newsletter.
Click Here to Watch
AFP-GA State Director Tony West released
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 13 [Category: Sociological] -- Americans for Prosperity posted the following news release:
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AFP Launches Seven-Figure Ad Campaign Holding Senator Ossoff Accountable
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Nov 13, 2025 by AFP
Atlanta, GA - Today, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is launching a seven-figure ad campaign targeting Senator Jon Ossoff for putting his progressive agenda over Georgia families. The campaign will air on digital platforms across the state. It was first announced in this morning's Politically Georgia newsletter.
Click Here to Watch
AFP-GA State Director Tony West releasedthe following statement:
"Georgians are concerned about the rising cost of living. Senator Ossoff's vote on against the Working Families Tax Cut would have raised taxes, making life less affordable for Georgia families. Fortunately, the tax cuts passed, and Georgia families are saving an average of $2500 in income taxes per year.
"Throughout his time in the U.S. Senate, Senator Ossoff has consistently put Washington over real solutions. Georgians want a senator who puts them first. We look forward to continuing to hold Senator Ossoff accountable for prioritizing progressive politics over the people he serves."
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Original text here: https://americansforprosperity.org/press-release/afp-launches-seven-figure-ad-campaign-holding-senator-ossoff-accountable/
