Featured Stories
Mass. Newspaper Runs FFRF Op-ed on Bill That Elevates Religious Belief
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 1 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
Mass. newspaper runs FFRF op-ed on bill that elevates religious belief
A leading newspaper in Massachusetts has published a Freedom From Religion Foundation op-ed about a problematic proposed state commission that would favor a certain religion.
"Massachusetts state Sens. Jamie Eldridge and Vanna Howard have co-sponsored S 2134, which would establish a permanent state commission devoted specifically to American Muslims," FFRF Regional Government Affairs Manager Mickey
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 1 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
Mass. newspaper runs FFRF op-ed on bill that elevates religious belief
A leading newspaper in Massachusetts has published a Freedom From Religion Foundation op-ed about a problematic proposed state commission that would favor a certain religion.
"Massachusetts state Sens. Jamie Eldridge and Vanna Howard have co-sponsored S 2134, which would establish a permanent state commission devoted specifically to American Muslims," FFRF Regional Government Affairs Manager MickeyDollens writes in the Salem News. "It would, among other things, 'identify and recommend qualified American Muslims for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions.' Eldridge and Howard say that their legislation would establish a commission 'focused on studying issues affecting American Muslim communities.'"
Unfortunately, as Dollens elaborates, the seemingly well-intentioned bill is hiding a grave constitutional issue:
One of the most concerning provisions is that the commission would be specifically directed to "identify and recommend qualified American Muslims for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions."
Why should religion have anything to do with that process? Article VI of the U.S. Constitution explicitly bars any religious test or qualification for public office? It was a carefully debated, first-of-its-kind prohibition that was one of the Founders' proudest achievements.
There are several other provisions that go far beyond addressing discrimination. The commission would "foster unity among the American Muslim community and organizations in the commonwealth," promote cooperation and joint activities among Muslim organizations, and "serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups" on issues concerning American Muslims. It would also advise executive and legislative bodies on proposed legislation affecting American Muslims.
That's likewise a violation of the First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, which bar state/religion entanglements or interference. It's also a direct violation of the Massachusetts Constitution, which bars any "use of public money or property ... for the purpose of founding, maintaining or aiding any church, religious denomination or society." (Article VIII, Section 2)
Also, state officials would appoint its 11 members, who must have "demonstrated a commitment to the Muslim American community." What exactly qualifies as "commitment" to the Muslim American community? That's not defined.
That phrase raises another question. What exactly does it mean, for purposes of a state commission, to "practice Islam"? Islam has different denominations, traditions and interpretations. Why should a state-sanctioned commission determine who "practices" a religion and who qualifies? That's a direct violation of the First Amendment.
Massachusetts lawmakers should address anti-Muslim discrimination. However, equal protection does not require special government treatment for one faith. Some people point out that Massachusetts has commissions serving Black, Latino, Asian American, LGBTQ and disabled communities. But those are not religions. Massachusetts' own Declaration of Rights already specifically protects equality among religious sects and denominations, which Muslims deserve every bit as much as Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists and everyone else.
The bill's appointment provision is also a problem. Massachusetts, properly, does not publicly track the religious affiliations of its appointees, and supporters of the bill have not shown that Muslims are underrepresented in public appointments. But even if they are, a government commission promoting a religious test is not the answer.
The bill's authors say they are willing to make changes before refiling the legislation. Good. Here's a place to start: Remove the unconstitutional provision recommending Muslims for government appointments, get rid of the unconstitutional mandate to foster unity among Muslim organizations and rethink whether Massachusetts needs a permanent government commission built around one religion in the first place.
The piece concludes by urging lawmakers to focus efforts on ensuring that all residents have a safe state to call home, regardless of their beliefs or lack thereof: "Massachusetts can and should fight anti-Muslim bigotry and make sure Muslim residents enjoy the same civil rights and opportunities as everyone else. The Bay State doesn't need a Department of Religious Representation. It needs a government that protects people of every faith and no faith under the same laws."
The full op-ed can be read here (https://www.salemnews.com/opinion/columns/column-massachusetts-needs-a-separation-of-mosque-and-state/article_d135d759-ba99-4056-9493-130652cc475c.html) (a subscription to the Salem News is required).
This column is part of FFRF's initiative to engage with pertinent national and state issues and spread the messages of secularism and freethought to a broader audience.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 40,000 members nationwide, including more than 800 members in Massachusetts. FFRF's purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/mass-newspaper-runs-ffrf-op-ed-on-bill-that-elevates-religious-belief/
[Category: Religion]
FFRF: Air Force Must Stop Erasing Atheists and Minority Faiths From Its Ranks
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 1 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
FFRF: Air Force must stop erasing atheists and minority faiths from its ranks
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is excoriating a U.S. Air Force directive requiring personnel to update their religious affiliations using a drastically reduced list of categories.
The discarded categories include "Atheist," "Humanist," "Wiccan," "Pagan," "Druid" and numerous other minority religious and nonreligious identities. The list retains a disproportionate number of specific
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 1 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
FFRF: Air Force must stop erasing atheists and minority faiths from its ranks
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is excoriating a U.S. Air Force directive requiring personnel to update their religious affiliations using a drastically reduced list of categories.
The discarded categories include "Atheist," "Humanist," "Wiccan," "Pagan," "Druid" and numerous other minority religious and nonreligious identities. The list retains a disproportionate number of specificChristian denominations.
The Department of the Air Force announced on Sept. 25 that all personnel must update their Religious Affiliation Code in the Virtual Military Personnel Flight system. Active-duty personnel have until Oct. 16 to comply while Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members have until Nov. 9. Those who do not select a new affiliation will have their records "automatically realigned according to an approved transition construct." The mandate implements a Pentagon policy announced earlier this year that slashed the military's religious affiliation codes from roughly 211 to just 31, including removing the category of "Atheist.".
FFRF sounded the alarm when the Pentagon first announced the change in June, warning that it would marginalize the many "atheists in foxholes" and other service members whose identities had effectively been erased from official personnel records. Now that concern is becoming a reality.
The Air Force claims that the transition will give its Chaplain Corps "accurate demographic data" to provide tailored resources to service members. But forcing people whose actual beliefs -- or nonbeliefs -- have been deleted from the system accomplishes precisely the opposite. Although the retained categories include "No Religion" -- and, inexplicably, "Agnostic" -- the deletion of "Atheist" and "Humanist as accepted categories appears to target those who are most outspoken in their dissent from religion.
"Almost half of today's service members are atheists or have no religious affiliation and they should be able to accurately identify themselves," says FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. "These are folks who put their lives on the line to defend a Constitution that is supposed to protect freedom of conscience -- and that should include their freedom of conscience."
The Pentagon expanded its previous system in 2017 following years of advocacy by service members from minority religious and nonreligious backgrounds. The expanded codes allowed personnel to more accurately identify their beliefs or convictions and gave military chaplains and officials more appropriate information about the service members they serve.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the dramatic reduction, arguing that the previous system of more than 200 codes was "impractical and unusable." The Pentagon says the change is meant to streamline religious-support planning rather than judge the legitimacy of particular beliefs.
But the context surrounding the change is impossible to ignore. In announcing his overhaul of the military chaplaincy earlier this year, Hegseth complained that the Chaplain Corps had been "infected by political correctness and secular humanism." He has also instituted Christian worship services at the Pentagon and repeatedly emphasized his own conservative Christian worldview in his official capacity.
The result is especially troubling for nonreligious service members. "Atheist" is no longer available as a distinct affiliation even though atheists have served honorably in the U.S. military throughout the nation's history. Humanists and adherents of numerous minority religions have likewise lost the ability to identify themselves specifically in the personnel system. Military.com reported that an active-duty Air Force member who had previously identified as an atheist was outraged, not only personally but on behalf of other Air Force personnel whose brand of nonbelief is no longer represented.
The Air Force says service members will remain free to specify their actual religious preference on identification tags rather than being limited to the standardized personnel codes -- making the change even more mystifying.
"If the military recognizes that service members must be able to accurately state their nonbelief on identification tags," adds Barker, "there is no legitimate reason to deny them the same accuracy in their personnel records." Barker also reminds that the First Amendment does not permit the government to treat those with minority religions or nonreligion as lesser citizens.
FFRF calls on the Department of Defense to restore the comprehensive religious and nonreligious affiliation codes and urges the Air Force to halt mandatory implementation of the truncated system. No American who volunteers to defend the Constitution should have to sacrifice an accurate acknowledgment of their own beliefs -- or nonbelief -- to serve.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With about 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-air-force-must-stop-erasing-atheists-and-minority-faiths-from-its-ranks/
[Category: Religion]
Time Out: FFRF Demands Mo. High School Stop Opening Football Games With Prayer
MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 30 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 29, 2026
Time out: FFRF demands Mo. high school stop opening football games with prayer
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on the East Prairie R-II Schools system in Missouri to halt a repeated unconstitutional practice of athletic games being opened with a Christian invocation.
A concerned parent has informed the state/church watchdog that East Prairie routinely opens every high school and junior high school athletic game with a school-sponsored prayer. In a
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Sept. 30 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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September 29, 2026
Time out: FFRF demands Mo. high school stop opening football games with prayer
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on the East Prairie R-II Schools system in Missouri to halt a repeated unconstitutional practice of athletic games being opened with a Christian invocation.
A concerned parent has informed the state/church watchdog that East Prairie routinely opens every high school and junior high school athletic game with a school-sponsored prayer. In avideo provided to FFRF from a recent junior high football game, the school's official announcer asks everyone in attendance to stand for the "invocation" before turning the microphone over to a local preacher, who leads the crowd in an explicitly Christian prayer invoking God and Jesus Christ. FFRF was told that this is a regular occurrence, and that school-sponsored prayers opened games on Sept. 3, Sept. 4 and Sept. 10.
The parent expressed concern to FFRF over the legality of the school-sponsored prayers, given that the pregame prayers were "school initiated" and that the school "compelled attendees to submit to the prayer."
FFRF is asking the district to investigate the matter and ensure that East Prairie High School and all other district schools cease incorporating school-sponsored prayer at athletics events.
"Public school students have a constitutional right to be free from religious indoctrination in their public schools, including when attending school-sponsored events," FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence has written to the district superintendent.
FFRF points out in the letter that school officials may not invite a clergy member, teacher, faculty member, student or anyone else to give any type of prayer, invocation, benediction or sermon at public school-sponsored events. It is irrelevant whether student attendance at games is considered "voluntary" or "optional." By having school-sponsored prayer at official school events, the district needlessly alienates non-Christian students, including atheists, agnostics and members of minority faiths. As much as 38 percent of the American population is non-Christian, including the almost 30 percent that is nonreligious. More than half of Generation Z (those born after 1996) is non-Christian, including 43 percent that identifies as nonreligious.
FFRF reiterates that the district must focus on protecting students' rights to be free from religious indoctrination attempts at any school-sponsored event -- and the reported religious practice must come to an end.
"There's a fundamental difference between protecting a student's right to pray and having the public school itself organize the prayer," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "When the official announcer tells everyone to stand and then hands the microphone to a preacher to invoke Jesus Christ, students understandably receive the message that Christianity has their school's official endorsement. Every student and family should be able to cheer on their team without first being subjected to school-sponsored religious exercise."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with 41,000 members nationwide, including hundreds of members in Missouri. FFRF's purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/time-out-ffrf-demands-mo-high-school-stop-opening-football-games-with-prayer/
[Category: Religion]
Senate's Backroom Energy Deal Puts Communities and Clean Energy at Risk
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 30 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Senate's Backroom Energy Deal Puts Communities and Clean Energy at Risk
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The more than 400-page bill appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list. Photo: Wally Gobetz via Flikr
September 30, 2026 (Boston, MA) - Senate lawmakers on Thursday released the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response:
"While Conservation Law Foundation has rallied for and secured sensible permitting reforms to expedite
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 30 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Senate's Backroom Energy Deal Puts Communities and Clean Energy at Risk
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The more than 400-page bill appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list. Photo: Wally Gobetz via Flikr
September 30, 2026 (Boston, MA) - Senate lawmakers on Thursday released the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response:
"While Conservation Law Foundation has rallied for and secured sensible permitting reforms to expeditethe deployment of clean energy infrastructure and other priority projects, the 'Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026' (as dubbed by its sponsors) emerged from a backroom negotiation among four Senators, two of them ardent supporters of President's Trump's obsessive obstruction of clean energy projects - projects that have demonstrably been the lynchpin to energy affordability in New England," said CLF President Brad Campbell.
"The more than 400-page bill appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list, with passage slated before Christmas, sacrificing numerous protections for communities and the environment to achieve outcomes wholly dependent on President Trump's highly qualified, pre-election assurances that his administration will act in good faith and allow clean energy projects to move forward. Given that Trump has consistently derided and unlawfully obstructed such projects since returning to office, any deal premised on a promise New Englanders know Trump will break has to be considered delusional.
"Striking this deal in the waning days of this Congress, in a pact and on a schedule that preclude public input or amendment, before midterm elections that can only improve the prospects for a more balanced approach, is indefensible."
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/senates-backroom-energy-deal-puts-communities-and-clean-energy-at-risk/
Nearly $1 Million in Binational Grants Will Address Tijuana River Sewage Crisis and Help Restore Coastal Habitats
SAN DIEGO, California, Sept. 30 -- The San Diego Foundation posted the following news release:
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Nearly $1 Million in Binational Grants Will Address Tijuana River Sewage Crisis and Help Restore Coastal Habitats
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September 30, 2026 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Foundation (SDF) today announced $983,439 in Binational Resilience Initiative (BRI) grants for 10 projects bringing together 21 nonprofit organizations in the United States and Mexico. Several projects directly address the Tijuana River sewage crisis by reducing pollution and flooding, improving wastewater treatment and making water
... Show Full Article
SAN DIEGO, California, Sept. 30 -- The San Diego Foundation posted the following news release:
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Nearly $1 Million in Binational Grants Will Address Tijuana River Sewage Crisis and Help Restore Coastal Habitats
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September 30, 2026 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Foundation (SDF) today announced $983,439 in Binational Resilience Initiative (BRI) grants for 10 projects bringing together 21 nonprofit organizations in the United States and Mexico. Several projects directly address the Tijuana River sewage crisis by reducing pollution and flooding, improving wastewater treatment and making waterquality information easier for communities to understand, while others will restore coastal habitats and support research and education across the broader Cali-Baja region.
The Tijuana River sewage crisis affects water quality, public health and communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. While major infrastructure improvements are critical, addressing the crisis also requires coordinated work throughout the watershed to reduce pollution, prepare for flooding and better understand water conditions.
"The Tijuana River sewage crisis has affected our communities for far too long, and the need for action is urgent," said Pamela Gray Payton, vice president, chief impact and partnerships officer at San Diego Foundation. "Water and pollution don't stop at the border. Neither can our response. These investments bring organizations in San Diego and Baja California together to protect the health of our communities and the places we all share."
Five projects directly address the Tijuana River sewage crisis and related challenges across the watershed:
* 4 Walls International and Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, $145,000: To improve stormwater management and reduce flooding in the Tijuana River Valley through green infrastructure, sediment control and floodplain restoration. Note: Support for 4 Walls International was made possible through a Partners for Places grant from The Funders Network; SDF provided funding for Universidad Autonoma de Baja California.
* Fundacion La Puerta and Tijuana Estuary Foundation, $99,980: To improve water quality in the Tijuana River watershed by planning projects that better manage stormwater and improving a community wastewater treatment plant in Tecate.
* Institute of the Americas and Universidad Iberoamericana, $115,000: To study the costs and energy use of different ways to improve Tijuana's water supply, including reducing water loss, reusing treated water and turning seawater into drinking water.
* San Diego Coastkeeper and Proyecto Fronterizo de Educacion Ambiental AC, $100,000: To make Tijuana River water quality data easier for communities on both sides of the border to understand.
* San Diego State University Foundation, $49,926: To provide a yearlong education series for healthcare providers in the United States and Mexico focused on health impacts connected to pollution in the Tijuana River.
Coastal and regional projects grantees include:
* The Chaparral Lands Conservancy and Jardin Botanico de San Quintin AC, $100,000: To assess, protect and restore sensitive coastal ecosystems in the Colonet Natural Reserve, including research on species and ecosystems found on both sides of the border.
* Friends of International Friendship Park, American Friends of Promotora de las Bellas Artes AC and University of San Diego, $100,000: To develop a landscape design for restoring Canada de los Sauces that reflects the canyon's ecology, water, cultural history and connection to the border region.
* Kilometro Uno AC and University of California San Diego, $85,000: To provide a binational program for youth ages 16 to 18 that combines outdoor learning, science and leadership to deepen their understanding of the ocean, a changing climate and their local environment.
* San Diego Bird Alliance and ProEsteros AC, $88,533: To train community members to monitor coastal habitats and restore wetlands in the Tijuana Estuary, Punta Banda and La Mision, including removing invasive plants and improving habitat for native birds and wildlife.
* San Diego Natural History Museum, EcoTono Sustentable AC and Siempre Viva San Quintin AC, $100,000: To engage students in San Diego and Ensenada in hands-on research and data collection to better understand and protect local plants, wildlife and coastal habitats.
"Water quality in the Tijuana River can change from one week to the next, and most people have no easy way to find out the current conditions and pollution levels," said Philip Musegaas, executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper. "Our project with Proyecto Fronterizo de Educacion Ambiental brings together data collected on both sides of the border and makes it readily available, so a parent deciding whether to take the kids to the beach can make an informed decision."
Additionally, International Community Foundation serves as the grant maker to several participating Mexican organizations.
"The watershed and the coastline are shared resources on both sides of the border, and so is the expertise needed to protect them," said Marisa Aurora Quiroz, president and CEO of International Community Foundation. "Organizations in Baja California have been doing this work for generations. Funding them alongside their partners in San Diego is how we get long-term solutions that move us beyond one-off fixes."
The Binational Resilience Initiative is a cross-border grant program supported by San Diego Foundation, International Community Foundation, Resilient Cities Catalyst and the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative. Since launching in 2022, it has awarded more than $4.5 million for 42 binational coastal and watershed resilience projects involving 68 community-based organizations in the United States and Mexico. To learn more, visit SDFoundation.org/BRI.
About International Community Foundation
The International Community Foundation works across borders to connect people, ideas and investments in the transformative power of community. Based in the U.S.-Mexico border region, ICF has granted more than $100 million to education, health and environmental initiatives since 1990 and manages high-impact programs throughout Mexico and Latin America. Learn more at icfdn.org.
About San Diego Foundation
San Diego Foundation believes in just, equitable and resilient communities where every San Diegan can prosper, thrive and feel like they belong. We partner with donors, nonprofits and regional leaders to co-create solutions that respond to community needs and strengthen San Diego. Since our founding in 1975, our community foundation has granted $2 billion to nonprofits to improve quality of life in San Diego County and beyond. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
Media Contact
Nancy Ives Schroeder
(619) 540-3751
nancy@intesacom.com
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Original text here: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/nearly-1-million-in-binational-grants-will-address-tijuana-river-sewage-crisis-and-help-restore-coastal-habitats/
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: India's Complicated China Trade Problem
DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 30 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary:
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September 29, 2026
India's Complicated China Trade Problem
Jake Scott
The costs of dependence are growing.
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In the summer of 2025, electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn recalled roughly 300 Chinese engineers and technicians from its facilities in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India's mainland, and a further 300 just weeks later, leaving only the plants and machines behind while withdrawing the capacity to run them. It is symbolic of what India's trade relationship with China
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, Sept. 30 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary:
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September 29, 2026
India's Complicated China Trade Problem
Jake Scott
The costs of dependence are growing.
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In the summer of 2025, electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn recalled roughly 300 Chinese engineers and technicians from its facilities in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India's mainland, and a further 300 just weeks later, leaving only the plants and machines behind while withdrawing the capacity to run them. It is symbolic of what India's trade relationship with Chinaactually looks like, and why the current trade deficit of $112.16 billion (up from $99.12 billion a year earlier, on a bilateral trade of $151.1 billion) is not easily closable, even after Xi Jinping and 400 functionaries visited Delhi for the latest BRICS summit. China has now overtaken the United States as India's largest goods-trading partner.
There are three principal obstacles standing in the way of rebalancing this trade deficit, yet only one of them is in India's hands to resolve.
The first major obstacle is the one over which India has the least control: Beijing's willingness, or lack thereof, to calibrate. Over 90% of India's rare-earth magnets and metals come from China, and China's own customs data showed a 58% fall in magnet exports to India from January 2025. While the actual amount is trivial compared to the billions of dollars of trade, it's the leverage that matters. If one country can slow another's vehicle and electronics production through administrative delays, the trade relationship is not exactly a balanced one.
Since roughly June 2026, Chinese authorities have tightened approvals for Indian business travelers, and only a limited share of applications are clearing the hurdles: industry accounts put approval rates as low as 20-40%, with the electronics and automotive industries being the most affected. That had not changed by the eve of the summit, when Indian executives were still reported to be facing "significant difficulties" in obtaining Chinese visas. Both Modi and Xi stressed the need for greater mobility between the two countries when they met, yet no concrete easing of these restrictions has actually materialized.
This is a structural vulnerability that means India is dependent on Chinese equipment, components, and technical staff but simply cannot get them into its factories without cooperation from Chinese officials. Twelve days before National Security Advisor Ajit Doval (the longest-serving advisor, having been in office since 2014) flew to Beijing for boundary talks in August 2026, China extended anti-dumping duties on Indian optical fiber for a further five years. Such vulnerability goes clearly beyond heavy industry.
The second major obstacle comes from the United States. On August 13, the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy published a report naming over 40 economies as part of a "shadow transshipment network"--placing India in tier one. Transshipment is a loophole in President Trump's protectionist policies that allows China to circumvent the policies both Trump administrations have pursued to reshore or nearshore production, and it's one that the United States is attempting to close. India is not the only major economy to be included in tier one, as it is joined by Canada, Japan, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, and even the European Union, with Mexico, India, and Vietnam identified as the leading conduits for China-origin goods--an estimated $67 billion in 2025.
This is not a result of any deliberate Indian policy of evasion, and the US has not alleged any--but it does not need to. Washington has signaled retrospective duties for undeclared or "misdeclared" origin and rules of origin written into the interim framework agreed in February that cut Indian tariffs from 50% to 18%.
This is a serious limitation on India's growth, given that the US market currently takes over $100 billion of India's exports, and that access is now conditional on limiting the Chinese content of Indian goods. This is precisely the moment India has concluded that it needs more Chinese content in order to grow its manufacturing base. India finds itself between a rock and a hard place: every component sourced to make an Indian factory viable is a component that makes an Indian export suspect. The ground may shift even further, following Xi's visit to the White House on September 24, with a US-China trade truce up for extension.
This is where the third obstacle comes in, and it's one that India owns; however, it's not an easy one to overcome. India can grow the industries it is already strong in and a major exporter of, especially pharmaceuticals, or it can double down on the industries that make it an attractive partner for China, such as raw materials including ores, fuels, and chemicals. India's exports to China grew almost 37% in 2025-26, which seems transformative until the actual numbers are considered: that's only growth from roughly $14 billion to $19 billion.
It was for this reason that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian minister for external affairs, asked Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, for three things in July 2026: fair market access, movement on the trade balance, and the reliability and predictability of supply chains. The last one Beijing can grant quickly and cheaply, because it costs nothing to promise and can be withdrawn easily. Market access can be granted, and selectively so, whether that's in pharmaceuticals or agricultural lines. But balance cannot be granted--it can only be reached by India growing exports, and not ones dependent on Chinese imports--and that is likely to take years.
When Modi and Xi met in Delhi on September 12, their meeting echoed the demands almost word for word, agreeing to address "structural trade imbalance and supply chain issues" and to facilitate meaningful and predictable market access--with no concrete commitment attached to either.
Going into Xi Jinping's visit, India's goals were easily identifiable: dormant bilateral trade mechanisms restarted, undertakings on rare-earth and fertilizer supply, further joint venture clearances, expanded border trade, and some movement on reciprocal visa allowances to restore the status quo ante from around the beginning of 2025. Coming out, the leaders' 40-minute meeting was described by officials as extremely positive, but on the economic track there was little to show beyond the resumption of direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou. Rare-earths, fertilizer, joint ventures, and visas produced no concrete announcements. As Bloomberg observed, the warmth merely papered over fundamental differences.
India can continue with selective de-risking, opening where inputs are needed and holding where the vulnerability is strategic. But Beijing has already shown how quickly India's dependency can convert into political pressure. In August 2025, it eased curbs on magnets, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring equipment after commitments from Wang Yi, only to add 5 more elements to its rare-earth control list a mere two months later; by December of the same year, the list had grown to 12. Each new integration between the economies deepens that risk only further. It would be wrong, then, to say that India's goal is negotiating down a deficit, but rather negotiating what that deficit will look like and how it will shape the nation's economic future.
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Jake Scott
Dr Jake Scott is a political theorist specialising in populism and its relationship to political constitutionality. He has taught at multiple British universities and produced research reports for several think tanks.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/indias-complicated-china-trade-problem/
Boston Foundation: Report Highlights Role of Philanthropic "Catalytic Capital" to Fund Carbon Reduction Efforts in Small Buildings, Moving Boston Closer to Net Zero Goals
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 30 (TNSrpt) -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release:
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Report highlights role of philanthropic "catalytic capital" to fund carbon reduction efforts in small buildings, moving Boston closer to Net Zero goals
September 29, 2026
Boston--Philanthropic investments in reducing carbon emissions from small buildings in Boston could play a substantial role in reducing the city's carbon emissions and efforts to achieve net-zero emissions, according to a new report from the Boston Foundation, the Building Electrification Institute (BEI) and Firefly Energy
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Sept. 30 (TNSrpt) -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release:
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Report highlights role of philanthropic "catalytic capital" to fund carbon reduction efforts in small buildings, moving Boston closer to Net Zero goals
September 29, 2026
Boston--Philanthropic investments in reducing carbon emissions from small buildings in Boston could play a substantial role in reducing the city's carbon emissions and efforts to achieve net-zero emissions, according to a new report from the Boston Foundation, the Building Electrification Institute (BEI) and Firefly EnergyConsulting. The report, entitled Leveraging Catalytic Capital for Small Residential Building Decarbonization in Boston, explores the way philanthropic investments at scale can supplement and strengthen state and local efforts to make real progress in climate reduction, even in the face of sharp cuts to federal investments in climate resiliency.
The report, a follow-up to TBF's 2024 climate report, Powering Up Together, explores ways to free up funding to weatherize and retrofit 70,000 small residential buildings in Boston, moving them away from direct fossil fuel burning and lowering their collective carbon footprint.
"This has to be an all-hands-on-deck effort, with government, utilities, nonprofits, and private funders all playing a role in making our region more responsive and resilient to the changing climate," said Orlando Watkins, Vice President and Chief Program Officer at the Boston Foundation. "In this report, we have identified a clear place for philanthropy to step in, investing in work that can both enable solutions and unlock other needed funding."
"This is exactly the type of cutting-edge philanthropic financing innovation called for in this moment, and I commend The Boston Foundation for its vision and pragmatism," said Melissa Hoffer, Climate Chief for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "These investments yield big returns--health benefits that translate into real dollars, lifetime energy cost savings, improved indoor air quality and climate protection. The simple fact is, we can do this. Our goals are achievable and we have the technology and know-how. Deploying philanthropic investment at scale that derisks and unlocks private sector investment amplifies the impact of every public dollar spent. We've got the blueprint, now let's go!"
The report highlights several places where philanthropic capital can lower other financing barriers, creating measurable positive impact while generating modest investment returns over time.
Researchers examining more than a dozen possible avenues for investment and found two with the greatest potential for impact.
1. Expand the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank (MCCB) Energy Saver Home Loan program (ESHLP) in the city of Boston to support a focused deployment of low-interest loans that target 2- to 4-unit buildings, which are often more complex to serve.
The philanthropic funds could help raise the total borrowing amounts available to levels that cover retrofits for buildings of this size or provide grants to improve outreach and coordination to help homeowners identify their options and move projects forward.
2. Finance decarbonization of affordable housing at acquisition and renovation, by establishing a dedicated fund that would provide low-cost, patient capital through the MCCB for portfolio-scale energy efficiency and decarbonization work to support affordable housing providers. The idea would be to provide flexible capital at the time an affordable property is acquired or renovated, which is often the easiest time to perform decarbonization and energy efficiency work, and would reduce the energy burden for tenants.
The patient, catalytic capital could be supplemented by grant funds to support coordination among organizations including the MCCB, the Boston Acquisition Fund, housing agencies and property owners to assess opportunities, set priorities, and expand partnerships to other mission-driven lenders and financial institutions to expend the scale of implementation.
The report also includes case studies of similar efforts underway in Boston and beyond, highlighting strategies for further advocacy and research. They include possible coordination with local utilities, neighborhood-scale models for energy upgrades and new technologies that window heat pumps that could make efficiency more accessible in places where larger HVAC solutions are impractical.
In conclusion, the report notes:
"Catalytic capital is most impactful when it complements and accelerates--not replaces--public funding, private investment, and community-led implementation. Targeted philanthropic investment should serve as a catalyst--unlocking additional capital, strengthening delivery systems, and accelerating equitable building decarbonization for Boston's LMI households."
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REPORT: https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/reports-and-covers/2026/leveraging-catalytic-capital_compressed.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2026/september/leveraging-catalytic-capital-release-20260929
